RE: Audi RS3: Review

[Dave Hedgehog]

Nath1790 said:

Ali_T said:

But, thegame is on. I've managed £53,600 OTR so far. Can anyone beat that?

Edited by Ali_T on Thursday 16th April 15:31

Over 57,500, but I may have cheated with some genuine Audi accessories. It's laughable. The amount of things that are optional and not standard!

are ceramics and buckets on the list yet, they will add approx 7k

they dont list it but you can do audi exclusive leather, that can add 6-8k as well if you go mad

hmmm tampon red

[Alucidnation]

Oh dear.

[swimd]

Can you imagine how that would look after 50000 miles of use?

[Ali_T]

Now up to £62813.14, though I'm not sure if I can fit the 3 baby seats and the dog harnesses at the same time....

[Mr Whippy]

tomjol said:

Yeah, I'm always devastated that I can't induce oversteer on my boring drive to work down some boring urban roads.

So boring you may as well just run the diesel one and save £££?

I guess awd is key to the rs3, you can enjoy the 0-30mph launch control frenzy between traffic lights.


Honestly though it's surprising how many people pay £££ more for RS but extol the virtues of these cars that don't require power for it to attain those virtues.

I find them desirable no doubt, but only as they're flash... I'd never pretend it's a sports or sporty car.

[nickfrog]

briSk said:

[ it's funny how things stick in your head. i caught and passed an e92 m3 in a 1.6 eunos at bedford and ever since i have been fully aware of the 'key board enthusiast'. i am a distinctly average driver but there are far too many people who buy these amazing rwd cars who then come on here and berate a perfectly good road car who can't drive for toffee).

True but I would say this applies even more to the 4wd pointandsquirters who claim RWD is not drivable briskly in the wet.

I caught up with a new M4 at Bedford last month. Left him for dead after west 8 despite my 200hp and cooked pads. He was on his cooling lap.

I then spoke to him and he took me for a lap. He really had all the gear but also quite a few ideas (cheers Barry if you're reading).

[Clivey]

Derwins Revenge said:

Absolutely, I just wouldn't use the term chav for those types, there are plenty of other words that the PH filter would obscure for them. Anyway, I think we're somewhat aligned and there's danger of a massive thread derail if we go into the semantics of the chav

Back on topic then; another point I'd like to raise is that despite all this talk of only noticing handling traits if you take the car to a track, you can feel the balance, attitude etc. long before you're driving at or near the limit. - You don't need to have lost traction to know that a car wants to under or oversteer.

[Paular]

stevesingo said:

Thankyou.

If Audi's target market was customers who prefer deft ride & handling and detailed steering feel, the cars would probably not be AWD and probably not have such nice interiors. But, most customers couldn't give a st if you can turn off the stability control and tip it in to over steer with a lift on turn in or execute a perfect four wheel drift.

So it doesn`t float your boat. Fine.
So it probably wont deliver deft/detail blah. for that talented bunch who four wheel drift everywhere. (Such an important attribute for a daily driver I`m sure).

But why does that mean its "Another Audi for car buyers who have image and bragging as their top priorities"?

I would have one in a heartbeat and I certainly don't fit your fictional profile. And I would bet very few buyers actually do. You don't need to spend 40K on a flagship A3 to do that.

Like I said an ignorant over generalisation.

Hurumph.

[Paular]

Maldini35 said:

The average PH'er may know a fair bit about cars but I'm always surprised by how little is known about the car industry as a whole.

The target for this RS3 is clearly not the one-car track day die hard or early 20's hot hatch fan. It is not an Elise and it is not pretending to be one. Same as the Merc A45, it's for well heeled types who want a rapid car that's easy to drive and easy to live with, cossetting on the inside and preferably not too shouty on the exterior. Quite why that seems to offend so many people I'll never know.

Different strokes for different folks

(Please somebody post a 'what you talkin about Willis' pic)

Spot on.

[MikeGoodwin]

Id make my own mind up about the chassis from a test drive Im sure. But the comment about not knowing where the front end grip is going to end would do my head in no end.

I don't expect modern electric steering to be brilliant but there are cars out the that have it and let you know enough to determine whats going on (Focus ST mk3...) and a car with this sort of (apparent) grip and power with no inclination of whats happening down there would surely frustrate.

I really had hoped the steering would be 'up to scratch' but I expected these reviews to read as this PH one does.

Shame. Really wanted to look at an RS3.

[WokkaWokka]

Just configured one up to 42k with a few frivolous options to be fair. Different alloys, sports seats and electric folding mirrors. Those things are not necessary at all. Cruise control and satellite navigation are however high up on the list of convenient items. Even then I can read a map and I've got feet which nullifies those two options anyway.

All you really need is the useable 367hp on tap on a daily basis. Shame it's still not quite delivering on the handling side of things.

[Monkey_boy]

I agree you don't need to go nuts on the options. Quite a lot you will never use. For instance the high beam assist is a PITA on our 5 series as it isn't always reliable. For me the major options would be upgraded speakers and sports seats and possibly sunroof. when I configured it came out at 45k.

