RS3 v A45s v M2 comp v Golf R

Riko0073 said:
Agree with the ride quality as in my wife’s A200 the ride is super smooth, however I’m sure in the A34/45s it will be much more liken to the RS3 with a harder set-up. The wife’s car is a nice effortless and relaxing drive but then I can’t wait to get back into the RS3 for the speed, noise and an interior that is perfectly designed.
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Does your wife's car have the adaptive dampers ?

I thought the none aero A45s came with this as standard, but according to @T-1000 above it sounds possibly not.
That does concern me, as some of the reviews have commented on the ride being VERY firm on the A class without the dampers.

My RS3 has mag ride, but that is mega firm, I would not want it harder than that.
 
Snake Pliskin said:
Does your wife's car have the adaptive dampers ?

I thought the none aero A45s came with this as standard, but according to @T-1000 above it sounds possibly not.
That does concern me, as some of the reviews have commented on the ride being VERY firm on the A class without the dampers.

My RS3 has mag ride, but that is mega firm, I would not want it harder than that.
Click to expand...
No adaptive dampers but only being the A200 model the setup will be much softer than the more sportier performance models I’m sure.
 
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Snake Pliskin said:
I'm seriously interested in the A45s too .. so much so I may pop into a Dealer this weekend and have a look.

I did this twice before albeit with the old A Class 45.

2013 .. went to Merc, sat in the car, no interest from Dealer, wasn't that impressed with the interior.
Went back to Audi down the road and bought an S5

2016 .. went to Merc to see the facelift, sat in car, no interest from Dealer, but still wasn't sold anyway.
Went back to Audi and bought my current RS3 lol.

This time though, the new A Class looks seriously impressive inside and out so I am very interested.
It could all fall apart again when I sit in one, but I am more confident this time.
The 4 pot does not bother me that much as I am looking at this car as a complete package.
I've enjoyed the theatre and noise of the RS3 but the A45 appears to have a decent-ish sound.
I'm not sure I can wait till god knows when next year for the new RS3.
I've also been with Audi since 2008 so am I due a change ?
Or is it better the devil you know :blink:
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The interior definitely looks impressive for this sector but I’m with the camp that it’s overly styled and a bit too much, almost distracting! I’m sure you’d get used to it and it looks great with the ambient lighting.

The noise wouldn’t bother me and going for the OPF RS3 I prefer the more subtle note without pops and bangs.

Interested to hear anyone’s experience after a test drive compared to the RS3.
 
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Snake Pliskin said:
Does your wife's car have the adaptive dampers ?

I thought the none aero A45s came with this as standard, but according to @T-1000 above it sounds possibly not.
That does concern me, as some of the reviews have commented on the ride being VERY firm on the A class without the dampers.

My RS3 has mag ride, but that is mega firm, I would not want it harder than that.
Click to expand...

56k model gives adaptive dampers I was told on Sunday.
I do like the Adaptive dampers on the RS3


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In terms of tuning there is a company called renntech who offer 460 bhp and 540 bhp packages as well as a hybrid turbo package which should see 600 bhp on the a45s. Having said that the difference back in 2017 between the then brand new facelift rs3 and a45 was around 0.8 on a quarter mile which was substantial compared to the a45s' margin to the current rs3 (approx. 0.3 seconds). The 2017 facelift sportback used 3 years ago did a 1/4 of 12.2 0.1 seconds behind the a45s. Not worth dropping one cylinder and extra 5k and these differences do not sound like much but separate car lengths from bus lengths. I think I'll keep my 67 sport back or wait until Audi have played their card with the rs3 next year hopefully...
 
