Another SUV thread - Audi Q3 vs Ford Kuga and 150K price difference

MagicDude4Eva

MagicDude4Eva

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Was quite puzzled this weekend by the opinion of Audi when I asked the sales person why I should buy an Audi Q3 over a Ford Kuga Titanium. The response was "Well, it's an Audi, do I need to say more?".

So my question to all the petrol-heads out there: If you look at the Ford Kuga Titanium 2.0 Tdi (440K with all features) and then configure a Q3 with the same feature-set (amounts to 580K), why would you pay 140K more for the Audi badge? Looking at the SUV market Subaru, Ford, Kia, Mazda come with pretty much all options, the Germans don't come with (Audi, VW or BMW). Considering all cars have similar fuel-efficiencies, driveability and maintenance-plans, I hardly see the point of paying over 150K more (unless I miss the obvious).

The Q3 BTW drives like a boat and even the 2l tdi steptronic is sluggish and did not wow me at all - anyone got a different view?
 
If I had the money I would go for the ford kuga diesel titanium with the options pack.
 
the missus has last years model Titanium, we've been nothing but impressed in the year we've had it, even though it's the old spec it still was a far better option than the Q3 at the time
 
Have you test driven both?

I have not but guessing the Audi would be a much better driving experience and feel like a more stable better built car. Weather this is true or not, I have no idea.

I think the extra price is more about status than what you actually get though.
 
I only took it around the block (i.e. sales guys refused to take it for 2-3km and it was literally from Audi Fourways Crossing over 4 traffic circles) - in the short distance I did feel some body-roll and the steering was just very squishy. The stop-start was very laggy and I think I would be very frustrated in morning traffic with that. I am sure the Q3 has something going for it, but I just couldn't see it - certainly not when weigh up the lack of features compared to the competition such as the Kuga.

Didn't drive the Kuga - only thing which I didn't like about the Ford was the Sony entertainment system and the cluster of a gazillion buttons - but I guess that's something one could overlook...
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
Was quite puzzled this weekend by the opinion of Audi when I asked the sales person why I should buy an Audi Q3 over a Ford Kuga Titanium. The response was "Well, it's an Audi, do I need to say more?".

So my question to all the petrol-heads out there: If you look at the Ford Kuga Titanium 2.0 Tdi (440K with all features) and then configure a Q3 with the same feature-set (amounts to 580K), why would you pay 140K more for the Audi badge? Looking at the SUV market Subaru, Ford, Kia, Mazda come with pretty much all options, the Germans don't come with (Audi, VW or BMW). Considering all cars have similar fuel-efficiencies, driveability and maintenance-plans, I hardly see the point of paying over 150K more (unless I miss the obvious).

The Q3 BTW drives like a boat and even the 2l tdi steptronic is sluggish and did not wow me at all - anyone got a different view?
Click to expand...

Why not look at what Subaru can offer you?
Clearly you don't like the Q3s handling and Gearbox.
and you don't seem to be sold on the Ford.
So go and do yourself a favor and test drive a Subaru Forester or Outback and you will feel the difference.
Just take one of the Turbo models around the block and you will be sold :D

Or are you only looking for a Diesel car?
Because there is a 2.0L Turbo-Charged Boxer Diesel motor and lineartronic Gearbox available from Subaru on the Outback
http://www.subaru.co.za/Vehicle/Dimensions/Outback
 
Louis72 said:
Why not look at what Subaru can offer you?
Click to expand...

Although I have not looked at a Subaru, I heard from people that they would prefer a Mazda CX5 or Rav4 over a Subaru. I have never driven in any of those, so would place all of them in the same category.
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
Although I have not looked at a Subaru, I heard from people that they would prefer a Mazda CX5 or Rav4 over a Subaru. I have never driven in any of those, so would place all of them in the same category.
Click to expand...

Yeah there is nothing wrong with the Mazda cx5 or the rav4, but there is no real comparison.

First off, out of all these cars the Subaru is the only car with a boxer engine. And there is only 2 car manufactures in the world that use boxer engines and that is Porsche and Subaru.

So you might ask what makes a boxer engine different?
Well because a boxer engine sits lower than any other type of engine in the engine bay, a Subaru would have the lowest center of gravity out of all these cars.

A lower center of gravity will improve grip on the road and this makes the car Handel better and makes it safer.

The AWD system is also a bonus in the Subaru because it comes standard.

And at 470K it's a brilliant price considering all the standard features.

So go book a test drive before making a decision, I have one and I'm a happy chappie.
 
I'd take the Kuga + 150k.

Its R150k for a better interior and a premium badge (although there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Kugas interior or badge).

A Q3 has always seen like a poor mans Q5/Q7 anyway :P
 
I agree with Louis.

Go and have a look at the Subaru, amazing cars.

Otherwise you seem more interested in the Kuga than the Q3 so why would you want to pay R150k more
 
I have pretty much written off the Audi and will need to do some more research between Subaru, Ford, Mazda, Toyota. I think the Ford Kuga seems to be the most "fresh" car when it comes to technology. Will only make a purchase decision in June anyway - so plenty of time and much can change in the market till then.

Just very surprised about the sales-people - and the one sentiment of "Why do you worry about the total cost? If you do a 10% deposit with a 40% residual over 72 months you will only pay XXX and with 10% fixed interest you are protected!" <<< that statement was a shocker, but according to the sales people most of their customers don't care about total cost, interest or loan-term - they are only interest in if they can afford the monthly repayment.
 
M3mPh1z said:
I agree with Louis.

Go and have a look at the Subaru, amazing cars.

Otherwise you seem more interested in the Kuga than the Q3 so why would you want to pay R150k more
Click to expand...

Give Louis a Bells!! :D

Please note, that I was not the first person to say Subaru!! :p

By all means test a Rav4 and then a Mazda, and then a Forester - Subaru will not give you bling, but more than compensates for this with superb engineering.
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
Just very surprised about the sales-people - and the one sentiment of "Why do you worry about the total cost? If you do a 10% deposit with a 40% residual over 72 months you will only pay XXX and with 10% fixed interest you are protected!" <<< that statement was a shocker, but according to the sales people most of their customers don't care about total cost, interest or loan-term - they are only interest in if they can afford the monthly repayment.
Click to expand...

That is just plain scary.
 
Just very surprised about the sales-people - and the one sentiment of "Why do you worry about the total cost? If you do a 10% deposit with a 40% residual over 72 months you will only pay XXX and with 10% fixed interest you are protected!" <<< that statement was a shocker, but according to the sales people most of their customers don't care about total cost, interest or loan-term - they are only interest in if they can afford the monthly repayment.
Click to expand...
Any sales person who says that should be shot!

FOR EVERYONE'S ATTENTION: Re Residual

Maximum residual allowable over 72 months is 30% and you are taking a chance at that rate.

Maximum over 60 months is 35%.

Please remember that if you are buying on residual you are boxing in the wrong weight level - you cannot actually afford the car!

Lower you sights and buy something that you can afford.
 
Fazda said:
Give Louis a Bells!! :D

Please note, that I was not the first person to say Subaru!! :p

By all means test a Rav4 and then a Mazda, and then a Forester - Subaru will not give you bling, but more than compensates for this with superb engineering.
Click to expand...

Now if you only were to operate in Jozi and would send me a quote I might actually be interested :-)
 
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