Yes, I do. It just started a few days ago. Thinking its either a stone up in the calliper or possibly a bearing. Will be taking it to the dealers.
Feedback from those with S3s now
- Thread starter Itguy
- Start date
Yes, I do. It just started a few days ago. Thinking its either a stone up in the calliper or possibly a bearing. Will be taking it to the dealers.
5 dislikes in 1000 miles:
1. The woeful interior storage space, lack of bins, small door pockets, tiny glovebox without shelf etc.
2. The ride quality of the suspension - secondary ride isn't as good as it could be, in certain situations it's "bouncy", "fidgety" and "unsettled" depending on road surface. But not "harsh" or "crashy" like the 8P S-line suspension. I think this can be cured with better rebound/compression settings on the dampers.
3. Standard Sports Seats aren't that supportive laterally
4. The steering wheel rake angle tilts the top of the wheel too far towards the front of the car. Very difficult to get a decent reach and height adjustment to suit all positions of the wheel.
5. Ridiculous amount of soot that collects on the tailpipes !
1. The woeful interior storage space, lack of bins, small door pockets, tiny glovebox without shelf etc.
2. The ride quality of the suspension - secondary ride isn't as good as it could be, in certain situations it's "bouncy", "fidgety" and "unsettled" depending on road surface. But not "harsh" or "crashy" like the 8P S-line suspension. I think this can be cured with better rebound/compression settings on the dampers.
3. Standard Sports Seats aren't that supportive laterally
4. The steering wheel rake angle tilts the top of the wheel too far towards the front of the car. Very difficult to get a decent reach and height adjustment to suit all positions of the wheel.
5. Ridiculous amount of soot that collects on the tailpipes !
Agree with you (on the point 2 I am not a so skilled driver to notice this fine details and on the point 4 I have to admit I found a right position for me - but the steering wheel hides the lights switch)
On the point 5, I admit that this car seems to collect much more soot than my 2.5 liters inline 6 BMW.
On the point 5, I admit that this car seems to collect much more soot than my 2.5 liters inline 6 BMW.
If the road surface is uneven or undulating, yes.
If smooth, it will slide.
If smooth, it will slide.
Yeah totally did but it kind of feels like the car might hit a bump and flip! (I imagine you'd have to be really going some to flip your car)
the_lecht_rocks
Registered User
yep - spring rate and damping rates more suited to comfort imho.
one of the reasons it has a bad tendency for understeer too - needs a decent suspension set up and a fast road geometry to cure the understeer and turn in bite.
my experience of quick VAG cars is the lack of true dynamic suspension set up in favour of the middle ground of comfort and performance.
one of the reasons it has a bad tendency for understeer too - needs a decent suspension set up and a fast road geometry to cure the understeer and turn in bite.
my experience of quick VAG cars is the lack of true dynamic suspension set up in favour of the middle ground of comfort and performance.
I'm bored and think I might go for a blast now on some of the country roads round North Yorkshire. I'd like to set up a go pro on my bumper with a mic in the boot or something like C'etait un rendezvous. Love that video.
I love the run from Pickering to Whitby over fylingdales, lovely road to drive quickly
I had to think for a second and NOW I remember that stretch of road. Thats the best thing about going to Whitby!
I ended up going via the bottom of Pool Bank up to the sun inn over to menwith hill and then back via Ilkley.
I imagine not a lot of people will know these roads unless they are from up north (yer *******, it's grim up north, winterfell etc) but they are good driving roads.
Car faired well again it proves that it's very competent, the engine is lovely as is the car as a place to be but it lacks that special something in the set up of the suspension.
One thing is certain I'd much rather be in this car than the 135i just because the speed it can get to needs to be controlled and I think the 135i might be quite the animal at the limit so to be fair that safety that's built in to the S3 isn't such a bad thing at all!
Also I nearly mullered a pheasant.
My brand new Audi S3 has a hole in the air con condenser.
