RE: Driven: Audi RS3 Sportback

[Mermaid]

Will it be better than the RS2?

[Hellbound]

kambites said:

Hellbound said:

Would it be possible to spec up this baby to over £50k?

If so, wouldn't this be the most expensive hatchback ever?

No, because the Panamera is a hatchback, as is the new Ferrari FF.

Ok smart ass, one that's not a Porsche or Ferrari.

As an earlier poster said...with £40k or perhaps even £45k I'd just buy a 911 or M3. Maybe chuck a couple of grand at a run around.

Oh well...the obvious argument here is your typical RS3 buyer will already own a Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo...and this little Audi will be something practical and relatively cheap to chuck about and pop to Waitrose in.

[Ali_T]

Interesting reading Autocar's review and finding: "But perhaps more telling is the company’s claim it takes the RS3 just 17.5-seconds to get from rest to 125mph – most rivals would struggle to get to 100mph in the same timeframe." Erm, what rivals are those? Even my old EP3 Civic Type R could get under 17 secs to 100 and Evo timed them at 22-23secs to 125. A stock STI or FQ300 is more like 12-13 secs to 100. A PPP'd STI or FQ 360 will happily match the Audi. So, unless Audi think the Polo GTi or Fabia vRS is a rival, it's not faster than any natural rival at the price. Unless they count the Golf R?

Edited by Ali_T on Thursday 10th March 11:36

[Dagnut]

menguin said:

PSBuckshot said:

Sorry for having an opinion. I forgot they're not allowed.

You don't have an opinion. You're repeating what Jeremy has told you to think.

He's probably got the message by now.

[lambo_xx]

Looks like a lovely car, but sorry £40k is way to much in my opinion. I'm a bit cheap I'll admit that, but £40k is too much when you look at these:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1855225.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2496437.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2569967.htm

[anything fast]

frosted said:

anything fast said:

I know this is a fast car but why the hell would you spend 40 grand plus on a lofty looking hatchback with alloys from halfords on it?

Even if it would do 200 mph i would not pay that kind of money to drive around in what looks like a Hyundai with audi badges..

Save up and buy an M3 or buy a second hand RS4 or M3...

I am glad to say you will hardly ever see one on the road and if you do, you probably will not even notice it.. shame it could have been a bit spesh...

Why the hating ,are they forcing you to buy it ??

Some may even say the will never pay 28k for chavy focus , or a plastic Renault I can't see your logic . Yes it's over priced ,try and tell me one new car that it ain't ( bar the gtr )

a focus RS is much much better value at 28k, plus it looks special.. this looks like a BUS... those who moan about 4wd etc etc, come on where can you use the grip or power? That wouldnt matter if it looked good but it dont it looks st, like a small estate car with chavvy alloys

[Pablo16v]

lambo_xx said:

Looks like a lovely car, but sorry £40k is way to much in my opinion. I'm a bit cheap I'll admit that, but £40k is too much when you look at these:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1855225.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2496437.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2569967.htm

You're comparing a brand new car against 3, 4 and 5 year old cars though. The S3 for a start will most likely have been quite a bit north of £30k when new and the RS4's will have higher running costs for very similar performance. To be on the safe side you'd also have to factor in the cost of extended warranties.

I'm almost certain that the majority of people ordering the RS3 are not looking at 3 year old S3's or 5 year old RS4's. A chap at my work for instance will be swapping his '56 plate RS4 saloon for an RS3 later this year as we're limited to cars under 5 years old and he also feels he'll get less hassle from the bosses running a 2.5L RS3 on his fuel card than he will running another V8.

[Mermaid]

Pablo16v said:

You're comparing a brand new car against 3, 4 and 5 year old cars though. The S3 for a start will most likely have been quite a bit north of £30k when new and the RS4's will have higher running costs for very similar performance. To be on the safe side you'd also have to factor in the cost of extended warranties.

I'm almost certain that the majority of people ordering the RS3 are not looking at 3 year old S3's or 5 year old RS4's. A chap at my work for instance will be swapping his '56 plate RS4 saloon for an RS3 later this year as we're limited to cars under 5 years old and he also feels he'll get less hassle from the bosses running a 2.5L RS3 on his fuel card than he will running another V8.

Good points. The warranty on an RS4 is circa £1,650 pa., whilst you will get a 5 year warranty (3 years + 2 extra) warranty for a few hundred pounds.

That's 1650 x5 = £8,250 warranty costs c.f. with a few hundred. The new RS3 will be less hassle than the ageing RS4. HOWEVER, will a stage be reached when both cars are worth the same?

[nickfrog]

Presuming Ed said:

No its not the last word in dynamic handling

Exactly. And that would be fine on a £20K hatch but when you spend £40K you need something that is really quite close to the last
word in dynamic handling and not just quick in a straight line or past the apex.

[thewheelman]

Colonial said:

thewheelman said:

I agree with you. Before anyone chimes in, i've had that opinion long before Clarkson said it. My opinion is based on previously managing an Audi dealership, & the many miles i drive each week in the U.K. & at times in Europe. There is a vast amount of idiots that drive Audi cars.

