S3/A3 ride/handling...? Honest opinions

[sunscreemer]

Overall its a great car, and all I expected, and more (straight line speed) and a great place to sit and cruise or have some fun if you want. From my limited experience I can see some traits emerging which could turn to criticism if you are really pushing the car and comparing to other makes in the same category

This is why i ordered one

 

[Martinbanshee]

Don't forget you've got the mag ride on the saloon, Martin.

Very true, to be clear, my experiences are based on the Saloon not the Hatch/Sportback.

 

[sunscreemer]

Very true, to be clear, my experiences are based on the Saloon not the Hatch/Sportback.

Glad i ordered mag ride on my SB anyway.

 

[Jassyo06]

After 5 weeks of S3 ownership and 3000 miles (2500 being motorway miles) I though I would add my view.

First lets put this into context.

• I have never owned a high performance car before but have driven a few on test drives or on track days (e.g R8 in my profile pic)
• Have come form an 8V A3 2.0TDI and prior to that an 8P A3 1.4TFSI
• Other Audis driven include an A4 2.0 TDI (170 or 180 BHP) and A5 (200 BHP I think)
• Have driven a wide range of hire cars here and in Europe

I have not really pushed the S3 except in a straight line as I don't have access to private roads and still getting a feel for the car as majority of miles so far have been motorway and commuting.

That said...........

The car with the exception of the R8 it is the most planted car I have driven and compared to the Merc GLA 4matic I test drove it feels immovable as the GLA almost threw me out of my seat at well under 50 mph on a double bend as it had so much roll.

Back feels a little floaty at very high straight line speeds but not as bad as the A5 I had did at just over 80mph (on a french motorway)

Straight line road noise and ride actually appear better than the A3 2.0TDi s-line (sport suspension) despite the stiffer suspension.

Handling is great for every day, easily taking bends and corners around 10- 15 mph quicker than the 2.0 TDI without even pushing the limit (not noticed traction control kick in once yet) with no body roll and as well documented acceleration out of corners and bends is awesome.

Bounce is worse than previous A3's and is noticeable even at low speeds over speed bumps, but you should not be taking them at over 20mph, in the first place as they are there for a reason after all!!!!!

Steering feedback is not as good as my 8V A3, which I thought was pretty good and is on a par with my 8P A3 so not great but not bad either.

I know there is some criticism of progressive steering and does take a little bit of getting used to. Would I add it as an option.... NO but is it a deal breaker...well that's a NO again.

One thing I have noticed with progressive steering that I have not seen any other comment on here is the amount of steering wheel turn to get to full lock. Compared to my last A3 it seems to get to full lock with much less steering wheel turn particularly in the last few degress of turn when until I got used to it almost leads to oversteer on tight corners....anyone else notice this or is it me?

Overall its a great car, and all I expected, and more (straight line speed) and a great place to sit and cruise or have some fun if you want. From my limited experience I can see some traits emerging which could turn to criticism if you are really pushing the car and comparing to other makes in the same category.

Am I happy, yes...the car does exactly as it says on its unassuming tin!!!!!

Dave it does depend on what have owned before as l said on my above post,l have had two good driving cars prior to the S3 Type R,Focus Mk3 ST the steering on them cars was if they where reading your mind,they reacted very quickly indeed......terrible turning circle though,a normal 3 point turn would be a 6 point turn,the ST was not available with that computer aided self park thing," but other models in the line did",because it had a bad turning circle...why was this? because it had proper sports steering with not many turns for it to lock,the S3 has too many turns for sporty car/hot hatchback..you get used to it of course you do,hopefully Audi will do better the next time,they did with the TT/New A4

 

[veeeight]

The non-progressive rack (as found on the 1.4 A3) is much much better than the more expensive variable ratio rack on the S3.

There are cars with steering racks where you just have to think the car through the apex and corner, and are intuitive.

The S3 isn't one of those cars.

A real shame.

 

[PanamaS3]

oh well....at least my wife's rack is good

 

[Pulp84]

The non-progressive rack (as found on the 1.4 A3) is much much better than the more expensive variable ratio rack on the S3.

There are cars with steering racks where you just have to think the car through the apex and corner, and are intuitive.