Have a look at the front of the car... There are 3 x 4cm x 55cm gaps in the front grill giving a clear line for stone damage to the air con condenser. This is a clear design fault which will mean regular damage if you travel at motorway speeds. That's fine if you don't mind regular £800 bills to fix it because Audi have refused to cover it on the warranty despite this clear design fault.
This car is not fit for purpose. Be very careful before you buy one and only buy it if you're happy to drive at slow speeds!!
Trickydicky2
Registered User
So far, I agree with points 1 & 5. Also noticed a lot of dirt spray comes up from front wheels behind the arches.
Overall, love the car. Some things I like are:
1. The speed and sure-footed handling
2. Interior build quality
3. Even without extras, it's a gadget-rich environment
4. Self-park/un-park
5. Bluetooth audio streaming from phone
6. Got a free boot tray on collection from dealer. So useful
7. The engine note especially in sport/dynamic
Gradually discovering a few tips and wrinkles, eg car has no engine temp gauge. (maybe this should replace useless but fun boost gauge?). However there is oil temp if you select lap timer mode. Gives you a reasonable excuse to cane it when temp hits say 90C
There is a very useful VCDS tweak that can be done so that the oil temp show up in all of the DIS menus (apart from efficiency).
Worth doing, so that you don't have to keep going back to the lap timer menu.
Worth doing, so that you don't have to keep going back to the lap timer menu.
Where can you get it done, Audi specialist? I'm assuming the dealer won't do it and don't they use VAGCOM (tee hee)
Fill in your location field on your profile, and a friendly member on here will PM you to do this for you.
Alternatively, look in the VCDS section of this forum, there is a map on there to show you who has VCDS where.
Also start a new post in that VCDS section to ask for help, but don't forget to include your location!
Alternatively, look in the VCDS section of this forum, there is a map on there to show you who has VCDS where.
Also start a new post in that VCDS section to ask for help, but don't forget to include your location!
One of the first things I did with mine. I like to have a bit of mechanical sympathy & can't believe there's no water / oil temp as standard on these!
Also after having the wheels off to seal them & give the car a full detail, I was a little disappointed to find that as with the 8L, this one only has single pot front callipers too. Maybe I'll see if the old Brembo GT kit will fit this one as well ;-)
I've only put 500 miles on it so far, & do feel the steering a little numb.
Dynamic steering artificially heavy.
Love the barks when it changes up at full throttle.
Sports seats give decent support & comfy for an hour or so at least.
Seat heating is the quickest I've seen.
Adaptive cruise is superb!
Not convinced I chose the right wheels with the 10 spoke all silver although the do suit the chrome trims / roof rails.
Time will tell if I'm going to enjoy it as much as the 8L...
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3000 km so far
Sometimes I have the feeling that the car is a bit flimsy. My dislikes so far:
1) The lack of a 7th gear and the 6th is too short.
2) The B&O is below expectations for me.
3) The lack of an oil temp indicator. The most useful indication is hidden in the most useless menu (lap timer)
4) Accelerator pedal hinged from the ceiling and not from the floor
5) The rain sensor has a lazy behavior, sometimes it rains a lot and it responds very slowly to the increased amount of rain. On my BMW it was much more sensitive and reactive.
6) Quality control: my car was delivered with a play in the driver seat and a crackling speaker. Now I have strange noises (hissing noise accelerating and the rattling between 2000 and 3000 rpm) that I will have checked at the dealer. Very bad premise after only 3000 km...
7) The boot floor is flimsier than cardboard. I loaded a foldable bike for a short trip and it ruined the floor, now it is notched and scratched.
8) Why I cannot have a clock in every menu of the DIS but only in the main computer page and it disappear during start/stop sessions?
My perception is that the materials are first quality only when you can see and touch. My father's A3 8L bought in 1997 and still in use after 340.000 km is like the first day and, in my perception, better build than this 8V.
Sometimes I have the feeling that the car is a bit flimsy. My dislikes so far:
1) The lack of a 7th gear and the 6th is too short.
2) The B&O is below expectations for me.
