I have really got my sights set on getting an S3 but i have just read an article by Clarkson stating it has massive turbo lag, is this the case? In all my time reading this forum i have never seen anyone mention anything about massive turbo lag, at what rpm does it really start to kick in? Please put my mind at ease and tell me it isnt true!
S3 turbo lag.... Really?
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It's actually got the least turbo lag of any petrol turbocharged car I've tried.
Turbo kicks in from around 2200 revs on mine and you have very meaningful pull from there onwards.
Yes, it doesn't have the immediacy below those revs which you would get from a larger capacity engine, but I've never found it an issue and your driving style quickly accomodates it. Think it is a case of Clarkson over-egging things!
Turbo kicks in from around 2200 revs on mine and you have very meaningful pull from there onwards.
Yes, it doesn't have the immediacy below those revs which you would get from a larger capacity engine, but I've never found it an issue and your driving style quickly accomodates it. Think it is a case of Clarkson over-egging things!
It's not got massive turbo lag at all , it has got a little bit though.
Just like all turbo'd cars , unless twin turbo.
Take one out for a test drive , see what you think.
p
Just like all turbo'd cars , unless twin turbo.
Take one out for a test drive , see what you think.
p
PNH80
Low life livin' the high life.
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Well i get a tiny bit of lag from my 2.0T, or maybe it's just the power band... Starts off quite tame then all floods in at once. I'd imagine the S3 would suffer a bit more by having bigger turbo. I'm sure someone will correct me!
It won't be a popular opinion but the BMW 3.0 twin turbo unit is the best anywhere with no lag or loss of pull anywhere in the rev range and i think Audi should start looking at duel turbo technology for it's next generation engines.
It won't be a popular opinion but the BMW 3.0 twin turbo unit is the best anywhere with no lag or loss of pull anywhere in the rev range and i think Audi should start looking at duel turbo technology for it's next generation engines.
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
The 2.0T engine used by the VAG group actually is one of the least laggy turbocharged engines. Obviously if you're in 6th and at 1600RPM's it will take a while for it to move when you floor it, but it does feel a lot more NA than the older 1.8T's which are positively lethargic in comparison.
This is what you call turbo lag.
This is what you call turbo lag.
It has less lag than the 200hp 2.0T
With a full exhaust the lag is reduced by about 60%.
Spool time and lag are different things, my car spools at around 2350rpm and the lag (so long as your over 2350rpm) is a fraction of a second..
With a full exhaust the lag is reduced by about 60%.
Spool time and lag are different things, my car spools at around 2350rpm and the lag (so long as your over 2350rpm) is a fraction of a second..
It's not just him though.
Loads of people report the lag, such as Germancarzone, Edmunds etc.etc.
Plenty of threads about it on other forums too (tyresmoke etc.)
You may not notice it, you may drive around it now.
Doesn't mean it isn't there.
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PaulAr
S3 (8P)
I never said it wasnt there.
Its a Turbocharged car, you will always have lag.
Its niave to think otherwise and its the (worthwhile IMO) price you pay for having a high bhp/cc ratio.
BUT, saying it has `massive` turbo lag simply isnt true, which is my point.
Paul
When talking about turbo lag, the relevance of this is...............?
Unless you're trying to say the S3 is some sort of miraculous contraption, devoid of lag?
My A4 had lag.
My A3 had lag.
My D3 has lag.
Oh god here we go again!
Honestly why do you bother posting on this forum?
I wasn't saying that the S3 is devoid of lag, simply asking a question if you had driven an 8P S3 or not?
And the relevance is that all turbo cars will experience different levels of turbo lag, and I was interested to see if you had only read about the 'laggy' S3 engine or you had experienced it for yourself? Which you obviously have not..
Any opportunity to pick fault with the S3 and your straight on it.. can I ask why?
Honestly why do you bother posting on this forum?
I wasn't saying that the S3 is devoid of lag, simply asking a question if you had driven an 8P S3 or not?
And the relevance is that all turbo cars will experience different levels of turbo lag, and I was interested to see if you had only read about the 'laggy' S3 engine or you had experienced it for yourself? Which you obviously have not..
Any opportunity to pick fault with the S3 and your straight on it.. can I ask why?
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
I think its fair to say the S3 doesnt have `massive` turbo lag.
Yes it has turbo lag, but all turbocharged cars do.
The `massive` lag statement is a typical Clarkson exaggeration , Ok it makes for good reading and TV, but isnt particularly accurate and gives the impression that the S3 has much worse lag than other TC cars.
Dont let it put you off mate.......because its bolocks.
Not true.
This thread could have been about any turbo car.
You're not paranoid though, we are talking about you.
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Compared to my previous cars; Golf GTI, and BMW 335D, it does have a lot of lag, as nothing happens till 2500rpm, and if you are in the wrong gear at the wrong time it can catch you out, Mine is better because of the MAP, exhaust and intake, but its still present.
So in a word, yes it does have lag, but you learn to drive round it....
So in a word, yes it does have lag, but you learn to drive round it....
You cant deny that you go out of your way to 'add' to a conversation when it comes to pretty much all of the Audi range, especially the S3..
Dont get me wrong, im not one of those people who believes that the car I currently own is the best car on earth but I just find most of your comments which seem to be aimed at ending any on going conversation pretty annoying
Now you have your BMW which should entertain you for the next 3 years why dont you just leave it?
Personally I find the D3 a pretty dull drive, and the horrible ALPINA sticker on the front splitter completely tasteless, if a little bit 'chav'??
The difference is that I nor anyone else on here feels the need to go onto a BMW forum and shout about it.
Dont get me wrong, im not one of those people who believes that the car I currently own is the best car on earth but I just find most of your comments which seem to be aimed at ending any on going conversation pretty annoying
Now you have your BMW which should entertain you for the next 3 years why dont you just leave it?
