Joined
·
44 Posts
Wanted an Evoque ordered a Q3.Please reassure me I have done the right thing!
Audi Q3 S Line 140 TDI manual 2WD Daytona Grey
Hello All and greetings from sunny Bournemouth. Don't let the word Evoque put you off reading this post - I just seek reassurance!
Choosing and buying a new car should be a pleasurable experience but on this occasion It's been a bit of a nightmare and as ridiculous as it sounds Its caused me a few sleepless nights. I shall explain.
Throughout my car owning life I have always chosen cars with style and excitement first and practicality second because I could. From my first car a Peugeot 205 GTI, to Mini Cabriolet to my current model a BMW 1 Series convertible. However in the past 18 months my life has changed irreversibly. Yes in the space of just over a year I have accumulated two Labrador puppies, one daughter and now another baby on the way. Suddenly my car choice has to change. However no fear there was a stylish but practical car out there for me in the name of the Range Rover Evoque!
My work has history with LR and RR not at the footballers wife RR Sport end of the range but with conservative Vogues and do it all Discovery's so I have always had an infinity to the brand as I ridiculously believe it reflects my old fashioned view of what it is to be British! So just over a year ago when I saw the first Evoque OTR I knew I had to have one some day when circumstances dictated. Therefore on the day my wife told me she was pregnant again of course my first call was to the local LR dealer and I was soon borrowing an Evoque for a day and loving it. Yes I was slightly concerned that its reputation might go the way of the RR Sport but I felt if I chose a conservative colour and no flashy options I could keep my decorum.
So you may ask why am I on an Audi forum banging on about RR's. Well my problems started when I went in to the dealer to order the car and discuss finance. I had done my ball park calculations on the usual PCP rate for executive brands of around 8% and based on what BMW had offered to part exchange my car for. However it turns out that RR don't need to sell Evoques to the likes of me who can only just afford the cheapest model. As such three hideous factors derailed my dream; a finance rate of 13%, a part exchange rate of my BMW 15% lower than what BMW offered me and absolutely no discount so don't ask. Suddenly my dream was slipping
I went home confused and started furiously researching the Internet to try and find a way to make the thing affordable. Clearly I had to sell my car privately to get that part of it sorted but also needed to find cheaper finance. In doing so I discovered two things. Two puppies, one 9 month old baby and a pregnant wife (not to mention a very stressful job that requires travelling a lot) do not lend themselves to selling a car privately. Secondly independent car brokers are in the main not transparent as they advertise an amazing rate on their website but when you actually speak to them that rate strangely is not available and the rate they were offering me was only 0.5% better than RR once all their fees had been added on. I even considered leasing but I discovered that lease companies operate in the same way as the aforementioned finance brokers (eg website rate £330pm actual rate available (£420 per month).
Disheartened I felt the time had come to consider other options. Over the years I have had two short but sweet experiences with the Audi brand. One about 10 years ago when I flittered with buying a TT (in the days before they were a hairdressers car) but got cold feet at the price and then recently when I hired a car for work and was upgraded to an A5. What struck me about both experiences was the feeling of quality, refinement and comfort that came with both. When researching the Evoque of corse many reviewers also mention the Q3 as being a more than able alternative with less appealing styling but equal in every other way but one a cheaper price tag. My own experiences and the reviewers comments led me to visit Poole Audi for a test drive. On first site I loved the interior, the drive, the refinement, the quality of build and the general class of the thing. However I felt a bit underwhelmed at the exterior design compared to the head turning Evoque. However my wife reminded me that don't drive the car on the outside so I started taking finance. Suddenly my finance expectations were met; 7% PCP, a fair trade in value for my car and an 8% discount if I took a stock model (which was the spec and model I was interested in). I should have ordered there and then but something stopped me - its not an Evoque! Telling the dealer I would think about his offer I went back to RR and told them about the alternative option hoping they would move a bit towards my expectations. They said they could not but argued that because they set their GFV low then there would be a big residual left for me a the end as the difference between what it would be worth and then GFV would give me a decent level of equity. Of course this was not guaranteed.
