[vestergirl]

Hello, hello my fellow Q3 lovers! I'm so sorry I've been away...I've been so busy, and missing our chats.
So...I've been a VERY BAD girl. Was backing out of my driveway at 6:30 in the morning to go to work (it was dark - and early :|) and backed right into some visiting vehicle parked directly behind my driveway. :crying:
UGH! I've never had an at-fault accident - ever. SO mad at myself. So I called my Audi dealer immediately to get advice on where to fix my baby. Luckily, my dealership is part of a big conglomeration of dealerships, car washes, and (lucky me) body shop. I was terrified - but they did an AMAZING job, and you would never know. I know from (bad) experience that matching pearl white paint can be a nightmare. But it's purrrrrfect, and I'm very happy (however, NOT happy that I had to pay cash). As for the other car - the amount they are claiming for basically a scratch is ridiculous. Letting the insurance co. handle them.
Okay, so now the good news - I decided after 3 months of having my little cutie car that I really can't stand those wheels. They're hideous. And I'm sure most of you know that Audi makes it very hard on us to change wheels and keep the Audi logo. Well, I finally decided on a wheel, and now I'm scouring the earth for custom center caps so I can keep the Audi logo on the wheels. So far, it looks like ebay is the only route for that? My wheels will be in next week, and I'm trying to get a measurement on the center caps so I know what to look for....would love your advice if anyone has dealt with this.
Okay, so here is the wheel I ordered. It's the TSW Brooklands. I love the clean and simple look. Pics attached - pardon the random Mazda photo, but the wheels look good on that car.
Tell me what you think!!
(Oh, P.S. Also got my first speeding ticket in 20 years - holy CRAP. The lovely officer also felt the need to write me up for no front license plate...so I went to court, and they dropped the license plate offense but I now have 2 points on my license...not a good month.)

 

[Monsoon]

Wheels look good. Your Q will be another level personalized.
Sorry to hear about the accident. Oh well.
And the ticket...Oh Lawdy...oh well.

I wonder how the stock wheels would look painted or powder coated black on your Glacier.

 

[vestergirl]

No black wheels!!

Monsoon, do you like the look of black wheels? I always think when I see them that it looks like the hubcaps fell off! Don't like the look.
And now I'm reconsidering my wheel choice - ugh! The original wheel I wanted was the Mallory....I really think I like it better and may have to cancel my order and order online. There are a couple of others I really like too.
Hmmmm.

Which do you like better for the Q?

 

[cableguy]

My, my....you really have had a run of misfortune...funny (well no not funny) how these things tend to come in bunches at times.

So sorry to hear about the accident. Did you get any warning from your rear sensors - did the back up camera show the vehicle? I have never had a back up camera prior to my Q3 so I am still getting used to integrating that into my process of backing up. I have found it's extremely helpful when backing out of my garage as we have a short driveway and a narrow street and it enables me to easily see my alignment as I curve into the road. I have also found that the camera does an excellent job even in the dim light or darkness of the early morning. I often leave around 6:45. Great to hear that the auto body shop was able to get your car back into like new condition. You don't want to have any visible reminders when you come out to your car each day.

As to the wheels being hideous - are you referring to the wheels that come with the 19" tires on the Prestige trim level? I have those and really like them. of course all of these things are a matter of personal taste. I have a hard time looking at a picture of a wheel and knowing if I would or would not like it on the Q3. When I was considering winter tires and whether to get winter wheels I looked at a ton of wheels on tire rack. At least there you can get a picture of them on a vehicle. But it's not your vehicle. In the end I just purchased studless snow tires and put them on the stock wheels and I'm very happy with that choice. When I was in the tire store I saw a woman come in to buy wheels and she had the guy pull one wheel out of the box and take it out to her car so she could see it in person. That's a great approach...otherwise I would just make sure you can send them back if you don't like them in person.

As to the speeding ticket - I'll tell you that after driving my Mini for 10 years I have to be careful in the Q3. It's so quiet and comfortable that I often don't realize how fast I'm going whereas in Mini I knew it when I was speeding.

I didn't have a license plate on the front of Mini - none there when I bought it - and somehow I went all those years and never once got pulled over for that...and luckily I didn't get any other tickets (despite deserving a few) so no opportunity for the officer to tack on the license plate issue. I thought about not putting on the front plate with the Q3....but didn't want to risk it...so looked over the Oregon plate options and thought the Cultural Plate would go best with the car. It's such a nice look with the Mythos Black paint that I don't mind having the front plate at all.

