Does Anyone Like their S3?

the amount of models across the Audi brand that can spec rotors and they say "all new rotors for the RS3", yes I know these are different - but only slightly. Still a step in the wrong direction for Audi.

No doubt I'll change em soon enough :) depends on when/how much a MTM box will be :)


On the down side, the RS6 specific alloys are now creeping across the range, but they are still the best looking :)
 
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How refreshing to see this hasn't gone to another S3 isn't as good as a Golf R thread............................oh hang on.

If you didn't test drive a Golf R during your buying process then you have missed out but let's give it a rest please.
 
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Much the same as

95 or 98
S tronic or Manual
Hold Assist
Mono.pur
Sepang
Advanced Key

These threads will always descend to the same place ...........

After all, this is an Internet Forum ;)
 
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Frankly the most comfortable car I have ever owned, better performance than the e60 m5 I owned before better mpg and a fab interior! Only gripes are bouncy ride and less than involving steering but at the price delighted!!!

I do miss the v10 scream though..
 
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veeeight said:
So, so far, people are saying its a great all round family car, but not a sports car then. ;)

I know, let's re-badge it as a A3 S-Line :)
Click to expand...

But with a bigger engine...and a couple of extra exhausts!

And I love my A3 S Line:kissmyrings:
 
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no, he changed it via VCDS at the expense of ...legality...
 
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I wonder if the new RS3 rotors are still directionally incorrect on the the drivers side.... ;)

I know all 4 wheels and every rotor arm alloy is the same so they are going to look different on both sides but this has bugged me with my TT and doesn't agree with my symmetrical OCD :keule:
 
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Although the unlock/lock looks good there, the indicators in normal use do look very suspect. It looks wrong and illegal and definitely not standard looking.
 
Vins said:
I wonder if the new RS3 rotors are still directionally incorrect on the the drivers side.... ;)

I know all 4 wheels and every rotor arm alloy is the same so they are going to look different on both sides but this has bugged me with my TT and doesn't agree with my symmetrical OCD :keule:
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your OCD is not gonna like the new rotors then :D
 
Love that nardo grey. Also love riviera blue. Nice that non metallic colours can look so special.

Oh and I didn't test drive a Golf R before ordering my S3. I nearly did but in truth I wanted an Audi. The interior of the Golf doesn't do it for me and given that probably 95% of the time the supposed driving dynamics benefit of the Golf R won't be evident due to driving conditions whereas 100% of the time the interior will be evident I am certain I've made the right choice.

I won't be taking my S3 on a track I shall be doing mainly A roads, some motorway use and a bit of B road driving. I expect a sure footed drive with great traction in the wet and a good dose of power when I want to put a smile on my face.

I still think some pick holes in the car just to pretend they're done great expert, some motoring guru we should all be unworthy of. Truth is the car will do what the vast majority of us will want it to.
 
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I just can't believe people buy a family car and complain that it's not sporty enough!

Other than that if the golf n s3 are fundamentally the same car why do ppl rate the golf r more than the s3? It seems to be just as pricey but the interior is awful surely the suspension is the same between the models and I believe the s3 is actually lighter???
 
Me personally I prefer the s3 plus I've heard of quite a few R car jackings
 
sunscreemer said:
The interior of the Golf doesn't do it for me and given that probably 95% of the time the supposed driving dynamics benefit of the Golf R won't be evident due to driving conditions whereas 100% of the time the interior will be evident I am certain I've made the right choice.

I won't be taking my S3 on a track I shall be doing mainly A roads, some motorway use and a bit of B road driving. I expect a sure footed drive with great traction in the wet and a good dose of power when I want to put a smile on my face.

I still think some pick holes in the car just to pretend they're done great expert, some motoring guru we should all be unworthy of. Truth is the car will do what the vast majority of us will want it to.
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Couldnt agree more. I drive my S3 on public roads at (legal) speeds. I dont go round corners with the **** hanging out over the apex.....I want a car that is good for safe overtaking and is refined, comfy and secure with 4wd....thats why I bought an S3. I test drove 3 different variants of the Golf R but wasnt a fan of the interior and just could not get a deal I was happy with. Got a great deal on the S3 and much prefer the classy interior and more grown up look of the car.

I had an M135i previously and it was stupidly fast, with a superb sound but it felt nowhere near as secure on the road, had a really unsettled and in my opinion almost dangerous ride quality when pressing on. Yes, I miss the noise of the staight six but thats about all.....!
 
