After having driven Ttrs and rs3 saloon unaccompanied for extended test drives, here are my own thoughts.
The pops and bangs are completely gone on the alu block which is a real shame, you do get the occasional pop if you leave the gearstick in sport, car in dynamic then don't touch the paddles.
Under load, the car sounds absolutely fine, sounds awesome in fact, I understand where people are coming from here saying its more refined, it is when under load - sounds spot on and I have no issues with it.
Off load the engine sounds rubbish, it sounds completely artificial as if its trying to get its sound out through a straw, sounds like air, similar artificial exhaust note as the F8x M series cars. Doesn't sound that much better than a fl s3 with res delete tbh and that was having both cars side by side, they now both sound as artificial as each other.
The engine has lost its character, the only time it sounds good is under WOT and it isn't anywhere near as loud as the pre fl either.
Having driven the RS3 saloon and TTRS on the edge, personally to me the weight off the nose of the car doesn't justify losing all the character from the exhaust note, the reality is it is still going to understeer, yeah it will understeer LESS but it will still understeer. The pre fl understeery characteristics of the car still exist and when driven at the edge it will understeer all the same albeit less. It is not a night and day difference to the pre fl. The golf R/s3 are still the better handling cars.
The brakes are awesome now on the fl. I have no issues with the performance aspect of the brakes. The pre fl brakes were trash.
The haldex seems to be more engaging now and its easier to get the back end out on an alu block car. Definitely the most engaging haldex out of all MQB cars in the VAG range.
Things like virtual dash etc I all had on my pre fl car so no point commenting on stuff like that.
The stock turbo tunability aspect does not interest me, what does interest me however is the efficiency of the engine and I have yet to see conclusive evidence that this engine is indeed more efficient than the iron block engine. It is certainly more complex, but is it more efficient? It's yet to be seen. The aluminium block isn't lined either, the cylinders are simply coated so the reliability of the engine when running 700/800nm of torque is yet to be seen.
My TTRS is due for delivery in March and I have made the decision (unless something drastically changes in regards to engine efficiency) to swap the engine with a CZGB iron block 5 cylinder for the first two years of its life, to me its a no brainer as the CZGB engine found in the RS3 pre fl is the pinnacle of the iron block 5 cylinder. It would make the TTRS an easy 6/700hp car for me. I'll let others guinea pig their way through the 3 year tuning development cycle.
?? Loved the s3...in love with the Rs3.
?? Loved the s3...in love with the Rs3.
