</font>Hi All,<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
ffice
ffice" />
</font>Yippee the wait is over. Having placed my order on
10<sup>th</sup> September yesterday was collection day. We arrived a bit early and
found the team at Crawley Audi mid-way putting the fitted cover over the car, which caused us all some amusement. I was slightly anxious as a result of the
front end vibration issues that some have experienced and had been in conversation
about this with the dealership beforehand. Thankfully so far so good and a test drive,
before handing over the payment balance did not produce any issues.
</font>Due to an error on someone's behalf I was informed
ahead of collection that instead of the ordered cloth sports seats, that
Alcantara sports seats had been fitted. This was a nice freebie, they do look
good but I'm slightly concerned about looking after them. This added to what I thought was a good deal
in the first place.
</font>First impressions are very good. I love the higher
driving position and the increased light beam from the Xenon lights. I do many
miles on unlit and fast A roads and I'm looking forward to the 80 miles commute
back tomorrow to see how they really perform. The suspension feels great, but I
am coming from a Honda Civic which really bashed through every hole in the road
surface.
</font>The LED interior lighting is funky, but a bit of a
novelty. The Bose speakers sound nice but not as impressive as I hoped they
would be. I had them fitted in a
previous A3 and remember being impressed when I first heard them.
</font>I like the dipping nearside wing mirror when
reverse is selected, very useful and the fact the mirrors don't auto fold with
the ignition suits my needs well, i.e. parking close against the wall of my home
or the hedge, as I can fold, reverse and get nice and close.
</font>I'm still getting used to all the settings and
buttons, but it seems quite intuitive. Currently I keep turning the rotary
pushbutton the wrong way. For some
reason I want to turn the button clockwise to move down a menu listing, must be
a hangover from owning an ipod classic for many years. The car came with the
red connector for the ipod and album art is showing nicely, as it does from the
SD card also. Still yet to really use the phone and cruise control and I'm
beginning to wish I had gone for the satnav. I didn't because of price and that
I have a Garmin that is only a couple of years old, I expect I'll end up retro
fitting the SD card version sometime soon.
</font>I went for the Vehicle Protection Plan at £399 and
not sure it was worth it. This covered the exterior paintwork and interior upholstery
and carpets. Of course the car looked
lovely and shiny yesterday in the showroom as you'd expect, but I was expecting
more water beading as a result of the continual rain we've had since I
collected. It also turns out to be an Inchcape (Audi dealership) VPP that uses ‘the
UK's leading treatment', so I'm not sure what has been used.
</font>The Team at Crawley Audi have been great. I was
treated very well from start to finish and communication and expectation
setting was spot on.
</font>Just had another look out the window to see her on
the drive, I love it and I'm looking forwarding to covering many miles in what
I believe is a great car.
</font>Photos to follow as soon as the rain stops and the
sun comes out and that might be a while!
</font>
</font>Yippee the wait is over. Having placed my order on
10<sup>th</sup> September yesterday was collection day. We arrived a bit early and
found the team at Crawley Audi mid-way putting the fitted cover over the car, which caused us all some amusement. I was slightly anxious as a result of the
front end vibration issues that some have experienced and had been in conversation
about this with the dealership beforehand. Thankfully so far so good and a test drive,
before handing over the payment balance did not produce any issues.
</font>Due to an error on someone's behalf I was informed
ahead of collection that instead of the ordered cloth sports seats, that
Alcantara sports seats had been fitted. This was a nice freebie, they do look
good but I'm slightly concerned about looking after them. This added to what I thought was a good deal
in the first place.
</font>First impressions are very good. I love the higher
driving position and the increased light beam from the Xenon lights. I do many
miles on unlit and fast A roads and I'm looking forward to the 80 miles commute
back tomorrow to see how they really perform. The suspension feels great, but I
am coming from a Honda Civic which really bashed through every hole in the road
surface.
</font>The LED interior lighting is funky, but a bit of a
novelty. The Bose speakers sound nice but not as impressive as I hoped they
would be. I had them fitted in a
previous A3 and remember being impressed when I first heard them.
</font>I like the dipping nearside wing mirror when
reverse is selected, very useful and the fact the mirrors don't auto fold with
the ignition suits my needs well, i.e. parking close against the wall of my home
or the hedge, as I can fold, reverse and get nice and close.
</font>I'm still getting used to all the settings and
buttons, but it seems quite intuitive. Currently I keep turning the rotary
pushbutton the wrong way. For some
reason I want to turn the button clockwise to move down a menu listing, must be
a hangover from owning an ipod classic for many years. The car came with the
red connector for the ipod and album art is showing nicely, as it does from the
SD card also. Still yet to really use the phone and cruise control and I'm
beginning to wish I had gone for the satnav. I didn't because of price and that
I have a Garmin that is only a couple of years old, I expect I'll end up retro
fitting the SD card version sometime soon.
</font>I went for the Vehicle Protection Plan at £399 and
not sure it was worth it. This covered the exterior paintwork and interior upholstery
and carpets. Of course the car looked
lovely and shiny yesterday in the showroom as you'd expect, but I was expecting
more water beading as a result of the continual rain we've had since I
collected. It also turns out to be an Inchcape (Audi dealership) VPP that uses ‘the
UK's leading treatment', so I'm not sure what has been used.
</font>The Team at Crawley Audi have been great. I was
treated very well from start to finish and communication and expectation
setting was spot on.
</font>Just had another look out the window to see her on
the drive, I love it and I'm looking forwarding to covering many miles in what
I believe is a great car.
</font>Photos to follow as soon as the rain stops and the
sun comes out and that might be a while!
</font>