Here's hoping you are in for a run of very good luck now! You deserve it.

 

[vestergirl]

Haha yes, it IS easy (and fun) to speed in the Q3. Do you use your "S" gear much? I'm still not exactly sure what the difference is between D and S....I usually switch it into S when I want to zoom around or pass someone. But the only really noticeable difference I've detected is that in S, hills seem sluggish, like it's struggling. So I always have it in D when going up a hill.

I think you probably like the factory 19" wheels because they are masculine...precisely why I don't like them. They're too sharp and severe for me. I don't like gunmetal or dark wheels, and I don't like their design. I thought I had made up my mind about which ones to get, but now I'm vacillating between several.

Thank you for writing! :x

 

[Monsoon]

Haha yes, it IS easy (and fun) to speed in the Q3. Do you use your "S" gear much? I'm still not exactly sure what the difference is between D and S....I usually switch it into S when I want to zoom around or pass someone. But the only really noticeable difference I've detected is that in S, hills seem sluggish, like it's struggling. So I always have it in D when going up a hill.

I think you probably like the factory 19" wheels because they are masculine...precisely why I don't like them. They're too sharp and severe for me. I don't like gunmetal or dark wheels, and I don't like their design. I thought I had made up my mind about which ones to get, but now I'm vacillating between several.

Thank you for writing! :x

They all work...all are nice looking...1st wheel on left would be my choice.
I'm breaking in the Q right now and taking it easy....I like "S" (sport mode) and will use it regularly after 1000m

 

[boblepp]

Haha yes, it IS easy (and fun) to speed in the Q3. Do you use your "S" gear much? I'm still not exactly sure what the difference is between D and S....

S-port mode holds onto gears longer while quickening the throttle response. S mode is for spirited driving and stays in a lower gear anticipating your need for acceleration. Normal D mode wants you in higher gears sooner to save gas when you are not driving quickly. S for fun, D for low cost.

 

[ivorbiggun]

If the center cap openingon your new wheels is 2.75" in diameter then these caps will fit:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/181848107766

I bought a set for my Audi replica winter wheels. They are official Audi parts that have been remanufactured to look brand new. They are flawless and shipping time for this seller was fast. Cheap too!

Tire rack's website will let you look at the wheels on the car.

I got my Audi replica wheels in Canada.

http://www.replika.ca/categories.aspx?wc=audi

 

[vestergirl]

Ooooh, I like! No one seems to know the diameter of this TSW wheel, so I guess I'll have to wait till they arrive to measure the center caps. That would be SWEET to have Audi center caps in them.
Thanks for the link! ?

 

[john]

How did you get out of the ticket for the front license plate? Agree to mount it?

 

[vestergirl]

Funny story

How did you get out of the ticket for the front license plate? Agree to mount it?

Funny you should ask. First, I thought that cop was a complete ass for even writing the license plate ticket. Second, I don't even think his speeding accusation was accurate - the street he wrote on the ticket was not even a street I had been on! He said I was going 40 in a 25. I say it was more like barely 35. Bleh.

So I went to court, and the court date was two days after I had eye surgery so I looked pathetic. I began my negotiation with the fact that I was never on the street listed, but of course I couldn't prove that. The judge asked me if I had my front license plate and I told him yes, that it's on now but that I had ordered a German car that came across the ocean and I had to have the bracket added (okay, I stretched the truth a bit). 0

Anyway, they agreed to drop the license charge if I paid the speeding ticket. Ugh. Okay - I paid it.

 

[john]

Funny you should ask. First, I thought that cop was a complete ass for even writing the license plate ticket. Second, I don't even think his speeding accusation was accurate - the street he wrote on the ticket was not even a street I had been on! He said I was going 40 in a 25. I say it was more like barely 35. Bleh.

So I went to court, and the court date was two days after I had eye surgery so I looked pathetic. I began my negotiation with the fact that I was never on the street listed, but of course I couldn't prove that. The judge asked me if I had my front license plate and I told him yes, that it's on now but that I had ordered a German car that came across the ocean and I had to have the bracket added (okay, I stretched the truth a bit). 0

Anyway, they agreed to drop the license charge if I paid the speeding ticket. Ugh. Okay - I paid it.

