Dude... if I am being dragged out of forum rehab kicking and screaming the least you could do is tag me properly
I am gonna buy that song on 12" vinyl and insert it in you!!
<tuffty/>
Totally agree with Daz.
Standard form absolutely awful handling. Spend some cash and they become "ok".
Fit some LCR Brembos and you have a chance at stopping. 312 are shocking on a car that weighs half of the moon.
Spend some more cash and let Bill work his magic and they become "quite fun"
I have 3 mates with Clio 172 182 and they absolutely take the **** out of me on track in any situation other than a straight line.
Dont get me wrong I enjoy my car, in fact I ****** love it. Something like Tufftys would be unreal, but if your talking about the drive then the S3 8L gets trumped by a £1k Renault Clio.
I'm Currently buying a house and as Daz knows, going through the heart ache of accepting that a little Clio that is cheap to fix may be the best thing to do to have track day fun.
As for a A3 drive being better than a S3, check out @Prawns trackday videos and tell me you cant get an A3 to handle well and deliver its power so it doesnt light its wheels up everywhere.
Just my 2p
100% Gops,its all down to what you want your own car to do. My S3 does what I want it to do perfectly well and my talent would run out before the car would let me down handling wise.
As I you said, the S3 can be built as can any other car with the correct budget, into what you want to make it.
You've got a 600bhp+ comfy S3 that will annihilate lambos and Ferraris because you chose to.Same as Tuffty.
Prawn has a 380 bhp track A3 because that's what he wanted.
I've got a 340bhp S3 I use as my fun car for track days and weekend, because that's what I want out of it.
But to answer the OP question of "Is the S3 exciting to drive?" Stock form, no. Go through the process of modding them and yes, they can be GREAT fun.
The 8L can be built, as can any other car, into what you want to make it.
You've got to want an 8L S3 to own one. Not because it's a 1.8t 4wd innitt
I used to own an Escort RS Turbo running 240bhp, it was a tyre shredding, gearbox munching, clutch eating monster, light and incredibly rapid, to the point of almost scary in the wet, a proper thrill ride, but I still find my S3 a thrill at times, when I have a mad five minutes, without the scary stuff.Ultimately it comes down to this:
1) what cars have you owned/driven? This will very much dictate what you find thrilling.
I owned a 1.2 clio before my S3... Therefore it thrilled me
2) what do you want the car for?
Are you buying a toy to be used on fast weekend drives and track days? VS buying Something with a bit of spark and appeal that you want to enjoy because it's an 8L S3, bit of a classic now.
If the former is true there are much better cars for same money or less.
When the snow comes oh yes just forget about clio and bmw and A3. And hopefully this winter ... well we shall see.
Over an s3
ME!!!
Any day
I'd rather walk than drive a Clio or any French rubbish come to that.
Lol
I had big dreams for the s3
But it became very obvious very quick it wasnt made for track.
Stright line monsters that are comfy and affordable.
Nothing wrong with that!!
But after spending thousands and thousands on it
Having 330bhp
And still getting killed by clio 197's on track
I think the facts were clear
Stick winter tyres on and anycar can be driven in the snow.
I had mine down to 1250kg
I just think people need to be realistic.
Im not knocking the s3
Its awesome for a lot of things
But its not going to excite like a 172 cup etc
Over an s3
ME!!!
Any day
I agree 100%, folks should be realistic about what can be achieved with these cars ..
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I love my S3, but at track events when yous getting killed by £1000 Clios with a few tasty mods
Yes I'm sure they're great on track, until they fall to pieces, besides 99% of us don't go on track, we want something that is nice to use everyday, not something that shakes your fillings out and turns you deaf in the process.A megane 265 cup
Or clio 220 trophy
197s
All known as being huge fun and fast.
Keep hidding behind the french rubbish pov.
Your s3 is the best !!!!
Nailing michelle keegan would be exciting but she wont do 0-60 in 4 seconds.
Christ, does anyone actually buy an 8L thinking "this will make the perfect track day weapon"? Seriously?
Yes I'm sure they're great on track, until they fall to pieces, besides 99% of us don't go on track, we want something that is nice to use everyday, not something that shakes your fillings out and turns you deaf in the process.
Need to drive faster mate
Yes they do
I wouldnt be too smug
I remember you getting over taken by a 197 in my 330bhp track s3
Also we are talking mild tune
2 totally different points speed and excitement
Need to drive faster mate
Christ, does anyone actually buy an 8L thinking "this will make the perfect track day weapon"? Seriously?
Yes I'm sure they're great on track, until they fall to pieces, besides 99% of us don't go on track, we want something that is nice to use everyday, not something that shakes your fillings out and turns you deaf in the process.