RE: Audi unveils its new S3
Discussion
StottyZr said:
Improved haldex system I would've thought. It wasn't exactly optimised for launches so theres a lot of room for improvement.
Maybe it uses the 4th generation Haldex system like on my Saab Turbo X? Preemptively sends the power to the rear wheels on launch instead of waiting for lack of front wheel traction before driving the rear wheels (as with earlier Haldex generations).Blimey, that's a lot of negative feedback from pretty much every comment previous to this...
Well, I'm going to do the opposite.... That interior (apart from the Satnav which looks like an after-thought) looks beautiful and a great place to be. The S-Tronic box is excellent! (If it's anything like the one in the RS5 I drove a while back, it’s very very good!! (Although the downshift “blip” won’t sound quite as impressive (if it has one)). Given the choice, I’d take one of these over a manual every time!). Standard 300bhp, yes please!.... Wait till MRC get hold of it! Didn't realise the amount of tailpipes was defined by the size of an engine? I think it looks ok, do I like it more than a single twin, not overly fussed to be honest.
As for this over a 135i, the looks are subjective, but neither are attractive cars. The Audi has the better interior if that’s what’s important to you. As for what they’re like to drive, it’s been a while since I drove a decent BMW, but I do like the AWD Audis on the road, they just make more sense as you can’t drive around sideways drifting every corner anyway. On track, well, yes the BMW would be more fun coming out of a corner, but I haven’t been on track in a while either…. 30k is a lot to spend on a “hot hatch”, I’d probably keep the change from a second hand M3, RS4 or new S4…. Just my 2 cents…
Well, I'm going to do the opposite.... That interior (apart from the Satnav which looks like an after-thought) looks beautiful and a great place to be. The S-Tronic box is excellent! (If it's anything like the one in the RS5 I drove a while back, it’s very very good!! (Although the downshift “blip” won’t sound quite as impressive (if it has one)). Given the choice, I’d take one of these over a manual every time!). Standard 300bhp, yes please!.... Wait till MRC get hold of it! Didn't realise the amount of tailpipes was defined by the size of an engine? I think it looks ok, do I like it more than a single twin, not overly fussed to be honest.
As for this over a 135i, the looks are subjective, but neither are attractive cars. The Audi has the better interior if that’s what’s important to you. As for what they’re like to drive, it’s been a while since I drove a decent BMW, but I do like the AWD Audis on the road, they just make more sense as you can’t drive around sideways drifting every corner anyway. On track, well, yes the BMW would be more fun coming out of a corner, but I haven’t been on track in a while either…. 30k is a lot to spend on a “hot hatch”, I’d probably keep the change from a second hand M3, RS4 or new S4…. Just my 2 cents…
Must say on paper it sounds very impressive, but I've driven a few fast Audis (mostly S5) and despite the power they were ALWAYS dull, I agree with a comment of a guy who has an 8p S3 remapped to 310bhp that going fast in a straight line is only so much fun, how a car works together makes it great fun to haul around a country road. Still I think it'll be worth a look.
Have to say the price makes the BMW M135i look like a proper bargain with a turbo 3.0 6 pot and 320bhp for £29,995!
Have to say the price makes the BMW M135i look like a proper bargain with a turbo 3.0 6 pot and 320bhp for £29,995!
MJParker1804 said:
Have to say the price makes the BMW M135i look like a proper bargain with a turbo 3.0 6 pot and 320bhp for £29,995!
Kind of. This is 4wd and is 4mpg better on fuel, which is quite astonishing when taking into account how good BMW are at extracting great figures from powerful engines. It really is quite an achievement, along with that 0-60 time, they've really upped their game here. Which was required, because BMW could have very easily started to overshadow Audi.
Also, I think the Audi is a lot better looking than the new 1series!
although I agree that performance audi's are not as fun to drive as m-power bmw's, I certainly wouldn't call them boring. It is also hard to deny that they tick most boxes i.e.
-great-looking cars (since the bmw e60 5 and 6 series there hasn't been a decent-looking bmw IMO)
-very comfortable in comparison to BMW
-better interiors
-decent performance- a 5.1 sec 0-60 time is a huge leap forward!
-quick off the line with quattro assistance
-capable of 90% performance in most conditions again due to quattro
-great-looking cars (since the bmw e60 5 and 6 series there hasn't been a decent-looking bmw IMO)
-very comfortable in comparison to BMW
-better interiors
-decent performance- a 5.1 sec 0-60 time is a huge leap forward!
-quick off the line with quattro assistance
-capable of 90% performance in most conditions again due to quattro
In four years time, a Sportback one of these will be on my drive.
It's a great gearbox. Truly.
RichTBiscuit said:
Nice write up, but no mention of gearbox options?
From the pics am I right in guessing this will be snore-tronic only?
Shame if so.
I had more fun in an S-Tronic diesel A3 Sportback than I've had in any of my petrol-powered, manual 'boxed cars. Though I guess it doesn't say much, 323, Mégane, 207...From the pics am I right in guessing this will be snore-tronic only?
Shame if so.
It's a great gearbox. Truly.
Debaser said:
I couldn't believe how dull the current RS3 was. I hope this is a lot more interesting, although I doubt it will be.
RS3 dull? really? Have you ever driven one? Be honest now.If you have driven it you can't have really spanked it.
From personal experience I can safely say it was not a dull car. The engine was a peach, made a lovely 5 pot burble with accompanying turbo whooshes and bangs and with 340bhp it had insane accelleration. There is more to life than 0-60 times I grant you, but 4.5 seconds is genuinely rapid.
It was not the most polished handler, in fact it was a bit of a bucking bronco, but this just added character for me.
It is a mental car - it looks dull yes but everything else was palm-sweatingly exciting.
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