is the s3 an exciting drive or not ?
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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/>
Hehehehe!
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
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
Yes you can, equally look at the TT quattro racecar that is in Bill's class of cars, its quick and handles well too and puts the power down. Its how you build the car. Comparing a full fat S3 to a stripped out A3 thats built really well isnt really fair. Im sure if both cars were built to race, they'd have desirable characteristics. Yes the A3 would be lighter and would handle better if they were same power, same everything but we live in an imperfect world so i'd imagine the S3 racecar would be led to want more power.
Anyways we dont all drive race cars, we drive some lardy **** S3's and A3's. Aslong as the thing walks over Golf R's and 8V's, even the occasional Lambo/ferrari/porsche etc.. im happy frankly.
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.
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.
100%. Especially with my comfy headrests! Back in the day it must of felt mega, but compared to today, it's old. You've got to want an 8L S3 to own one. Not because it's a 1.8t 4wd innitt.
snowy
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As said time and time over S3's can be made fun but takes lots of money.
I used to have more fun with my tuned 106 Gti than I did with the S3 until it got to silly power. It was light and had more driver involvement having to fight and correct it with a fraction of the power where as S3 had been point and squirt as such.
Wheel spinning in the dry though at 80mph has made it fun again....down side keep replacing and rebuilding drivetrain parts NOT so fun lol
I used to have more fun with my tuned 106 Gti than I did with the S3 until it got to silly power. It was light and had more driver involvement having to fight and correct it with a fraction of the power where as S3 had been point and squirt as such.
Wheel spinning in the dry though at 80mph has made it fun again
....down side keep replacing and rebuilding drivetrain parts NOT so fun lol
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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.
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.
oh yes just forget about clio and bmw and A3. And hopefully this winter ... well we shall see.
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.
When the snow comes
Stick winter tyres on and anycar can be driven in the snow.
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I actually have a whiny 2007 1.2 Clio which is insured for the kids to learn in - my eldest son had an 2003 earlier version which was much nicer than this oversized bulky mess.
I don't get the dissing of the S3s to be honest, they were the best Audi offered in that range at that time, and if you really want to spend 10K+ to get the best out of it - then it's a hobby project rather than desperation - otherwise spend the 13K on something else.
If I had known the S3 would need £1K per 2000 miles in parts and maintenance - I might have considered something else.
To be fair most 1000cc motorbike would beat virtually any car up to 140mph, even my heavy boat 1989 GSX1100F could do 1/4 mile in under 11 seconds and 0-60 in less than 4 seconds.
Im not dissing them.
I had 2 i really liked them.
But!!!
They are barely interesting let alone exciting.
When they were realised they were reviewed as boring and dull.
Yet 17 years later they seem to have got better some how???
Too slow
Too quiet
Dont handle
And the body roll!!!!!!!!
I had 2 i really liked them.
But!!!
They are barely interesting let alone exciting.
When they were realised they were reviewed as boring and dull.
Yet 17 years later they seem to have got better some how???
Too slow
Too quiet
Dont handle
And the body roll!!!!!!!!
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 !!!!
Shoomakan
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Yeah. I know the feels man. I regularly get beat by Clio Sports and older Golf 1/Golf 2's with 2.0 16V engines at my track events. My car carries way too much fat to be useful in the tight karting tracks we do our time attacks on. Hillclimbs are another matter entirely, however...
I think we're being a bit too negative on the S3's handling. In my experience, it's less understeery than anything VAG with a VR in the front, the suspension is a good compromise of comfort and handling, and with just camber adjustment and sports springs, it gets MUCH better. My biggest issue with the car is the weight! 1.4 tons on a car that small, AWD or not, is just insane.
Yeah and with bmw make shore you have good shoes and warm clothes
. Nothing compares to quattro. And the fun it brings in snow. We are talking about having fun with the car right? But yeah for just getting from a to b a clio will do i guess .
Shoomakan
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Not many things excite more than a 172/182 Cup! Much more of a CRX/EG fan myself but they're lovely cars nonetheless, those Renaults.
1250kg must have felt awesome. Wish my S3 was that light.
snowy
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I agree 100%, folks should be realistic about what can be achieved with these cars ..
I'm in the same boat as Daz. 340bhp S3 and I know for a fact this weekend at Knockhill my mate with a Clio 172 track car will annihilate me.
And hes spent not even half the money I have.
I love my S3, but at track events when yous getting killed by £1000 Clios with a few tasty mods you do start wondering if your getting into track days weather a Clio is the answer for cheap fun. If the clio goes bang its sorted with £400 engine and a weekend with the lads.
The S3 is sooo heavy. My S3 was 265 bhp at stage 2, my mates megane 225 is stage 2 270 bhp and he used to pull car lengths on me in a straight line.
Hence why I went hybrid LOL
Its all dependant what you use your car for and what you want from it
Your post is irrelevant.
I never said they cant be fast.
They are NOT exciting.
Also we are talking mild tune.
Nailing michelle keegan would be exciting but she wont do 0-60 in 4 seconds.
2 totally different points speed and excitement
S3 suits someone who is more looking for refinement over excitement..
With power potential.
If you want excitment you want something that handles well
Changes direction quickly
Sounds nice
Consistant
Light
Agile
Or all the things the s3 is not.
With power potential.
If you want excitment you want something that handles well
Changes direction quickly
Sounds nice
Consistant
Light
Agile
Or all the things the s3 is not.
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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.
Shoomakan
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Never knew of this woman. Damn. She'd make me do 0-60 in 4 seconds, that's for sure.
OP, I think the question has been answered. If you want a great overall daily car with good traction and around 260-270hp (minimal investment, relatively), buy an S3. If you want a track weapon, buy a Clio/Honduh/not an A3.
Then again, those 3 options are all wrong wheel drive...
Its not all track only they will be awesome fun on b roads etc.
And as for them being harsh i dont agree.
They are very well known as being more fun than most cars in the same class
Need to drive faster mate
I wouldnt be too smug
I remember you getting over taken by a 197 in my 330bhp track s3
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You car doesn't count. It was genuinely the most hateful understeering sack of mouldy potatoes I've ever had the missfortune to drive on track! I think my Berlingo van would have faired better!
Still, thanks for giving me a go all the same
snowy
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Really ?
But you've been comparing your S3 vs Prawn car and using that as some kind of definitive reference point
The A3Q of David Kynaston vs the Golf GTi of Graham Watkins is much fairer comparison, the cars are the same level of tuning under the same regulations
?
You need to experience more speed
It was never intended this way ha ha
I bought mine as my first turbo car. Im VAG mad and the S3 was at the time for me a massive step up!
I went through the motions of stage 1 stage 2 etc untill hybrid.
Myself and my mates love track days and try to go every few months, so its just sort of happened. Its become my fun car, but always in the back of my head "if this goes bang its gonna cost a bomb". Beauty is I have a trusty daily.
Best way to put it - Ive owned it 6 years and still look back at it when I park it up EVERY time. Its a great car and its fast.
But from my growing experiences of track days, there's a reason why there are millions of Clio 172 182 and Megane 225 etc.............and dare I say it....... Honda civic type R's.
Cheap fun good handling cars for track.
To the OP and to keep on topic, the 8L is a great car and will make you cry and smile all in the same day. You can cruise around in it with 600bhp on tap like Gops and Tuffty. You can have track day fun like I do. You can go absolutely mental like Prawn does. Or you can tastefully mod it stage 1 and 2 and have a sweet little car.
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Literally none of your comments on this thread have addressed the OP's original question...
It's like you know S3's aren't exciting, and just keep changing the subject to what they are good for and/or why something else isn't any good...
