Road tests

[Benash20]

hi guys just after some advise I am currently in the market for an RS3 and the dealership which I am dealing with don't seem to be willing for me to have the RS3 on a unacompanied test drive having purchased the S1 and S3 from here and also family members having a 3dr A3 and TT black edition and SQ5 and A4 avant which was collected today I feel as I'm a genuine buyer and myself and family spending lots of money here i feel this to be slightly unreasonable anybody had any similar experiences?

 

[D0C]

Bit crappy. But then I suppose the RS3 is a more expensive/niche car.

 

[Dazzeroo]

I think the dealers behaviour is really below par here. You're an existing customer (several times over) and it seems your family is well known to them so what are they playing at? Personally, if it were me I'd go to another local dealer and let the current dealership manager know your feelings. You are the customer and in my opinion not being treated with due respect.

 

[AudiNutta]

I had similar issues and I am 18. I have been ignored by numerous dealerships, took my complaints to the sales manager and after 4 months he offered me his personal car for the day from 09:00 to 17:00.

 

[D0C]

18yrs old! I'm amazed they've let you have the car. When I was that age I was lucky if I got above a 1.1l!

 

[AudiNutta]

18yrs old! I'm amazed they've let you have the car. When I was that age I was lucky if I got above a 1.1l!

Tell me about it!! I still get a 1.0l A1 as courtesy!! I were covered on my own insurance to drive "any" car regardless of power or cost while my car was in the workshop (insurance company have stuffed themselves up there I think). I am placing a deposit on the 23rd, I am going to ask if I can have one again on the 27th when mine is in for a major service. I'm expecting a no, but who knows. For the 8 hours I had it, the trip timer was 7:30hrs.. Not tired whatsoever after that either.

Of they say no, I'm going to ask for a TT 2.0T.. If still a no, I will ask for an A4 Avant.. Lovely looking car and anything but the A1 with a squeaky clutch please (my regular courtesy car :-( ).

I'm hoping as I will of just handed over £800 cash, that they will find it difficult to say no.

 

[Benash20]

I had similar issues and I am 18. I have been ignored by numerous dealerships, took my complaints to the sales manager and after 4 months he offered me his personal car for the day from 09:00 to 17:00.

Wow I'm surprised they still let you at the age have you checked out insurance yet?

 

[AudiNutta]

Wow I'm surprised they still let you at the age have you checked out insurance yet?

I have checked insurance, roughly with 2 years no claims and 3 years on the road (stopped one insurance half way through to change to a different car, so I'm a year down) it was around £4000.

 

[D0C]

£4000!!! Surely you're not going to do that?

 

[AudiNutta]

£4000!!! Surely you're not going to do that?

Yes £4000 haha!!

I will definitely be doing that! My insurance first year was £2800 on a £900 Fiesta, then £2200 on a 63 plate Fiesta and finally with 1 year NCB my A3 S Line SB 1.4TFSi is £1100. Insurance has sky rocketed, if I wanted to insure my car now in the same scenario (6 months later after purchase) then it is £2600!!! It's crazy!! Next NCB I acquire will most likely take the insurance up by around £400 from the £1100, daylight robbery.

It's alright if I insured an RS3 now with 1 NCB at 18, they want £9500.

To me, being young and all about my cars I am willing to pay it for the pleasure of owning one. I still love at home and it will be at the end of my apprenticeship when I take delivery, got to treat myself somehow ;-)

 

[D0C]

I remember when I was an apprentice (a few years ago now!) I was earning £80 per week!

 

[AndyB-S3]

Over my 4 year apprenticeship it went - £50 / £80 / £110 / £140.. each year per week.. crazy money nowadays. Haha
I would have had to take finance out on a corgi model..

 

[Benash20]

Yes £4000 haha!!

I will definitely be doing that! My insurance first year was £2800 on a £900 Fiesta, then £2200 on a 63 plate Fiesta and finally with 1 year NCB my A3 S Line SB 1.4TFSi is £1100. Insurance has sky rocketed, if I wanted to insure my car now in the same scenario (6 months later after purchase) then it is £2600!!! It's crazy!! Next NCB I acquire will most likely take the insurance up by around £400 from the £1100, daylight robbery.