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Tristan said:
In terms of tuning there is a company called renntech who offer 460 bhp and 540 bhp packages as well as a hybrid turbo package which should see 600 bhp on the a45s. Having said that the difference back in 2017 between the then brand new facelift rs3 and a45 was around 0.8 on a quarter mile which was substantial compared to the a45s' margin to the current rs3 (approx. 0.3 seconds). The 2017 facelift sportback used 3 years ago did a 1/4 of 12.2 0.1 seconds behind the a45s. Not worth dropping one cylinder and extra 5k and these differences do not sound like much but separate car lengths from bus lengths. I think I'll keep my 67 sport back or wait until Audi have played their card with the rs3 next year hopefully...
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I haven't really taken a look at their website but if thats 540hp with just bolt ons and not touching the turbo or bottom end then I'm very impressed. The fl a45 vs fl rs3 wasn't really a comparison since the rs3 flogged it in every aspect. Pfl rs3 and fl a45 was a lot closer. Now this might make it a little more interesting :p

Until Audi drop the next gen rs3 in a year which once again wipes the floor with the merc ;) could see myself upgrading if the deals are good and the opf's don't come to Australia
 
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5pot4banger said:
I haven't really taken a look at their website but if thats 540hp with just bolt ons and not touching the turbo or bottom end then I'm very impressed. The fl a45 vs fl rs3 wasn't really a comparison since the rs3 flogged it in every aspect. Pfl rs3 and fl a45 was a lot closer. Now this might make it a little more interesting :p

Until Audi drop the next gen rs3 in a year which once again wipes the floor with the merc ;) could see myself upgrading if the deals are good and the opf's don't come to Australia
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Previously I would have agreed with you 100% but ....

The new S3 is coming out shortly with pretty much the same BHP as the outgoing model (even the new Golf R is rumoured to have more BHP ?)
So does this suggest the new RS3 when it comes out next year will only match the outgoing model for performance ... albeit it is no slouch lol !

But the biggest concern for me, is the new interior which based on the images closely resembles the RS Q3 interior and I'm just not sure its my taste.
On this front, the Merc looks cleaner and better laid out vs the Audi which looks very angular and peppered with vents at different angles.
I hope I am wrong and the new Audi is still a contender for my next car, but I am very nervous and usually I am full of excitement.
 
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Someone mention OPF

Look away now if easily distressed.....

8797e5f1b4c9afcd558ae8d5945a7533.jpg



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Snake Pliskin said:
Previously I would have agreed with you 100% but ....

The new S3 is coming out shortly with pretty much the same BHP as the outgoing model (even the new Golf R is rumoured to have more BHP ?)
So does this suggest the new RS3 when it comes out next year will only match the outgoing model for performance ... albeit it is no slouch lol !

But the biggest concern for me, is the new interior which based on the images closely resembles the RS Q3 interior and I'm just not sure its my taste.
On this front, the Merc looks cleaner and better laid out vs the Audi which looks very angular and peppered with vents at different angles.
I hope I am wrong and the new Audi is still a contender for my next car, but I am very nervous and usually I am full of excitement.
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From what I read online the rumours were that Audi are going to introduce mild hybrid technology to the up coming rs3. Figures were rumoured to be around 444 Bhp and over 500nm. And remember if the pre opf sportback was only a tenth of a second slower than the a45s at 395 Bhp and 480nm then with 444 bhp/500+nm with mild hybrid technology to reduce lag it will be a beast.

The release of the s3 doesn't really concern me in terms of the power output of the next rs3. The reason being the fact that with the new rs6 released they upped the power and torque from the c7s standard 550 bhp and 700nm to 591 bhp and 800nm. Obviously the later c7 performance was almost as quick as the new rs6 however audi are yet to launch a performance trim for the current model.

Concerning the interior, audi were known for the simplicity and that's what I like and prefer. It is a new concept to grasp however particularly without the pop up screen which was great and one feature I will miss as well as the much sharper edges, but in general i think i would grow to appreciate it just as i did with the 8v.
 
Tristan said:
From what I read online the rumours were that Audi are going to introduce mild hybrid technology to the up coming rs3. Figures were rumoured to be around 444 Bhp and over 500nm. And remember if the pre opf sportback was only a tenth of a second slower than the a45s at 395 Bhp and 480nm then with 444 bhp/500+nm with mild hybrid technology to reduce lag it will be a beast.

The release of the s3 doesn't really concern me in terms of the power output of the next rs3. The reason being the fact that with the new rs6 released they upped the power and torque from the c7s standard 550 bhp and 700nm to 591 bhp and 800nm. Obviously the later c7 performance was almost as quick as the new rs6 however audi are yet to launch a performance trim for the current model.

