I got bored of trying to get a test drive in a 1.4, manual. I wanted to buy in Elegance trim but dealers around here couldn't get the engine and gearbox I wanted for a testdrive. I was able to drive the 1.4 in an automatic, but couldn't test the manual gearbox. So....A3 sportback on order.

 

Sounds like you just preferred an Audi...

 

The gearbox on the A3 and the Octavia would be identical so I don't see that as a reason for not taking the Skoda? 

 

OP hope you get a good deal on the L&K! Having had a read of the forums, sounds like some people have been getting good prices from a dealer in Liverpool?

Edited 29 July, 201411 yr by lostp

I got bored of trying to get a test drive in a 1.4, manual. I wanted to buy in Elegance trim but dealers around here couldn't get the engine and gearbox I wanted for a testdrive. I was able to drive the 1.4 in an automatic, but couldn't test the manual gearbox. So....A3 sportback on order.

Thats because you were bucking the intention of the Elegance especially with the TSI, its all about effortless motion and when you want to liven things up, just pull back the DSG level push it to the left to change semi-manual.  Oh and if you forget to change up, don't worry it'll do it for you at the redline, as family cars go its a very good compromise and the DSG box saves you £70 p.a. on road tax now whilst not an Audi, mines only £266.57 p.m. on a 42 month PCP.  I'm not sure how that sizes upto the A3

 

In addition, OP remember with a DTUK tuning box on a 1.4 TSI you get 182PSI and having seen one at http://www.thephirm.co.uk/ 207PSI is very easily acheived from the 1.4 but, if you've gotta have that 1.8 your world will be very brown.

 

But, each to their own I guess.

Edited 29 July, 201411 yr by themanwithnoaim

I was happy to testdrive the S or SE .... it was the combination of 1.4 petrol and manual gear box that I wanted to test. The engine is tuned differently to the Audi, and it was this that I wanted to test.

I found it pretty easy to test drive a demonstrator 2.0TDi when I started out looking at buying new, but the 1.4TSi was not available and the dealer showed no interest in finding one for me (not that I pushed that hard). In the end a different local dealer had a number of used cars for sale, so I test drove a 1-yr old 1.4TSi and decided to buy that very one and pocket the discount.

I was happy to testdrive the S or SE .... it was the combination of 1.4 petrol and manual gear box that I wanted to test. The engine is tuned differently to the Audi, and it was this that I wanted to test.

Hmmm... 10 extra horses or the COD business saving you £80 p.a. in road tax personally, due to family comitments I need the 55% bigger boot of the O3.

 

 

I found it pretty easy to test drive a demonstrator 2.0TDi when I started out looking at buying new, but the 1.4TSi was not available and the dealer showed no interest in finding one for me (not that I pushed that hard). In the end a different local dealer had a number of used cars for sale, so I test drove a 1-yr old 1.4TSi and decided to buy that very one and pocket the discount.

and saved yourself what 5 or 6 grand, very nice if you can afford it, I did work out the 0% PCP saved me about 3 grand had to be ordered before 2014 though to get those rates.

Well, I wasn't actually comparing apples with apples, as I probably would have ordered an SE if I'd gone for a new one. I saved 3 grand compared to the best web broker price that I could find for an SE (including a couple of options) and upgraded myself to Elegance at the same time. Although I consider the larger rims to be unnecessary and undesirable I couldn't really turn down everything else on offer with the Elegance spec.

 

Not 100% sure how it compares to list price but it must be at least 6 grand off if not a bit more.

 

Do the folks taking the PCP ever look at bank loans? I had some stuff through the door the other day suggesting I could get a personal loan from a high street bank for around 4% APR. Surely with a discount for being a cash buyer this could be a good option, although there's probably a significant chance that I'm not in the category that get's the advertised rate!

Do the folks taking the PCP ever look at bank loans? I had some stuff through the door the other day suggesting I could get a personal loan from a high street bank for around 4% APR. Surely with a discount for being a cash buyer this could be a good option, although there's probably a significant chance that I'm not in the category that get's the advertised rate!

Hmmm..  Dunno about you or me but, SWMBO applied for something simular and as a married, chartered account, aged over 30, in the 40% tax category with 70% equity in our own home she didn't qualifiy for the headline rate but, was offered a special reduction to 10.9%p.a.  She declined, dunno why oh yeah I do it was because she can count.

 

I too liked the Elegance when looking at the SE, the rims were important to me but the width not the diameter, 225's feel way better than 205's in the wet.  Having already had an Elegance I knew I'd miss the arm rest (ok now in SE spec), dimming mirror and poke-through from boot hole for DIY timber, what I didn't know was just how civilised the Elegance interior feels, a sea of tranquility well, until the road clears I engage sport and semi-auto on the DSG and rag-it the MOFO to within an inch of its life. 

 

Sorry, thats something else I like about the PCP, I have no intention of keeping the car.

 

Enjoy yours

 

Regards

T

I think APR means that at least half the people must get the advertised rate... have to wonder which 50% of the population the bank considered a better credit risk than your other half mate!    Bizarre...

Sorry, thats something else I like about the PCP, I have no intention of keeping the car.

 

 No need to apologise to me, it's your car!

 

You and I are very different though, my last car lasted almost 6 years and I only swapped it because I needed more space (specifically boot space).