ashleywater Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 Just a few comments from someone who is a good mate,and has been in a senior position, with Audi Uk for the last 18 years, who I was having a chinwag with this afternoon, in relation to the 500 only RS3 production run: 120 Audi Dealerships in UK, each one will be required to take a demo car order, so that is at least 120 cars out of the equation straight away, then take into account press cars and Audi UK cars, and you are left with approx 330 cars. His own opinion was, that there is no way that Audi will stick to only a 500 car production run for the UK, if there are orders in excess of that figure, further cars will be made,so called "limited" production runs are considered a common marketing tool, to generate interest and ultimately sales these days, as an RS500 Focus at my local ford stealers with 10 miles on the clock for sale at a staggering £45,995.00p just goes to illustrate..............total madness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted January 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 That's good news, Ashley And no surprise. £46k for a RS500 Focus, eh - Makes an RS3 very good value imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahankins Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 Surely where there are dealer groups, the group takes a car, not each dealer in the group? That's certainly my experience with my local dealer. They had both RS6 and now RS5 in group, but not one at each dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etkaman Posted January 7, 2011 Report Share Posted January 7, 2011 Surely where there are dealer groups, the group takes a car, not each dealer in the group? That's certainly my experience with my local dealer. They had both RS6 and now RS5 in group, but not one at each dealer. There will be one per dealer " A quota of one showroom/demo vehicle per Centre . There will be a maximum of one demonstrator per market area and the remainder must be showroom vehicles." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted January 8, 2011 Report Share Posted January 8, 2011 For those who have placed deposits / are considering placing an order; RS3 Order book goes "Live" Monday 10th Jan, "Predicted" delivery dates on customer orders to be issued on March 21st 2011............I will get info on Demos as soon as it goes up on Audis internal system, but that will not be for some time SIARI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Just a few comments from someone who is a good mate,and has been in a senior position, with Audi Uk for the last 18 years, who I was having a chinwag with this afternoon, in relation to the 500 only RS3 production run:120 Audi Dealerships in UK, each one will be required to take a demo car order, so that is at least 120 cars out of the equation straight away, then take into account press cars and Audi UK cars, and you are left with approx 330 cars. His own opinion was, that there is no way that Audi will stick to only a 500 car production run for the UK, if there are orders in excess of that figure, further cars will be made,so called "limited" production runs are considered a common marketing tool, to generate interest and ultimately sales these days, as an RS500 Focus at my local ford stealers with 10 miles on the clock for sale at a staggering £45,995.00p just goes to illustrate..............total madness Every Audi dealership is not committed/obligated to take an RS3 demonstrator. Every dealer group will have demo cars but they will, to an extent, be shared amoungst the group for test drive duties. The 500 unit allocation for the UK is correct (and I have this in writing) but this car, as with any business decision in the trade, may alter aoccording due to customer demand/production capability. My gut feel is that the final number will not be unadjacent to 500 units for the UK market. Demo cars will land with Dealers in July and the first customer deliveries will commence shortly after that and into 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Surely where there are dealer groups, the group takes a car, not each dealer in the group? That's certainly my experience with my local dealer. They had both RS6 and now RS5 in group, but not one at each dealer. Spot on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted January 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 As long as I can get a test drive in one I really don't care how they are allocated to dealers/groups etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahankins Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 This puts a positive spin on things.... Audi RS3 Sportback - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 As long as I can get a test drive in one I really don't care how they are allocated to dealers/groups etc. Audi Exclusive allows you to chose a non-standard colour too (if you like the car and opt to order after the Test Drive)!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Spin being the operative word. Given I can't find any serious reviews on the web, I very much doubt anybody from Autocar actually drove it. Has the press launch actually happened yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Audi Exclusive allows you to chose a non-standard colour too (if you like the car and opt to order after the Test Drive)!! How much are they charging for that privilege these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 £2,400 inc of VAT (for Pink) !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Spin being the operative word. Given I can't find any serious reviews on the web, I very much doubt anybody from Autocar actually drove it. Has the press launch actually happened yet? Does look like Grag Kable behind the wheel in those Autocar photo's. The UK press cars/launch won't happen until April/May time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 fair enough - I'm just naturally cynical about Autocar "exclusives"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Every Audi dealership is not committed/obligated to take an RS3 demonstrator. Every dealer group will have demo cars but they will, to an extent, be shared amoungst the group for test drive duties.The 500 unit allocation for the UK is correct (and I have this in writing) but this car, as with any business decision in the trade, may alter aoccording due to customer demand/production capability. My gut feel is that the final number will not be unadjacent to 500 units for the UK market. Demo cars will land with Dealers in July and the first customer deliveries will commence shortly after that and into 2012. Gareth I cannot comment on where you are sourcing this "Information" but I will quote a few of relevant comments on the latest update on the RS3 as of this afternoon courtesy of the Audi internal system: All "Audi UK Centres" will be allocated one Demo Car per centre and one showroom vehicle per group by Audi UK......... there are approx 120 centres in the UK Also add as previoulsy posted press and marketing vehicles. There are no updates or actual quoted dates on delivery of any cars Demo or otherwise as of today, only information currently available is that Delivery dates will not be available until March 21st at the earliest, and deliveries will not commence until "Summer" at the earliest...........This