Concerning the interior, audi were known for the simplicity and that's what I like and prefer. It is a new concept to grasp however particularly without the pop up screen which was great and one feature I will miss as well as the much sharper edges, but in general i think i would grow to appreciate it just as i did with the 8v.
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I guess we will see over the course of time what transpires. Part of me still suspects I will end up in another Audi as I've been with the brand since 2008 and I've enjoyed every single car :icon thumright:
 
Snake Pliskin said:
I'm seriously interested in the A45s too .. so much so I may pop into a Dealer this weekend and have a look.

I did this twice before albeit with the old A Class 45.

2013 .. went to Merc, sat in the car, no interest from Dealer, wasn't that impressed with the interior.
Went back to Audi down the road and bought an S5

2016 .. went to Merc to see the facelift, sat in car, no interest from Dealer, but still wasn't sold anyway.
Went back to Audi and bought my current RS3 lol.

This time though, the new A Class looks seriously impressive inside and out so I am very interested.
It could all fall apart again when I sit in one, but I am more confident this time.
The 4 pot does not bother me that much as I am looking at this car as a complete package.
I've enjoyed the theatre and noise of the RS3 but the A45 appears to have a decent-ish sound.
I'm not sure I can wait till god knows when next year for the new RS3.
I've also been with Audi since 2008 so am I due a change ?
Or is it better the devil you know :blink:
Click to expand...

Yeah when I was looking at the RS3, I was also looking at the M2 Competition. Numerous dealer visits, emails and whatnot and couldn't even get a ******* test drive. Went to Audi and they really went all out.

Then I bought second hand :D
 
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Exactly the same on the RS3, had mine removed for a decat. The wastegate rattle is pretty loud but worth it to hear the proper 5 cylinder burble
 
banny650 said:
Exactly the same on the RS3, had mine removed for a decat. The wastegate rattle is pretty loud but worth it to hear the proper 5 cylinder burble
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Ah well, it’s all hidden and still sounds good enough :relaxed:
 
Evil Derboy said:
Not convinced on the exterior looks of the AMG but by far and away the most capable and has the best interior. The M2 looks the best from the outside.

I know this is an Audi forum so no doubt I’ll get roasted but the RS3 is really showing it’s age against these cars now. Even the Golf looks more modern.
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Rs3 Showing its age....and the A5/S5/Rs5 looks really up to date ? ....Merc has the best interior? Der....yer eyes are painted on ....and me quoting you has nowt to do with this being a Audi forum,the A Class is bland to say the least and is beginning to look out of date already,its dashboard reminds me of the shelf of android tablets l viewed tonight at PC world,the M2 ...a dinosaur in every aspect apart from its engine....and that Golf comment...well.....enough said
 
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jassyo06 said:
Rs3 Showing its age....and the A5/S5/Rs5 looks really up to date ? ....Merc has the best interior? Der....yer eyes are painted on ....and me quoting you has nowt to do with this being a Audi forum,the A Class is bland to say the least and is beginning to look out of date already,its dashboard reminds me of the shelf of android tablets l viewed tonight at PC world,the M2 ...a dinosaur in every aspect apart from its engine....and that Golf comment...well.....enough said
Click to expand...

LOL. Whats tha A5 got to do with the RS3? You're attacking my car because you don't like what I said about yours?? (Current A5 is only 3 years old by the way versus the A3 at 5 years) in any case. The A45 interior from seats through to dash and digital displays is bang up to date and far more exciting than the current RS3 which has always been a bit spartan inside for my personal tastes. I wouldnt have any A3 due to the interior alone. Not sure where you're coming from calling the M2 a dinosaur especially when the engine is the oldest part of it, having come from the current generation M3/M4 which is now 6 years old.
 
Of course the RS3 is showing it’s age ... the overall design came out in 2013 !

As I’m currently thinking about changing I did ‘consider’ getting a new facelift RS3 but then realised that wasn’t a great idea as the car would be 90% the same & in a year I’d be regretting it when the new one is out.

