Facelift S3 - really disappointed

Flying Scotsman said:
I thought the dealer was going to keep the car for 2 weeks not 4 days? to see if all issues had been resolved by the service manager. The dealership you are dealing with sounds a wee bit suspect with their last response....phone Audi Assist with your issues and bring it in on Monday. That is not an acceptable response from a repair executed by the dealer. Mind you there are always two sides to a story.
As some have detailed the rejection process can be lengthy and aggravating as Audi have the right to try and resolve your issues over a reasonable time frame and to accommodate you with a suitable replacement vehicle whilst doing this, but you sound like you want no part of this, as you are test driving other makes of vehicles, as is your right to do so. The wait to get all financial items sorted could be lengthy, if you do not accept a new replacement Audi S3, if that is offered to you.
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Hi this all changed when the dealership heard about me rejecting the car. Conveniently once they picked up on me rejecting the car was "fixed" quicker than expected with a software update. Audi Assist are calling this evening, they have always been extremely helpful to be fair.

If all goes to pot this time at the dealership I bought it from, do you guys think i'd be better trying another dealership to look at the car and also discuss rejecting with or would this have to be done through the buying dealership?

Thanks again
 
chrissy85 said:
Hi this all changed when the dealership heard about me rejecting the car. Conveniently once they picked up on me rejecting the car was "fixed" quicker than expected with a software update. Audi Assist are calling this evening, they have always been extremely helpful to be fair.

If all goes to pot this time at the dealership I bought it from, do you guys think i'd be better trying another dealership to look at the car and also discuss rejecting with or would this have to be done through the buying dealership?

Thanks again
Click to expand...
You might be better seeking advice from Audi Customer services, I can't see another dealership being hugely helpful if you aren't then going to take another Audi via them.
 
chrissy85 said:
Hi this all changed when the dealership heard about me rejecting the car. Conveniently once they picked up on me rejecting the car was "fixed" quicker than expected with a software update. Audi Assist are calling this evening, they have always been extremely helpful to be fair.

If all goes to pot this time at the dealership I bought it from, do you guys think i'd be better trying another dealership to look at the car and also discuss rejecting with or would this have to be done through the buying dealership?

Thanks again
Click to expand...

I think, it has to be the original dealer that handles the rejection as it affects them.
 
TYb said:
You might be better seeking advice from Audi Customer services, I can't see another dealership being hugely helpful if you aren't then going to take another Audi via them.
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Thanks I will try audi customer services.

I know they respond to people on twitter etc. very promptly so may try this angle to get a call and see if they will sympathise with me.

Thanks
 
chrissy85 said:
Thanks I will try audi customer services.

I know they respond to people on twitter etc. very promptly so may try this angle to get a call and see if they will sympathise with me.

Thanks
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Sadly if they are anything like VW customer service, then you'll find they have absolutely no power at all. All they do is be the go-between between yourself and the dealer. They can't make anything happen, just request the dealer has another look at your car to rectify the problem.

I wrote a letter to VW Germany. They just bounced it back to VW UK customer services and we went round and round in circles.

Yet, I had issues with my then new MK1 Focus RS. It leaked in the front passenger footwell every time it rained. Countless trips to the dealer, then another later, it still wasn't resolved. Wrote a letter to Ford uk. Wow! What a response !
Got a phone call, to be informed the original dealer had received a `Red` letter. A letter no dealer wants to receive. They collected my car within a couple days with a transporter and took it to one of Fords specialist dealers, where the car was given a new windscreen, new seals etc, new carpets, and the obvious cause of the leak resolved. I was constantly kept up to date with what was happening, and then received another phone call telling me they've seen that there were a couple carpark dinks in one of my doors, that would be taken car of. The car came back looking like new.
Few months later of no issues, I received another call from Ford saying that the service on my car is due, and as a good will gesture for my trouble, the car will be serviced free of charge. Ford were exceptional. Yet the VW were quite the opposite.
 
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chrissy85 said:
Thanks I will try audi customer services.

I know they respond to people on twitter etc. very promptly so may try this angle to get a call and see if they will sympathise with me.

Thanks
Click to expand...
This is the number
+44-845-769-9777

I have found them to be helpful when I was after delivery updates.

Whilst your dealer might not be the most helpful I think you'll just need to persevere with it.
 
