TheFiftheElement
Registered User
It seems customary, once you've posted heaps leading up to getting your car, then posting very little after, to report back once you've completed 1,000 miles or so in your new toy. So here are my thoughts on my new S3 Sportback ..
I have an S3 Sportback, it's Sepang Blue and S-Tronic and I chose the Lunar Silver Interior (brave eh! ). The options I chose were the Audi Sound System, Mono.pur, comfort pack, parking plus, hill hold assist, dimming folding mirrors, interior light pack and red brake calipers. I got @8% discount on my car, ordered it on the 24th April and picked it up on the 12th July.
Looks/Exterior/Interior:
Well I'm happy, I do think the lighter interior sets the cabin off and I would recommend the Mono.pur as an option. I'm not so sure about the interior light pack. I haven't been in an A3 without it, but I can't say I'm amazed at the cup holder rings and I'm used to puddle lights so that's nothing new for me. You could change the interior lighting colour in my JCW Mini, all you can do in the S3 is make the lights brighter/dimmer . I still think Audi's, when they had the all red lighting, were cooler.
On a negative note, I have a rattle coming from the passenger door and my seat has just started squeaking when going over speed bumps although I have resolved this (probably temporarily) by raising it up a touch.
I have the standard S3 alloys, I don't like the alternatives at all. I think 18's are enough too. I'm not 100% on the grey colour tbh, and they get filthy fairly quickly. I do like the red calipers, even though they are way too expensive. The RS4 alloys would have been my number one choice.
Given the choice again, would I go Sepang/Lunar, some days yes, some days no, I think I may have gone Brilliant Red/Black pack/black. The demo I had for a few day was Misano and I thought it might just be a wee bit in your face.
I don't like (and never have) the chrome grill. It's too bling. I like the alloy rails I have, and I really like the silver accents on the front and rear bumper, that's why I didn't go for the black pack. I may (if they become available) replace the front grill with a honeycomb (RS style) one at some point.
There's no doubting the class of the interior (rattle aside). It's a lovely place to be, love the clean design, and the materials are top notch.
I know this is a divisive topic, but the standard screen is more than adequate, and for me (who didn't even spec SD Nav) anything more is just a bit of frippery. I don't need facebook/twitter/google maps in my car. Half the time I have the screen hidden away.
The Audi Sound System is also more than adequate. Bassy enough for me and with enough control over bass/tone etc. As per usual you can tell the difference in the sound from iPhone/SD card/radio with the radio sounding brightest. I have an SD card with my tunes on it and have had no problems with selecting artist/tune etc.
Driving:
It's my first S-Tronic. Really liking it so far for a dyed in the wool manual man. I can't understand how anyone can say it doesn't give them full control. I stick it in manual and use the paddles a lot. Even in auto mode you can over ride with the paddles. I can understand the argument for not being as interactive or feelsome but it's pretty good, I don't feel I missing out on gear changing are importantly, I'm not bored. You cannot get bored of the burps/farts
It's too quiet even in dynamic mode, maybe my history of scoobies, porsches with the sports exhaust, and my girlfriends 4.8 v8 have spoiled me, but I'd like it to sound louder. It does have a nice noise for a 4 pot just not loud enough. I'd like there to be more of a differential between flaps open and closed, so efficiency is quiet and relaxing, and dynamic is 'hey look at me' lol
Hill hold is a nice addition, saves me sitting with my foot on the brakes in town. Again I don't understand the moans about it being a pain when parking. Turn it off before you park then. Jeeso. Is it so hard to think, I'm about to park, and press one button?
There are too many driving modes. I use two. 1. Efficiency and auto, 2. Dynamic and manual. I don't have mag ride just standard suspension. I don't find much difference with all the modes in between. I have used the gearbox in sports mode about twice. Why would I want to go everywhere with my revs up @ 5K? Even on a country blast, it's unlikely I'll get above 4th, and even on straights, if there's traffic, I'll be in sitting in 3rd, revs screaming .. for track use, yes, for town or fast country, for me, no.
It's quick, no doubt. Doesn't always feel it though, hides the speed well. It is good fun, much more so than my 8P S3 (remapped). Not as much fun as my JCW was, or my RS60 spyder. It is more of an all rounder than those 2 were though. It does put a smile on your face, when you stick it in dynamic, over to manual, flick the left paddle twice, foot down, brrr, click, whoomph, repeat. I'd give it 7/10.
Overall mpg is sitting about 25. Which isn't bad considering my 80/20 town/country driving. Even my 330D only managed low 30's average. I don't seem to be the most economic of drivers no matter how hard I try. The best I have managed, on a gentle motorway run @ 70, over 60 miles, was 35 mpg. I'm not convinced this will get any better.
Overall:
That's me about 3-4 months in with the car. Apart from the rattle, I still look forward to driving it and do smile when I see it on the driveway. I was between the S3 and a 330XDrive and made the correct choice.
I've not started planning my next one yet, which is unusual for me, so that's a good sign. I think the upcoming RS3 would address the noise/sound issue, and will come with 19's and the honeycomb grill. Probably out of my price range though, and I think sitting in the same interior for 5 yrs+ would get boring.