Personally I find the D3 a pretty dull drive, and the horrible ALPINA sticker on the front splitter completely tasteless, if a little bit 'chav'??
The difference is that I nor anyone else on here feels the need to go onto a BMW forum and shout about it.
Spin140
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The S3 has a small amount of lag but nothing to deter from buying one, as all have said you will soon learn to drive around this very minor point, all other aspects of S3 ownership are pretty much what it says on the tin, fast and secure super hatch.
I think you are unlikely to get caught out in the S3 as you tend to keep the car on the boil chasing the gruff exhaust note and enjoying that plateau of torque once the car has reached 2,500rpm. Some say the S3 is expensive I actually think it represents good value for money when all factors are considered.
Autocar tested the S3 recently said it was possibly the best car Audi has built tested against likes of Bmw 130i etc came 1st Clarkson doesnt like it for the fact its quite expensive which is a fair comment but when you can currently get 9% off I think its a bargin !!!!
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Spin140
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Life on here would be dull without Bowfer, he never fails to provoke a reaction so I think he should stay 
I don't always agree with his view point but he's entitled to it and the reponses are often worth reading for the entertainment value alone.
This may be an Audi forum and I no longer own an Audi (BM 335D Coupe) but I still plan to stick around, hey its a public forum afterall.
Clarkson is a very funny and controversial man but it doesn't mean we have to agree with him.
I don't always agree with his view point but he's entitled to it and the reponses are often worth reading for the entertainment value alone.
This may be an Audi forum and I no longer own an Audi (BM 335D Coupe) but I still plan to stick around, hey its a public forum afterall.
Clarkson is a very funny and controversial man but it doesn't mean we have to agree with him.
Indeed, I like him too, but I definitely wouldn't base a vehicle purchase on one of his "reviews".
Def more lag on an S3 vs a 2.0 TFSI (which is virtually lag free). Just make sure you're in the right gear!!!
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Tend to agree, but its marginal and certainly worth the extra 60bhp + another 40 or so with a remap!
JamS3
Registered User
I would have thought the relevance of it would be the title....
S3 Turbo Lag - Really?
Thats why the discussion is about the S3 and I would have thought anyone having driven one would be in a credible place to comment.
I never really noticed much, yes some but I think the way the car comes on boost so aggressive this can be confused sometimes.
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As quoted from here: http://autorepair.about.com/library/glossary/bldef-389.htm
So what is it called then??
Beacuse the point where the car comes on boost/large fraction of the power is available on the S3 is 2500rpm, there is a delay whilst the car get there, from its idle speed of 950RPM, therfore called lag. Drive a 335D, or 335i, Golf GTI and you'll realise who laggy the S3 feels in comparison. Its not bad compared to older cars, like you pointed out, but it is there, and, as I've already mentioned is something you learn to drive around.
In answer to the intial question, yes it does have turbo lag, or whatever anyone wants to call the time between when the accelerator is depressed and the turbo kicks in. Quite a lot of the time I drive mine without even coming on boost.
Best advice I can give to you, tobycruse, is get one for a long test drive, maybe 48hours + (like it did), and you'll soon realise that with all the car's plus points, this soons fades away into the background, as the car is relally good fun to drive, on or off boost.
Good luck.
Well I think people kind of misunderstand lag....
Lag is pressing the accelerator and nothing happening and then take a shove in the back with the turbo at full boost!!!
While the S3 takes a little bit to spool up (around 2200-2300) on mine... it does not have a massive lag at all... sure at 1000rpm in higher gears you can press de accelerator fully and nothing seems to happen but is actually starts pulling consistently and once over 2500rpm there is no way back!!!
I actually was a bit worried about the turbo cars nature before test driving the S3 and I could say on my test drive I didn't really felt that turbo boost as I would have expected...
Shure has lag, almost unnoticiable and shure takes a bit to spool up... but nothing MASSIVE!!!
Pedro
Lag is pressing the accelerator and nothing happening and then take a shove in the back with the turbo at full boost!!!
While the S3 takes a little bit to spool up (around 2200-2300) on mine... it does not have a massive lag at all... sure at 1000rpm in higher gears you can press de accelerator fully and nothing seems to happen but is actually starts pulling consistently and once over 2500rpm there is no way back!!!
I actually was a bit worried about the turbo cars nature before test driving the S3 and I could say on my test drive I didn't really felt that turbo boost as I would have expected...
Shure has lag, almost unnoticiable and shure takes a bit to spool up... but nothing MASSIVE!!!
Pedro
I think turbo lag = fun. Who wants smooth which = dull ? A big slap in the face when it comes on boost delivers the grin every time for me - and there IS lag in my S3, even more so after the remap. Thankfully.
What you and a lot of other people are referring to is spool time not lag.. they are two completely different things!
The S3 will spool at higher RPM because the K04s turbo is much bigger than the K03 in the other 2.0T FSI engines.. But the lag time on the K04 is better than the K03 because the K04 turbo is a twin-scroll design..
If you try and accelerate from 900rpm in anything other than a truck then your a chump
Classic!!!The S3 is a hot hatch - designed with performance in mind.
So it's a small capacity motor with the turbo bolted on.
As Jonny has said several times - lag IS NOT the time taken from tickover to the turbo's operating area.
However, when above 2500rpm the lag is not bad at all. Compared to my old S3 and the Cossies a friend of mine had the new S3 has very little lag in fact.
It's progressive, so much so, when I first test drove one it had the impression of feeling slower than it was becuase I was used to the big kick in the back from my old mapped S3.
Yes, below the turbo band it's slower, but as said if you own the car, you know that, so it's never a problem!
If you want something with power at tickover, buy a diesel!!
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