Mango Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 Just put a deposit down on a Sportback 2.0 T S Line. I cant see it till next Saturday (its the dealers demo). I was getting a ex demo Golf GTI, but wasnt sure I could live with the interior (as I have an A4 at the moment) and all the cars seemed to have lived hard lives for 6 month old cars. I have a few questions about the A3, and I know there is no where better to ask then here !!! It has GSM phone prep, what does that actually allow apart from putting that ugly holder on the dash ?? Also, as its the 2.0t S line and has been a demo, should I be worried that its had a hard life, even though it only has 8k on the clock ?? Anything to look out for ? Thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
42reina42 Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Hi Mango ! Well, it is really ugly that holder, and I guess that it allows only to work as a hands free and nothing else .. If you are not really interested on it, I would made they remove it ! About what to check, take a look to the tyres .. may be it gives you an idea about how it has been treated .. If it is manual, check that it works fine .. also check the brake pads .. if they are new, probably the car has been "badly" treated .. if they show some normal wear, may be not .. Well, I have no more ideas for the moment ... Good luck ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briggs Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 It will have been driven hard and sometimes not warmed up properly I suspect, but remember it's still got 2.5 years warrantee and Audi will give it a good service/check before selling it I'd have thought otherwise they know you'll be taking it straight back to them. Check the wheels for curbing. My Mkiv golf Gti was an ex demo, and it was absolutely fine (until some drove into my front side - after that I couldn't sell it quick enough!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Cheers guys. My concern is it will have been driven hard , but like you say, mechanically it is convered for another 2.5 years. Plus i have heard that the Audi used car approval criteria is pretty good and they actually do check and replace faulty items (not sure how true this is ? anyone any ideas how good it is) I bought my A4 with 8k on the clock as an ex demo, and it has been mechanically faultless. But its only a 2.0 fsi and as such probably wasnt thrashed as much. On a side note, the VW dealer just confirmed that the best he could do on a new GTI with no options was under 2% off. Thats not great is it !!! So the choice is new GTI no options, but new and unthrashed!!!, or ex demo A3 Sline with leather, Bose, GSM, Ipod connector, Xenons, parking sensors, but it may have had a hard life. Confused again.... Answers on a postcard please...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Get the Audi, it might have had a slightly hard early live. But its covered under warranty and will be nice and loose for you already. Push them for a better deal and you will feel even better when you pick it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Dealer just called. He says he knows the car and its "mint"!!! Lets hope so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edo Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 He would say that! It will have been cleaned by monkeys and covered in swirls, but a good detail will sort. They wont do a thing to it before selling it - I very much doubt it will be serviced given they do up to 20k before the first service and demo's normally have only about 6k on them... As for GSm - this can either be in the arm rest or on the dash. If dash you are a bit stuck with it as removing leaves holes. Should give you bluetooth too for connection.. Enjoy! What percenateg did you save? You can get a factory new car for 10% min, so I hope it was more than that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 I used the configurator, and it would be just under 27k new. Its up for just under 21, but I dont want to pay more then 20 (obviously depending on what I get for my A4 part ex). Does this sound like a good deal? How do you go about getting 10% off , before when I mentioned a new one, both dealers told me there was no allocation of A3's or A4's in the country, and that I could expect a couple of percent at best. Admittedly I didnt haggle particularly hard as I wasnt overly interested, but nothing like 10% seemed acheivable. I hate buying a new car as its always so much hassle, although i love having a new car !