[Mark67]

</font>Hi All,<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />

</font>Yippee the wait is over. Having placed my order on
10^th 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>

 

[MikeM]

Mark...happy motoring...you will love the Q3 it is a great allround package

 

[Contrition]

It sounds like you've had an unexpected bonus on the seats, good to hear you haven't had any vibration problems as well. I hope you enjoy many happy miles!

 

[pekX2to]

Congratulations! looking forward to the pictures.

 

[SETIG]

Good to see another Monsoon owner. Hope you enjoy the Q3 experience as much as we do!

 

[auchh]

Congrats and enjoy your new car! I had the same problem regarding moving the dial in the wrong direction to go up and down the menu. More used to it now.
Post some photos soon!

 

[Jules]

Welcome aboard!
Yes, I think we all turn the dial the wrong way now and again...

 

[reilsab]

Welcome Mark, cracking car you've grabbed yourself there

I was turning that dial the wrong way for weeks, still do!!

 

[Mark67]

I'm glad that it's not just me whose been turning the dial the wrong way.

 

[Morse Man]

Hi Mark, Many congrats and hopefully many years of happy motoring!Another Monsoon Grey to the growing army!!

 

[Mark67]

At last, almost two weeks since delivery and this is the first sunny day we've had. I did not realise that by ordering Monsoon that Audi actually delivered the same weather. I guess on this basis Glacier White or Ice SIlver may have been worse

.Anyway after 750 miles and it's first clean here are the promised pictures to add to the growing gallery of our Q3s

 

[reilsab]

Fantastic looking car you have there Mark

I hope the dry weather continues into the weekend, not washed mine since I got it 5 weeks ago and it's gradually changing from white to grey

 

[Mark67]

Thanks Reilsab, I'm very pleased with it.

 

[SteveW]

Looks great Mark.
What a bonus with the seats, I had alcantara on an A4 and much preferred it to the sprint cloth and is no problem to look after.
As you've probably read on other threads, the 'lifeshine' is worth it but only if you pay the right money and that's certainly not dealership prices. I paid £70 for just the exterior done by my valeter and the water beading is fantastic and my previous cars with it have kept an almost glasslike finish for the duration of ownership. I always think that the poor dealer valeters are on pittance so can't see them taking too much care (in my opinion!). My valeter advises against interior guard as it can hamper any deep cleaning you may need.
Make sure you check your shut gaps

 

[Mark67]

Hi Steve, thank you. I checked all the gaps when I collected and thankfully all are even and the fuel cap is flush to the body. Sadly I fell for the sales pitch and took the lifeshine inside and out. It seems to have been applied well as no swirls are visable in the sun, next time I'll get it done myself though and save some cash.