The S3 isn't one of those cars.

A real shame.

Did you ever get a chance to get in a Golf in the end? It's night and day IMO between how they are set up.

Obviously VAG can get this progressive rack right - this GTE I'm driving certainly has much better calibration.

 

[veeeight]

^ oh yes, I had a Golf R for an extended test drive.

There is much to like about the R. Agile and nimble, lots of feedback. Better grip too.

I think the R is definitely set up for driving, twisties and challenging roads reward the driver. Whereas Audi erred on the side of the soft smooth Autobahn cruise setup

 

[Spin140]

Maybe expectations are too high for some. The S3 rarely features in any group test when it comes to hot hatches and with Audi's unlimited marketing budget I think this must be intentional. It was the same with the 8P which also rarely featured. I believe the S3 is aimed at a certain market with the main emphasis being on luxury rather than outright sportiness. The Golf R can be revered as the best Hot hatch and far better than the S3 all day long but do I want to own one ?

Nope, its more about having a fast prestige car for me that does 'most' things well rather than certain things excellently.

I guess that the S3 is aimed at people like me.

I've been fortunate to own the majority of hot hatches over the years, many of these were tuned to various stages but at the end of the day I have always preferred the cars that offered 'compromises' to the more hard core offerings.

We could do with a lot more positive feedback just to balance things out but then again that's Forums for you, always the negative featuring far more than positives.

Maybe I can't judge the handling as I have mag ride but as my cab weight a fair bit more than a hatchback I have no issues so perhaps the answer is mag ride ?

 

[Daveotto]

@Spin140 could not agree more. I did not go out to buy a hot hatch. I went out to buy an unassuming sporty family hatch.

@veeeight agree I am not loving the progressive steering but still love the car even if the "R" would knock spots off the "S" head to head and spending a few extra seconds in the car enjoying the better interior is worth coming second..lol

 

[Jassyo06]

@Spin140 could not agree more. I did not go out to buy a hot hatch. I went out to buy an unassuming sporty family hatch.

@veeeight agree I am not loving the progressive steering but still love the car even if the "R" would knock spots off the "S" head to head and spending a few extra seconds in the car enjoying the better interior is worth coming second..lol

Was down at my sons house doing another job in his new home...........led lights in his fitted kitchen kick boards...only time l hear from him.......like they all do..."When they want something"...lol
The usual talk of cars etc,etc,they have a Ex Formula 3 driver as a RS specialist,who goes over and drives them all at their Uber Jermin Launch...He said to my son the S3 was better on the track than the RS3...the RS3 being too nose heavy...but in straight line speed the RS3 was even faster than the old R8...
He has a Scuba Blue A5 Coupe Quattro thing just now,not his own car,it was Sepang Black Ed Plus....some customer had it out as a loan car and wrote it off within a day.......unlucky guy...lol.

Less of the small talk Jassy...cough,cough...l am not a Audi S3 BASHER....l see and understand all sides of the negatives/positives of the car,l know when things go wrong with one's car,negativity can really creep in,been there with a other car? the old Cliche...its just a car and is....but being all car nuts on here is does "slightly/mightily affect/alter your opinion of the of the car and its mega expensive to change this........waiting game really.

Anyhow...Jassy drove home from his sons house in the dark tonight...First time really..............Waooow Holy Guacamole Batman.....Wee white circle on the mmi B&O lit up,Tech pack screen lit...........nice...nice..Xenons minted

 

[Blackwhite]

Was down at my sons house doing another job in his new home...........led lights in his fitted kitchen kick boards...only time l hear from him.......like they all do..."When they want something"...lol
The usual talk of cars etc,etc,they have a Ex Formula 3 driver as a RS specialist,who goes over and drives them all at their Uber Jermin Launch...He said to my son the S3 was better on the track than the RS3...the RS3 being too nose heavy...but in straight line speed the RS3 was even faster than the old R8...
He has a Scuba Blue A5 Coupe Quattro thing just now,not his own car,it was Sepang Black Ed Plus....some customer had it out as a loan car and wrote it off within a day.......unlucky guy...lol.

