TTS mk3 to RS3 F/L 8V

[mpougon]

Hello,
I would like to know if there is any current or former RS3 F/L 8V owner that has driven or lived with a TTS mk3 before.And I guess the question is what are the key driving dynamics differences they experienced. I am considering either of those two as my next car(unfortunately where I live a TTRS is out of budget) and would love to share thoughts of owners who have experienced both in the past.

Thanks in advance guys!!

 

[The Cardinal]

I had a 2016 RS3 and then later a 2015 TT-S. Both were great cars in different ways.

The RS3 undoubtedly had the better engine and the noise was intoxicating. While it’s the more practical of the two, it’s also more brash (depending to some extent on spec) and can attract less wholesome attention at times. It’s monstrously quick, arguably unusable especially with a remap. Handling is good and gives a sense of bludgeoning its way through, though I had adaptive dampers so can’t comment on the non-adaptive setup.

The TTS is quite sophisticated in comparison, certainly in design it’s a generation ahead. Non-car enthusiasts tend to pick it out more, which is a more mature attention but also a more widely appreciated “statement” than an RS3 (looks just like standard car to most). You may or may not like that. But you will like the drive and handling, which I think are excellent and in some ways sweeter than the RS3. It’s also very, very quick - posting similar stats to the 8V PFL owing to lower weight.

So, it depends mainly on your tastes and preferences.

 

[mpougon]

Thank you for your reply! It's very insightful.
I am no stranger to the TT Mk3 platform as I am upgrading from the base 2.0L 230hp, BUT it is FWD so I can never ever "put" the power down because roads here suck...

Plus I had the car remapped to stg2 apr so figures were around 330hp, and to tell you the truth I am a bit concerned that at factory state a TTS with 310-320 hp will not feel that much of an upgrade for me

 

[The Cardinal]

IME maps are great at giving a boost to standard factory car, but don't make it as able as the next step up despite similar peak power outputs.

I had a mapped S3 before my RS3, and the latter felt considerably quicker. My current mapped Golf GTD has similar peak power / more torque than a contemporary GTI and it'd probably be quicker in some circumstances like out of a roundabout or in top gear on the motorway. But the performance won't be as rounded or available across such a rev range.

The TTS has a larger turbo, intercooler etc etc over the standard 2.0T so I'd be confident in it feeling better to drive across the rev range, not to mention having the advantage of AWD.

 

[mpougon]

I understand.in all honesty in all of my years owning the car when I I was visiting a place that had no parking garage. I would not opt for the TT because there is a lot of jealousy here and I was seriously concerned about key scratching the car. I think that an RS3 mind you debadged would not be that fancy to draw unwanted attention.Plus practicallity is higher, but even as I am writing these lines to you I know that I would miss the sportiness of my TT even if I gained on power(5 cyl) and awd(which I will have on the TTS aswell)

I want to ask you a final question. A friend of mine has a TTS and a friend of his that owns an RS3. When I told him about the 2 cars am considering, he said that his RS3 friend did not like at all the car and had issues with cornering, but I didnt know what is this guys former car and what does he compare the RS3 to...

Also keep in mind that I am considering the facelift 8v with mag ride, as I understand, you owned the pre-facelift one, maybe some driving characteristics are better there?

 

[flybynite]

Also keep in mind that I am considering the facelift 8v with mag ride, as I understand, you owned the pre-facelift one, maybe some driving characteristics are better there?

There is a huge difference between the PFL and FL as far as handling. The PFL needed a rear ARB to help it around corners, the FL does not. The weight if the PFL engine was also hard on the front bushes which degraded handling over time too. The FL is far easier on the front steering and suspension although not completely immune.

If you get Magride, get it calibrated by someone with dealer software (ODIS etc). People do it after lowering but mine is not lowered and was out from the factory.

I think that an RS3 mind you debadged would not be that fancy to draw unwanted attention.

This is exactly what the RS3 used to be good at, in the right colour it does not attract attention. The main reason I drive mine. Shame they spoiled that with the new 8Y design.

A friend of mine has a TTS and a friend of his that owns an RS3. When I told him about the 2 cars am considering, he said that his RS3 friend did not like at all the car and had issues with cornering, but I didnt know what is this guys former car and what does he compare the RS3 to...

Many people own RS3 for years and never learn how to drive them, worse if they come of a RWD car like BMW. You need to drive the cars differently to get the best out of them.

Most of the tiktok crowd complain that the RS3 is not as 'dynamic' as the BMW but my RS3 can go down a road in the wet in a way my BMW could only dream of. That is because the RS3 handling is so neutral and stable and the reason I drive it.


IMHO get the RS3 (especially if it is a pre-OPF DAZA) De-badge it, get the magride calibrated and learn to drive it, You will have no regrets.

I have exactly the car you are looking at (FL RS3 Magride debadged). Personally I would not take a TTS over mine, not in a million years.

 

[mpougon]

Thank you for your insightful comment!

 

[mpougon]

It seems like I am headed for the RS3.Cant find a non OPF model at the moment so I am considering a 2019 OPF one.Do you know if and how easy(because I dont want to heavily modify the car) is to just remove the OPF?

 

[flybynite]

It seems like I am headed for the RS3.Cant find a non OPF model at the moment so I am considering a 2019 OPF one.Do you know if and how easy(because I dont want to heavily modify the car) is to just remove the OPF?

I'm not sure what the rules are like where you are, but taking the OPF off in most Euro countries is a problem. IMHO it is not worth the effort, needing emulators etc.

An OPF RS3 is still better than a TTS, a 2019 TTS will also have OPF and the same problems.

 

[mpougon]

I'm not sure what the rules are like where you are, but taking the OPF off in most Euro countries is a problem. IMHO it is not worth the effort, needing emulators etc.

An OPF RS3 is still better than a TTS, a 2019 TTS will also have OPF and the same problems.

Yeah I think I will stick with the OPF because I did a search of my own at my local audi service and was told not to mess with that

 

[mpougon]

Wanted to thank everyone that took time out of there lifes to answer in my thread.As of last week I am a 2019 RS3 owner!Power compared to my tuned TT is non comparable, it has a slight turbo lag because of the bigger turbo, but if you manage to stay in the right rev range you can minimize it for sure

 

[flybynite]

As of last week I am a 2019 RS3 owner!

Well done! congratulations on the new car!

it has a slight turbo lag because of the bigger turbo, but if you manage to stay in the right rev range you can minimize it for sure

Easy way I find is keep the the car in comfort for normal driving, if you need power just simply pull the lever back once to put the gearbox in sport, revs automatically rise and turbo is there

 

[mpougon]

Well done! congratulations on the new car!


Easy way I find is keep the the car in comfort for normal driving, if you need power just simply pull the lever back once to put the gearbox in sport, revs automatically rise and turbo is there

Thank you!!I found strange the "issue" of the car when you start up and you have left it in dynamic when you last drove it BUT upon startup it reverts to auto ALTHOUGH it still mentions dynamic as current mode.

So I got out of dynamic mode and then back in it and the car drove and sounded different compared to when I first drove the car and did not know about it

 

[Certi]

Thank you!!I found strange the "issue" of the car when you start up and you have left it in dynamic when you last drove it BUT upon startup it reverts to auto ALTHOUGH it still mentions dynamic as current mode.

So I got out of dynamic mode and then back in it and the car drove and sounded different compared to when I first drove the car and did not know about it

Yeah they all do that, it's to do with emissions I think. It'll show as Dynamic, but if you look at the gearbox it'll be in 'D' instead of 'S', so you have to cycle through the modes, back to Dynamic again to get it into Dynamic for real. Alternatively, just give the gear selector another pull after it's in drive and that'll have the same effect.