S3 to A4 anyone done it?

S32B

S32B

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A mate of mine is thinking about the new black edition A4 saloon, so he arranged an extended test drive of an s-tronic 2.0 petrol s-line to see what he thought.

He picked me up and we went for a bit of a spin, in all honesty I was shocked at how quick it was for such a big car! Obviously not as fast as my S3, but still quick! I also noticed how much more comfy it was going over the typical UK bumpy roads...maybe I'm just getting old, but it did feel better and more relaxed! So much so that it's got me thinking about getting the same car as him (different colour though).

So has anyone made the move from an S3 to the 2.0 petrol and what are your thoughts???

Thanks :)
 
That's interesting, as you can see I have the 190ps engine and whilst its no slouch I would not think it to be anywhere near an S3. So I find your comments very interesting, seeing as I've not driven both...
 
cuke2u said:
That's interesting, as you can see I have the 190ps engine and whilst its no slouch I would not think it to be anywhere near an S3. So I find your comments very interesting, seeing as I've not driven both...
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Spaceman_RS3 said:
Was it not a 252? To be similar to the s3?
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I never said it was similar to my S3, I said "Obviously not as fast as my S3, but still quick!". As in quick for the size of the car, I wasn't expecting it to be as quick as it was.
 
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Ive gone from an S3 to an S4! Just do that simples!
 
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I have the A4 TFSI 190, when its not being fixed in the garage :) I have been given various loan cars including my current A5 2017 with a 252 Quatrro and now really regret getting the 190. There is a massive difference. As a S3 is not over 300 bph ?

Personally, as soon as i can I am going the other way, I drive mostly in London and the A4 is just too big to chuck around the back roads trying to get around traffic. I LOVE the cabin of the A4, but the A3 and A5 etc now have the same cabin. The A4 B9 cabin felt just such a premium above what i had before the salesmans got me :)

I went from BMW 320 (2009) > A3 2012 > A4 2016 > and now want to get the S3 prob in 2018. I might try a RS3 - but as i like quite a few options it will be out of my price range. I priced up a S3 vs A4 and come in pretty much the same.
 
Whatever suits your needs, I went from an A3 saloon to a A4 and the difference is like night and day with the A4 being far better value for money. S3 it isn't but as the average road speed in london is 7.8mph whats the point in something capable of 155mph? Kinda like yes accelerate quickly up to a back of a bus but then you might as well be in one..
 
I've gone from s3 to s4. Driven normally day to day, commute style you won't have anything to complain about. This is where the s4 is better (mpg aside!). When you get a little more 'up it' so to speak the s3 is better I think. More fun, more responsive just a better drivers car. For me the s4 is quicker in a straight line. 100% quicker over 80-90mph (on a track obvs) would be interesting to do a side by side. Handling wise the s4 is a little more nervous when pushed still usual audi traits but not as planted as the s3. Under braking the s3 is undoubtedly more controlled, this been my main complaint about the s4 is under heavy braking it does feel uneased. Overall the s4 is better to use day to day but for a good blast the s3 has it beat.
 
Not wishing to get into a argument about which is better, as both cars have their attributes, as I understood it the S3 has poor understeer when pushed hard around corners where as the A4, due to its better quattro setup, doesn't so much. Many S3 owners have complained about their quattro not being 'proper' four wheel drive due it using the haldex system. The A4 should also have better in gear accelaration due to its increased torque and that it can put drive equally to its rear wheels. This is especially so if you specify the sports diff and it has the 8-speed gearbox. Having said the the A3 saloon is a much better looking car....
 
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What was towing you?

We went to centre parcs last month I drove like I had a stone in my shoe and best I saw was 36.2mpg. 42 is impressive.

My opinion is based on my ownership of both models, pre facelift s3 and a facelift then the swap to the s4. My take on it is that for fun the s3 is better whether or not the 4wd is hooking up as it should was regardless in my 'review'. S4 feels much bigger which obviously it is, but that takes some of the fun away I feel.

Understeer is forced by the driver not the car. Slow in fast out. Any car will understeer driven incorrectly
 
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rams_s3 said:
What was towing you?

We went to centre parcs last month I drove like I had a stone in my shoe and best I saw was 36.2mpg. 42 is impressive.

My opinion is based on my ownership of both models, pre facelift s3 and a facelift then the swap to the s4. My take on it is that for fun the s3 is better whether or not the 4wd is hooking up as it should was regardless in my 'review'. S4 feels much bigger which obviously it is, but that takes some of the fun away I feel.

Understeer is forced by the driver not the car. Slow in fast out. Any car will understeer driven incorrectly
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I can easily get 40 on my commute to work if I want. Think its the type of roads I drive 15 miles of 50 mph carriageway and then 20 miles motorway with light traffic.
 
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S32B said:
A mate of mine is thinking about the new black edition A4 saloon, so he arranged an extended test drive of an s-tronic 2.0 petrol s-line to see what he thought.

He picked me up and we went for a bit of a spin, in all honesty I was shocked at how quick it was for such a big car! Obviously not as fast as my S3, but still quick! I also noticed how much more comfy it was going over the typical UK bumpy roads...maybe I'm just getting old, but it did feel better and more relaxed! So much so that it's got me thinking about getting the same car as him (different colour though).

So has anyone made the move from an S3 to the 2.0 petrol and what are your thoughts???

Thanks :)
Click to expand...
Back to the OP's question then, I think you should go for it mate. You clearly liked the feel in the A4 and yes it wont be as fun as the S3 but you will enjoy it never the less. I went from an A3 saloon to an A4, the A3 was more fun, BUT the A4 is pretty impressive..
 
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