RE: Facelifted Audi RS3 Sportback revealed

[Wills2]

981C said:

Wills2 said:

That's the point I'm making people correcting a self correcting engine leads to higher but false dyno readings.

Not sure what you mean in terms of what is backed up by performance numbers?

F82 is a good 2 seconds faster to 100mph than the equivalent E92 I had, with 16% variation in the power-to-weight ratio.

Now I understand that the car is making much more power in the lower rpms, but the disparity seems too large to explain by that alone. Also, the M3/4 stand up very well in a similar sprint against the 510bhp C63 S which has a lot more low-end power and 7% better P:W overall.

Autocar have it at 1.4 secs quicker to 100mph they tend to be the most reliable times as they are conducted two up, with a full tank and take a two way average.

The F80 has much more power all the way through its rev range even though the peak power outputs are close, as an example it's got 430hp at 5500 vs. the S65 giving 310hp that's why it's quicker the peak figures tell you little.

I've had 2 x e92 M3 and currently have an F80 it's quicker due to having significantly more power from 1.5k-7k not because it's been given another 50hp secretly at the top end.

[CaptainMorgan]

Escort3500 said:

And of course, the M140i doesn't look dull.

[981C]

Wills2 said:

Autocar have it at 1.4 secs quicker to 100mph they tend to be the most reliable times as they are conducted two up, with a full tank and take a two way average.

The F80 has much more power all the way through its rev range even though the peak power outputs are close, as an example it's got 430hp at 5500 vs. the S65 giving 310hp that's why it's quicker the peak figures tell you little.

I've had 2 x e92 M3 and currently have an F80 it's quicker due to having significantly more power from 1.5k-7k not because it's been given another 50hp secretly at the top end.

Apart from 0-20mph, you're utilising 5-7.6krpm for acceleration tests in the F80 and 6-8400 in the S65, so the delta is indeed quite large. Can you overlay the C63 AMG S power and torque?

[aspirated]

QuattroDave said:

Mperformance exhaust and/or centre silencer delete and it's up there with RS3 soundtrack too!

You should see an Audiologist for that... M135i/140i sounds like a bag of bolts with any non-standard exhaust

[nunpuncher]

CaptainMorgan said:

That's like trying to say the munter you took home was a 10 because her step sister is a super model.

[aspirated]

nunpuncher said:

CaptainMorgan said:

That's like trying to say the munter you took home was a 10 because her step sister is a super model.

Except the M2 is no supermodel..what were they thinking with that front bumper/air intake design

[nunpuncher]

I'm curious about the comment at the beginning of the article suggesting the m140i may be announced to be getting a power hike soon. The f20 had its LCI a few years back now and only got the new engine recently. Will they really increase power even closer to the m2 so near the end of the models life?

[nunpuncher]

aspirated said:

Except the M2 is no supermodel..what were they thinking with that front bumper/air intake design

Automotive equivalent of Cindy Crawford's mole?

Giving my age away here.

[Yipper]

The M140i is one of the ugliest cars ever made in automotive history and is in no way a substitute for an RS3.

[nickfrog]

Yipper said:

The M140i is one of the ugliest cars ever made in automotive history and is in no way a substitute for an RS3.

I reckon that's quite subjective, a bit like looks and design : I quite like it, particularly compared to a RS3.

[urquattroGus]

My M135i with Quaife diff and Birds ARB's and springs is a lovely compromise.

For those who are interested, you could no doubt buy a M140i and have these subtle mods done to give the car more focus without destroying usabaility.

[nunpuncher]

nickfrog said:

I reckon that's quite subjective, a bit like looks and design : I quite like it, particularly compared to a RS3.

I think the pre-lci model has a certain endearing awkwardness about it like many of the old pre e30 BMWs. Only the 3 door though, the 5 door looks yuk and the wheels look a bit lost in the arches.

[CaptainMorgan]

nunpuncher said:

That's like trying to say the munter you took home was a 10 because her step sister is a super model.

No, I was suggesting you need to compare the RS3 to the M2, since the M140i is just a M Sport 1 series. Made sense to me anyway.

[Escort3500]

CaptainMorgan said:

Escort3500 said:

And of course, the M140i doesn't look dull.

I'll blame autocorrect

[QuattroDave]

aspirated said:

You should see an Audiologist for that... M135i/140i sounds like a bag of bolts with any non-standard exhaust

The Mperformance exhaust was designed for the car and built by BMW so I wouldn't consider it non-standard in the sense you seem to be intimating, it's a performance option, hence the name.

Anywho, your point is null and void for suggesting it sounds like a bag of bolts as although it doesn't sound as nice as the RS3 (but them I'm biased from my URQ owning days) it's easily nicer sounding than any other car in that segment and many from the segment above. Plus are you seriously telling us that you've listened to an M135/140 with every type of exhaust option available for the car?

[nickfrog]

QuattroDave said:

Plus are you seriously telling us that you've listened to an M135/140 with every type of exhaust option available for the car?

I am not convinced Aspirated has had a chance to drive it either.

[Onehp]

Just want to point out that nobody has driven this new rs3 and that all opinions are based on the previous version.

And I'm pretty sure it will be better in the understeer department, just like the new TTRS is better than the old one. But how much better?

[aspirated]

QuattroDave said:

The Mperformance exhaust was designed for the car and built by BMW so I wouldn't consider it non-standard in the sense you seem to be intimating, it's a performance option, hence the name.

Anywho, your point is null and void for suggesting it sounds like a bag of bolts as although it doesn't sound as nice as the RS3 (but them I'm biased from my URQ owning days) it's easily nicer sounding than any other car in that segment and many from the segment above. Plus are you seriously telling us that you've listened to an M135/140 with every type of exhaust option available for the car?

The performance exhaust is obviously non-standard because it's an optional extra i.e it doesn't come as standard ffs

Not every type, only the ones I've heard, and they all sound pretty similar.

nickfrog said:

I am not convinced Aspirated has had a chance to drive it either.

I don't recall ever claiming that?

[TerryCTR]

daemon said:

Thats amazing.

At that sort of price and with very limited depreciation they'd make a cracking deal.

I owned an M135i and then moved to an M235i (TRL deal) and I can assure you even with the cracking deal that when the time comes to sell it's far from LIMITED DEPRECIATION.

The M235i was much better handling wise and adaptive helps for sure but when pushing on at 8/10ths the car still becomes unsettled and you can't take full advantage of the power. RWD is manageable for sure but with the U.K. Climate quite often you are having to watch how much welly you give it.

I do miss the car and the noise from the 6cyl but I'm waiting to take delivery of a Mk TTS which reviews as having better on the limit handling....we shall see. If this doesn't work out I could be tempted by an M4

[PixelpeepS3]

So to sum up reasons why you wont buy it and for the same reason i will....

Dull = less attention from police and chavs
no fun to drive = i can make progress in all conditions without having a heart attack on my way to work
no manual = the commute & traffic in general will be more pleasant (+ slightly better MPG)


i've said it before and ill say it again, you shouldn't by a car based on how poorly it will perform for the 3% of its average life.

97% of the time you will be sitting in stop start traffic/pouring rain/just wanting to get home from work. and for that, it will be epic.

i'm in