is followed by "Customers should be made fully aware of this , as there expectations should be managed to suit................pretty self explanatory As for there only being a limited production of 500 units for the UK, and this being in actual "written documentary form" unless one is referring to the actual Audi internal system, where this figure is noted, as my matey in Audi commented is absolute "B*ll*x I do not engage in posting heresay, gossip or otherwise, just forwarding on information that I have physically viewed on the Audi internal system, for the benefit of anyone considering pulling the trigger on this particular car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 ^^^^ Quality info, Ashley - Thanks for sharing. I must say, I'm very keen to get a test-drive. I'm in no hurry though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Audi RS3 Sportback - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk Autocar test drive.............. they like it - initially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 How long do you think it will be before people with S3s start putting wider tyres on the front to "improve handling"? To be fair has anyone ever heard Autocar ever say they didn't like a car plus I would imagine Audi hospitality is among the best on offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4ttm4son Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 How long do you think it will be before people with S3s start putting wider tyres on the front to "improve handling"?To be fair has anyone ever heard Autocar ever say they didn't like a car plus I would imagine Audi hospitality is among the best on offer. Could just swap front and back wheels round. Is this just to coincide with their LeMans racer with "rear" wheels on the front? Marketing opportunity around LeMans time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 How long do you think it will be before people with S3s start putting wider tyres on the front to "improve handling"?To be fair has anyone ever heard Autocar ever say they didn't like a car plus I would imagine Audi hospitality is among the best on offer. ....Vorsprung durch Technik = Advancement through Technology I don't yet understand the frontal wide tyres thing - There are plenty of heavily modified performance S3's running around with equal width tyres all round, even if they are all wider than standard in some cases, and they don't have handling problems. I don't rely on any car magazine scribbles for assessing if I want a particular car. Even if I like a car and write about it, I don't expect everyone else to agree with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 ....Vorsprung durch Technik = Advancement through TechnologyI don't yet understand the frontal wide tyres thing - There are plenty of heavily modified performance S3's running around with equal width tyres all round, even if they are all wider than standard in some cases, and they don't have handling problems. I don't rely on any car magazine scribbles for assessing if I want a particular car. Even if I like a car and write about it, I don't expect everyone else to agree with me. just on the question of S3 handling, my better half has just taken delivery of a brand new S3, which she absolutely loves, and this has given me an opportunity to drive my R and her S3 back to back, and the differences in handling terms are very pronounced, steering and feedback in the R is different class to the S3, as is the Haldex performance, much more rear wheel bias on the limit with the R, in its defence the S3 is the better all round ride quality wise, and obviously build quality is pretty sublime (wonder if the new A3 will be as good in this area? I suspect not) so got me thinking how the RS3 would shape up particularly in regards to steering, an area Audi is not particularly famed for, and also ride quality which seems to be considered pretty harsh even on snow by all accounts!! Walked away from the R thinking this is an ideal tuning toy with masses of potential as it stood standard chasis wise,very well sorted car, and thought the S3 was just right power wise, but would need some serious chasis work to handle extra ponies effectively...........so I think the RS3 would need to be tweeked extensively in the handling department to cope with the extra output and weight,just MHO I guess this all subjective until we all get to spank one on a test drive, but just thinking out loud........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 The difference between the B7 S4 and RS4 shows Audi are capable of giving the RS3 very different characteristics to the S3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 The difference between the B7 S4 and RS4 shows Audi are capable of giving the RS3 very different characteristics to the S3. ....If I am going to have a RS3, it's those 'RS' characteristic differences which I'm hoping and expecting to feel. Audi are certainly capable. I was having a long chat with Phil Millington (Mr Milltek) on Monday who has much experience of Audi's and also knows my GTI quite well and he thinks I'll be hard pressed to match the tactile nature of my modified GTI with a new unmodified car unless I consider cars like the R8! But the TT-RS/RS3 engine is sublime I'm told and hear everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 just on the question of S3 handling, my better half has just taken delivery of a brand new S3, which she absolutely loves, and this has given me an opportunity to drive my R and her S3 back to back, and the differences in handling terms are very pronounced, steering and feedback in the R is different class to the S3, as is the Haldex performance, much more rear wheel bias on the limit with the R, in its defence the S3 is the better all round ride quality wise, and obviously build quality is pretty sublime (wonder if the new A3 will be as good in this area? I suspect not) so got me thinking how the RS3 would shape up particularly in regards to steering, an area Audi is not particularly famed for, and also ride quality which seems to be considered pretty harsh even on snow by all accounts!!Walked away from the R thinking this is an ideal tuning toy with masses of potential as it stood standard chasis wise,very well sorted car, and thought the S3 was just right power wise, but would need some serious chasis work to handle extra ponies effectively...........so I think the RS3 would need to be tweeked extensively in the handling department to cope with the extra output and weight,just MHO I guess this all subjective until we all get to spank one on a test drive, but just thinking out loud........... ....We may not agree about Cheryl Cole but we certainly seem to agree wholeheartedly with each other about the RS3 etc. Very very interesting to learn your views about back-to-back (the ideal test driving) comparisons of the S3 with the Golf R. It of course comes down to individual preferences and mine is without question for a performance car which feels tactile and so the Golf R would be my choice over a S3 but I'd hope the RS3 would trump both. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. Apart from a Milltek to enjoy that 5-cyl exhaust music, I don't think I'd want or need to modify a RS3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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