[Dave Hedgehog]

my build comes in at is 48k, but that incls the 5 year warranty which is a must imo especially with how flaky mag ride has been on other RS cars

[andrewparker]

Isn't it about time they tried something different to the Rotor design alloys? As others have said, the RS6 twin spoke alloys would transform the looks.

[Clivey]

Maldini35 said:

The average PH'er may know a fair bit about cars but I'm always surprised by how little is known about the car industry as a whole.

The target for this RS3 is clearly not the one-car track day die hard or early 20's hot hatch fan. It is not an Elise and it is not pretending to be one. Same as the Merc A45, it's for well heeled types who want a rapid car that's easy to drive and easy to live with, cossetting on the inside and preferably not too shouty on the exterior.

Reading between the lines, many (note: not all) of the buyers want a car that appears to be "sporty" without actually behaving like a sports car, that they can be as ham-fisted as they like with without worrying about it biting them and which they can experience some brisk acceleration from but never actually get near it's capabilities...a car tailored for the "pro kit" posers that spend more time showing off in the bar than actually playing sports.

Maldini35 said:

Quite why that seems to offend so many people I'll never know.

Can nobody discuss negatives these days without being "offended"?

[Adam B]

stevesingo in a single post said:

Audi's target market

detailed steering feel

probably not be AWD

nice interiors.

Most customers couldn't give a st

over steer

perfect four wheel drift.

House !!

Edited by Adam B on Friday 17th April 11:27

[8bit]

EricE said:

Hmm, understeer into the path of an oncoming lorry or be seen in that white jaguar... though call. I think I'd take my chances with the lorry.

I picked a white one to demonstrate to the Audi fanbois that other cars are available in white also. I'd have a black XFR myself.

Anyway, the point I was making was that for the £40k starting price for the RS3, before you even add options like indicators, spark plugs and seats, gives a lot of choice for something better. I like hot hatches, I don't particularly like the RS3 (I think the front end looks like a dog's dinner I'm afraid) but one of the key points of a hot hatch has to be that it's affordable, and this just isn't.

The press and armchair/internet reviewers will compare it with the A45 AMG and M135i but at that sort of price it's up against far, far more capable, practical and attractive competition than those.

[iloveboost]

tomjol said:

Yeah, I'm always devastated that I can't induce oversteer on my boring drive to work down some boring urban roads.

Hehe. I've said this before but you can't drive on yours, or the cars, limit on the road if you're sane. Especially not urban roads with heavy traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, police, etc.

I think some people who buy cars like the RS3, instead of a regular A3, are like the bloke in that kitchen advert. He fantasizes about being the next Heston in his expensive new kitchen, but the reality is he occasionally cooks nuggets.

I guess 99% of customers clearly don't care, or even want, moderate understeer. With less of it VAG cars would be more fun on tracks, but it requires more skill to not crash. Even Lamborghini have caved in to their demand for safe handling.

[Dave Hedgehog]

iloveboost said:

tomjol said:

Yeah, I'm always devastated that I can't induce oversteer on my boring drive to work down some boring urban roads.

Hehe. I've said this before but you can't drive on yours, or the cars, limit on the road if you're sane. Especially not urban roads with heavy traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, police, etc.

I think some people who buy cars like the RS3, instead of a regular A3, are like the bloke in that kitchen advert. He fantasizes about being the next Heston in his expensive new kitchen, but the reality is he occasionally cooks nuggets.

I guess 99% of customers clearly don't care, or even want, moderate understeer. With less of it VAG cars would be more fun on tracks, but it requires more skill to not crash. Even Lamborghini have caved in to their demand for safe handling.

If you drove an RS3 to the limit to get understeer on the public road you would be looking at 2 years inside for dangerous driving at the speed you would be going at

All prestigious cars attract numpteys, look at the vid of the 2 BMW fanboys going at each other hammer and tongues in london recently

99% of customers know they are not professional racing drivers and are not driving on the ring, they also know the difference between a daily driver / all round do anything car and a weekend / track toy

[Clivey]

Dave Hedgehog said:

If you drove an RS3 to the limit to get understeer on the public road you would be looking at 2 years inside for dangerous driving at the speed you would be going at

To be fair, the same applies much further down the price scale. - Modern performance cars and tyres all have pretty high limit; even in our Mini on modest 205-section rubber, you have to be driving at licence-endangering speeds before it does anything other than grip hard.

Dave Hedgehog said:

All prestigious cars attract numpteys, look at the vid of the 2 BMW fanboys going at each other hammer and tongues in london recently

99% of customers know they are not professional racing drivers and are not driving on the ring, they also know the difference between a daily driver / all round do anything car and a weekend / track toy.

Be that as it may, I still expect manufacturers to put some effort in. - The last couple of Audis I drove didn't feel great at normal speeds, never mind when pushed further. Having said that, the Evo review of this new RS3 does seem more positive.