2013 Audi S3

[royalsteve68]

Oooh - shame.

Just got an update from my dealer. Ordered this week (4th Nov), build week is currently scheduled as 51 (w/c 16th Dec).
Hopefully I'll get it around end Jan.

Mine's a 3dr - maybe it's a 3dr versus sportback thing?

maybe, bit annoying I have to wait soooo long, but your wait is amazing, though I thought you would get it sooner than end jan if the build is 16/12

 

[royalsteve68]

apparently SB's are outselling the 3 dr in m ainland europe 6 : 1

wow, how times have changed - showing my age now - in the 80s / 90s you would get some odd looks if you turned up in a 5 door hot hatch- though there were few about like the mk2 golf gti-though most of those were 3 door

 

[royalsteve68]

It baffles me too!

Maybe they percieve the Golf a younger market hence adding the option for the 19" wheels, it seems Audi have no interest in styling the S3 in such a way to differentiate itself greatly from the other models, and have rather spent their "hot hatch" brief and budget moreso on the engine and new exhaust sound...

I still love the shape of the S3 and probably won't be touching the exterior with any after market mods (maybe front splitter would be nice)

I also love the standard titanium alloys, and would have only changed them to 19" had that option been available as i think the design is really unique for an S3. I guess the point i was making earlier is that i like to keep exterior things standard so that people know straight away what it is, same if i had an RS6 etc...

I know if / when i see a new S3 with big afternarket wheels on, i will instinctively be looking for the exhausts / wing mirrors to double check it's an S3..

Anyway, it's probably just a weird personal thing i have with keeping things as they should be, as i can still admire and appreciate any nice lookin alloy in it's own right!

it does baffle me as well as the 19s on the golf do look nice but its probably a market thing and to keep the brands different. probably all the vw/audi brands are slowly in danger of being too samey with audi quality the only big difference

look on the bright side, with the smaller wheels you will get definitely faster acceleration and I think if I remember correctly top end too, if you are bothered about that. whats more of interest to most is supposedly better mpg and ride quality on the smaller rims

 

[royalsteve68]

thats why i love the lumix kit because you can get dslr quality from a smaller form factor. have a look at the gx7 or g6 from panasonic and get rid of all the others...

In my experience a micro 4/3 camera system like the panasonic gx7/6 or highly rated compact camera system sony nex isn't a match against even a budget dslr like a canon 650 because of the way they work. Though some people wouldn't notice a lot of the difference and the micro/ccs have some massive advantages over a dslr.

When taking pictures on a micro/ ccs the viewfinder shows the user what I will call a digital interpretation in that the user isnt looking through the lens unlike a dslr where you are looking through the lens via the slr mirror system. It may not seem a big issue but it is when taking fast moving images like f1 cars, birds of prey, insects in full flight. Plus lens selection is very limited on ccs. Benefits of a micro/ccs are smaller size and weight (my dslr with bag/kit and 4 lens weighs about 10kg! my sony nex ccs with 4 lens weights about 2kg and overall cost of kit is a lot lower.

I have the excellent canon 24-70 which I paid a bargain £720 during a jessops misprice/screw up about 5 years ago for (rrp £1500 at the time and rarely discounted below £1K) - one of my quickest purchases ever and I reckon I can still sell it at a profit now. pics using this lens are amazing even using a budget dslr and my average skills

Despite this I use my sony nex more than my dslr.

nb. baffled why I should just the sony nex 7 option as its rated higher than the Panasonic (still a great camera though) as it has a much bigger sensor and more lens, etc - Panasonic looks much much nicer imo

 

[royalsteve68]

Went to see my new S3 sb at the dealer today, got a couple of pictures. Thought I would post for those few others that have gone white
roll on tomorrow for pick up.

im jealous, have fun. white does look nice but im sticking with misano red

 

[royalsteve68]

LOL, I'm coming on here more and more often to get my 'fix' as pick up date looms closer!

as long you don't look at the options you didn't select, lol!!

 

[mickbrown]

agreed, I enquired at m25audi and they said they were standard alloys. I said they weren't and asked the question again but still waiting

Also noticed a certain Audi-Sport forum regular asking the question on Twitter.

They gave me the same response on the Facebook page. I know what they are now, though. They are the S-Line rims that have been painted black and then polished. My dealer said that he could have it done to my rims for $AUD200 per wheel but I Photoshopped them up and don't like them.

 

[mickbrown]

I finally got my VIN. There's a ship currently half way between Bremen and Southampton with my (and I guess a few others') Audi S3 Sportback. Anyone else tracking the SS Manon, voyage number CO339-MAN?



Unfortunately the port of Brisbane is the last of 7 stops between Belgium and my driveway...

Anyways, the ship is scheduled to dock 16th December and the dealer will try and fast-track compliance so that I can have it before Christmas.

 

[PilotAudi]

I finally got my VIN. There's a ship currently half way between Bremen and Southampton with my (and I guess a few others') Audi S3 Sportback. Anyone else tracking the SS Manon, voyage number CO339-MAN?




Unfortunately the port of Brisbane is the last of 7 stops between Belgium and my driveway...

Anyways, the ship is scheduled to dock 16th December and the dealer will try and fast-track compliance so that I can have it before Christmas.

Great stuff. Few Q's

1. How did you find that info out?

2. I wasn't aware that Audi used Southampton as a port of entry in UK, thought it was Grimsby?? Surely it should dock before 16 December if it's half way there -- that makes a 10 week journey?????? Or is there another Southampton??

3. Aren't you best waiting to register on 1 January or are you just impatient?? Value on resale will improve by circa £500!!

 

[mickbrown]

Great stuff. Few Q's

1. How did you find that info out?

The dealer sent me my VIN today and you can use that number as a CargoID on shipping tracking websites, such as https://att.2wglobal.com/gstattweb/ocean.do?method=getDefaultOceanQuickSearchPage.

2. I wasn't aware that Audi used Southampton as a port of entry, thought it was Grimsby?? Surely it should dock before 16 December if it's half way there -- that makes a 10 week journey??????

Southampton is a port. I'm in Brisbane, Ray. Brisbane, Australia (Qantas never crashed - YouTube)!!!

It's an 8 week journey from Belgium to Brisbane.

3. Aren't you best waiting to register on 1 January or are you just impatient?? Value on resale will improve by circa £500!!

Rubbish.

 

[PilotAudi]

Sorry Mick... Does year of registration not affect resale value down under. Whilst difficult to be 100% accurate I wouldn't dream of buying a car and registering it at the end of December unless there was a significant financial incentive!

 

[mickbrown]

Sorry Mick... Does year of registration not affect resale value down under. Whilst difficult to be 100% accurate I wouldn't dream of buying a car and registering it at the end of December unless there was a significant financial incentive!

The car is MY14 and is built in October 2013. There's no hiding that fact, regardless of a compliance sticker. If you can find an idiot who will pay £500 extra just because the sticker says Jan 2014 rather than Dec 2013, then you're a smooth salesman, my friend.

KMs on the clock and shape affect resale. As long as Audi don't release a new shape AS3 in the next three years (only keeping it that long) and I keep KMs low then my resale will hold quite well.

To be honest, I wouldn't dream of missing out on being able to drive my new car over the Christmas holidays, rather than being back at work and busy. Time off + new car is well worth £500 to me. More even.

 

[mickbrown]

Sorry Mick... Does year of registration not affect resale value down under. Whilst difficult to be 100% accurate I wouldn't dream of buying a car and registering it at the end of December unless there was a significant financial incentive!

Sorry, I'm coming across as a bit aggressive. I definitely don't mean to be aggressive towards another future S38V owner!

 

[paullowther]

Also noticed a certain Audi-Sport forum regular asking the question on Twitter.

Congrats, you've reached stalking level 1000. It was me haha

 

[arad85]

I was looking at buying a year old one but it just wasn't worth it, so I bought new to save money - I think there is some logic there, but im struggling

This is exactly why I am buying new.....

 

[PilotAudi]

Sorry, I'm coming across as a bit aggressive. I definitely don't mean to be aggressive towards another future S38V owner!

I've worked with antipodians and am aware that is how you folks are generally! No problem.. In the UK I would not register a car on 24 December if it was a purchase rather than a lease as it will cost you dearly a t resale time. Bonkers I know!

 

[arad85]

In my experience a micro 4/3 camera system like the panasonic gx7/6 or highly rated compact camera system sony nex isn't a match against even a budget dslr like a canon 650 because of the way they work. Though some people wouldn't notice a lot of the difference and the micro/ccs have some massive advantages over a dslr

I sold a 5D2 and several L lenses and bought into the micro 4/3rds system completely. You have 95-99% of the picture quality for less than a quarter of the weight - and the lenses are better on micro 4/3rds too (yes, even over the 24-70). I'll admit the tracking focus isn't great (I don't take photos of things that move out of the plane of focus very often, but with proper technique you can get around most of those issues) but that will be solved in the next year or two when on-chip PDAF is mainstream.

There also isn't much of a difference in sensor size between APS-C and micro 4/3rds. What there is is more than made up for by the better lenses in micro 4/3rds IMHO. You only really start to see a difference at full frame sizes and you still need to pixel peep to see them.

Now.. back to S3s

 

[PilotAudi]

I sold a 5D2 and several L lenses and bought into the micro 4/3rds system completely. You have 95-99% of the picture quality for less than a quarter of the weight - and the lenses are better on micro 4/3rds too (yes, even over the 24-70). I'll admit the tracking focus isn't great (I don't take photos of things that move out of the plane of focus very often, but with proper technique you can get around most of those issues) but that will be solved in the next year or two when on-chip PDAF is mainstream.

There also isn't much of a difference in sensor size between APS-C and micro 4/3rds. What there is is more than made up for by the better lenses in micro 4/3rds IMHO. You only really start to see a difference at full frame sizes and you still need to pixel peep to see them.

Now.. back to S3s

I'm sticking with my Canon DSLR 550.. 2 years on I am still loving it!

 

[arad85]

I'm sticking with my Canon DSLR 550.. 2 years on I am still loving it!

You are quite entitled to do that... but there are a significant number of people who have full frame kit that have moved completely from DSLRs. They can't all be wrong

 

[the_lecht_rocks]

moderators - please delete Camera threads !

 

[geefunk1978]

Back on S3 topic I'm starting to get really impatient now!!
Car was built 2 weeks ago and dealer is still saying it's going to be the 20th +/- a few days! It better not be +!!!!
That'll be 5 weeks from build to delivery, seems a very long time?!

 

[MatthewC]

Does anyone have any information on the interior lighting pack, and if it is worth £170 or not?

 

[paullowther]

Does anyone have any information on the interior lighting pack, and if it is worth £170 or not?

Worth every penny. Was the first option I ticked.

 

[MatthewC]

Worth every penny. Was the first option I ticked.

What does it give you over and above the standard? Does it look that much better?

 

[mickbrown]

Congrats, you've reached stalking level 1000. It was me haha

Well...the first and surname gave it away.

 

[mickbrown]

I'm sticking with my Canon DSLR 550.. 2 years on I am still loving it!

You should be able to buy yourself a better DSLR than a 550D with all that resale money, mate!

 

[c.grex]

What does it give you over and above the standard? Does it look that much better?

ive just added it.
but hard to show on pictures, so not many pics. It adds LED's everywhere. Adds lighting footwell, lower doors, rear seats, glovebox, sun blinds, and cup holders.

well worth £170, would cost loads more if you just bought the parts never mind tried to fit them.

 

[MatthewC]

ive just added it.
but hard to show on pictures, so not many pics. It adds LED's everywhere. Adds lighting footwell, lower doors, rear seats, glovebox, sun blinds, and cup holders.

well worth £170, would cost loads more if you just bought the parts never mind tried to fit them.

Ok thanks for the info, i'm going to add it.

 

[cemerson]

LEDs aren't everywhere - I don't think the glove box has LED lights for example - but certainly a lot of them are.

 

[paullowther]

The best review I've seen of an S3 so far... by far!

 

[mickbrown]

The best review I've seen of an S3 so far... by far!

I thought you were being sarcastic after the first couple of minutes but by the end I had found out a bunch of stuff I didn't know before.

 

[PilotAudi]

Very good.
Interesting the 19in wheels shown look just like the 18in we get as standard on UK S3 Sportback. See German link below

S3 Limousine

Wonder when 19in will be an option in UK... if in next week or two I will upgrade!

 

[Johnnyb]

At around the 8 min mark it shows the LED's on the road from inside the cabin for those interested!

 

[Itguy]

Very useful clip - nice to see something practical for a change like how does a coke bottle fit in the door etc etc.

LED Lights looked good but no auto high beam?!

 

[cemerson]

Lots of features detailed are options, which isn't made that clear!

 

[cemerson]

How do you know there was no auto high beam?

 

[MatthewC]

Very good.
Interesting the 19in wheels shown look just like the 18in we get as standard on UK S3 Sportback. See German link below

S3 Limousine

Wonder when 19in will be an option in UK... if in next week or two I will upgrade!

19" wheels on the S3 saloon are/will be available too here in the UK; the wheel arches of the saloon are wider than the 3-door and SportBack.

 

[Johnnyb]

Crossed the 500 mile mark today on the S3....

Overtook a tractor in 3rd to the red line...

Holy Moly...

I do hope the tuning companies provide free nappies with their impending software...

 

[PilotAudi]

Crossed the 500 mile mark today on the S3....

Overtook a tractor in 3rd to the red line...

Holy Moly...

I do hope the tuning companies provide free nappies with their impending software...

Must have been a quick tractor to require such speed ;-)

 

[kenny_boon]

does the S3 have led lights in the outer door handles?