Re: Audi Q3 : Official Review Hello Akshay and S350L-E240.
Yup, I like the Skoda interiors quite a lot and I love the greater sense of space plus the high stance/ seating position.
Yes, I think the X1 and 320 D I saw were the Corporate editions which we all know are not so great and perhaps this is thus, not a fair comparo.
I love Audi's handling, not least because a large chap like me can fit nicely in the car and thus appreciate its handling all the more.
In the Beemer I find I m so hemmed in and things keep poking me here and there which detracts from the enjoyment of the steering and handling.
Im one of those who needs to be completely comfy inside a car before I can get to the handling bits. Being physically quite long and wide, this can be a bit of a challenge in the snugger fitting automobiles. (Maybe this is only psychological and maybe those particular Beemers that I saw and sat in and so on, were not adjusted perfectly for me, I dont know!)
Having said this, the Q3 is a BRILLIANT machine. Just the right size, very comfortable to sit in, get in and out of. It has a really lovely design (some one said Q5 x 75- 80% and he was pretty bang on), beautiful looks and just perfect for my kind of needs. The price at 44 lacs for the higher version 2 litre TDi, is way way expensive though, despite the Quattro etc.
My grouse is that this vehicle would be purchased in the same trim for the equivalent of about 30 lacs on road in Eur, UK or Aus so paying out the extra 14 lacs for the privilege of buying one in India, seems to me, rather excessive. However, for those who have the budget, one can pay a downpayment of 13.5 lacs and sign off on a monthly EMI of 65000 odd and drive away in the vehicle! Once the CKD happens, I guess the price could reduce a few lacs? Even if we have to pay a premium of 5-6 lacs over the International pricing, that would be ok, but NOT a premium of 14 lacs!
I went and fiddled with the Q3 at Audi Bangalore yesterday morning - spent a reasonable amount of time with it and I find it a perfect potential upgrade from the Yeti, whenever the time is right. It is like an A3 hatchback on stilts. Its just one half size bigger than the Yeti and is simply brilliant overall - like wearing a 10.5 shoe vs 11 Size - I like 11 Size for comfort! Excellent boot space and I am sure it will pass my golf bag test from my visual inspection. 450-460 litre boot is perfectly fine. The rear parcel shelf which slides/ slots in is a good thing, compared with the Yeti where it hooks on to the hatch door. I wish though, that the Q3 parcel shelf was of that retractable nylon type like the Subaru Forester etc. Having said this, the load bearing capacity of the current Q3 shelf is likely to be better.
I love the fact that one can get Black interiors with the Q3 in the Silver Metallic colour. I love that MMI interface which pops up! The paint quality is delicious and I also love the texture of leathers used in it and I absolutely LOVE the brushed aluminium mesh trims for the insides.A good thing is the 7 speed S Tronic gearbox. No DSG in this Q3 it seems! Electronic Parking brake is very handy and easy. Good invention. Cruise control is also greatly appreciated. One more thing I could NOT find was the iPod jack and the salesman didnt know where it was - I need to peer closely at the brochure.
Indeed the 2 different Audi A4 1.8 TSi AT Multitronic - regular and wagon types, that I rented in Australia didnt have iPod connectivity at all so we listened to cd and radio most of the time - which frankly wasnt so bad because the music stations there are pretty nice from my perspective - constantly playing 1970's-80's Jazz like Grover Washington and classic rock like Little River Band and so on.
The vehicle is very very much like the VW Tiguan but of course a notch or three above, in terms of everything inside etc. Even the paint job shrieks quality at you.
I totally agree they should stop banging on with that orange specimen and focus on one of the quieter colours instead. The greys and silvers etc look mean, purposeful and seem filled with a quiet menace and aggression, even when sitting still.
This is without a doubt, destined to be a runaway hit in India - it will surely outsell the X1's of the world, not least because it looks better, but because it offers so much more for a reasonable price differential, not least, the Quattro!
Another 6 months to one year and we will see a large number of these buzzing around, no doubt. The initial ration of 50 No's to Audi BLR are already booked out. 40 are already pre-booked / part-paid so if anyone wants one from the remaining 10 that are left, they need to waddle along to the dealership fairly quickly, clutching their chequebooks and fountain pens!
All in all, to me, a bl**dy good car!
Another good thing is that 3-5 years from now there will be a reasonable number of used examples of all these vehicles - the Q5, Q3 etc, readily available and can be (Im sure) snapped up at relatively reasonable prices - say 35-40% cheaper than right now?
But there is a certain joy in buying brand new - my slight regret is that while I absolutely love that Q3, I dont seem to be able to be an early adopter in these matters, am only able to follow along a little later!
ENdit!
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Last edited by shankar.balan : 11th June 2012 at 05:47.
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