I had an issue with Bedford VW with my R32, I had an oil smell every now and then when the engine was up to temp and I was stationary. Booked it in with them for a diagnosis, straight after a night shift so I'd had about 2 hours sleep. Got a call at 4:30pm to say they'd had a look but couldn't see anything, basically they recommended taking it in again and having it all cleaned and re-checked (they hadn't cleaned it off this time around and hadn't looked at the car until around 2pm after me booking it in for 9am!) for this I'd have to pay another £97! After I got nowhere with the dealership/VW Customer Services, I sent an email to the head of business as well as Vindis Group themselves. Not long after that I received a call from the head of business who'd been away, my £97 was refunded and I didn't go back to them.

With franchised dealers, VW/Audi don't really have a huge amount of say over what they do. It may be worth contacting the franchise group themselves as opposed to the dealership if you don't have much luck, although I'd still copy in the head of business and Audi CS to the email also.
 
Thanks all again for the responses. I really wish I could turn back time! I will try the number provided.
 
Tom.H said:
With franchised dealers, VW/Audi don't really have a huge amount of say over what they do.
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I'm not sure that's true. Jassy may have a comment (his son worked for an Audi dealership until recently) but my understanding is that the manufacturer calls all the tunes. After all the dealership only exists because the manufacturer renews the franchise. There are a number of examples where the franchise has not been renewed because of bad customer service. Certainly at my dealership they are keen (I should say almost paranoid) about getting Exceptionally Good for car delivery or service else Audi come down on them like the proverbial ton of bricks.

And my experience is to go as high as you can in the food chain (i.e. the UK chief executive) and write to him about major issues. I have and I got action.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
glospete said:
I'm not sure that's true. Jassy may have a comment (his son worked for an Audi dealership until recently) but my understanding is that the manufacturer calls all the tunes. After all the dealership only exists because the manufacturer renews the franchise. There are a number of examples where the franchise has not been renewed because of bad customer service. Certainly at my dealership they are keen (I should say almost paranoid) about getting Exceptionally Good for car delivery or service else Audi come down on them like the proverbial ton of bricks.

And my experience is to go as high as you can in the food chain (i.e. the UK chief executive) and write to him about major issues. I have and I got action.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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May be the case in certain situations, I had to do all the arguing to get my wing replaced under the 12 year corrosion warranty after they said they'd only pay half as a good will gesture (they had no answer as to how it can be good will when the warranty is for 12 years and the car was 10 years old), despite replacing one 2 years prior. VW Customer care basically just liaised with me and the dealership, it was me doing the fighting and ultimately getting them to agree to foot the bill.
 
Only Audi can decide if the car is to be rejected its much like a warranty claim, dealer only takes orders from manufacturer
 
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jassyo06 said:
Only Audi can decide if the car is to be rejected its much like a warranty claim, dealer only takes orders from manufacturer
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I am not up on the latest consumer rights but this is absolutely not the way things used to be.

The sale (supply?) of goods act was very clear that your contract is with the company that supplies the car (or any item) and not the manufacturer.

Suggest anyone looking to reject a car gets advice from a consumer advice service.
 
KenL said:
I am not up on the latest consumer rights but this is absolutely not the way things used to be.

The sale (supply?) of goods act was very clear that your contract is with the company that supplies the car (or any item) and not the manufacturer.

Suggest anyone looking to reject a car gets advice from a consumer advice service.
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It's just like a warranty claim mate the dealership needs Audi to approve it firstly before they can go ahead with a claim, whether it be a issue with say a leather seat cover or gearbox replacement and. The sane applies to a car rejection
 
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Tom.H said:
May be the case in certain situations, I had to do all the arguing to get my wing replaced under the 12 year corrosion warranty after they said they'd only pay half as a good will gesture (they had no answer as to how it can be good will when the warranty is for 12 years and the car was 10 years old), despite replacing one 2 years prior. VW Customer care basically just liaised with me and the dealership, it was me doing the fighting and ultimately getting them to agree to foot the bill.
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I think your comment relates to the Customer Service division and mine relates to the manufacturer in total. I agree that any CS in any company can be hit and miss (no excuse I agree) but going to the top often gets action because, having been an MD myself in my earlier life, I know I got things sorted if they got onto my desk. In almost every case when I have written a reasoned letter to a CEO I've got action and usually a good result for me. I totally agree that it shouldn't be necessary but if needs be ......
 
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glospete said:
I think your comment relates to the Customer Service division and mine relates to the manufacturer in total. I agree that any CS in any company can be hit and miss (no excuse I agree) but going to the top often gets action because, having been an MD myself in my earlier life, I know I got things sorted if they got onto my desk. In almost every case when I have written a reasoned letter to a CEO I've got action and usually a good result for me. I totally agree that it shouldn't be necessary but if needs be ......
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Agree with you there, that's why I went higher with that and the earlier issue I mentioned with the £97 for diagnosis when they hadn't actually done anything, once I'd gone higher it got sorted and fairly quick too!
 