Less of the small talk Jassy...cough,cough...l am not a Audi S3 BASHER....l see and understand all sides of the negatives/positives of the car,l know when things go wrong with one's car,negativity can really creep in,been there with a other car? the old Cliche...its just a car and is....but being all car nuts on here is does "slightly/mightily affect/alter your opinion of the of the car and its mega expensive to change this........waiting game really.

Anyhow...Jassy drove home from his sons house in the dark tonight...First time really..............Waooow Holy Guacamole Batman.....Wee white circle on the mmi B&O lit up,Tech pack screen lit...........nice...nice..Xenons minted

Night-time is fun!

 

[Jassyo06]

oh well....at least my wife's rack is good

CLASS...lol,My Mrs has a very pert and responsive rack herself, but cant cling on in the corner's............?of the bed that is...her arms aint long enough....

 

[veeeight]

He said to my son the S3 was better on the track than the RS3...the RS3 being too nose heavy...but in straight line speed the RS3 was even faster than the old R8.

^ This

Has been demonstrated time and time again by the magazines, eg evo and Top Gear etc.

Take it to a power circuit with lots of straights eg: Knockhill, and the RS3 shines
Take it to a handing circuit with lots of quick direction changes eg: Llandau, and the G.. R shines

Take it to normal UK normal B roads with lots of dips crests twisties etc. .........

 

[pipedaudi]

Take it to normal UK normal B roads with lots of dips crests twisties etc. .........

with potholes and unreasonably low speed limits......and pretty much nothing shines.

 

[Martinbanshee]

with potholes and unreasonably low speed limits......and pretty much nothing shines.

Ha ha, so true

 

[veeeight]

Re: Variable ratio steering and variable weight steering:

I have personally found it can go from light to heavy feel with little to no warning - for example I have been driving very spirited down a fast country B road (steering is heavy and precise) and then come to a sharp right hand bend that you have to slow down to around 20mph to negotiate safely. At this point the steering goes much lighter and very inaccurate where you have been using fairly heavy inputs to all of my sudden needing to use delicate / light inputs. It's done this also on approach and negotiation of mini roundabouts - heavy to light.

Whoa... having the 'auto' setting for the steering lurch midway thru a tight turn sounds scary. I've been wondering how the 'auto' settings work for steering and damping, if it varies smoothly from the 'comfort' vs 'dynamic' modes or switches abruptly. Sounds like for steering at least, the switch is abrupt.

^ The good news re the new A4
It's has more direct steering, with more feedback
And
They have done testing on UK roads specifically for the suspension issues!

I am sorry to report that the GTE steering calibration is just on another level. Perfectly weighted, no sudden changes to resistance and no dead spot. The spec sheet says the GTE has progressive steering like the S3.

Jumping in to my S3 after driving the GTE is striking. I'm bemused by how bad the calibration is on the S3.

The non-progressive rack (as found on the 1.4 A3) is much much better than the more expensive variable ratio rack on the S3.
There are cars with steering racks where you just have to think the car through the apex and corner, and are intuitive.
The S3 isn't one of those cars.

So it appears that I might have to temper my optimism about the improved steering on the new A4 (MLB) platform.
Undoubtedly it sounds better than what was ever offered on an Audi before, but its a little disturbing to still hear comments like:


"The electric power steering system is now pretty good, with crisp, sharp response and none of the sticky elasticity that afflicted Audi’s earlier EPAS attempts. Genuine feel is still lacking, though. The optional dynamic steering once again provokes ire – in steady corners you can actually feel the level of assistance and ratio changing, which makes directing the car through a corner a much more conscious exercise than it should be."

http://www.evo.co.uk/audi/a4/16668/audi-a4-review-does-best-a4-yet-have-the-measure-of-a-3-series


So it might still seem wise to avoid spec'ing the dynamic steering option where possible.

 

[Daveotto]

4300 miles in and thought I would resurrect this thread (ducks and heads for the door!!!!)

Progressive steering - now I am used to it and despite it giving less feedback I actually like it better than standard A3 set up. It seems to react very well to those times you need to turn in or out of a corner quickly or maybe my brain knows how it reacts and controls steering wheel movements accordingly. Either way I actually like it, and do wonder whether it uses changes in hand pressure on the wheel as part of the progressive steering system in the same way it monitors tiredness?