But there are a few of us who really like the new A45 and that is far from dated ***. It’s bang up to date imo. It looks fantastic inside & out ... but of course some will disagree lol @ jassy :)

I’m gonna take a look first hand at the Merc & see how I feel then.
 
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A35.

TX.
95a6abda32eefe34003d497007e3c7ca.jpg


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Bryant1998 said:
Big lip on that dash looks like a van interior with a iPad stuck on it
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We had a S3 before and the Merc blows the interior into the weeds. Newer car and all that but Audi do have to "catch up".

TX.

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Snake Pliskin said:
But it’s arguably neater than this ...

View attachment 197725
Click to expand...

Definitely a step up from the current A3 platform but still very conservative in comparison to the merc cockpit above. New A class is a winner for me and I'd seriously consider a CLA 45S. I owuld prefer a cowl over the displays but ultimately with them being fully LCD it's unecessary now and when other manufacturers start offering dashboards that have no mechanical instrument cluster option I can see them binning the cowl as well.
 
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There’s something classy about the current RS3 interior, not trying too hard but just everything where you need it and I think it will stand the test of time.

Yes it looks dated compared to these new cars but it’s 5 years old as others have said but still a great place to sit, the rotary dial is great, VC well integrated, the round vents look cool, love the pop up screen although resolution and picture quality is not the sharpest, just simple quality, nothing that I don’t like and would be happy to keep for years to come.

They’ll always be something ‘newer’ but will these latest cockpits stand the test of time?
 
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Anyone saying the Merc interior is better ... nah. It looks like a Citroen Cactus (I own one) with a tablet rammed on to the dash. The non-integrated screen is ugly as sin and the whole thing looks like brittle plastic. Urgh.

Audi know how to build an interior that lasts. My old 2006 A3 interior felt high quality, refined and undated until I got rid 10 years later and I expect the RS3 to do the same. Everything is subtle and "right".

Each to their own tho, beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all that nonsense.
 
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terminator x said:
We had a S3 before and the Merc blows the interior into the weeds. Newer car and all that but Audi do have to "catch up".

TX.

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Click to expand...

Think it depends what you’re after, something different and ‘up to date’ or something that looks functional and designed well. I’ve never liked the A class as a whole car, think it looks ugly and is only really hyped because of the badge.

To me, have screens built into the dash looks 1000x better than screens stuck on that look like they were added 20 minutes before production started. My mates got a 67 plate cla with the ugly stuck on screen, looks naff to me
 
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Bryant1998 said:
Think it depends what you’re after, something different and ‘up to date’ or something that looks functional and designed well. I’ve never liked the A class as a whole car, think it looks ugly and is only really hyped because of the badge.

To me, have screens built into the dash looks 1000x better than screens stuck on that look like they were added 20 minutes before production started. My mates got a 67 plate cla with the ugly stuck on screen, looks naff to me
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To me, only Porsche match Audi interior quality. I don't just mean design but materials and longevity. I've sat in £100k+ range rovers, maserati's, astons and all sorts ... all of them feel cheap and "fashion led" compared to Audi/Porsche. Likely because they are. And yep, all Merc screens look horrifically un-integrated and ... fugly
 
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wuta3 said:
To me, only Porsche match Audi interior quality. I don't just mean design but materials and longevity. I've sat in £100k+ range rovers, maserati's, astons and all sorts ... all of them feel cheap and "fashion led" compared to Audi/Porsche. Likely because they are. And yep, all Merc screens look horrifically un-integrated and ... fugly
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100% mate, I think if you’ve been in enough cars (high end & cheap crap) and paid attention, it’s the little things you notice.

I spend a lot of time in and out of different vans and when I get in a car that reminds me of a van it quickly comes apparent it’s a sh!t car, mass produced with only profit in mind.

Think best way to sum up audi vs merc interior is this the same as iPhone vs Android

iPhone is designed to work effortlessly, function properly and is by far the nicest to look at.

Android is the phone you buy because you want to be different, it doesn’t function as well, it looks like it was designed at 16:57 on a Friday, but people will but the crap phone because of one pointless feature that iPhone doesn’t have!
 
