RE: Audi RS3: Review

[IndyH]

The updated A45 AMG will be with us at some point this year, will make sense to compare the two directly.

[Clivey]

Matt Bird said:

...where the Audi seems to have a comfort zone around seven tenths.

[M030ef00]

GravelMachineGun said:

For that price is there a better all rounder?
Seems like a beast of a car.

• cough* STi/EliseS1

[Vanarian]

I've already seen two people post this before but I will oblige:

We need to see how the RS3 will stack against the new Ford Focus RS! The latter car is gunned at both the Audi RS3 and Mercedes A45 AMG yet they finally got a real "rear biased " AWD into the equation. Plus I would really be surprised if the RS comes anywhere close to the 1600kg figure of the RS3. Holy jesus this is HEAVY for a hatchback! Where has gone the time when car manufacturers were aiming for less than 1000kg or as close as possible to this much? A Lancer Evo 9 with all its AWD and tri-body style and big wing and still 18" doesn't weight 1600kg.
A Galant VR4 V6 twin turbo is more around the same figures, and heh you have a 6 not a 5 bangers...

Anyway!

While I find the RS a bit on the sleeper side, I just get reminded by the RS3 that most hatches these days do the same job.er Just look like family cars with little cosmetic aero parts to say "Hey I am a sport car !"

I'd like to see more wildness ! Designers know how to make it, they got wild little cars out in the streets before. I guess aftermarket will help make them a bit more muscular if needed. Ah please nothing like the upcoming Civic type R. This car looks wild but it is too much.


Now having driven too many cars from every range to count, including Audis and Ford, you can be sure that the Audi 's interior counts as one of the hardest cockpit to beat.
I'm not just talking about finish, more about overall design and practical access. Yet Suzuki Swift interior for example has been the best ergonomic design I've ever seen since 2012. So it is not just about materials and finish, it is about ambiance and ergonomic design.
Ford has gone miles ahead of the stty Fiesta with their Focus but still are somewhat pale in comparison to the new A3. I want to see how much difference there will be with the RS.

Hope that the Ford will prove to be a way better driver car then !

Because in the end, be it sleeper or not this RS3 is pretty. Just too "ordinary".

[WhiteAMG45]

Matt Bird said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

How does the RS3's ride / suspension feedback compare to the A45 AMG?

A45 is more rewarding when flat out, the damping is quite tough at low speeds but gives it incredible composure at higher speed. It feels better the harder you push where the Audi seems to have a comfort zone around seven tenths. Neither is exactly supple around town but I think the RS3 probably edges it. Comparing the two will of course provide more answers and it should be quite fun too! I suspect the RS3 would be a nicer everyday proposition with the A45 as a more enjoyable car to drive.


Matt

I will be interested with this there is going to be revised A45 this year I think June or July time.

You will have fun

[markwm]

gregf40 said:

God I hate those wheels. The RS6 wheels are so much nicer...they really let the car down IMO.

Totally agree with this, the car looks so bland on them wheels. The RS6 wheels used on the sport quattro look miles better.

Also, 4.3seconds to 60 in a A3 is mental. Where are manufacturers going with all these times? Next RS3 will be sub 3 seconds.

[Ali_T]

dogzilla said:

It's all about selling as many cars as possible and that means solid dependable usable peformance, that's what Audi means now.

You mean really fast on a motorway and tediously dull on a B road? About sums up recent Audis for me.

[ubbs]

1595kg? I'm sure that's how much the old one weighed, thought this one was 30kgs lighter
Ubbs

Edited by ubbs on Wednesday 15th April 20:27

[Ali_T]

Vanarian said:

I've already seen two people post this before but I will oblige:

We need to see how the RS3 will stack against the new Ford Focus RS! The latter car is gunned at both the Audi RS3 and Mercedes A45 AMG yet they finally got a real "rear biased " AWD into the equation. Plus I would really be surprised if the RS comes anywhere close to the 1600kg figure of the RS3. Holy jesus this is HEAVY for a hatchback! Where has gone the time when car manufacturers were aiming for less than 1000kg or as close as possible to this much? A Lancer Evo 9 with all its AWD and tri-body style and big wing and still 18" doesn't weight 1600kg.
A Galant VR4 V6 twin turbo is more around the same figures, and heh you have a 6 not a 5 bangers...

Anyway!

While I find the RS a bit on the sleeper side, I just get reminded by the RS3 that most hatches these days do the same job.er Just look like family cars with little cosmetic aero parts to say "Hey I am a sport car !"

