2008 A3 delivery dates
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 906
From:
RE: 2008 A3 delivery dates
I'd be interested to hear more about the 'Rex-- color/transmission/package/etc. I test drove one with a buddy a while back when he was shopping for a new car. I was pretty impressed with the new gen, still prefer the A3 though. My buddy had the financing and everything worked out, ready to take it home that day, but when he called for insurance the quote was more per month than the car payment! All's well that ends well though, he ended up with an A4.
Anyway though, let's hear about the WRX! Got any pics while you're at it?
Anyway though, let's hear about the WRX! Got any pics while you're at it?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 133
From:
RE: 2008 A3 delivery dates
mrvumi--my negotiating tactic was to solicit bids on a car exactly the way I wanted, straight from the factory. It means you have to wait ~3 months to get it (and be vulnerable to flaky dealerships, like Prestige), but if you're lucky you can get the dealerships bidding down to your price.
BAMF--I got a dark grey metallic 08 Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback with automatic transmission (which also requires the Premium Package). I decided to take whatever was on the lot, so I also got stuck with the auto-dimming mirror with compass and HomeLink, as well as a shock sensor for the security system and an extended center armrest. I used the same tactic as with the Audi dealers: I contacted every dealer in the state and asked for bids. After some mucking around with an incompetent dealer in Boulder, I bought it from a dealership in Colorado Springs for ~$1,100 under invoice. (These 2008 models are brand-new, just arrived in September.)
Anyway, I've driven it only ~50 miles (I try not to drive so much), but it has been great. Chef is right that getting a new car is fun! It's really powerful, and even though I sissied out by getting the automatic transmission, it also has a sport-shift mode where you can change the gears yourself, minus the hassle of dealing with the clutch, so that's nice too. You can even turn off the electronic stability control, if you want to slide through corners or whatever. Keep in mind that I've only taken the A3 on a test-drive, but my sense is that the A3 has a stiffer suspension than the WRX, but the WRX seems to have much more straight-line acceleration (than the 3.2 V6 A3). (I didn't test the A3 on tight corners, and I've been babying the WRX so far too.) The WRX also makes a more satisfying engine growl!
As for the amenities, I'm right at home in the WRX. As I said in an earlier thread, I prefer cloth to leather (animal welfare and all that), and I like the simple lines of the WRX interior, and to be honest I found the aluminum trim in the A3 interior kind of distracting and excessive.
Last, but not least, here's a link to some pics of my Scooby-Rex:
http://www.flickr.com/gp/16329871@N00/L7v647
(I know many people think the new WRX looks really ugly. I basically agree. But somehow that makes me love the car all the more!)
BAMF--I got a dark grey metallic 08 Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback with automatic transmission (which also requires the Premium Package). I decided to take whatever was on the lot, so I also got stuck with the auto-dimming mirror with compass and HomeLink, as well as a shock sensor for the security system and an extended center armrest. I used the same tactic as with the Audi dealers: I contacted every dealer in the state and asked for bids. After some mucking around with an incompetent dealer in Boulder, I bought it from a dealership in Colorado Springs for ~$1,100 under invoice. (These 2008 models are brand-new, just arrived in September.)
Anyway, I've driven it only ~50 miles (I try not to drive so much), but it has been great. Chef is right that getting a new car is fun! It's really powerful, and even though I sissied out by getting the automatic transmission, it also has a sport-shift mode where you can change the gears yourself, minus the hassle of dealing with the clutch, so that's nice too. You can even turn off the electronic stability control, if you want to slide through corners or whatever. Keep in mind that I've only taken the A3 on a test-drive, but my sense is that the A3 has a stiffer suspension than the WRX, but the WRX seems to have much more straight-line acceleration (than the 3.2 V6 A3). (I didn't test the A3 on tight corners, and I've been babying the WRX so far too.) The WRX also makes a more satisfying engine growl!
As for the amenities, I'm right at home in the WRX. As I said in an earlier thread, I prefer cloth to leather (animal welfare and all that), and I like the simple lines of the WRX interior, and to be honest I found the aluminum trim in the A3 interior kind of distracting and excessive.
Last, but not least, here's a link to some pics of my Scooby-Rex:
http://www.flickr.com/gp/16329871@N00/L7v647
(I know many people think the new WRX looks really ugly. I basically agree. But somehow that makes me love the car all the more!)
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 133
From:
RE: 2008 A3 delivery dates
ORIGINAL: mrvuml
One thing that irritates me about Subarus are the plethora of "mandatory" options (amounting to $1500-2000) that they chose to include and can't be removed even if ordering from the factory.
One thing that irritates me about Subarus are the plethora of "mandatory" options (amounting to $1500-2000) that they chose to include and can't be removed even if ordering from the factory.
In contrast, all the available Audis I saw came packaged with ~$4,000 of stuff I didn't want, so ten times as bad. Of course, Subaru makes you get the $2,000 "Premium" package if you want an automatic transmission, but Audi does even worse on that front too: if you want AWD, you essentially have to get the S-line package and lots of other junk, and then pay an extra few thousand dollars premium on top of that!
Anyway, good luck with your purchase ordeal. If you happen to get the black/grey 08 A3 I cancelled, I hope you give it a good home.