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New Merc MBUX interior is by all accounts and a lot of independent reviews supposed to be the best out there at the current time.

As Snake says, Audi A3 interior now very old. Nothing wrong with appreciating another manufacturers interior and good for Audi To have a bit of pressure to make them up their game.
 
terminator x said:
We had a S3 before and the Merc blows the interior into the weeds. Newer car and all that but Audi do have to "catch up".

TX.

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Click to expand...

It said on the header at the top of this page "Audi-sport.net last time l looked...and not Benzworld.org .....nor Bimmerfest.....lol
 
D0C said:
New Merc MBUX interior is by all accounts and a lot of independent reviews supposed to be the best out there at the current time.

As Snake says, Audi A3 interior now very old. Nothing wrong with appreciating another manufacturers interior and good for Audi To have a bit of pressure to make them up their game.
Click to expand...

Please Go into detail on how the current A3s interior is very old...!! @Snake Pliskin l am sure his 16 plate is looking a little tired it being a pfl car...last time l saw the interior of my car it looked sweet as nut.......and thankfully devoid of any pc- like tablets..and cheap looking scratchy plastics and gear selector
DSC 0626
DSC 0058
 
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Tristan said:
From what I read online the rumours were that Audi are going to introduce mild hybrid technology to the up coming rs3. Figures were rumoured to be around 444 Bhp and over 500nm. And remember if the pre opf sportback was only a tenth of a second slower than the a45s at 395 Bhp and 480nm then with 444 bhp/500+nm with mild hybrid technology to reduce lag it will be a beast.
Click to expand...
Will be interesting to see what happens regarding the mild hybrid technology. I've had a play on prototype commercial vehicles with MHEV, as part of my line of work, the MHEV system is great when it works / well integrated. If it can make a van feel much more responsive off the line / low end, I'd love to see what it could do on something like an RS3.

However, I'm really interested to see how they package a system like that; knowing that the RS3 will retain the 2.5L engine. Can they package the HV battery system around the 2.5L engine and the Quattro system etc? Potentially space for the HV battery pack under the rear seats, but then you have the added weight (~40/50kg if you take other Hybrids as an example) We dropped 20kg with the updated engine, can they drop more to offset the added HV weight? Keen to see what Audi can pull off :)
 
A battery at the back of the car would add weight but it would also improve the weight balance. I don't think it will have any mild hybrid gubbins anyway. They didn't bother with any of that in the Q3, so why would they in the A3? That sort of thing can fly in an RS6 where it already weighs as much as a dwarf planet and the cost can be absorbed into the 6 figure price tag.

I'm expecting a small power bump to around 430PS to bring it up to where the A45S is at and that's it...
 
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Showing its age is what I said @jassyo06 lad & even with the facelift goodies, the base designs dates back to 2013.
Nowt wrong with your interior and I agree it looks great, but things have moved on and we're all ready for something new now.
And yes, the current interior is well laid out and balanced - the new one looks a bit jumbled and angular (less Audi like).
Let's just hope it will look a whole lot better in real life as buying another Audi would still be my preference :icon thumright:
 
Snake Pliskin said:
Showing its age is what I said @jassyo06 lad & even with the facelift goodies, the base designs dates back to 2013.
Nowt wrong with your interior and I agree it looks great, but things have moved on and we're all ready for something new now.
And yes, the current interior is well laid out and balanced - the new one looks a bit jumbled and angular (less Audi like).
Let's just hope it will look a whole lot better in real life as buying another Audi would still be my preference :icon thumright:
Click to expand...
Just go buy the Mercedes as l keep on saying to ya.....simple as that....different strokes for different folks...also l think your forgetting how bad the both the A35/A45s sound and ,also the A45s price for a 2 litre engined car
 
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Come on @jassyo06 open those eyes. It's still a lovely interior, but it's unsurprisingly falling below the standards set by the very latest and best interiors. The bezel on the pop up screen looks dated and don't get me started on what it looks like when folded away and the nasty shut lines.

I'm not saying it's a bad interior, and it's still better than a 991.2 interior!

The sound is a different matter. RS3 wins all day long and is the reason I'd probably still have one over an A45.
 
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