3) The lack of an oil temp indicator. The most useful indication is hidden in the most useless menu (lap timer)
4) Accelerator pedal hinged from the ceiling and not from the floor
5) The rain sensor has a lazy behavior, sometimes it rains a lot and it responds very slowly to the increased amount of rain. On my BMW it was much more sensitive and reactive.
6) Quality control: my car was delivered with a play in the driver seat and a crackling speaker. Now I have strange noises (hissing noise accelerating and the rattling between 2000 and 3000 rpm) that I will have checked at the dealer. Very bad premise after only 3000 km...
7) The boot floor is flimsier than cardboard. I loaded a foldable bike for a short trip and it ruined the floor, now it is notched and scratched.
8) Why I cannot have a clock in every menu of the DIS but only in the main computer page and it disappear during start/stop sessions?
My perception is that the materials are first quality only when you can see and touch. My father's A3 8L bought in 1997 and still in use after 340.000 km is like the first day and, in my perception, better build than this 8V.
Trickydicky2
Registered User
Danilotto
It's not good that you've had such a bad impression so far. One thought on your boot issue would be to ask the dealer to give you a boot liner. It's like a thick plastic tray. I got one as a freebie and it's ace. Protects the carpet and if needed you can hose it clean.
Agree with you on points 3 and 8. Hopefully audi can fix in firmware update? It's also a good point on the rain sensor, though I haven't had enough experience to be sure it's the same on my car yet
Cheers
It's not good that you've had such a bad impression so far. One thought on your boot issue would be to ask the dealer to give you a boot liner. It's like a thick plastic tray. I got one as a freebie and it's ace. Protects the carpet and if needed you can hose it clean.
Agree with you on points 3 and 8. Hopefully audi can fix in firmware update? It's also a good point on the rain sensor, though I haven't had enough experience to be sure it's the same on my car yet
Cheers
I have had mine now for 1 month and done 1000km in it. I love this car. I think it is a really genuine GT in the original sense of the term. It is a fast comfortable cruiser with real grunt and sophistication. It is no fire-breathing beast, but if you want this you buy a CLA 45, or better still a C63 or RS4.
I have a pretty fully specced SB. DSG. ACC. Panoramic roof. Super sports seats. B&O. Mag ride. Rails. Privacy glass. LED lights. In Estoril Blue. the Aussie cars come with all that stuff you guys here agonise about; the hill hold, keyless start, MMI, interior lights, monopur and tech pack. I came out of a string of golfs, with a 2010 R the most recent.
Styling:
The front end lets the car down and is really my only solid disappointment. I was hoping it would look better in the flesh, but it doesnt really. To my mind it just needs some more aggression. The rest of the exterior is great. Quad pipe, subtle body work and I really like the red calipers. The Super sports seats set off the interior really nicely
Inside:
The seats are comfortable and very supportive. I love the thigh extension. The roof is fabulous and I leave the blind open most of the time, or the roof open. Dunno about summer. Everything inside is of good quality, put together well and feels good. It is a nice place to sit.
Motor/drive train:
They have really nailed this. It pulls hard and strong. The DSG settings have been re-jigged a bit and it is just much better than the R. it is deceptively fast and has a nice gurgle when you hit it hard. It will toodle along when you have to. Love it
Handling/ride/steering:
The steering is not as good as the R. A bit vague and soul-less. Comfort is just stupidly light. The car handles flat and secure and is better the harder you go. The grip is sensational. The ride is much better than the R. It is however a bit weird when you go over low speed speed-humps. Feels a bit like a boat, all floaty. Maybe that is the Mag ride. Actually I find it quite hard to tell the difference between the settings, to the point where I even harbour a doubt that it has been installed... Dynamic is a bit thumpy, so it is probably on the car. If the drive train is a 9, this is 7/10.
B&O:
I love my music. I have a $15000 two channel hifi at home. I am a bit disappointed about the B&O. I have tried CD, WAV, MP3 at 320 and 190. It is a harsh and metallic. It is either thready and weak or boomy and tiring to listen to. I may have been expecting too much. I have probably been ruined by valve amps. It is certainly better than the standard VAG from the Golf.
ACC:
The radar cruise control is a great leap forward and very interesting technology. It is still clearly immature and not as good as a human at times. I find myself waiting for it to back off the throttle when the brake lights come on ahead, but it is not clever enough for that yet.
The side warning is interesting and I leave this on all the time. Both these things will become standard fare in a few years.
The lane guidance is weird and I dont get any feeling of reassurance that it is really doing what it says. I have tried to drive out of the lane and sometimes I get a jiggle and sometime I dont. I dont really like this and think I will rarely use it.
Minor Gripes:
The sat nav is not in the league of Google Maps. It is teutonic and knows how you should go somewhere even if you have other ideas. it then takes a long time to adapt. I find using the MMI awkward to enter addresses. Perhaps I will get better, but I have had many false starts on this. Other wise the interface is pretty good, once you understand it.
There are not enough little places to put things, like sunglasses
No way of opening the car without the electronic key. Those of us who like the beach will have to work something out.
These should not detract from the fact it is a great car. The best I have ever owned. I am very happy with it
I have a pretty fully specced SB. DSG. ACC. Panoramic roof. Super sports seats. B&O. Mag ride. Rails. Privacy glass. LED lights. In Estoril Blue. the Aussie cars come with all that stuff you guys here agonise about; the hill hold, keyless start, MMI, interior lights, monopur and tech pack. I came out of a string of golfs, with a 2010 R the most recent.
Styling:
The front end lets the car down and is really my only solid disappointment. I was hoping it would look better in the flesh, but it doesnt really. To my mind it just needs some more aggression. The rest of the exterior is great. Quad pipe, subtle body work and I really like the red calipers. The Super sports seats set off the interior really nicely
Inside:
The seats are comfortable and very supportive. I love the thigh extension. The roof is fabulous and I leave the blind open most of the time, or the roof open. Dunno about summer. Everything inside is of good quality, put together well and feels good. It is a nice place to sit.
Motor/drive train:
They have really nailed this. It pulls hard and strong. The DSG settings have been re-jigged a bit and it is just much better than the R. it is deceptively fast and has a nice gurgle when you hit it hard. It will toodle along when you have to. Love it
Handling/ride/steering:
The steering is not as good as the R. A bit vague and soul-less. Comfort is just stupidly light. The car handles flat and secure and is better the harder you go. The grip is sensational. The ride is much better than the R. It is however a bit weird when you go over low speed speed-humps. Feels a bit like a boat, all floaty. Maybe that is the Mag ride. Actually I find it quite hard to tell the difference between the settings, to the point where I even harbour a doubt that it has been installed... Dynamic is a bit thumpy, so it is probably on the car. If the drive train is a 9, this is 7/10.
B&O:
I love my music. I have a $15000 two channel hifi at home. I am a bit disappointed about the B&O. I have tried CD, WAV, MP3 at 320 and 190. It is a harsh and metallic. It is either thready and weak or boomy and tiring to listen to. I may have been expecting too much. I have probably been ruined by valve amps. It is certainly better than the standard VAG from the Golf.
ACC:
The radar cruise control is a great leap forward and very interesting technology. It is still clearly immature and not as good as a human at times. I find myself waiting for it to back off the throttle when the brake lights come on ahead, but it is not clever enough for that yet.
The side warning is interesting and I leave this on all the time. Both these things will become standard fare in a few years.
The lane guidance is weird and I dont get any feeling of reassurance that it is really doing what it says. I have tried to drive out of the lane and sometimes I get a jiggle and sometime I dont. I dont really like this and think I will rarely use it.
Minor Gripes:
The sat nav is not in the league of Google Maps. It is teutonic and knows how you should go somewhere even if you have other ideas. it then takes a long time to adapt. I find using the MMI awkward to enter addresses. Perhaps I will get better, but I have had many false starts on this. Other wise the interface is pretty good, once you understand it.
There are not enough little places to put things, like sunglasses
No way of opening the car without the electronic key. Those of us who like the beach will have to work something out.
These should not detract from the fact it is a great car. The best I have ever owned. I am very happy with it
Nice to know I am not mad
Please let me know what the dealer say!
Thanks
Turns out it was a stone between the brake disc and calliper. phew.
I've had that. It caused me to be quite concerned until the RAC bloke got it out. 2 minute job.
Hello,
i allready asked this in the "continental"topic but I think this thread is more popular,
For the s tronic drivers:
Anybody also have problems that the esp(in on mode)comes very fast in when you push the pedal to the bottom after or in a bend when the gear is swithing from s3 to s2,or on bad asfalt?
I am now sometimes switching my esp off and then when normally comes the esp in my tires screeching a little bit,
Tirepressure allready checked,so I guess the continental tires?
so this is for the moment one thing I don't like about my S3,it's even dissapointing to me..
It's a fast car but doesn't feel like 300hp,but the ideal daily driver for me.
i allready asked this in the "continental"topic but I think this thread is more popular,
For the s tronic drivers:
Anybody also have problems that the esp(in on mode)comes very fast in when you push the pedal to the bottom after or in a bend when the gear is swithing from s3 to s2,or on bad asfalt?
I am now sometimes switching my esp off and then when normally comes the esp in my tires screeching a little bit,
Tirepressure allready checked,so I guess the continental tires?
so this is for the moment one thing I don't like about my S3,it's even dissapointing to me..
It's a fast car but doesn't feel like 300hp,but the ideal daily driver for me.
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I don't know how to say this without sounding patronising so apologies in advance.
The problem seems to be changing down a gear whilst still in a bend. Generally you should be in a gear at the start of a bend that you can stay in all the way through and for the first bit of acceleration coming out of the bend. Have you tried changing down using the paddles or stick before turning in?
Hello i used the bend example to express myself easier because I am not english,but wat I mean is the esp comes in very annoying when i drive slowly at par example 2500 rpm and then pushing the pedal so that the stronic gears down,all the power comes to the wheels and then the esp comes in,so also on straight way and in dry circumstances offcourse,
i think this is a little bit strange for a quattro and new to me because I've allready had fast (manual)quattros but never problems with esp coming in to fast.
If you can wheelspin or the ESP light comes on in dry, grippy conditions, in a straight line, then you have a problem with your Haldex. Probably the pump.
Try your car in a wet grass field. You can soon tell if you have front wheel drive, or 4 wheel drive.
If you are accelerating out of a bend hard with bad loose grip (bad asphalt) - and the DSG downshifts, then yes, it is possible that the ESP will come on because it is trying to keep you going around the corner, rather than into the ditch.
edit:
See:
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/202294-wheel-spining-my-s3.html
Try your car in a wet grass field. You can soon tell if you have front wheel drive, or 4 wheel drive.
If you are accelerating out of a bend hard with bad loose grip (bad asphalt) - and the DSG downshifts, then yes, it is possible that the ESP will come on because it is trying to keep you going around the corner, rather than into the ditch.
edit:
See:
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/202294-wheel-spining-my-s3.html
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New S3 SB arrived yesterday. Picked up from Salisbury Audi and could not be happier with the whole experience. Top dealer and really good customer service. Spec as per my signature - below is my initial stand out thoughts on a thoroughly brilliant car!
1) Handling & pace. Super quick this thing. I'll be honest....I didn't test drive an S3 and the first time I gave it the beans yesterday it did really surprise me. It's not brutal in its delivery âbut in little time your going nearly silly speeds while only using part throttle! Handling is excellent IMHO. On fast roundabouts you can feel the quattro shuffling power to the rear. Haven't felt any under steer yet.
2) Noise. I think it suits the car really well with the bangs and pops. Very subdued when driving slow which I like. Messing around with the drive select it seems it's only slightly louder in dynamic which I though was disappointing. Was expecting it to be more apparent between the modes.
