looking at buying a Q3...

4592 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Monsoon, Jul 23, 2018

BearJW

Discussion Starter · Feb 3, 2017

I am looking at lightly used Q3... I wanted to ask some questions, if anyone could kindly answer?

1. Is quattro worth it? Is it faster? Drive better?

2. how is the nav? No apple carplay bums me out, but the Q3 just seems so nice and I loved the test drive. I have a tiguan now that has bluetooth and it shows metadata, so it's fine. The nav (it's a rns-315, the nav is goofy...) is sorta ok, but dated and goofy looking.

3. any issues i should look for?

4. the tiguan sunroof can be loud, how is the q3's?

5. fuel economy?

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Monsoon

· #2 · Feb 3, 2017

BearJW said:
I am looking at lightly used Q3... I wanted to ask some questions, if anyone could kindly answer?

1. Is quattro worth it? Is it faster? Drive better?

2. how is the nav? No apple carplay bums me out, but the Q3 just seems so nice and I loved the test drive. I have a tiguan now that has bluetooth and it shows metadata, so it's fine. The nav (it's a rns-315, the nav is goofy...) is sorta ok, but dated and goofy looking.

3. any issues i should look for?

4. the tiguan sunroof can be loud, how is the q3's?

5. fuel economy?

Quattro? My Q is in Florida. I do enjoy having Quattro. Especially on a wet surface. When I enter a highway the Quattro grips. No wheel spin. No slippage. No effect on faster. Possible effect on fuel economy. Nav is suitable. It's good enough. What is considered slightly used?
Good luck and welcome aboard.

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BearJW

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 3, 2017

It is a 2016 with 8500 miles on it, I think it was a loaner.

What kind of fuel economy do you get?

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Monsoon

· #4 · Feb 3, 2017 (Edited)

BearJW said:
It is a 2016 with 8500 miles on it, I think it was a loaner.

What kind of fuel economy do you get?

I honestly never checked it. From experience it is generally lower than the manufacturer claims. Also depends on how much weight (load, passengers,etc), type of driving...turnpike or city, hills. I do have a heavy foot. I tend to keep it in "S" instead of drive. I jack rabbit from lights.
The Q you are looking at. Was it titled or will it be an "A" title. Try to have the warranty extended as part of the sale.

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rgobantesdc

· #5 · Feb 4, 2017

Welcome! I have a 2017 Q3 which is mostly the same as the 2016 model. I love the vehicle. It is fun to drive and the engine has enough power for my driving needs. It is really quiet in the cabin at all speeds. I only drive on "D" and I get about 22 or 23 miles per gallon. The navigation is pretty good. It has google maps if you like a to view actual satellite view. For some reason standard view does not have all the new streets (built in the last couple of years) in my neighborhood but all the streets are showing in google maps mode. The only thing I wish Q3 had are memory seats and a slightly bigger trunk space.

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rnlabas

· #6 · Feb 5, 2017

Welcome to the forum - as you can see we're not shy - ask away and expect some responses. Quattro rocks - ANY rainy day will let you know, BUT it is NOT faster in the dry, in fact cuz of the extra weight it's a bit slower, but still VERY fun to drive. Fuel use for me is moot, but I get about 18-20 around town and as much as 27 on the road (75+ mph), so ...

Nav is fine, no Carplay is bums, but reality until the new car (2019) and wind noise is about the same as Tiguan's - not great, not horrible - will get better with new model (2019) ...

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jrockets

· #7 · Jul 16, 2018

1. Is quattro worth it? Is it faster? Drive better?
- Quattro saved us in New Mexico on roads with inches of snow and black ice. Superb I will admit. I never felt a slip and it felt solid on the road navigating the icy roads. It's an Audi known for Quattro. I'd say get it if you don't mind the extra $$ but if in mild climates with little or no adverse weather, the FWD is fine.

2. how is the nav? No apple carplay bums me out, but the Q3 just seems so nice and I loved the test drive. I have a tiguan now that has bluetooth and it shows metadata, so it's fine. The nav (it's a rns-315, the nav is goofy...) is sorta ok, but dated and goofy looking.
- Nav is outdated but works and convenient. You can get the update for it, it's a little slow but Google Earth is cool if you get the sim card activated. I use my phone for most navigation now. The display will show some bluetooth metadata when playing music and such connected via bluetooth as well as stream audio. The only thing really missing is the ability to control the phone's output volume via the vehicle controls which is functional in a new Audi. They are separated so you turn your phone volume level up then set the vehicle audio level. This is the only inconvenience I have with bluetooth. It also does not mirror the display as it does in a new Audi with the album art cover. It only shows text meta data.

3. any issues i should look for?
- Make sure the engine is sounding good, there's report of carbon build up in the Q3 engines over miles that will make it idle rough and lose some power. Make sure the steering is on par.. light when slow in a parking lot and tightens up nicely at highway speeds. Make sure alignment is good.

4. the tiguan sunroof can be loud, how is the q3's?
-With the roof open it is loud and meant for slow speeds. You can peek it open for highway speeds... still noisy

5. fuel economy?
-Blah to OK. I can get 27mph to 30mph in good rolling traffic on a 1.5 hour drive. If pressing at 70mpg I get about 24-26mph

Lots of Q3s are coming off lease and I'm seeing them everywhere now.

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Gnsavvy2

· #8 · Jul 23, 2018

If you had to purchase over again would you purchase this model. My daughter is looking at Q3 and will be talking to a dealer this week

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2018 Q3

· #9 · Jul 23, 2018

we purchased a 2018 version and love it. It does everything well and gets decent fuel mileage. Id buy another in a second.

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S4'ed

· #10 · Jul 23, 2018 (Edited)

I bought a low mile used CPO 2015 Q3. Great car...I am now looking for another one for my son to drive.

If you don't need Quattro for snow traction, then a Front-Drive version will get better fuel economy and will have better acceleration, due to the approx 300 pound lighter weight. On good traction surfaces the Quattro drives no better than the front-drive. The tires make a bigger difference in snow traction versus which/how-many wheels are driven.

I average between 25 and 28 MPG with my Quattro Q3, 99% open country road and highway driving.

You can add Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, amongst other modernizations, by swapping out the dashboard display unit with the plug-n-play unit from rsnav.com.
https://rsnav.com/products/7-8-android-6-0-navigation-unit-for-audi-q3

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Monsoon

· #11 · Jul 23, 2018 (Edited)

We have 2016 Prestige. It is a fabulous rider...never gave us any grief. The steering/handling is excellent (my.02). Fun to drive. Great size. Plenty of room. Back seats area is good for medium size people. Ours has about 9000miles as we have other cars and rotate them. I'd buy it again. No regrets. Fuel economy fair to ok. No CarPlay, no seat memory. Has just enough HP..I drive in sport mode. Buy the latest model possible with the lowest miles...a warranty is a must have. You should be able to find a good deal..Shop and bargain.
As for Quattro I like to have it. We live in Florida but the Quattro is good for wet surfaces...no wheel spin when accelerating onto a highway from a parking lot, gas station, etc.

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