[Q3User]

We'll be switching from a Merc GLK to an Audi Q3.

Just starting our buying process after a long review & many discussions between wife & me about all the options in this segment - Crossovers & Midsize SUV.

I wanted to stay with Merc esp. if their new GLC & GLC Coupe hits the mark.

However, the 2016 GLC was a disappointment in looks.
& the GLC Coupe won't be coming out for at least another 6 months.
And to maximize any residual values in our GLK whether trade or sale, we wanted to strike while it still had good value.

Well here we are in Q3 forums.
While the Q3's numbers don't look too impressive on paper, the repeatedly heard comments from reviewers & drivers are that the build quality & the handling is class leading & dynamically engaging.

Two things that as we get older, my wife & I care more so than pure HP/TQ numbers.
Quickness, Corners, stopping power > than speed.

No actual purchase yet but we are excited to be here!

 

[john]

Welcome! Tell us more about your Q3 please. Color, Trim, Options, etc. Pictures are most welcome too!

John

 

[Q3User]

Welcome! Tell us more about your Q3 please. Color, Trim, Options, etc. Pictures are most welcome too!

John

Thanks for the warm welcome John!

No exterior color choice yet but we have narrowed it down to Prestige & Chestnut Interior.
We have some time but can purchase any moment & picture would be forthcoming for sure.

 

[rnlabas]

Welcome to the forum - hope you get some great info from our community - and we're looking forward to hearing more about your order as well as seeing it in your garage -

 

[john]

Thanks for the warm welcome John!

No exterior color choice yet but we have narrowed it down to Prestige & Chestnut Interior.
We have some time but can purchase any moment & picture would be forthcoming for sure.

I happen to have 2 Q3s with that combo! One is Cortina White and the other is Glacier White Metallic. Both are awesome, as I like white. Between the 2, I now prefer the Cortina White to the GWM.

Don't forget to add the wood inlays as they compliment the Chestnut leather perfectly. See my post titled: Q3 x 2 = ?? for pictures of both cars.

Good luck! John

 

[Q3User]

Welcome to the forum - hope you get some great info from our community - and we're looking forward to hearing more about your order as well as seeing it in your garage -

Thanks Roger.!
I think in the beginning, we'll be seeking more guidance from the community than actually contributing value but in due time for sure.

 

[rnlabas]

Once you order, be sure your ABS (Audi Brand Specialist) sets you up for Audi Customer in Waiting so you can get some progress notes throughout the order/build/ship process.If you're a bit more OC you might want to look around the site threads for info on how to track your car once it's left the EU port and coming this way - If you don't get a good vibe from your ABS on tracking or CIW, let me know via PM - I can help you out a bit ...

 

[Otto]

I hope that in the end you will be happy you made the switch. The Q3 is a great car.

Did you look into brands other than Audi and BMW before you made the choice?

Welcome!

 

[Q3User]

Once you order, be sure your ABS (Audi Brand Specialist) sets you up for Audi Customer in Waiting so you can get some progress notes throughout the order/build/ship process.If you're a bit more OC you might want to look around the site threads for info on how to track your car once it's left the EU port and coming this way - If you don't get a good vibe from your ABS on tracking or CIW, let me know via PM - I can help you out a bit ...

Thanks for the offer Roger.
Never ordered before but then never had to.
Having said that, wife is anxious to get into the Q3 soon since it will be her sole decision this time & one that she convinced me into also.

Not a bad thing that I had to be convinced but I accept the Q3's pros & cons & how it fits our lifestyle at the moment.

Since I am such a car guy - any new car purchase; the sooner the better - is always exiting & fun. So if a dealer is close on configuration, we might strike with what they have on the lot.

Really, the hardest thing currently is finding a model with the aluminum dash inserts + chestnut combo.

 

[Q3User]

I hope that in the end you will be happy you made the switch. The Q3 is a great car.

Did you look into brands other than Audi and BMW before you made the choice?

Welcome!

Hey Otto thanks for the welcome also!

We were considering replacing our current '11 Merc GLK with:
1) 2016 Merc GLC
2) 2017 Merc GLC Coupe
3) 2016 BMW X1
4) 2016 Merc GLE

All three are newly redesigned for this or next year.

We are fully aware that on paper there were some negatives vs. the others in technical/performance numbers, updated equipment, & size/packaging.

However, it will be my wife's car & she really digs how it fits her style & driving habits & I was convinced by how the Q3 has my VW GTI's DNA in it.
That combination of fit & handling really convinced us over the others.
Plus some preliminary intel appears to show the competition to have a sizable premium % over the what we are comfortable to pay.

 

[john]

My wife and I checked out these same vehicles along with the Lexus NX. We found the MB and BMW to cost significantly more. The value equation did not work for us. We tested a GLK that was $55K and the Q3 is $42K. No way the GLK is $13K better vehicle. My wife did not care for the NX, although it was nice enough. The Q3 is the Goldilocks of the bunch. JUST RIGHT!!

 

[Otto]

What did she not like about the NX? Just the looks, or was it more than that?

 

[john]

What did she not like about the NX? Just the looks, or was it more than that?

Mainly Lexus fatigue. She had driven one for 10 years and just wanted something different. She did not like the exterior - just not very attractive. She liked the interior a lot but it was not "rich looking" as the Audi as there was some cost cutting evident in the NX. If we had not found the Q3 she would be driving the NX now but we stumbled upon a Cortina White Q3 in a dealer lot one night and she fell in love. Then I did too and now we have two!>

 

[Q3User]

Well, we finally signed the "promise to buy" papers this AM.
Found a Q3 spec'd exactly the way my wife wanted: Mythos+Chestnut+Aluminum+Sports Package

Picking it up this coming Saturday.
Didn't want to wait the 30-90 days for a custom order to come in- so we bypassed the Home Link.

If in the future it came to be a dealer install option, we may pursue it but it's not on the list of priorities for our new Q3.
Got a fabulous deal (below MSRP OTD) & had to pounce on it. Making a day trip to pick it up out of state.

Pictures to come this weekend.

 

[rnlabas]

Congrats - can't wait to see first pics and hear about first drives...

 

[cableguy]

That's my exact configuration (minus the Homelink which I did add so I could ditch the annoying garage door opener), and I am loving it. The interior is gorgeous and the exterior is very sporty. Now if only I'd gotten as good a deal on the price - nice work.

 

[Q3User]

That's my exact configuration (minus the Homelink which I did add so I could ditch the annoying garage door opener), and I am loving it. The interior is gorgeous and the exterior is very sporty. Now if only I'd gotten as good a deal on the price - nice work.

Great minds think alike!

I think the interior combination is what my wife thinks is sporty & modern.
The balsamic inlays option would not have met that criteria.

So glad you like your configure.

Did you get the HL added off the boat or somewhere else?

 

[john]

The wood inlays are awesome! But so happy you got exactly what you wanted!!

 

[Q3User]

The wood inlays are awesome! But so happy you got exactly what you wanted!!

John, we usually like the wood inlays that are more wood like texture.
The glossy wood panels have never been to our taste & kinda played a part in our selling our GLK & insisting on the aluminum.

But that's on us only.

 

[cableguy]

Generally I love wood.....but also felt the glossy look wasn't to my liking based on an earlier visit to our local audi dealer. the aluminum does have a kind of modern look to it and I'm happy with it. But it's just a matter of personal preference and either way it's a very nice interior. I included the HL in the options ordered so I was told that it is added at the port by another forum member.