ctyrider

New user here.

Very interested in purchasing a new A3 TDI in 5-door hatch configuration. However, won't be ready to buy before March 2013.

With all the reports about A3 becoming Sedan only in 2014.. Should I be concerned about TDI Hatchback availability in March of next year? Will the current model be actively manufactured in early 2013, and will dealers have them in stock? I have no interest in 4-door sedan model, so want to be sure I can still get the current 5-door model with TDI engine.

Any advice appreciated!

kgall

I have heard various claims about this--some say that 2013 A-3 production is closing down late this year (2012)--others say it may continue, depending on demand.
Here's what I would suggest as a possibility: talk to an Audi dealer or two. Explain your interest in buying the car for delivery in March. The dealer will probably tell you either it can or can't be done. If they say it can't be done because they don't schedule things that far out, you may have to push the dealer to try to place the order--when you do a Euro delivery they require the order about 4 months before delivery, so clearly there is a production schedule some months out.
At some point, you should get an answer to the question.
If the answer is that you CAN get it built for delivery then, you may have to place the order considerably earlier--like now, or a couple of months from now.
If you CAN'T get it built for delivery then, you may be faced with the choice of ordering and buying earlier than you wanted to, scrounging in March to see if any dealers have any of the cars left, or buying a late model used A-3 TDI. In the US, TDIs (which are what my wife and I bought) are a distinct minority of A-3's, so if you are here, there may not be a lot of inventory to choose from.

Gettysburg

Unless you're referring to the A3's still on dealers' lots, I've found the opposite to be true. Almost every A3 I see on the road lately is a TDI. Same is true for Jetta Sport Wagon.

Lotus 111R

Our 2013 A3 TDI is currently in transport somewhere in the Atlantic. Our dealer here in Atlanta had (4) A3 TDI's on order a few months ago that were scheduled to be built in early August. We changed one of his already ordered cars to match our color and options choices, then closed the deal. At that time, our salesman stated that the current generation A3 was supposed to end production with the 2012 model year, but that new generation model wouldn't be here until late 2013 as a 2014 model. Audi dealers in the US told HQ that this wasn't going to cut it, so they extended current generation production until something like February, 2013 for the US market.

As someone else has posted, you may want to consult a few of your local dealers, as the story seems to vary depending on who you talk to. Our salesman was the A3 specialist for our dealership and seems to be on the up and up. He did note that if you start from scratch and order a car not already slated for production, it usually takes about (4) months from the time you order it to when it shows up at the dealership. If this is the case, you could order one in November/December timeframe and meet your March 2013 goal.

Finally, it seems like I read recently that something like 55% of US market A3's sold are TDI's.

ctyrider

That's great info, thank you! I will start talking to the dealers around October/November timeframe, and see what my options are.

MikeSS

That's assuming that the dealer still has A3 production allocations available.

Lotus 111R

Agreed. I would quiz the dealer now just in case his last allocation is in the next few months.

r32nj

Has anyone confirmed that orders can still be placed for A3's? I have been having trouble finding the options configuration I want and when I tried to discuss placing a factory order I was told (by three dealers) that no more A3's can be ordered.

Lotus 111R

Contact the salesman I used at Jim Ellis Audi in Marietta, Georgia (northern suburb of Atlanta):

Mr. Ahamed Eboo

404-229-4712 (cell)

770-859-2834 x 1313

ahamede@jimellis.com

Ahamed was very easy to deal with - not pushy at all - and is the dealer's A3 specialist. He already had (4) A3's on order for dealer stock, but changed one of the orders to match the spec we wanted. This was back on July 5 when we did our deal. The car was scheduled for assembly the first week in August. It just arrived at the port in Brunswick, Georgia yesterday, so we should have it next week. Tell Ahamed that Tom and Pam sent you, as the car is for my wife.

r32nj

I tried to start a special order and was told no more special orders can be placed for the A3 now. Multiple dealers told me this do I checked with Audi USA and they confirmed this as well.

Too bad as I was all set to pay the extra for a Solar Orange car with the titanium sport package.