Sold my S3. Sad to see it go but needed a cheaper car so bought a 53 plate renaultsport clio 172. Naturally i've compared it against the S3 along my usual roads (much the same as my previous cars).
The Clio has slightly more spec than my S3 had. Auto lights, auto wipers, cruise control, plus the usual xenons etc. However, the seats aren't as nice and there's no seat heating!! The S3 is a comfier, classier place to be.
To drive: Its alot slower in everyday driving than my (mapped) S3 simply as it doesn't have the torque. 172's are revvy engines that need to be above 5k to be on song, but then it does shift along, just not quite with the same urge the S3 had. Noticed this in overtaking sections as i was used to where i could overtake but now i need to drop a gear to do the same and even then have to wait for the revs!
Handling and brakes are excellent in the clio. Everything in this respect is better than the S3 apart from traction out of wet corners or bumpy uphill sections. The clio can probably corner 10mph faster on the same bumpy mid corner bends where the S3 would need lifting off before the corner as it went abit sloppy or understeery. Clio alot easier to catch as there's so much more adjustability. It handles bumps nicer too but its on smaller alloys and larger profile tyres which helps. My test was to keep at 60mph comfortably along a 5 mile country lane which has some nasty corners and bunps. The M3 managed this easily, the S3 needed dropping to 50 in places and the clio also manages it easily.
I love the S3 and miss its engine, looks and traction, but find the clio is more fun and a car i like to just jump in and go for a fast B lane blast, where the S3 was great for commuting in all weathers. The last car i wanted to drive for the sake of it was the M3!
I won't be challenging any S3's out of roundabouts...I'll just wait until the roads get rural and windy!
Happy driving everyone, i'm not leaving Audi-sport!
The Clio has slightly more spec than my S3 had. Auto lights, auto wipers, cruise control, plus the usual xenons etc. However, the seats aren't as nice and there's no seat heating!! The S3 is a comfier, classier place to be.
To drive: Its alot slower in everyday driving than my (mapped) S3 simply as it doesn't have the torque. 172's are revvy engines that need to be above 5k to be on song, but then it does shift along, just not quite with the same urge the S3 had. Noticed this in overtaking sections as i was used to where i could overtake but now i need to drop a gear to do the same and even then have to wait for the revs!
Handling and brakes are excellent in the clio. Everything in this respect is better than the S3 apart from traction out of wet corners or bumpy uphill sections. The clio can probably corner 10mph faster on the same bumpy mid corner bends where the S3 would need lifting off before the corner as it went abit sloppy or understeery. Clio alot easier to catch as there's so much more adjustability. It handles bumps nicer too but its on smaller alloys and larger profile tyres which helps. My test was to keep at 60mph comfortably along a 5 mile country lane which has some nasty corners and bunps. The M3 managed this easily, the S3 needed dropping to 50 in places and the clio also manages it easily.
I love the S3 and miss its engine, looks and traction, but find the clio is more fun and a car i like to just jump in and go for a fast B lane blast, where the S3 was great for commuting in all weathers. The last car i wanted to drive for the sake of it was the M3!
I won't be challenging any S3's out of roundabouts...I'll just wait until the roads get rural and windy!
Happy driving everyone, i'm not leaving Audi-sport!