3) Quality. It's just a quality product from top to bottom. Alacantra seats, plastics, dashboard, screen, graphics, buttons etc. Everything you look at and touch feels brilliant. My BMW F30 3-series (2013 model) feels very poor quality in comparison. The S3 feels like a much more expensive car than it already is.
More to follow after I have put some miles on it. I have yet to play with all the toys and get it properly set up (the fun bit). I plan to have a lot of fun once run in.......
1) Handling & pace. Super quick this thing. I'll be honest....I didn't test drive an S3 and the first time I gave it the beans yesterday it did really surprise me. It's not brutal in its delivery âbut in little time your going nearly silly speeds while only using part throttle! Handling is excellent IMHO. On fast roundabouts you can feel the quattro shuffling power to the rear. Haven't felt any under steer yet.
2) Noise. I think it suits the car really well with the bangs and pops. Very subdued when driving slow which I like. Messing around with the drive select it seems it's only slightly louder in dynamic which I though was disappointing. Was expecting it to be more apparent between the modes.
3) Quality. It's just a quality product from top to bottom. Alacantra seats, plastics, dashboard, screen, graphics, buttons etc. Everything you look at and touch feels brilliant. My BMW F30 3-series (2013 model) feels very poor quality in comparison. The S3 feels like a much more expensive car than it already is.
More to follow after I have put some miles on it. I have yet to play with all the toys and get it properly set up (the fun bit). I plan to have a lot of fun once run in.......
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the_lecht_rocks
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I think it's relative to other cars an owner may have owned. I think as a fast hatchback it's a very decent car, it does a lot of thing well but it's not going to set your hair on fire! I liked it a lot, but something just didn't click for me at the price point I'd have to had to pay. At £43k I felt there was much stronger competition from other cars that didn't feature when the car was in the early £30k's. It feels a much more accomplished car for the extra wedge, but it's playing in very capable territory, especially if you consider lightly used cars that were £50-60k a year ago.
Where I do feel the S3 is really impressive is the complete package. The running costs, residuals, and absolute competence make it an incredibly compelling buy, but if you want more purity then you probably need to look elsewhere (than Audi).
If your not happy with the S3 then sell it. Having endured the lengthy ordering process and delivery to be dissatisfied why keep it? It is quite a specific car and thought you would have extensively researched the brand before signing on the dotted line?
I, as i am sure others will agree, will say that the S3 is far from underwhelming, however, as Warren suggested it is all relative to the owner and what cars they may have owned and driven in the past.
the_lecht_rocks
Registered User
It's a daily driver, but is so anodyne it's really uninspiring.
It's rails and 4wd help, but I think it's a total disappointment dynamically.
It's rails and 4wd help, but I think it's a total disappointment dynamically.
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Given the 8P's limitations it was never going to be a stratospheric step change so I'm not quite sure what you were expecting. It's based on the platform of a car that starts out at £19k. The Renaultsport cars will be dynamically more engaging, the Ford RS cars will deliver a more raw presentation of their talents. The S3 has always been about getting as quickly from A-B 'in any weather' in understated style. If you think the 8V is disappointing you should drive an 8P, they need some money thrown at them to make them a compelling ownership proposition for drivers who want a modicum of engagement. Have you considered modding it. I had to from 198 miles which some may say is too early, but given so many cars are engineered to meet more than performance criteria I think it's an inevitability if you love driving.
Shame your not liking you S3. I think it does depend what your used to. To be honest I have never owned a car above the level of Golf GTI / MINI JCW so I guess for me the S3 is on another level.
It's been a big thing for me to get my S3 as have always wanted one and now I'm in my late 20's I am finally in a position to afford one. It's also a bit of a present to myself after putting some serious effort in at work. Hence I might be slightly enthusiastic about the whole subject!
I think the 8V platform is a massive step on from the 8P and it's just a great package. Very happy boy at the moment.....
