TheFiftheElement
Registered User
It's only a few days from me living my with car for a year, I had written a 1,000 mile review and thought it might be of interest to see what had changed after 12 months of ownership.
1,000 mile review thread here:
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/1-000-mile-in-s3-sportback-s-tronic-report.227466/
Spec: S3 Sportback, S-Tronic, Sepang Blue with Lunar Silver interior. Options added were comfort pack, audi sound system, interior light pack, hill hold assist, parking plus, mono.pur, aluminium roof rails, folding mirrors and red brake calipers
I've completed @3,600 miles at an average of @24 mpg. That would be around 70/30 town/motorway and the best I've ever seen is 35.3 on a gentle 70 mph run through to Edinburgh from Aberdeen. I can't see how it's possible to get 40+ unless you're sitting about 55/60 in 6th and ******* everyone off around you
.. I didn't not buy the car for it's frugality though.
I've had almost zero issues with the car, it hasn't used oil, never been back to the dealers, and the only thing I can think of that's not worked all the time is the Radio/Iphone/SD card switching. Sometimes it won't recognize my iPhone is connected, other times it will play what I've been listening to, before I connect it, but it won't let me scroll through tracks/artists. Disconnecting/connecting usually fixes the issue.
Pictures from day of collection:
It's a cracking looking car, unfortunately my original suspicion that Sepang may be a bit bright for me have come to fruition, and I wish I'd gone Daytona. Sepang had just been released the weekend before as a £500 option when I ordered mine, so had been a custom paint order previously
I hadn't seen many around. Now I think 75% of S3's are Sepang and it no longer feels exclusive 
Don't get me wrong - it's still a beautiful colour, just not for me.
I like S-tronic, I don't find myself in the wrong gear too often (and you can over ride with a flip of a paddle), it's awesome when you're on a hoon and you never get tired of the burps.
I love the interior, it's very minimalist (which is very me) and I think the lunar silver works well with Sepang. No issues with keeping it clean either, a quick wipe every now and again and it's like new. I have had no issues with colour transfer from jeans etc.
I like the design of the alloy wheels but not 100% sold on the diamond cut, or the colour. I wouldn't describe it as titanium and it's more a muddy grey colour especially when they are covered in brake dust.
It's not quite as well built as it looks though. I have a rattle from the passenger side somewhere (minor) and the dash also buzzes and rattles occasionally (I think it's coming from the pop up display). Pretty minor mind you and nothing compared to some of the other so called premium
cars I've owned.
There's nothing really I wish I had spec'd (but didn't), I find the smaller screen absolutely fine (bear in mind I didn't spec anything tech or nav), the audi sound system is excellent (enough control over bass, sub, treble).
I find hill hold assist very useful. Mono.pur does lift the cabin in terms of quality
The only options I'm not sure I should have spec'd are the interior light pack (big woop, can't see the fuss) and the red brake calipers (I can't say I notice them much).
I have written previously on how I feel the car drives so didn't intend to go into much detail here. It's quick but disguises it's speed well, it's too quiet though and I haven't heard an exhaust yet that doesn't make it sound like a bag of spanners
.. I don't like the soft throttle response (even in dynamic), and I don't feel that the ADS changes the car as much as I'd like. I have found the handling a bit scary on bumpy B-roads, it feels a bit floaty and not tied down. It's like it doesn't control the rebound very well. It has great traction but does feel front biased (no surprises there).
I like S-tronic, I don't find myself in the wrong gear too often (and you can over ride with a flip of a paddle), it's awesome when you're on a hoon and you never get tired of the burps.The only occasions where I get a bit frustrated with S-tronic are on a slight incline in town @30 it'll get into 5th quickly and it feels as though you have about 5 BHP going up the hill (again a quick flip and you're OK).
I have caught it out once when I went from 4-2 (not braking) quickly and floored it. No idea what it was doing, but all I got was nothing for about 2 seconds then a big lurch. It changes down quicker when you're on the brakes than it does when you just ask for a downshift (noticeable).
Overall though S-Tronic is awesome, so easy in traffic, magic on a hoon, and it is interactive in manual mode with paddles. Is it as interactive as a manual, no.
Things I like:
Looks, speed, burps, interior design, audi sound system, S-Tronic
Things I don't like:
Sticker on passenger sun visor, throttle response, boost and petrol gauges (please give me a normal dial/needle)
Things I find a bit meh:
Interior light pack, noise, too quick to change up in town, Sepang blue, ADS
Is it a lovely car, yes it is but much like the 8P S3 I owned it's not got under my skin, and I have ordered an S4 saloon that's due in September. It has the throttle response I want, and the 3.0v6 (enhanced or not) sounds so much better. Given my needs for a car the S3 is still one that meets my needs on paper. I just think it lacks a bit of character and the final 10% of polish on B-roads. Why the Golf R is reportedly (given it's practically the same car) so much better I don't know. I am an admitted serial car changer, even with the knowledge it's financial suicide, so I am not 100% surprised I'm changing my car.
