Collected the car on Tuesday morning. A few potato quality pics here: http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/thread...a3-s3-8v-in-here.283950/page-134#post-3151185
Been out driving it and already managed to do over 400 miles so it's almost run in
Been doing my usual run-in process of fully warming it through then loading the engine and varying revs a lot but keeping it under about 4k rpm for now. Once it gets to 500 I'll consider it done.
First impressions are that I love it. Bear in mind this is my sixth A3 and third 8V and my previous model was a saloon so this is very similar but with everything dialled up to 11. I think the three big differences from my current 1.4COD are performance, gearbox and technology.
Performance: I think the word which best describes it is 'effortless'. Just the slightest prod on the accelerator and it's alarming how fast it gathers speed. Even limiting myself to 4k rpm, it's seriously rapid and overtaking is hilariously easy.
Gearbox: All my previous A3s have been manuals. I tried an original DSG back in about 2005/6 and hated it but, as it's almost a no-brainer in an S3, I made a point of test-driving one and it's a world apart from those first boxes. I've surprised myself how much I've been using the different modes - drive/sport/manual. Paddle usage is mandatory for my running-in system as I need to accelerate hard to load the engine but short-shift around 4k rpm. They've really thought out the control system well and I find it very intuitive flicking between drive and sport and using the paddles to temporarily override or flicking the lever across into full-time manual.
Technology: I had the tech pack and connect on my previous car but it was a PFL. The new control interface on the MMI is taking a bit of getting used to but is far better overall. Two minor niggles are the voice control is far slower to respond than the old car and the wheel goes the other way!!! I know the wheel direction was a constant complaint on the old system but I was used to it - guess they listened and changed it but it's driving my bonkers right now. The virtual cockpit is awesome and I couldn't imagine going back to normal dials. Have to say I'm not very impressed with CarPlay at all and doubt I'll use it.
Negatives?
Well start/stop is driving me to distraction. I've had it on my A3s for the last seven years but they've all been manuals so the system only triggers if you put it in manual and let the clutch out. Obviously with S-Tronic it kicks in when you stop but it's very unpredictable. Sometimes it's possible to stop it by feathering the brake as you come to a halt but other times not. I've played with it a bit but I must confess I tend to just switch it off if I'm in stop-start traffic as it gets very annoying.
The only other thing I absolutely HATE is related to the hold assist which came with the comfort pack. This is actually a very useful system in the S-Tronic as it prevents creep without having to keep your foot on the brake pedal or flick the handbrake on but I'm livid that the brake lights stay lit when it's activated. I've ranted about this before and won't get into it again but, suffice to say, I was in stop-start traffic this evening on the M42 for about 20 minutes and started flicking the manual handbrake on when I stopped as I was conscious of blinding the poor guy behind me all the time.
Aside from those niggles it's all good so far
Been out driving it and already managed to do over 400 miles so it's almost run in
Been doing my usual run-in process of fully warming it through then loading the engine and varying revs a lot but keeping it under about 4k rpm for now. Once it gets to 500 I'll consider it done.First impressions are that I love it. Bear in mind this is my sixth A3 and third 8V and my previous model was a saloon so this is very similar but with everything dialled up to 11. I think the three big differences from my current 1.4COD are performance, gearbox and technology.
Performance: I think the word which best describes it is 'effortless'. Just the slightest prod on the accelerator and it's alarming how fast it gathers speed. Even limiting myself to 4k rpm, it's seriously rapid and overtaking is hilariously easy.
Gearbox: All my previous A3s have been manuals. I tried an original DSG back in about 2005/6 and hated it but, as it's almost a no-brainer in an S3, I made a point of test-driving one and it's a world apart from those first boxes. I've surprised myself how much I've been using the different modes - drive/sport/manual. Paddle usage is mandatory for my running-in system as I need to accelerate hard to load the engine but short-shift around 4k rpm. They've really thought out the control system well and I find it very intuitive flicking between drive and sport and using the paddles to temporarily override or flicking the lever across into full-time manual.
Technology: I had the tech pack and connect on my previous car but it was a PFL. The new control interface on the MMI is taking a bit of getting used to but is far better overall. Two minor niggles are the voice control is far slower to respond than the old car and the wheel goes the other way!!! I know the wheel direction was a constant complaint on the old system but I was used to it - guess they listened and changed it but it's driving my bonkers right now. The virtual cockpit is awesome and I couldn't imagine going back to normal dials. Have to say I'm not very impressed with CarPlay at all and doubt I'll use it.
Negatives?
Well start/stop is driving me to distraction. I've had it on my A3s for the last seven years but they've all been manuals so the system only triggers if you put it in manual and let the clutch out. Obviously with S-Tronic it kicks in when you stop but it's very unpredictable. Sometimes it's possible to stop it by feathering the brake as you come to a halt but other times not. I've played with it a bit but I must confess I tend to just switch it off if I'm in stop-start traffic as it gets very annoying.
The only other thing I absolutely HATE is related to the hold assist which came with the comfort pack. This is actually a very useful system in the S-Tronic as it prevents creep without having to keep your foot on the brake pedal or flick the handbrake on but I'm livid that the brake lights stay lit when it's activated. I've ranted about this before and won't get into it again but, suffice to say, I was in stop-start traffic this evening on the M42 for about 20 minutes and started flicking the manual handbrake on when I stopped as I was conscious of blinding the poor guy behind me all the time.
Aside from those niggles it's all good so far