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Easiest way to tell if a 2.0T has led a hard life is to look and see what the estimated mileage to service is via the DIS. If its below 10k its led a hard life with mostly short journeys. On the discount side the dealer will always tell you theres no deals to be done, its in their interest... Just push hard and take no Sh1t from them. Go armed with a copy of Whatcar and phone their line which tells you which dealers are doing their target price. This worked a treat with my dealer that was feeding me the same crap as yours sounds to be. I got just under 10% off a Sportback (and the options) when they were first released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Good idea about the service mileage with the DIS. I will remember to do that, and check the other things people have mentioned. So do we think the price is reasonable ? almost 7k off for 6 months and probably 8k miles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Just push for the best price they will give but make sure its not at the detriment of your p/ex offer. Know before you get there what your car is worth (realistically) as they will try and stuff you one way or the other. Go in and tell them what deal you expect (for both) and then just haggle until you're happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 My S3 was loaded ex demo with 7k on it. Everthing was spotless including the wheels. Tyres, Pilots, were still OK ish at 15k when I changed it and the DIS was still showing miles before a service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 I wouldn't say that if the DIS on a 2.0T says its wants servicing sooner than a total of 18k its been ragged. My car needed its first service at 9600 miles and my old 1.8TQ used to do the full interval driving it the same journeys and in the same style. The 2.0T seems to be a lot more sensitive to frequent stop / starts. Hence mine is on fixed 10k intervals now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandle Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Yeah our car came up for its first service at under 10k and its driven gently most of the time by my wife. Although it does do lots of 7-8 mile journeys to her work and back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceman2002_uk Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 I've just bought a 2 yr old 55 plate A3 S-line S-tronic TDI with 17k on the clock... sod all for its age! it got serviced, new tyres all round, brake pads and wipers...all under the approved used car scheme. Stuff to watch out for :- * check the inner wheel arches, sills (sholtz will be missing from the point the wing bolts to the sill) for signs of accident repair. Also check under the bonnet for missing packing, there should be two foam blocks just under the wiper scuttle. Tell tale sign is to look at the front cross member and make sure the information sticker is there, if not thats been replaced. * check the clutch for signs of judder, put the car under a bit of load. A3's use dual mass flywheels and they are prone to juddering. * Check Alloy wheels, 18" plus wheels dont have much tyre protection and marked alloys can indicate a potential need for a TVAC. * Check interior trim for wear (front drivers door armrest, seat edges, "soft touch" plastics (climate control etc) * Check the climate control operates correctly and there's no warning lights on the dashboard * get it on a ramp and check the underbody and exhaust etc for damage * Push for a full set of mats and a full tank of fuel * Info : theres an audi used car event coming up (12th - 22nd October) which will get you 24 months free servicing - push for it! Hope that helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Thanks iceman, Yes I saw the 2 years free servicing. Definately pushing for that. It could be worth £700+ at London Audi dealer rates !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edo Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Call Alistair Lee at Stratford Audi and tell him Ed sent you. He should be able to do you a good deal on a new/demo car - at least you can compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Is that stratford as in East London?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edo Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 No, upon Avon - as I found out when I went to collect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 oh well, as usual dealer calls and says the car isnt ready. 2nd one this week. I give up !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Call Alistair Lee at Stratford Audi and tell him Ed sent you. He should be able to do you a good deal on a new/demo car - at least you can compare. [/ QUOTE ] I've just ordered a new S3 through Stratford Audi (Alistair Cunningham), did me a fantastic deal, would be happy to recommend, though I have no idea how the guy makes a living though selling cars at that price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 Monster deal by the sounds of it Chris?! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 Thanks for all your help so far, Ok, so I am now torn between two cars. One a 2.0TFSI Quattro S Line. Really nice car, 8k on the clock but apart from leather and Ipod no real toys. And a 2.0TFSI S Line. Again around 8k on the clock. Not Quattro, but it has leather, bose, Ipod, parknig sensors, GSM and Xeneons. I was really suprised by how nice and planted the Quattro felt, and I am not a massive toys person, but will I regret getting the standard model with no extra's? So toys or Quattro ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted October 7, 2007 Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 Definitely quattro. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 I am leaning more to the Quattro. I really enjoyed the extra feeling of safety. What about ongoing costs. Will it work out a lot more expensive. I believe it looses about 5mpg, but what about tyres and servicing etc ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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