But from what i gather, people on this page don't care for your opinion, as they're all experts that can't possibly be wrong. (idiots) I find it amusing how some people have thousands of posts to their name, i just assume they have no real life, or real friends. But Just like many morons drive Audi cars, morons like to hang around forums just to try & piss others off.

As for the RS3, typically overpriced, & far better cars out there for that amount of money. £40k for a hatchback, not for me thanks.

Ahh, so you're one of those cocks that have worked in an Audi dealerships.

Most arrogant, agressive, unprofessional group around.

Whenever I come across someone who works, or used to work, for an Audi dealer I know he is just going to a cock

As with anything, stereotypes exist for a reason, they're based on a huge amount of truth. I couldn't stand working for Audi or their poor products. I got out of there as fast as i could. But thanks for your post. So......your A4....it's silver, isn't it?

Edited by thewheelman on Thursday 10th March 14:24

[thewheelman]

thirsty said:

thewheelman said:

CampDavid said:

MSTRBKR said:

PSBuckshot said:

What a really nice looking, tidy little car. Shame Audi's are usually driven by cks.

I see a stupid post, look at the join date and just sigh shaking my head... always the new ones.

Do you not see the massive irony in tarring all new posters with the same brush while quoting someone saying that all audi owners are s?

Haha, brilliant

Hmmm. I was going to reply to say that Audi's are over priced and over rated, but I still found myself buying one last year because they are great cars. Instead, I find myself wanting to comment on some stupid w@nker who has nothing more to add than a demonstration of stupidity. This used to be a great car web site.

"Instead, I find myself wanting to comment on some stupid w@nker who has nothing more to add than a demonstration of stupidity." I agree, you are a stupid w@nker who has nothing more to add than a demonstration of stupidity. Well done you, you must be proud. As for saying Audi make great cars, thanks for that, it made me laugh.

[SaintToad]

lamby said:

Hmm... Buy a low mileage 2nd hand S3... Apply MTM stage 3 kit.... Recieve 330 BHP.... im Sure u could then buy a Suspension kit to make it handle as the RS3.... fair enough slightly more narrow track... but hey... its still gonna be good. I wish Volvo would stop being PENI and make the Polestar version of the C30....

I picked up a new S3 last year and got MTM + Miltek Turbo-back exhaust. Total (inc. magnetic ride) was around 32.5K. Absolutely stunning performance improvement over stock!

I'd been eagerly waiting to see how the RS3 turned out and it doesn't seem to have much of an edge. Admittedly, you won't get the grief from insurance companies for mod'ing, but it's not exactly compelling to go RS3 over improved S3, new or second-hand. If the reviews were coming back saying the handling was radically better, maybe a different story though.

As to whether there are better cars from other manufactures for the money, depends what you're after. Personally, I needed something I could put mountain bikes on top of, but wanted quality and performance too. Only choice for me and I love it! If I wanted more mental performance, I'd have kept my old rust-bucket day-to-day car and got an Exige for weekends, but that's a different story.

Horses for courses!

[thewheelman]

Dagnut said:

menguin said:

PSBuckshot said:

Sorry for having an opinion. I forgot they're not allowed.

You don't have an opinion. You're repeating what Jeremy has told you to think.

He's probably got the message by now.

What, that he's meant to agree with a bunch of idiots that have little knowledge?

[Dagnut]

thewheelman said:

Dagnut said:

menguin said:

PSBuckshot said:

Sorry for having an opinion. I forgot they're not allowed.

You don't have an opinion. You're repeating what Jeremy has told you to think.

He's probably got the message by now.

What, that he's meant to agree with a bunch of idiots that have little knowledge?

I mean't stop posting the same thing over and over again. I didn't say anything about his opinion...but thanks for the interpretation.

[monthefish]

B.J.W said:

PSBuckshot said:

What a really nice looking, tidy little car. Shame Audi's are usually driven by cks.

Excellent, yet another well informed and constructive post to kick this thread off in the best possible way.

There have been some right tts joining PH recently

[Dan 87]

You can get a new BMW 335i touring for just over £30k without looking to hard... Would the RS3 be that much (£10k+) better?

[Dr Imran T]

So in conclusion, if the RS3 was 10-12k cheaper it would be a much better proposition?

[anything fast]

Calm down gents, no need for cock calling etc!!

Audi's are good cars, but you do pay a premium for the badge much like BMW's and Mercedes..

BUT i do think this particular Audi is an oddity. Why would someone want or need such a powerful hatchback? And if they did why have something that looks so humdrum?

Now if it only came in 3 door with flared arches (like an 80's Quattro)and had a much lower body profile, I think this would be a very special car.. But it looks nothing like that and dont think it will half as much fun to drive as some other fast hatches

[kambites]

Dr Imran T said:

So in conclusion, if the RS3 was 10-12k cheaper it would be a much better proposition?

Um, is there any car that wouldn't be a better purchase proposition if it was cheaper?

[Lost soul]

anything fast said:

BUT i do think this particular Audi is an oddity. Why would someone want or need such a powerful hatchback? And if they did why have something that looks so humdrum?

(

Its kind of an old tradition with Audi to build silly estate cars , or it used to be