Handling and bounce - had the chance, at last, to open the car up on a twisting section today on the way to my parents that I had been waiting for since I got the car. Very impressed and before I knew it was sweeping round bends around 20mph faster than in my 150bhp 2.0 TDI without even trying or ever thinking I was on the edge but then......on a sweeping bend went over a dip at around 60mph (or thereabouts ) and got a case of the "bounce". It was not bad but a little unnerving and had never had the same observation in the TDI on the same bend.

Overall still more than happy with the car and can live with the occasional added "bounce effect".

Btw....best set up is without a doubt dynamic throttle and comfort steering.

 

[mfl]

rather than start a new thread, wish we could do this in our 'quattros' .... notice the direction of the gear changes..

 

[veeeight]

Having a proper handbrake would be a start. Even the pro in the "proper" quattro has to grab the hydraulic rear brakes on occasion

However - all is not lost, you can make the 8V S3 lift off oversteer very easily (even at slow speeds on a bone dry roundabout), Audi wanted to make the car more "playful" - the result is that you can do this much easier than in the previous 8P S3.

 

[pipedaudi]

Nice liftoff oversteer on the 1.8T Quattro A3. Love it!

 

[mfl]

Having a proper handbrake would be a start. Even the pro in the "proper" quattro has to grab the hydraulic rear brakes on occasion

However - all is not lost, you can make the 8V S3 lift off oversteer very easily (even at slow speeds on a bone dry roundabout), Audi wanted to make the car more "playful" - the result is that you can do this much easier than in the previous 8P S3.

, thats true V8 - had fun with that my last track day, our round-abouts here have the wrong geometry ( too damn tight & narrow)...

I was reminiscing about good old fashion power sliding though (not on public roads of course) - .... I noticed the handbrake..

 

[veeeight]

I was reminiscing about good old fashion power sliding though (not on public roads of course) -

Good ol' V8 powered rear wheel drive for that

 

[PanamaS3]

I have been umming and arghing over this whole "bounce effect" for a while now....however after driving an A1 courtesy car this weekend over the same roads at the same speed I think I can now say with experience that the S3 is not well damped. Yes I know....revelation!
Audi here now has the 'green light' to sell 19's....but only if the car has mag-ride (neither of which were available when I bought mine)....but that's going to be an expensive "fix" so I think the research will now begin on aftermarket options....

 

[veeeight]

Start with this thread:

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/coilovers-for-the-8v.241997/

 

[PanamaS3]

Start with this thread:

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/coilovers-for-the-8v.241997/

Thanks....B16's with ride control seem the best way if you can afford it

 

[CraigI]

Early day thoughts here (only done 650 miles), but the saloon feels more levelled cornering quickly than my SB did. Certainly gives a greater degree of confidence.

 

[Simon L]

Early day thoughts here (only done 650 miles), but the saloon feels more levelled cornering quickly than my SB did. Certainly gives a greater degree of confidence.

......I think that's come over pretty loud and clear on this forum tbh, not that I'm trying to create a HB/SB V Saloon out of this

 

[CraigI]

......I think that's come over pretty loud and clear on this forum tbh, not that I'm trying to create a HB/SB V Saloon out of this

It's not really a SB v saloon discussion.
Mag ride is available on both, just standard on one and optional on the others.
Anyone know why Audi did that?

 

[Martinbanshee]

My guess, probably because 19s are standard as 18s wouldn't suit the body shape of the saloon.
19s would really need a comfort option to keep a wider range of driver happy.

 

[veeeight]

Saloon also has a slightly wider track (closer to Golf R) and is heavier, track width will help, as will heavier body with the damping.

 

[PanamaS3]

Saloon also has a slightly wider track (closer to Golf R) and is heavier, track width will help, as will heavier body with the damping.

thats of some comfort...im running on 10/15mm wider track...and with my fat **** in the car it should stick the road like **** to a blanket!

 

[Blackwhite]

Saloon also has a slightly wider track (closer to Golf R) and is heavier, track width will help, as will heavier body with the damping.

veeeight. For your next car would you
consider a saloon? I think you would like it.