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chrissy85 said:
Evening people, i'm new here so please bear with me!

Picked up my new s3 2 weeks ago from leeds audi, excellent handover experience and felt like a VIP, really top marks for the people at leeds audi.

I must add i'd test drove a couple of s3's previously (30 min test drives) and i loved the experience, mainly blown away by the sound!

Now the bad news, i'm not liking my s3 at all, i traded in a 65 plate 330d (rear drive not x drive) and i appreciate the 3 series is a higher class car but i was expecting more from the s3.

My issues:

The biggest issue is the unacceptable lag from either the gearbox or engine when pulling away at junctions/roundabouts unless its in sport mode... it feels almost like the ecu has to take 2 seconds off and decide what gear to be in. I didnt notice this on the test drives, maybe cause i only had these in sports mode. Is this normal for s3's? it makes me scared to drive in comfort mode for fear of not being able to pull out if needed, it really is dangerous. audi tested the car and said no fault found.

The handling is extremely disappointing, it doesnt feel nimble round country lanes like i was expecting, it feels extremely nose heavy and definitely does not have the balance or poise of my old 330d. Some bmw owners replace the springs on their x drive models to improve handling, can anything be replaced on the s3 to improve the handling?

The interior is beautiful and feels classy, but i'm struggling to get on with the mmi despite paying extra for the tech pack, it feels a bit clunky and theres to many sub menus compared to idrive, maybe i will get used to this.

Final concern - it doesnt actually feel any quicker than the 330d, it should do!? I think its the gearbox, it just doesnt respond anything like the beemers, even though the audi sales man told me it was infact the same zf gearbox, is this correct?

Overall really disappointed and if i could turn back 2 weeks i would probably do so, i should have tried to arrange a 24 hour test drive or something as its a completely different ball game actually having time with the car on your drive than being sat with a dealer talking all the time.

Maybe i will grow to like the car but i dont think i'll ever love it, i'm left feeling like i should have got the cheaper golf r which is by all accounts a better drive.

Appreciate i may have been spoilt by the bmws handling, and this car does have it plus points (the sound, interior, buildquality, looks) but it feels dead as a car.

Any tips for me on the engine lag issue and handling? If i could make it a *bit* better it would be a start to making me feel like i have some value in my purchase!

I'm left feeling like i've bought the badge and not a car.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I feel for you mate. I also went on a few test drives of the S3, a couple in the PFL, then a couple of test drives in the FL car I eventually bought. On the pre-facelift test drives, I got a decent 30-40 mins drive in a saloon (not what I was considering, I needed a hatch), took it up some county lanes in the peak district and it felt great, gearbox was fast etc. Then on the facelift model test drives over in Harrogate, the dealer was in the car, she kept changing settings and I didnt feel like I could properly test the car because, a) she was there and b) I didnt know the roads etc. But the car felt "OK", I needed to get rid of my S3 8P as some big servicing bills were approaching, so I ended up buying it.

But one thing stuck in my mind, and I should have trusted my instincts. When I came from the FL S3 into my 10 year old S3 8P, my S3 8P felt alive (yep, an Audi felt alive!). Steering feedback was noticeable, suspension sporty and yet compliant. It felt great.

When I eventually got the FL S3, and started using it on a day-to-day basis, I've never noticed much lag (no more than my S3 8P), but what I've noticed was the suspension and gearbox quirks. And I have to be honest, I was finding it very hard to live with and wished I'd kept my old S3 8P and perhaps test drove other brands.

6 months on and I'm more used to the car, but the suspension (jiggly/bouncy in dynamic), steering (vague) and handling (understeer) is still poor in my opinion. For people where this is their first S3, and they've not come from a performance car previously, I'm sure they think the car is brilliant. But if you've come from anything sporty previously, you can quickly spot the cars shortcomings.

So I've had to adapt and get used to the car, moving the suspension to into Auto (less jiggly, but more body roll) and use the gearbox in Manual (compromise being it changes to down M1 at 10 mph, which is annoying for speed bumps, and the shift speed is slower).

Like others I'm considering Eibach Sportlines, firstly because the car looks too high on mag-ride and 18" wheels, and secondly to improve handling and remove some of the bounciness.

We live and learn.