It's alright if I insured an RS3 now with 1 NCB at 18, they want £9500.

To me, being young and all about my cars I am willing to pay it for the pleasure of owning one. I still love at home and it will be at the end of my apprenticeship when I take delivery, got to treat myself somehow ;-)

That's crazy hold off for a few years and don't waste your money you could quite easily fall out with it after 6 months of getting your bank wiped out every month with the cost I have done exactly the same when I was similar age on a BMW M3 and I hated the cost of the insurance and everything else that goes with it.

 

[45bvtc]

Over my 4 year apprenticeship it went - £50 / £80 / £110 / £140.. each year per week.. crazy money nowadays. Haha
I would have had to take finance out on a corgi model..

You gotta be kidding me; I was in single figures (an 18-year old student apprentice with the National Coal Board having spent an enjoyable 3-years as an art student) anticipating £650/annum at 21-years of age and dreaming of £1000/annum if ever...

 

[Terminator x]

My first ever car was a Mk 1 Golf GTi, cost £1400 to buy in the early 90's and £1500 to insure for the first year!

TX.

 

[Beebee-one]

My first ever car was a Mk 1 Golf GTi, cost £1400 to buy in the early 90's and £1500 to insure for the first year!

TX.

I cant even remember how much my insurance cost for my first car (Mk2 Escort 1600 Sport, followed by an RS2000 and a MK1 Golf GTi 1600), maybe the cost by todays standards is similar by comparison - but 4 grand, Jeeez!

 

[andyt99]

Well when I was 18 years old, I could have done a lot better stuff with £4000 than insure a car!

 

[Dtwm1]

Yes £4000 haha!!

I will definitely be doing that! My insurance first year was £2800 on a £900 Fiesta, then £2200 on a 63 plate Fiesta and finally with 1 year NCB my A3 S Line SB 1.4TFSi is £1100. Insurance has sky rocketed, if I wanted to insure my car now in the same scenario (6 months later after purchase) then it is £2600!!! It's crazy!! Next NCB I acquire will most likely take the insurance up by around £400 from the £1100, daylight robbery.

It's alright if I insured an RS3 now with 1 NCB at 18, they want £9500.

To me, being young and all about my cars I am willing to pay it for the pleasure of owning one. I still love at home and it will be at the end of my apprenticeship when I take delivery, got to treat myself somehow ;-)

Make you look at paying for it upfront vs. monthly. My insurance was £1,300 a year (price of being 23) but £6,750 ish if I paid monthly with the same company.

However I do think £4000 is a bit steep. I'm 22 and without sounding big headed earn good money for my age however I was using the RS3 that much I ended up bringing home cars from work to keep the milage/fuel down then wondering why I'm paying so much for a car to be sat outside my house. All costs were roughly £1k a month possibly slightly more, even though it was easily affordable the principle/opportunity cost lead to me getting really frustrated and trading it in for an A6 bi-tdi black ed. I will revisit the RS range again or possibly a cayman with a daily/company car along side but make sure you factor in all costs.

One last bit of advice "don't buy a car that puts a smile of the face of people you drive past if its making you or the ones you care about the most unhappy" Im not lecturing you but just some advice from someone in a similar situation and age group

 

[tankclark]

If I lived at home and had roughly £1000 a month disposable At your age id be getting in the property ladder, plenty of time for cars but each to their own

 

[Foxtrot_Oscar]

As someone the wrong side of 40 I have to say if you want some advice, forget the car and invest your disposable income in a large deposit for a house. I wish I had invested better when I was younger (but you don't do you, you get drunk every weekend and live hand to mouth). The RS3 is a great car but it is not worth all that cash in my opinion.

 

[Terminator x]

You need man maths @Foxtrot_Oscar otherwise we'd all be driving round in sh*tters and living in a castle!

TX.

