Ordered a new car for the first time - A3 e-tron
- Thread starter Abraham
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My Ampera has been great over the four months I've had it. I'm surprised that the Audi e-tron requires the engine engages at a set speed (50mph did you say?) The Ampera will run exclusively on its battery until depleted - regardless of how you drive.
However the Ampera won't be up to the fit and finish of the Audi, that's for certain.
However the Ampera won't be up to the fit and finish of the Audi, that's for certain.
No, can't say I considered the Ampera, I've got personal bad experience with vauxhalls that inherently puts me off them.
It doesn't kick in at a fixed speed, it kicks in when you put your foot down if that's the mode you have it in. If you run in pure electric then it will run electric until the battery dies, or you can leave it in auto, in which case it will always start in electric and switch to petrol when it's more efficient to do so or when you put your foot down it will use both, if you have it in recharge/petrol only mode then it obviously doesn't use electricity (save the usual)
It doesn't kick in at a fixed speed, it kicks in when you put your foot down if that's the mode you have it in. If you run in pure electric then it will run electric until the battery dies, or you can leave it in auto, in which case it will always start in electric and switch to petrol when it's more efficient to do so or when you put your foot down it will use both, if you have it in recharge/petrol only mode then it obviously doesn't use electricity (save the usual)
I have a new a3 1.4 (150) sline stronic its a good work car for what I need extras wise defiantly recommend the b&o speakers best extra I've had on a car by far also the led lights are very very good.
Edit : audi website saying range is 31 miles on the electric motor. Had a look at the brochure now and it does look impressive but 580 mile range mine does near 500 without the electric motor and think mine was 27k when ordered. Could you of had the s3?
Edit : audi website saying range is 31 miles on the electric motor. Had a look at the brochure now and it does look impressive but 580 mile range mine does near 500 without the electric motor and think mine was 27k when ordered. Could you of had the s3?
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I was considering the B&O speakers, does the auto volume adjustment on them work well? LEDs are standard on the e-tron, as are most of the tech options I'd have been looking at.
I could have had the S3, and had a more fun drive, but been paying £150 a month for fuel I just won't be using with the e-tron. That range is on a significantly smaller tank than the standard 1.4.
I could have had the S3, and had a more fun drive, but been paying £150 a month for fuel I just won't be using with the e-tron. That range is on a significantly smaller tank than the standard 1.4.
Yeh the auto volume does work very well Ive had it on since I picked the car up, the soundstage is just mind blowing I've had harmon K and Bose in various cars in the past but this is just a massive step up for a hatchback. Only cost me something like a extra 10 a month on my nhs lease.
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EV owners / prospective owners - join the SpeakEV forum if you haven't already 
Don't forget the extra 300kg of battery making it very heavy for a small car. I still think it's going to be long time to get the returns on the extra capital (£5-10k?) over a normal power train. But would be interested to see the payback and real life mpg. Although sounds like OP has a free commute.
I also imagine it's residuals would be less than a diesel ? But that's just guessing
For my usage profile the Ampera's (up to) 50 mile range works beautifully - I've used 4.5 gallons of petrol over 1800 miles which equates to 400 MPG (obviously that's not counting the cost of the electrical charge). The cold weather really does have a negative effect on the battery range though, as I've gone from circa 50 miles per charge to barely achieving 30 on days where it doesn't get above 4 degrees or so.
I do find it interesting how technically differently the manufacturers are utilising plug-in-hybrid tech. The Ampera uses the petrol engine as a generator and therefore doesn't have a conventional gearbox (and having a single gear is definitely fun and smooth in use). I see the Audi has a traditional auto box in between - I assume this has both benefits and drawbacks.
I don't blame you in the slightest. This is my first Vauxhall and the dealer experience has been by far my worst in 25 years of driving, sadly. Everything from the car-prep to the after sales service has been appalling (the windscreen washers didn't work at all when I collected it, and eventually found the fuse was missing. No one at the dealership could explain how this got through the PDI, and frankly didn't care). I pray the car remains as reliable as it has been, as I'm not looking forward to the hassle otherwise.
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Soldato
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Have you any idea how much electricity you've used over this period?
I'd have to work out the KW/h, but in terms of costs it's around £55 in total (that's taking an average miles per charge and how much a KW/h costs from our supplier).
So that's 1575 of EV driving at a cost of (approx) £55, compared to a 50mpg petrol car at (current Petrol prices) at £160.
Lots of variables in the above calculations (not to mention some 'man maths' no doubt!) but I've come from a thirsty diesel Volvo XC70 which was getting an average of 35mpg, and when I changed over, diesel was running at £1.38 per litre.
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I still remain to be convinced about the whole hybrid/electric vision based on the current tech, current infrastructure and current costs associated with purchase, maintenance and ongoing running costs. Greater adoption will of course support cost reductions and growth in infrastructure to support them, but frankly I see lots of companies jumping on the band wagon but not really fixing any problems that have dogged electric cars since inception. Weight, range and cost still seem wrong to me and simply because modern manufacturers can make them look like normal cars does not make them better than the test models we have seen over the last 20 years.
Making a nice body, nice interior and some nice tech on the dashboard distracts people I feel. Around town I get it, short journeys I get it but it needs to be cheaper to buy, consistent in performance and reliable and I am not sure any of those aspects have been proven yet.
Making a nice body, nice interior and some nice tech on the dashboard distracts people I feel. Around town I get it, short journeys I get it but it needs to be cheaper to buy, consistent in performance and reliable and I am not sure any of those aspects have been proven yet.
Thanks
Based on 12k a year then, thats about £700 a year saving in fuel cost vs a 50mpg. I imagine this is quite a long payback ?
Good post, couldn't understand why people are getting these and yes it will sell out easily, the price compared to my S3 for such less power! Insane.
Though it's not always about power so if you're happy with it then that's all that matters.
The audi sound system is on par with Bose in the 8P A3, B&O is very crisp clear but I'm not a big music fan so went with the sound system. Drop in to audi-sport they'd love to hear from you and advise on your options, what have you selected?
The S3 is 300bhp, easily remapped too, but then wave bye to your warranty.
Though it's not always about power so if you're happy with it then that's all that matters.
The audi sound system is on par with Bose in the 8P A3, B&O is very crisp clear but I'm not a big music fan so went with the sound system. Drop in to audi-sport they'd love to hear from you and advise on your options, what have you selected?
The S3 is 300bhp, easily remapped too, but then wave bye to your warranty.
These are the options I have currently, although they're mostly all changeable for the next month without impacting anything. From reading online there's something with the Driver assistance package causing a delay, but I need to check that with my dealer.
I'm going to check out the B&O vs the Audi System, I have a lot of issues with road noise drowning out the stereo in my current a4, but the a3 (at least the e-tron) is significantly quieter inside
Nice spec, definitely go to audi-sport. The glass is thicker than the 8P A3, big improvement on road noise.
What colour?
As far as I can see the only option missing (you can't get super sport seats) is interior light package. That + mono.pur makes the cabin really nice.
Just brilliant black, mythos didn't seem £550 blacker. Yeah, seats are all the same style. I was toying with the interior light package, my a4 has the equivalent and I do appreciate it.