You are a rebel! >

 

[AMILL]

Am I the only one who drives in sport mode all the time? I just get so spoiled when I flip it into sport mode I don't want to go back to the drive mode. I know I'm sucking up gas but I love the way it drives. Coming from a BMW I miss that road hugging especially around corners and I was used to 240hp.

 

[Monsoon]

Am I the only one who drives in sport mode all the time? I just get so spoiled when I flip it into sport mode I don't want to go back to the drive mode. I know I'm sucking up gas but I love the way it drives. Coming from a BMW I miss that road hugging especially around corners and I was used to 240hp.

As soon as break in is complete it'll be in sport mode constantly. I enjoy taking my wife's A6 to the car wash in Sport mode. I'm not a Paddle driver. I will never use those things. Sport mode has the juice.

 

[DampDuffer]

Am I the only one who drives in sport mode all the time? I just get so spoiled when I flip it into sport mode I don't want to go back to the drive mode. I know I'm sucking up gas but I love the way it drives.

I rarely get my hands on my wife's Q3, but when I do, I keep it in sport at least 80% of the time.....the only time it's in drive is when I'm away from city streets or hills and the speed limit is 50 or above.

Face it, if any of us were to buy a car with gas/petrol mileage as a priority, it would not have been a Q3....on the other hand, there is a lot written on this forum about fun and performance.

(I'm not as fortunate as Monsoon who is at least allowed to take his wife's Q3 to the car wash. My wife asks me to "hand wash" only....so it's rare I get to take out the Q3 "solo.")

 

[Monsoon]

I rarely get my hands on my wife's Q3, but when I do, I keep it in sport at least 80% of the time.....the only time it's in drive is when I'm away from city streets or hills and the speed limit is 50 or above.

Face it, if any of us were to buy a car with gas/petrol mileage as a priority, it would not have been a Q3....on the other hand, there is a lot written on this forum about fun and performance.

(I'm not as fortunate as Monsoon who is at least allowed to take his wife's Q3 to the car wash. My wife asks me to "hand wash" only....so it's rare I get to take out the Q3 "solo.")

Fib. Lie. Beg...borrow...steal.... take that Q out for a joy ride. My car wash is the DIY booths at the carwash. It's fairly close to our house but she does not know that. I take the long way to and from. Sport mode is great for getting away from traffic lights or passing someone or just for an adrenaline rush.

 

[vestergirl]

I rarely get my hands on my wife's Q3, but when I do, I keep it in sport at least 80% of the time.....the only time it's in drive is when I'm away from city streets or hills and the speed limit is 50 or above.

Face it, if any of us were to buy a car with gas/petrol mileage as a priority, it would not have been a Q3....on the other hand, there is a lot written on this forum about fun and performance.

(I'm not as fortunate as Monsoon who is at least allowed to take his wife's Q3 to the car wash. My wife asks me to "hand wash" only....so it's rare I get to take out the Q3 "solo.")

Sooooo...lemme get this straight. You guys buy your wife a beautiful new Audi, you wash it and take care of it for her, and you're "not allowed" to drive it. Ummmmm, who are these wives? Queen Elizabeth? Angelina?

Hmmmmmmph. Jealous. :|

 

[DampDuffer]

Sooooo...lemme get this straight. You guys buy your wife a beautiful new Audi, you wash it and take care of it for her, and you're "not allowed" to drive it. Ummmmm, who are these wives? Queen Elizabeth? Angelina?

Hmmmmmmph. Jealous. :|

I would imagine Monsoon's philosophy is much like mine: "A Happy Wife means a Happy Life." :x
Plus, with all those "Husband Points" in the bank, withdrawals often go unnoticed. >

 

[Monsoon]

who are these wives?

They are the cooks. :laugh:

I would imagine Monsoon's philosophy is much like mine: "A Happy Wife means a Happy Life." :x
Plus, with all those "Husband Points" in the bank, withdrawals often go unnoticed. >

But for real...we're the boss when they're not around.

 

[DampDuffer]

Fib. Lie. Beg...borrow...steal.... take that Q out for a joy ride.

When I was a teenager I used to tell my parents I was borrowing their car to go to the library.....well, I did that again today, and it worked. But instead of my parents, it was my wife who let me borrow the car to "go to the library."

Actually I did go to the library, the post office, the car wash, the gas station, etc. After an hour of wonderful hilly turning roads I had the gas mileage down from my wife's 26.1 to a nice 18.3 before zeroing it out with a full tank of gas for my wife....
Man, that was fun. Thanks for the tip. >