 

[Foxtrot_Oscar]

You need man maths @Foxtrot_Oscar otherwise we'd all be driving round in sh*tters and living in a castle!

TX.

Hey the advice above will get ignored as he is young and knows better then us old gits. Just saying if I had it all to do again, I would save while his age with that amount of disposable, get the house secured and then splash on a car. Priorities. I didn't say the RS3 is not worth it to me, but to him with the huge costs of insurance at his age and £4K a year on insurance is silly in my opinion.

I am well versed in man maths and currently working on a TT RS plan...

 

[Terminator x]

The TTRS is a stunner no doubt, 2017 before it arrives?

TX.

 

[Foxtrot_Oscar]

Heard October for the first deliveries of the TT RS, but I'll still be saving my deposit. If it is too costly I can fall back on the PI RS3 which will be roughly the same time scale.

 

[AudiNutta]

That's crazy hold off for a few years and don't waste your money you could quite easily fall out with it after 6 months of getting your bank wiped out every month with the cost I have done exactly the same when I was similar age on a BMW M3 and I hated the cost of the insurance and everything else that goes with it.

I won't be bothered by it, I will be on twice as much money when it comes around and I pay £340 a month for my S Line now, so it works out.. Double the salary, double the car ;-)

 

[AudiNutta]

Well when I was 18 years old, I could have done a lot better stuff with £4000 than insure a car!

That's the thing, I don't drink, smoke or have any bad habits so to speak.. Except for energy drinks maybe ;-)

All my spare time is either spent with my girlfriend, in or cleaning the car.. Happy that way, it's not wasteful.. From a car guy POV. I see people in college with me who p*** away £150 a night most weekends.. No thanks! Yes Ara depreciate and are expensive, but I'm getting more for my money. I wouldn't be spending anymore than the average teen in my position is (I am in college with 20 of them), it's just mine is slightly more of an investment rather than alcohol.

 

[AudiNutta]

As someone the wrong side of 40 I have to say if you want some advice, forget the car and invest your disposable income in a large deposit for a house. I wish I had invested better when I was younger (but you don't do you, you get drunk every weekend and live hand to mouth). The RS3 is a great car but it is not worth all that cash in my opinion.

I understand believe me I do, as much as I like the idea of owning a house so early.. I've been dreaming of RS's since I've been a kid, I've been on here since I were 9 I believe.

I just want to do this while I can, then settle down.. I'm afraid that my position will change by the time I have a house and I wouldn't be able to afford one with a house anyway. I don't know where I'm going to be in 5 years time.... I'd rather not be full of regret and just stay at home a couple of years extra.

 

[AudiNutta]

You need man maths @Foxtrot_Oscar otherwise we'd all be driving round in sh*tters and living in a castle!

TX.

Agreed!! Man maths or every one of us would be here with nothing more than fantasies ;-)

 

[AndyB-S3]

Live for today my friend!! Do what makes you happy! ;-)

 

[Spaceman_RS3]

I was in same position as you nutta I done the sensible thing. Went and collected a brand new wrx 300 Impreza lol got house 8 months later I was lucky I could get 100% mortgage then in 2007 .
Alls good in the end and I enjoyed all my cars there's been a lot.

 

[AudiNutta]

I was in same position as you nutta I done the sensible thing. Went and collected a brand new wrx 300 Impreza lol got house 8 months later I was lucky I could get 100% mortgage then in 2007 .
Alls good in the end and I enjoyed all my cars there's been a lot.

Sounds like you got it the right way around ;-) Having this car, I will be much pickier with a house with regards to location and garage etc, so I doubt I could do it in 8 months but we will see.

 

[Jacob webster23]

I know exactly how you feel audinutta, I'm 20 and currently own a S3 that I collected September last year but I'm utterly obsessed with the RS3 and although I could make the decision to place the order tomorrow, getting on the property ladder is far more important to me. I certainly believe that life is too short and you should do what makes you happy but sometimes within reason & £4000 a year just for insurance is a lot of money, in fact well over double my insurance for my S3. However im sure you will be incredibly happy Should you choose to proceed