Bottom line the difference between the two deals was Audi £8k cash back now but probably only worth about £1k more than the GFV at trade in presuming a 55% residual. RRE £2k cash back now but that it might be worth upto £5k above the GFV at the end at trade in based on a 60% residual. I checked these residual projection figures with What Car and Auto Car and both seemed to be reasonably realistic if perhaps at the top end of projections. Clearly on finances alone the Audi was a cheaper and safer choice. I also started noticing complaints from Evoque owners on their equivalent forum to this one that the boot space was too small as RR quote a measurement to the top of the boot space whereas all other car manufactures quote to the parcel shelf (q3 460L) so many Evoque owners have actually realised the boot is 400L and therefore no bigger than a regular compact hatchback. As boot space was the second priority to me after cost this worried me. More worrying though was that some owners were complaining that when they had gone to trade in their car due to their frustrations with space the so called class leading residuals were not on offer and they were about par for any other car in this sector. Reading this I went straight to Audi yesterday and paid my deposit safe in the knowledge that Im getting far better VFM a boot that is the size it's says and guaranteed equity at the level I' can afford.
That should be it and I should be content but Im not. The Evoque came to me in my dreams last night tempting me like that glamorous girl in the office who looks amazing but you know is out of bounds! Am I choosing to spurn a super model for the girl next door? You may be asking yourself why I'm still having this dilemma if affordability is such an issue and its because I could stretch to the extra cash for the Evoque but it would be tight, the Q3 will have no affect on my disposable income.
So it's the age old dilemma of desire v reality. The decision has been made worse by the fact that whilst I type this there is a bloody Evoque parked outside winking at me with its sexy body.
I have not signed any paper work with Audi yet but feel I should do so. Therefore can Q3 owners reassure me that I'm doing the right thing going for the Audi and spurning the Evoque. Will I enjoy it as much as you all do? Am I getting a good deal compared to what others have paid?
Sorry for the long ramblings, I needed to get it off my chest. Would appreciate all constructive replies.
Audi Q3 S Line 140 TDI manual 2WD Daytona Grey
Hello All and greetings from sunny Bournemouth. Don't let the word Evoque put you off reading this post - I just seek reassurance!
Choosing and buying a new car should be a pleasurable experience but on this occasion It's been a bit of a nightmare and as ridiculous as it sounds Its caused me a few sleepless nights. I shall explain.
Throughout my car owning life I have always chosen cars with style and excitement first and practicality second because I could. From my first car a Peugeot 205 GTI, to Mini Cabriolet to my current model a BMW 1 Series convertible. However in the past 18 months my life has changed irreversibly. Yes in the space of just over a year I have accumulated two Labrador puppies, one daughter and now another baby on the way. Suddenly my car choice has to change. However no fear there was a stylish but practical car out there for me in the name of the Range Rover Evoque!
My work has history with LR and RR not at the footballers wife RR Sport end of the range but with conservative Vogues and do it all Discovery's so I have always had an infinity to the brand as I ridiculously believe it reflects my old fashioned view of what it is to be British! So just over a year ago when I saw the first Evoque OTR I knew I had to have one some day when circumstances dictated. Therefore on the day my wife told me she was pregnant again of course my first call was to the local LR dealer and I was soon borrowing an Evoque for a day and loving it. Yes I was slightly concerned that its reputation might go the way of the RR Sport but I felt if I chose a conservative colour and no flashy options I could keep my decorum.
