Stewart Pinkerton wrote:



Absolutely! There's also quality of construction, and the exact
required compromise among speed, appearance and comfort. OTOH, being a
canny Scot, I got a deal which took out the first 8 or 9 grand of the
depreciation, so I'd argue that it's a pretty functional choice......

I don't know how the UK tax system works, but how did you get the first 8-9
grand of depreciation factored into the deal?


Small difference - I don't claim that my A3 *outperforms* a Scooby,
except in terms of the overall compromise mentioned above......

so a turbo charged Impreza WRX STI would outperform your A3?



Jeremy Clarksonese for any gearbox with controls mounted on the
steering wheel, F1 style. In this case, the brilliant DSG which really
does change faster than Schumacher could with a manual box.

so DSG is better than a standard manual gear shift?

On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:37:24 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

Absolutely! There's also quality of construction, and the exact
required compromise among speed, appearance and comfort. OTOH, being a
canny Scot, I got a deal which took out the first 8 or 9 grand of the
depreciation, so I'd argue that it's a pretty functional choice......

I don't know how the UK tax system works, but how did you get the first 8-9
grand of depreciation factored into the deal?

You buy an ex-demonstrator and haggle real hard.........

Small difference - I don't claim that my A3 *outperforms* a Scooby,
except in terms of the overall compromise mentioned above......

so a turbo charged Impreza WRX STI would outperform your A3?

In speed and handling, yes. In terms of comfort, quality and residual
value, no.

Jeremy Clarksonese for any gearbox with controls mounted on the
steering wheel, F1 style. In this case, the brilliant DSG which really
does change faster than Schumacher could with a manual box.

so DSG is better than a standard manual gear shift?

Yes, in every possible way.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:37:24 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:


so a turbo charged Impreza WRX STI would outperform your A3?


In speed and handling, yes. In terms of comfort, quality and residual
value, no.



I guess residual value depends on the market. In general, Imprezas over in Oz
tend have a higher resale value than A3s, in terms of depreciation value.

On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 21:13:43 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:37:24 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:

so a turbo charged Impreza WRX STI would outperform your A3?

In speed and handling, yes. In terms of comfort, quality and residual
value, no.

I guess residual value depends on the market. In general, Imprezas over in Oz
tend have a higher resale value than A3s, in terms of depreciation value.

That just confirms everything we already knew about Ozzies...... :-)

--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

"Stewart Pinkerton" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 21:13:43 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:37:24 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:

so a turbo charged Impreza WRX STI would outperform your A3?

In speed and handling, yes. In terms of comfort, quality and residual
value, no.

I guess residual value depends on the market. In general, Imprezas over in
Oz
tend have a higher resale value than A3s, in terms of depreciation value.

That just confirms everything we already knew about Ozzies...... :-)

Blame the Audi distributors. Everyone they've had in OZ in the last 30 years
has seen fit to charge a heap for the cars (don't forget we always get the
superseded model!) then slug even harder on the service costs.

I know two brothers, one with a Porsche, the other has an A4. The Audi is
the dearer to service.

As a consequence, after lease time, typically three years, the depreciation
is savage.

On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 02:38:14 GMT, "Bruce Lankford"
wrote:


"Stewart Pinkerton" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 21:13:43 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:

I guess residual value depends on the market. In general, Imprezas over in Oz
tend have a higher resale value than A3s, in terms of depreciation value.

That just confirms everything we already knew about Ozzies...... :-)

Blame the Audi distributors. Everyone they've had in OZ in the last 30 years
has seen fit to charge a heap for the cars (don't forget we always get the
superseded model!) then slug even harder on the service costs.

OTOH, you did get the Monaro before us! :-)

I know two brothers, one with a Porsche, the other has an A4. The Audi is
the dearer to service.

Interesting - certainly not true in the UK, at authorised dealers.

As a consequence, after lease time, typically three years, the depreciation
is savage.

Understandable. You can certainly argue thatAudi do charge a lot for a
tarted-up Skoda! :-)
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Bruce Lankford wrote:


Blame the Audi distributors. Everyone they've had in OZ in the last 30 years
has seen fit to charge a heap for the cars (don't forget we always get the
superseded model!) then slug even harder on the service costs.

Aha!


I know two brothers, one with a Porsche, the other has an A4. The Audi is
the dearer to service.

As a consequence, after lease time, typically three years, the depreciation
is savage.


I wonder how much a 3 year old A3 Quatro 3.2 with DSG would cost over here?

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 21:13:43 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:


Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:37:24 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:


so a turbo charged Impreza WRX STI would outperform your A3?

In speed and handling, yes. In terms of comfort, quality and residual
value, no.


I guess residual value depends on the market. In general, Imprezas over in Oz
tend have a higher resale value than A3s, in terms of depreciation value.


That just confirms everything we already knew about Ozzies...... :-)


what, that we value form and functionality over a marque badge?



(and besides, I am sure the hoons are the ones that prop up the value of 2nd
hand Imprezas).

"Stewart Pinkerton" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:37:24 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

so a turbo charged Impreza WRX STI would outperform your A3?


In speed and handling, yes. In terms of comfort, quality and residual
value, no.


I smile when I drive to the summer cottage. If I had an
A3, I would have to walk the last 5kms:-)

Iain

On Thu, 9 Jun 2005 10:48:11 +0300, "Iain M Churches"
wrote:

"Stewart Pinkerton" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:37:24 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

so a turbo charged Impreza WRX STI would outperform your A3?

In speed and handling, yes. In terms of comfort, quality and residual
value, no.

I smile when I drive to the summer cottage. If I had an
A3, I would have to walk the last 5kms:-)

That's why the Finns are such good rally drivers - no fekkin' roads!

OTOH, a standard Impreza won't go anywhere my A3 won't go.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering