S3 AD
Registered User
I took my last drive in my 8p RS3 on Thursday, this was to Newbury Audi to swap it for my new 8v RS3.
I was told by the salesman that I got very lucky with my delivery date. I know others have seen there’s slip, but for a reason that no one seems to be able to explain mine came forward from when it was initially ordered.
I thought I would share my first impressions. I was always a big fan of my 8p, I know it was far from a perfect car but I really enjoyed 2 years, 363 days and covering just over 33k miles in it. That’s why I ordered the 8v without getting to drive it first.
The biggest difference is obviously the interior and the step up in technology with lots more techie bits to configure and play with, this will take some time to get used to but initially everything seems easy enough to use, well laid out and intuitive.
I ordered the sports exhaust, and despite listening to video’s online of the sound, it really made me laugh out loud the first time it started
a very loud growl. I had removed the secondary cats on my 8p, but the sound never came close to being as impressive as the 8v. In comfort mode just pottering about though, it is hardly noticeable in the car, even on a motorway drive in comfort it is not intrusive at all. All that changes in Dynamic mode though. I haven’t pushed it too hard yet but it pops, crackles, gurgles and barks very impressively for a car straight from the factory with no modifications. I am still tempted to remove the secondary cats again when someone produces the parts though
Another thing that really surprised me is the LED head lights. The range and colour when it is dark seriously impressive. When full beam is on the way the cats eyes on a twisting road light up so far in the distance is like something out of a computer game.
I am also glad I ordered the SS seats, they are a little more supportive than the standard seats in my 8p, and look a lot better. I have found a slightly more comfortable driving position with them than I did in the 8p (not that it was uncomfortable in the 8p), they don’t quite offer the support of the old style buckets but are more comfortable. I am 5’8 and have the seat set as low as it will go, this to me feels a tiny bit lower than the 8p, I can imagine taller drivers wanting them to go lower still though.
A couple of things I don’t like though:
1)Poxy, stupid, ridiculous stop start, so far every journey I forgotten to turn it off until I stop and it feels like the engine has stalled. I hate it – I wish it was off as default and could be turned on if it was ever wanted, I really hope some clever person/company out there finds a way to permanently disable this stupid function.
2) I agree with lots of comments I have seen about the wheels not being good enough, I have the titanium option and am already thinking about what I can change them to.
3)While the front brakes (calliper’s and wavy disks) look great, the rear calliper’s look half made – most of the back of the pad is on display, as are the wires and clips holding the pads in, they could really do with some kind of cover or something.
4) The car seems to sit a little high, it seems like the front spoiler is a long way off the ground and the gap between tyre and wheel arch front and back needs to be reduced by at least 25mm. The gap is defiantly larger than on the 8p.
There are a couple of things I have seen discussed on here and other forums that I hope I can clear up for others that are looking forward to delivery:
1) Yes the key now has an RS logo on it.
2) The sports exhaust has chrome tips not black and is defiantly worth speccing.
3)The Pano roof doesn’t leak (that has been well tested this week end in the summer monsoons) and mine doesn’t squeak or rattle.
4) Mag ride is worth speccing, comfort is more relaxing and comfortable than the 8p and dynamic doesn’t rattle the fillings out of your mouth but seems to tighten up body control nicely.
I know going from an 8p to a 8v is an expensive upgrade, but to me, its money well spent. After a couple of hours in the 8v I had my expectations more than met. I am certainly not bashing the 8p, I loved mine, but the game has defiantly been moved on by the 8v. This is all my opinion, I am sure some will disagree, but I don’t care For all of you waiting for orders – The wait will be worth it!
I was told by the salesman that I got very lucky with my delivery date. I know others have seen there’s slip, but for a reason that no one seems to be able to explain mine came forward from when it was initially ordered.
I thought I would share my first impressions. I was always a big fan of my 8p, I know it was far from a perfect car but I really enjoyed 2 years, 363 days and covering just over 33k miles in it. That’s why I ordered the 8v without getting to drive it first.
The biggest difference is obviously the interior and the step up in technology with lots more techie bits to configure and play with, this will take some time to get used to but initially everything seems easy enough to use, well laid out and intuitive.
I ordered the sports exhaust, and despite listening to video’s online of the sound, it really made me laugh out loud the first time it started
a very loud growl. I had removed the secondary cats on my 8p, but the sound never came close to being as impressive as the 8v. In comfort mode just pottering about though, it is hardly noticeable in the car, even on a motorway drive in comfort it is not intrusive at all. All that changes in Dynamic mode though. I haven’t pushed it too hard yet but it pops, crackles, gurgles and barks very impressively for a car straight from the factory with no modifications. I am still tempted to remove the secondary cats again when someone produces the parts though Another thing that really surprised me is the LED head lights. The range and colour when it is dark seriously impressive. When full beam is on the way the cats eyes on a twisting road light up so far in the distance is like something out of a computer game.
I am also glad I ordered the SS seats, they are a little more supportive than the standard seats in my 8p, and look a lot better. I have found a slightly more comfortable driving position with them than I did in the 8p (not that it was uncomfortable in the 8p), they don’t quite offer the support of the old style buckets but are more comfortable. I am 5’8 and have the seat set as low as it will go, this to me feels a tiny bit lower than the 8p, I can imagine taller drivers wanting them to go lower still though.
A couple of things I don’t like though:
1)Poxy, stupid, ridiculous stop start, so far every journey I forgotten to turn it off until I stop and it feels like the engine has stalled. I hate it – I wish it was off as default and could be turned on if it was ever wanted, I really hope some clever person/company out there finds a way to permanently disable this stupid function.
2) I agree with lots of comments I have seen about the wheels not being good enough, I have the titanium option and am already thinking about what I can change them to.
3)While the front brakes (calliper’s and wavy disks) look great, the rear calliper’s look half made – most of the back of the pad is on display, as are the wires and clips holding the pads in, they could really do with some kind of cover or something.
4) The car seems to sit a little high, it seems like the front spoiler is a long way off the ground and the gap between tyre and wheel arch front and back needs to be reduced by at least 25mm. The gap is defiantly larger than on the 8p.
There are a couple of things I have seen discussed on here and other forums that I hope I can clear up for others that are looking forward to delivery:
1) Yes the key now has an RS logo on it.
2) The sports exhaust has chrome tips not black and is defiantly worth speccing.
3)The Pano roof doesn’t leak (that has been well tested this week end in the summer monsoons) and mine doesn’t squeak or rattle.
4) Mag ride is worth speccing, comfort is more relaxing and comfortable than the 8p and dynamic doesn’t rattle the fillings out of your mouth but seems to tighten up body control nicely.
I know going from an 8p to a 8v is an expensive upgrade, but to me, its money well spent. After a couple of hours in the 8v I had my expectations more than met. I am certainly not bashing the 8p, I loved mine, but the game has defiantly been moved on by the 8v. This is all my opinion, I am sure some will disagree, but I don’t care
For all of you waiting for orders – The wait will be worth it!