So you may ask why am I on an Audi forum banging on about RR's. Well my problems started when I went in to the dealer to order the car and discuss finance. I had done my ball park calculations on the usual PCP rate for executive brands of around 8% and based on what BMW had offered to part exchange my car for. However it turns out that RR don't need to sell Evoques to the likes of me who can only just afford the cheapest model. As such three hideous factors derailed my dream; a finance rate of 13%, a part exchange rate of my BMW 15% lower than what BMW offered me and absolutely no discount so don't ask. Suddenly my dream was slipping
I went home confused and started furiously researching the Internet to try and find a way to make the thing affordable. Clearly I had to sell my car privately to get that part of it sorted but also needed to find cheaper finance. In doing so I discovered two things. Two puppies, one 9 month old baby and a pregnant wife (not to mention a very stressful job that requires travelling a lot) do not lend themselves to selling a car privately. Secondly independent car brokers are in the main not transparent as they advertise an amazing rate on their website but when you actually speak to them that rate strangely is not available and the rate they were offering me was only 0.5% better than RR once all their fees had been added on. I even considered leasing but I discovered that lease companies operate in the same way as the aforementioned finance brokers (eg website rate £330pm actual rate available (£420 per month).
Disheartened I felt the time had come to consider other options. Over the years I have had two short but sweet experiences with the Audi brand. One about 10 years ago when I flittered with buying a TT (in the days before they were a hairdressers car) but got cold feet at the price and then recently when I hired a car for work and was upgraded to an A5. What struck me about both experiences was the feeling of quality, refinement and comfort that came with both. When researching the Evoque of corse many reviewers also mention the Q3 as being a more than able alternative with less appealing styling but equal in every other way but one a cheaper price tag. My own experiences and the reviewers comments led me to visit Poole Audi for a test drive. On first site I loved the interior, the drive, the refinement, the quality of build and the general class of the thing. However I felt a bit underwhelmed at the exterior design compared to the head turning Evoque. However my wife reminded me that don't drive the car on the outside so I started taking finance. Suddenly my finance expectations were met; 7% PCP, a fair trade in value for my car and an 8% discount if I took a stock model (which was the spec and model I was interested in). I should have ordered there and then but something stopped me - its not an Evoque! Telling the dealer I would think about his offer I went back to RR and told them about the alternative option hoping they would move a bit towards my expectations. They said they could not but argued that because they set their GFV low then there would be a big residual left for me a the end as the difference between what it would be worth and then GFV would give me a decent level of equity. Of course this was not guaranteed.
Bottom line the difference between the two deals was Audi £8k cash back now but probably only worth about £1k more than the GFV at trade in presuming a 55% residual. RRE £2k cash back now but that it might be worth upto £5k above the GFV at the end at trade in based on a 60% residual. I checked these residual projection figures with What Car and Auto Car and both seemed to be reasonably realistic if perhaps at the top end of projections. Clearly on finances alone the Audi was a cheaper and safer choice. I also started noticing complaints from Evoque owners on their equivalent forum to this one that the boot space was too small as RR quote a measurement to the top of the boot space whereas all other car manufactures quote to the parcel shelf (q3 460L) so many Evoque owners have actually realised the boot is 400L and therefore no bigger than a regular compact hatchback. As boot space was the second priority to me after cost this worried me. More worrying though was that some owners were complaining that when they had gone to trade in their car due to their frustrations with space the so called class leading residuals were not on offer and they were about par for any other car in this sector. Reading this I went straight to Audi yesterday and paid my deposit safe in the knowledge that Im getting far better VFM a boot that is the size it's says and guaranteed equity at the level I' can afford.
That should be it and I should be content but Im not. The Evoque came to me in my dreams last night tempting me like that glamorous girl in the office who looks amazing but you know is out of bounds! Am I choosing to spurn a super model for the girl next door? You may be asking yourself why I'm still having this dilemma if affordability is such an issue and its because I could stretch to the extra cash for the Evoque but it would be tight, the Q3 will have no affect on my disposable income.
So it's the age old dilemma of desire v reality. The decision has been made worse by the fact that whilst I type this there is a bloody Evoque parked outside winking at me with its sexy body.
I have not signed any paper work with Audi yet but feel I should do so. Therefore can Q3 owners reassure me that I'm doing the right thing going for the Audi and spurning the Evoque. Will I enjoy it as much as you all do? Am I getting a good deal compared to what others have paid?
Sorry for the long ramblings, I needed to get it off my chest. Would appreciate all constructive replies.