Audi RS3: Delivery Miles
How to get a discount and jump the queue for Audi's latest RS hotshot
I'm not surprised. The RS3 is easily the quickest of the current tranche of super-hatchbacks, thanks to a reworked 367hp version of Audi's 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine and widespread aluminiumisation to keep weight down. 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds is a mighty benchmark, but it's the in-gear performance that I'll remember most vividly, combined with the evocative sound from the exhaust.
Beat the waiting list without premium? Win-win!
With original RS3s still fetching at least £26K, the new car looks good value at £39,950 on the road - even though the new one won't be a 'limited edition' like the original RS3 '8P' (2011-2012), of which just 750 examples were imported into the UK. In contrast, there are no limits on the new '8V' one, so there will definitely be less exclusivity.
The first ones are arriving in the UK as we speak, but I'm told that if you order an RS3 today, you'll probably have a wait of around six months to take delivery.
But what about in the classifieds? Surprisingly enough, you shouldn't have to pay a premium to get yourself into one - in fact, I've even found them at discount. And you can jump the current waiting list. Here's how.
Insert 'warble' comment here
The cheapest RS3 I could find comes from UK Car Broker, which is offering a price of £37,665 on the day I checked. That's a healthy saving of £2,330 on list.
An official Audi dealer is offering a Panther Black RS3 with an estimated delivery of September or October, at £39,955. Bang on list price for an early delivery? I think a few RS fans might be tempted...
Except, perhaps, that it's base spec. The same dealer has an RS3 with a much more generous spec that will surely prove more popular. I went on Audi's configurator to spec a car to the same standard and it's well over £50K. From what I hear, that's very typical of RS3 orders so far. This is a Glacier White car with Dynamic Pack, Super Sports seats, Technology Pack, panoramic glass sunroof, 19-inch Rotor alloys and loads more. Price: £52,975.
Options will help resale...
Back to 'my' test car and as usual with Audi it comes with lots of tasty options. Easily the most significant is Dynamic Package Plus (£2,495) which gives you Magnetic Ride dampers, an amazing-sounding dual-branch exhaust system and a 174mph top speed derestriction. Add on Super Sport seats (£795), red calipers (£325), high gloss black styling pack (£695), carbon engine cover (£495) and gloss 19in wheels (£895) plus fantastic-looking Sepang Blue paint, and you have a £51,185 car.
A pretty similar-spec Sepang Blue car is in fact up for grabs as an ex-demo, at what looks like decent value (£46,300). But it's the delivery date that's likely to pique buyers' interest: it's available from September 14 2015. With Spring 2016 delivery dates being quoted to many potential new-order owners, that's a strong incentive for someone, even if you won't be the first owner in the logbook and the mileage won't be zero.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...
If you want to be the fastest Audi with an automatic geaarbox and space for all the family save money and have a 767bhp RS6
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Good to see impartial journalism here
Can anyone really see 750 'limited to as many as we can sell' editions being bought at such a stupidly high cost?
Wait 6 months, go to drivethedeal and there will be £10k off these cars.
(This message was NOT sponsored by Audi)
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