Spin140
Registered User
I took someone out in my S3 the other week, and the next day they went and mapped their R32.
The V6 sounds fantastic, but I think the 2.0T lump offers better bang per buck with respect to tuning, and subsequently far more enticing thrills (hard to imagine what stage 2+ is like until you've tried it). When I went in the above mentioned R32 it just felt plain slow (a great sound but not the shove to match the soundtrack).
I see the appeal of NA as I'm getting bored of the problems I've suffered with this car whilst getting to an appropriate stage 2 spec (pipe leaks / fuelling gremlins etc...), but even when I tested the V8 4.2 in an S5 it felt all noise and not much go.
I'm hanging in to see if there is an announcement on the RS3, and if it turns out to be another myth then I'm not sure where to go next.
Loving the old 3.2 vs 2.0T argument (almost as done to death as petrol vs. diesel). Horses for courses, personal preference, depends what you want from your car I guess.
I had an S5 for a couple of hours on Saturday morning and totally agree with what you have said it was a nice drive and a good sound but felt very restrained, it had all the negatives of an RS4 - high tax, high fuel consumption but none of the qualities offered by the same engine but tuned as it should be in the RS4, a totally different car, the S5 is a car that would be a pleasure to take across continents in a relaxed and sedate fashion, the RS4 shouts " DRIVE ME !!".
To be fair a stage 2 + S3 is pretty much nearly as quick IMO so offers exceptional value, it's just that sound you get from anything with 6 cylinders plus so I can see the attraction for the 3.2 owners.