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I seriously love mine. Only had it 4 months and it's the best car I've owned. Comfortable, sure footed, high quality (and I have mono.pur!) and quick. Love the look of the RS3 but don't need it. Maybe one day. In my search for a car, nothing came close.....
Golf R - Didn't like the boy racer image and interior sucks.
BMW 235M - Again, image wrong plus I didn't want RWD.

I can't think of any other car in this price point that can match it. Just my opinion.
 
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veeeight said:
In the VW Group family tree, yes, Audi is positioned as the sportier marque lineage (along with Seat etc) :)



Audi Mission:
Customer delight remains at the heart of our Strategy 2020. Our brand essence “Vorsprung durch Technik” comprises the values sportiness, progressiveness and sophistication. These are embodied in particular by our technologically advanced and innovative products, which are also noted for their attractive design, high-caliber materials and build quality.
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You added that after i'd liked your post, cheeky ;) not sure what that's supposed to prove. Doesn't scream Audi are sportier than VW and Seat to me.

Si :)
 
sunscreemer said:
Love that nardo grey. Also love riviera blue. Nice that non metallic colours can look so special.

Oh and I didn't test drive a Golf R before ordering my S3. I nearly did but in truth I wanted an Audi. The interior of the Golf doesn't do it for me and given that probably 95% of the time the supposed driving dynamics benefit of the Golf R won't be evident due to driving conditions whereas 100% of the time the interior will be evident I am certain I've made the right choice.

I won't be taking my S3 on a track I shall be doing mainly A roads, some motorway use and a bit of B road driving. I expect a sure footed drive with great traction in the wet and a good dose of power when I want to put a smile on my face.

I still think some pick holes in the car just to pretend they're done great expert, some motoring guru we should all be unworthy of. Truth is the car will do what the vast majority of us will want it to.
Click to expand...

Exactly! The golf R may well be better in the corners etc etc, but how many of us bought our cars to race and go round a track? I certainly didn't. All the arguments of how the golf is better are only valid on a track! Normal day to day driving, even fast road driving, not many of us would even notice! I see it this way: I bought an s3 because I saw it and wanted it, I never even considered a golf r, I think the s3 looks better, more grown up, more classy, has a better interior blah blah blah it's stupidly fast for when I fancy embarrassing the boy racers and need to overtake quickly. As for the mono.pur people wine on about, yes it's fake leather, but it looks good, certainly nicer to look at than the standard bare plastic, and yes as with every car I've ever owned it inevitably has its floors, none of which make me regret buying it in the slightest. It's a ****** nice car and I'm very happy with it. Just my view :)
 
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jaypers777 said:
I seriously love mine. Only had it 4 months and it's the best car I've owned. Comfortable, sure footed, high quality (and I have mono.pur!) and quick. Love the look of the RS3 but don't need it. Maybe one day. In my search for a car, nothing came close.....
Golf R - Didn't like the boy racer image and interior sucks.
BMW 235M - Again, image wrong plus I didn't want RWD.

I can't think of any other car in this price point that can match it. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

+1
 
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Best car I've ever owned and the reason I am buying an RS3
 
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Psyman79 said:
You added that after i'd liked your post, cheeky ;) not sure what that's supposed to prove. Doesn't scream Audi are sportier than VW and Seat to me.

Si :)
Click to expand...


It's the Audi mission statement !

In the family tree though, Lambo, Bentley, Audi Seat etc are on one side of the tree (the sporty side) whilst VW, Skoda, etc are on the other side (dependable, reliable, family).

If Audi weren't supposed to be sport orientated, they wouldn't be permitted to pursue models such as the RS6, R8 etc.

Thus the slight upset within the Group that the R is set up sportier than the S3 - something which has ruffled quite a few feathers in the organisation ;)
 
Fair enough :)

Although from personal experience i'd never class VW as dependable and can't imagine i'd ever buy another one.
 
The Golf R 400 (420) is bound to ruffle a hell of a lot of feathers in the VAG hierarchy. I do believe VW have now confirmed the car.

No idea how VW have managed to offer that output with a 2.0t engine and 3yrs warranty and I wonder if it's something Audi can match.

The 2.5t would then require significant redevelopment, I'm left wondering if the Golf R 400 is out, what will become of the upcoming TTRS?

Certainly a very strange move by VW.
 
veeeight said:
It's the Audi mission statement !

In the family tree though, Lambo, Bentley, Audi Seat etc are on one side of the tree (the sporty side) whilst VW, Skoda, etc are on the other side (dependable, reliable, family).

