RS3 across the Golden Mile - an evening run with pictures

MBK

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Finally some good weather and a chance to polish the RS3 to perfection and then take a trip across one of my favourite local roads, sometimes known as the Golden Mile, other times the Barren and I think you'll see why.

Why is car cleaning so much fun? It would be easy to pay someone to professionally detail the car, and I've often though about it, but the honest truth is I get way too much satisfaction from achieving a good finish myself. The garden is the same, that has taken years and is worth every ounce of effort.
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Joy: RS3 looking fine and my garden in bloom

The light was against us by the time we got out for a run tonight and first stop was a quick shot with the local Abbey ruins as a backdrop.
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Heading out to the golden mile, no traffic to worry about out here.
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The city is never that far away though.
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Looking back over Swansea

You can see why this road has two names, not a lot out here.
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The Barren

Downhill sections like this provide a proper workout for the RS3, sublime body control and damping is evident on these challenging roads. I've driven many of my cars along this stretch of road, the RS3 matches the best of them and that was many years ago in a Turbo 2000 Impreza. The later STI's, Evo's and even the, brilliant on track, Megane R26.R were just too stiff to deal with the ever changing surface. The RS3 soaks up the bumps and stays arrow straight allowing you to deploy a sensible amount of the power available.
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Before firing up this with the glorious 5 cylinder roar, enough to invoke images of Audi's rallying heritage. This is the real tester hill, steep enough to test the power of car, bumpy enough to throw you off line, big crest in the middle that can easily see you airborne. While care is required I guarantee you reach the top with a big grin on your face.
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The Golden Mile

Windows open, at moderate speeds, the narrow and steep downhill section leading to this little bridge gives you the chance to experience all the downshifts, whoofls and roars from the exhaust.
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Heavy on the brakes in, loud pedal on the way out.

Surely no RS3 picture thread would be complete without a gratuitous picture of the flared arches, 19" 'Porn Rims' as I heard them described in one Dutch (!) review and the RS calipers.
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Arches, 19" 'Porn Rims' and RS Calipers

With the light fading it was time to head home.
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The end of a fun evening with the RS3 and it's usually about 4 months when I know a car well enough to start to notice any flaws in the personality or those little things that start to annoy. As a road car the RS3 has all of the many roles I ask of it covered. For us the RS3 continues to exceed all expectations.
 
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Fantastic stuff

Somehow Audi really have made a special car with the RS3
 
great write up, and great road to.. don't have to mention that you have lovely rs3 there. great detailing work.
:beerchug:
 
Thanks for all the likes, thanks etc people much appreciated. I was looking back through some pictures of a previous run on the same route in my TT quattro Sport, thought I'd add a couple of pictures for comparison. At the time I loved that car, though in all honesty the suspension was a little too stiff on roads like these, the fixed back Recaro's really did hug tightly though.

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Golden Mile in the TTqS

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A reminder that it's easy to get it wrong along here, these are challenging roads even at moderate speeds due to the dips and deflections

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TTqS complete with 25th anniversary of Quattro salamander stickers.

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If you get a little too enthusiastic over the yump on the big downhill you leave your mark in this road forever, could be expensive!

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The same downhill section into the bridge as above - back in the days when it was the old narrow bridge with metal railings and a much slower corner.

The RS3 is of course a different beast altogether and it's great to have experienced the progress in the technology, grip and usability of the power.
 
Cracking write up. I spy a red steering wheel. Was this for sale in Cardiff Audi I'm sure Ash posted a picture of a red RS3 with red and black interior.

Any interior shots???
 
Yes that's my car, here are a couple of shots. I wouldn't personally have added so many optional extras, or chosen all the extra leather though I have grown to quite like those Audi Exclusive badges and the leather aroma! Bucket seats were my only must have. We're happy with it and the RS3 is just about special enough to carry it off!

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I like it. Not 100% sold on the steering wheel but who cares when it's an RS3 simply awesome car. Plus I'm sure it's a grower how couldn't it be!!!!

Keep the write ups coming its like reading an Evo magazine review!! :)
 
Keep the write ups coming its like reading an Evo magazine review!! :)

Blimey, thank you indeed. Maybe years of reading Evo and before that Performance Car have rubbed off!

Agree on the wheel, especially at the price. On the upside at least it's leather and not suede like the one on the TTqS, that went flat and then patchy after a bit of use.