AL
 
Does the throttle reset work on Audis/s tronic boxes like BMWs do with their dct and zf boxes?
1. Keep foot OFF the break. Turn ignition on.
2. Floor throttle pedal and keep it there for 60 seconds.
3. Whilst keeping throttle completely depressed, turn ignition off and make sure its off
4. Release throttle pedal and wait.
5. U should hear a faint electrical buzzing noise followed by a faint click.
6. Done
 
AL_B said:
I feel for you mate. I also went on a few test drives of the S3, a couple in the PFL, then a couple of test drives in the FL car I eventually bought. On the pre-facelift test drives, I got a decent 30-40 mins drive in a saloon (not what I was considering, I needed a hatch), took it up some county lanes in the peak district and it felt great, gearbox was fast etc. Then on the facelift model test drives over in Harrogate, the dealer was in the car, she kept changing settings and I didnt feel like I could properly test the car because, a) she was there and b) I didnt know the roads etc. But the car felt "OK", I needed to get rid of my S3 8P as some big servicing bills were approaching, so I ended up buying it.

But one thing stuck in my mind, and I should have trusted my instincts. When I came from the FL S3 into my 10 year old S3 8P, my S3 8P felt alive (yep, an Audi felt alive!). Steering feedback was noticeable, suspension sporty and yet compliant. It felt great.

When I eventually got the FL S3, and started using it on a day-to-day basis, I've never noticed much lag (no more than my S3 8P), but what I've noticed was the suspension and gearbox quirks. And I have to be honest, I was finding it very hard to live with and wished I'd kept my old S3 8P and perhaps test drove other brands.

6 months on and I'm more used to the car, but the suspension (jiggly/bouncy in dynamic), steering (vague) and handling (understeer) is still poor in my opinion. For people where this is their first S3, and they've not come from a performance car previously, I'm sure they think the car is brilliant. But if you've come from anything sporty previously, you can quickly spot the cars shortcomings.

So I've had to adapt and get used to the car, moving the suspension to into Auto (less jiggly, but more body roll) and use the gearbox in Manual (compromise being it changes to down M1 at 10 mph, which is annoying for speed bumps, and the shift speed is slower).

Like others I'm considering Eibach Sportlines, firstly because the car looks too high on mag-ride and 18" wheels, and secondly to improve handling and remove some of the bounciness.

We live and learn.

AL
Click to expand...
Perfect what i'm thinking After changing from my 340hp 20y old impreza to my New FL S3. I still have the Subaru and it feels different. But new audi's are more comfort instead of brutal power. For daily use S3 is much better.

S3 sportback 2017 daytona
 
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I completed a throttle reset as per above on a Q3 recently... No noises heard to confirm reset. But after 100 or so miles I can confirm its now night and day difference. Previously throttle was either on/off like a switch. Now after reset ot is linear and progressive. Just how we wanted it.

Jungle
 
Ordered my S3 black edition a month ago on a special deal advertised which I couldn't turn down. This thread has me a bit worried about the car now. I currently have a 2016 BMW 330e, which is a company car and find it a hell of a lot more dull to drive than my previous Audi TT 1.8 Stronic and even my Audi A1 1.6 TDI.

Worried I've made a mistake ordering my S3, lets hope I haven't and all is good! Do have a fun car which is used, but not for back and fourth to work etc to stop the mileage rocketing so hoping the S3 will be a good daily! :blink:
 
KyleS3 said:
Ordered my S3 black edition a month ago on a special deal advertised which I couldn't turn down. This thread has me a bit worried about the car now. I currently have a 2016 BMW 330e, which is a company car and find it a hell of a lot more dull to drive than my previous Audi TT 1.8 Stronic and even my Audi A1 1.6 TDI.

Worried I've made a mistake ordering my S3, lets hope I haven't and all is good! Do have a fun car which is used, but not for back and fourth to work etc to stop the mileage rocketing so hoping the S3 will be a good daily! :blink:
Click to expand...

I say don't worry like you said you got a good deal that you could not turn down..... This is my second S3 in under 3 years and my car drives a lot better than my previous S3 sportsback a 2015 model,is yours a lease car?
 
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jassyo06 said:
I say don't worry like you said you got a good deal that you could not turn down..... This is my second S3 in under 3 years and my car drives a lot better than my previous S3 sportsback a 2015 model,is yours a lease car?
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That's good to hear, thank you! Hopefully it'll be as good as I expect. Yes, was looking at buying then came across a personal lease for £300 a month, 24 months with 11,000 miles a year.
 
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The steering on the S3 is definitely more vague than my Golf R I had. I definitely noticed it.

The RS3 I have ordered will probably be the same. My test drive came out feeling the same.
 
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