If Audi weren't supposed to be sport orientated, they wouldn't be permitted to pursue models such as the RS6, R8 etc.

Thus the slight upset within the Group that the R is set up sportier than the S3 - something which has ruffled quite a few feathers in the organisation ;)
Click to expand...

I think you're a bit misguided by the whole Audi mission statement! And you've put your own statement right by adding the paragraph about the RS's and R8 - they are the reason why Audi as a whole have the sportier pedigree, VW don't exactly produce anything along them lines do they. But that's not to say every car audi produce should be a sports car or sportier than its VW equivalent, also I don't think any of the S range are meant to be considered sports cars. So the Golf might feel sportier, I don't care and I don't think Audi do either.
 
Tony1982 said:
I think you're a bit misguided by the whole Audi mission statement! And you've put your own statement right by adding the paragraph about the RS's and R8 - they are the reason why Audi as a whole have the sportier pedigree, VW don't exactly produce anything along them lines do they. But that's not to say every car audi produce should be a sports car or sportier than its VW equivalent, also I don't think any of the S range are meant to be considered sports cars. So the Golf might feel sportier, I don't care and I don't think Audi do either.
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So, what does the "S" in "S" and "RS" stand for exactly? ;)

Why put a flat bottom steering wheel in the S3? ;)

Why produce a S-Line trim level ;)
 
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veeeight said:
Thus the slight upset within the Group that the R is set up sportier than the S3 - something which has ruffled quite a few feathers in the organisation ;)
Click to expand...

TBH the GTI and higher versions of the golf (and the rocco) have always been atypical of the VW family image
 
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veeeight said:
So, what does the "S" in "S" and "RS" stand for exactly? ;)
Click to expand...

Hmmmm this argument is also invalid, unless you also think the sport trim available on the A3 makes that a sports car too? ;)
 
^ it's the desire to meet the sporty aspiration of the marque ;)
 
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In response to the original question - yep, I'm really liking mine. I'm a bit of a serial car changer, with recent prior vehicles including all sorts of stuff: BMW M135i, Civic Type R, Focus St Estate, E46 M3, A6 BiTDi amongst driving many, many others.

The steering could have more feel, and the little bit of "bounce" when attacking uneven B-Roads can be unsettling, but I've found the handling to be miles better than some people here would have you believe (a switch to Michelin Pilot Supersports has been a nice improvement too).

I've driven lots of fast Audis before, and been disappointed by most of them. This S3 isn't perfect, but it is really, really good!
 
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Again........!!!Just come back from my holidays,my car was all garaged up in "the in laws garage" l only have a drive way boohoo,but as the electric garage door OPENED up....my wee heart missed a beat...coudnt wait to get inside it and start it up..love it,Gof R.....THING?... same as the Focus ST MK2 v Focus MK2RS v Focus MK3 v Focus MK3 FL v Focus MK3 RS.........car forums/car magz are full of them..........take from them what you want..had 2 great drivers cars in the past better than the Golf R/S3........I NOW have very sexual looking Audi S3.........that gets far more KUDOS from everyone l know and dont know,than any car l have owned so far?.

PS.also got a great tan....lol.

lts just a car......
 
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Beluga S line said:
But with a bigger engine...and a couple of extra exhausts!
And I love my A3 S Line:kissmyrings:
Click to expand...
Good to see another satisfied and S Line Audi Sport A3 member. Not many of us out there in this S3 dominated forum world.
But if they need group therapy threads like this to help to allow their family hatchback / saloon/ sportingcarhatchwith5doors to be enjoyed then so be it :D
 
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Most of the criticisms banded at the S3 could more than equally apply to most cars on sale. Most cars on sale however haven't an interior anywhere near the quality of the S3 and they don't go like a stabbed rat while offering all wheel drive sure footedness.

"Steering could have more feel" - well yes, it could, you could buy a Caterham or Elise. If that's one of the few criticisms continually aimed at the S3 then what a fantastic car it must be.
 
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Steering could have more feel.

Yep.

A shame then, that the 1.4 A3 with the non variable ratio rack has better feel and turn in, than its more expensive and supposedly better sibling ;)

And guess what?
It has an identical interior to the S3 !!
 
mister.c. said:
Not many of us out there in this S3 dominated forum world.
But if they need group therapy threads like this to help to allow their family hatchback / saloon/ sportingcarhatchwith5doors to be enjoyed then so be it :D
Click to expand...


Yep, been mentioned quite a few times before now, this forum does tend to get S3 centric sometimes :)
 
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