Current thoughts, C63 AMG, Ford Mustang (V8 RHD) or possibly E92 M3.
Apologies for the length prose
I have an S3 Sportback, it's Sepang Blue and S-Tronic and I chose the Lunar Silver Interior (brave eh! ). The options I chose were the Audi Sound System, Mono.pur, comfort pack, parking plus, hill hold assist, dimming folding mirrors, interior light pack and red brake calipers. I got @8% discount on my car, ordered it on the 24th April and picked it up on the 12th July.
Looks/Exterior/Interior:
Well I'm happy, I do think the lighter interior sets the cabin off and I would recommend the Mono.pur as an option. I'm not so sure about the interior light pack. I haven't been in an A3 without it, but I can't say I'm amazed at the cup holder rings and I'm used to puddle lights so that's nothing new for me. You could change the interior lighting colour in my JCW Mini, all you can do in the S3 is make the lights brighter/dimmer . I still think Audi's, when they had the all red lighting, were cooler.
On a negative note, I have a rattle coming from the passenger door and my seat has just started squeaking when going over speed bumps although I have resolved this (probably temporarily) by raising it up a touch.
I have the standard S3 alloys, I don't like the alternatives at all. I think 18's are enough too. I'm not 100% on the grey colour tbh, and they get filthy fairly quickly. I do like the red calipers, even though they are way too expensive. The RS4 alloys would have been my number one choice.
Given the choice again, would I go Sepang/Lunar, some days yes, some days no, I think I may have gone Brilliant Red/Black pack/black. The demo I had for a few day was Misano and I thought it might just be a wee bit in your face.
I don't like (and never have) the chrome grill. It's too bling. I like the alloy rails I have, and I really like the silver accents on the front and rear bumper, that's why I didn't go for the black pack. I may (if they become available) replace the front grill with a honeycomb (RS style) one at some point.
There's no doubting the class of the interior (rattle aside). It's a lovely place to be, love the clean design, and the materials are top notch.
I know this is a divisive topic, but the standard screen is more than adequate, and for me (who didn't even spec SD Nav) anything more is just a bit of frippery. I don't need facebook/twitter/google maps in my car. Half the time I have the screen hidden away.
The Audi Sound System is also more than adequate. Bassy enough for me and with enough control over bass/tone etc. As per usual you can tell the difference in the sound from iPhone/SD card/radio with the radio sounding brightest. I have an SD card with my tunes on it and have had no problems with selecting artist/tune etc.
Driving:
It's my first S-Tronic. Really liking it so far for a dyed in the wool manual man. I can't understand how anyone can say it doesn't give them full control. I stick it in manual and use the paddles a lot. Even in auto mode you can over ride with the paddles. I can understand the argument for not being as interactive or feelsome but it's pretty good, I don't feel I missing out on gear changing are importantly, I'm not bored. You cannot get bored of the burps/farts
It's too quiet even in dynamic mode, maybe my history of scoobies, porsches with the sports exhaust, and my girlfriends 4.8 v8 have spoiled me, but I'd like it to sound louder. It does have a nice noise for a 4 pot just not loud enough. I'd like there to be more of a differential between flaps open and closed, so efficiency is quiet and relaxing, and dynamic is 'hey look at me' lol
Hill hold is a nice addition, saves me sitting with my foot on the brakes in town. Again I don't understand the moans about it being a pain when parking. Turn it off before you park then. Jeeso. Is it so hard to think, I'm about to park, and press one button?
There are too many driving modes. I use two. 1. Efficiency and auto, 2. Dynamic and manual. I don't have mag ride just standard suspension. I don't find much difference with all the modes in between. I have used the gearbox in sports mode about twice. Why would I want to go everywhere with my revs up @ 5K? Even on a country blast, it's unlikely I'll get above 4th, and even on straights, if there's traffic, I'll be in sitting in 3rd, revs screaming .. for track use, yes, for town or fast country, for me, no.
It's quick, no doubt. Doesn't always feel it though, hides the speed well. It is good fun, much more so than my 8P S3 (remapped). Not as much fun as my JCW was, or my RS60 spyder. It is more of an all rounder than those 2 were though. It does put a smile on your face, when you stick it in dynamic, over to manual, flick the left paddle twice, foot down, brrr, click, whoomph, repeat. I'd give it 7/10.
Overall mpg is sitting about 25. Which isn't bad considering my 80/20 town/country driving. Even my 330D only managed low 30's average. I don't seem to be the most economic of drivers no matter how hard I try. The best I have managed, on a gentle motorway run @ 70, over 60 miles, was 35 mpg. I'm not convinced this will get any better.
Overall:
That's me about 3-4 months in with the car. Apart from the rattle, I still look forward to driving it and do smile when I see it on the driveway. I was between the S3 and a 330XDrive and made the correct choice.
I've not started planning my next one yet, which is unusual for me, so that's a good sign. I think the upcoming RS3 would address the noise/sound issue, and will come with 19's and the honeycomb grill. Probably out of my price range though, and I think sitting in the same interior for 5 yrs+ would get boring.
Current thoughts, C63 AMG, Ford Mustang (V8 RHD) or possibly E92 M3.
Apologies for the length prose