In summary: owning 9/10, driving 6/10.
1,000 mile review thread here:
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/1-000-mile-in-s3-sportback-s-tronic-report.227466/
Spec: S3 Sportback, S-Tronic, Sepang Blue with Lunar Silver interior. Options added were comfort pack, audi sound system, interior light pack, hill hold assist, parking plus, mono.pur, aluminium roof rails, folding mirrors and red brake calipers
I've completed @3,600 miles at an average of @24 mpg. That would be around 70/30 town/motorway and the best I've ever seen is 35.3 on a gentle 70 mph run through to Edinburgh from Aberdeen. I can't see how it's possible to get 40+ unless you're sitting about 55/60 in 6th and ******* everyone off around you
.. I didn't not buy the car for it's frugality though.I've had almost zero issues with the car, it hasn't used oil, never been back to the dealers, and the only thing I can think of that's not worked all the time is the Radio/Iphone/SD card switching. Sometimes it won't recognize my iPhone is connected, other times it will play what I've been listening to, before I connect it, but it won't let me scroll through tracks/artists. Disconnecting/connecting usually fixes the issue.
Pictures from day of collection:
It's a cracking looking car, unfortunately my original suspicion that Sepang may be a bit bright for me have come to fruition, and I wish I'd gone Daytona. Sepang had just been released the weekend before as a £500 option when I ordered mine, so had been a custom paint order previously
I hadn't seen many around. Now I think 75% of S3's are Sepang and it no longer feels exclusive Don't get me wrong - it's still a beautiful colour, just not for me.I like S-tronic, I don't find myself in the wrong gear too often (and you can over ride with a flip of a paddle), it's awesome when you're on a hoon and you never get tired of the burps.
I love the interior, it's very minimalist (which is very me) and I think the lunar silver works well with Sepang. No issues with keeping it clean either, a quick wipe every now and again and it's like new. I have had no issues with colour transfer from jeans etc.
I like the design of the alloy wheels but not 100% sold on the diamond cut, or the colour. I wouldn't describe it as titanium and it's more a muddy grey colour especially when they are covered in brake dust.
It's not quite as well built as it looks though. I have a rattle from the passenger side somewhere (minor) and the dash also buzzes and rattles occasionally (I think it's coming from the pop up display). Pretty minor mind you and nothing compared to some of the other so called premium
cars I've owned. There's nothing really I wish I had spec'd (but didn't), I find the smaller screen absolutely fine (bear in mind I didn't spec anything tech or nav), the audi sound system is excellent (enough control over bass, sub, treble).
I find hill hold assist very useful. Mono.pur does lift the cabin in terms of quality
The only options I'm not sure I should have spec'd are the interior light pack (big woop, can't see the fuss) and the red brake calipers (I can't say I notice them much).I have written previously on how I feel the car drives so didn't intend to go into much detail here. It's quick but disguises it's speed well, it's too quiet though and I haven't heard an exhaust yet that doesn't make it sound like a bag of spanners
.. I don't like the soft throttle response (even in dynamic), and I don't feel that the ADS changes the car as much as I'd like. I have found the handling a bit scary on bumpy B-roads, it feels a bit floaty and not tied down. It's like it doesn't control the rebound very well. It has great traction but does feel front biased (no surprises there).I like S-tronic, I don't find myself in the wrong gear too often (and you can over ride with a flip of a paddle), it's awesome when you're on a hoon and you never get tired of the burps.The only occasions where I get a bit frustrated with S-tronic
are on a slight incline in town @30 it'll get into 5th quickly and it feels as though you have about 5 BHP going up the hill (again a quick flip and you're OK).I have caught it out once when I went from 4-2 (not braking) quickly and floored it. No idea what it was doing, but all I got was nothing for about 2 seconds then a big lurch. It changes down quicker when you're on the brakes than it does when you just ask for a downshift (noticeable).
Overall though S-Tronic is awesome, so easy in traffic, magic on a hoon, and it is interactive in manual mode with paddles. Is it as interactive as a manual, no.
Things I like:
Looks, speed, burps, interior design, audi sound system, S-Tronic
Things I don't like:
Sticker on passenger sun visor, throttle response, boost and petrol gauges (please give me a normal dial/needle)
Things I find a bit meh:
Interior light pack, noise, too quick to change up in town, Sepang blue
, ADSIs it a lovely car, yes it is but much like the 8P S3 I owned it's not got under my skin, and I have ordered an S4 saloon that's due in September. It has the throttle response I want, and the 3.0v6 (enhanced or not) sounds so much better. Given my needs for a car the S3 is still one that meets my needs on paper. I just think it lacks a bit of character and the final 10% of polish on B-roads. Why the Golf R is reportedly (given it's practically the same car) so much better I don't know. I am an admitted serial car changer, even with the knowledge it's financial suicide, so I am not 100% surprised I'm changing my car.
In summary: owning 9/10, driving 6/10.