I'd like to see more wildness ! Designers know how to make it, they got wild little cars out in the streets before. I guess aftermarket will help make them a bit more muscular if needed. Ah please nothing like the upcoming Civic type R. This car looks wild but it is too much.


Now having driven too many cars from every range to count, including Audis and Ford, you can be sure that the Audi 's interior counts as one of the hardest cockpit to beat.
I'm not just talking about finish, more about overall design and practical access. Yet Suzuki Swift interior for example has been the best ergonomic design I've ever seen since 2012. So it is not just about materials and finish, it is about ambiance and ergonomic design.
Ford has gone miles ahead of the stty Fiesta with their Focus but still are somewhat pale in comparison to the new A3. I want to see how much difference there will be with the RS.

Hope that the Ford will prove to be a way better driver car then !

Because in the end, be it sleeper or not this RS3 is pretty. Just too "ordinary".

I suspect, rather strongly, that the FRS will be the cat amongst the pigeons. It's been unofficially confirmed that Mountune will also be providing upgrades with 400bhp being mentioned in some circles. And I suspect that will still be for less than £35k all in. Does it have the build quality of the Audi? Who cares?

[hufggfg]

dogzilla said:

lasvegas1966 said:

sad, nobody said there wasn't more to life. nobody mentioned traffic lights but you. target customer? yeah, ones that like to spend decent money on decent cars. not sad small minded individuals who talk alot about alot, but drive 5 cars in their little lives. while you are dreaming, i'm out driving

Haha well said feller. These days pistonheads is like a grown up, geekier, sadder, neckbearded version of Motor Top Trumps where people with little experience battle it out on the internet for who has the most car knowledge. It's pretty sad really.

People who aren't so far up their own arses understand that not every car is for everybody, stereotyping people for their car choices is schoolboy behaviour and nothing more.

Guys, think you're missing the point here... he said you were the target customer for a car which you bought! I have no idea how you could find that insulting.

I know none of the people here, and sure you're all great blokes in the pub, but you seem to be trying to defend what you like by having to be offensive to others.

You like the cars you buy, that's cool. They won't be for everyone, and it's ok for us to discuss why we all like different things!

[Ali_T]

ubbs said:

1595kg? I'm sure that's how much the old one weighed, thought this one was 300kgs lighter
Ubbs

Think it was 30kg lighter. Still less than my Evo X with SST box which was 1650kg IIRC, but still a fat pile of lard compared to most!

[SteveS Cup]

I think it's a shame these do not come in a 3 door or Saloon option. 5 door hatches really don't tickle my pickle.

[Captainawesome]

Ali_T said:

dogzilla said:

It's all about selling as many cars as possible and that means solid dependable usable peformance, that's what Audi means now.

You mean really fast on a motorway and tediously dull on a B road? About sums up recent Audis for me.

My daily is a tuned E46 M3 and my wife drives a standard S3. I happen to live in the north-west of Scotland, which just happens to have some amazing roads.I'll happily drive either of them because, although they drive very differently, they are both great fun, just in different ways. To all you people saying that this will be a boring car to drive....I say you are fools. It's got 4wd, nearly 400bhp and apparently a cracking soundtrack FFS. If you can't have fun in that then your soul is dead.

Just because it's not trying to kill you all the time doesn't make it boring.

Haters gonna hate every Audi. ;D

[nickfrog]

Clivey said:

Matt Bird said:

...where the Audi seems to have a comfort zone around seven tenths.

Classic.

[iloveboost]

Clivey said:

This is a terrible GIF in so many ways, but it made me chuckle so thanks for that.
What I find amazing is that a car with a a great technical specification and 255 tyres (I had to read this twice, as I think this is the size many 3 series BMWS have on the back?!) still has a disappointing chassis. The slight weight disadvantage of the five cylinder must have had a really bad effect. I mean the Golf R and Audi S3 are said by many to be good AWD hot hatches, despite being cut from the same cloth.

[nickfrog]

It's not so much the extra weight, it's mainly because it's ahead of the front axle to make way for the stuff that drives the front wheels. Bloody laws of physics.

[F1GTRUeno]

Question is, if this is yet another Audi devoid of steering feel, how do their engineers not see it?

Or at they just aiming for a specific set of things and steering feel just isn't on the agenda?

How can they get it so right (going off reviews) with the B7 RS4 and then fail with literally every other car they do?

[ephemera]

Regarding wider tires front/rear, Citroen CX.

[Maldini35]

M030ef00 said:

GravelMachineGun said:

For that price is there a better all rounder?
Seems like a beast of a car.

• cough* STi/EliseS1

'Is there a better all rounder?' and the comeback is x2 used cars.

No further questions your honour.

[Numeric]

And I'm old enough to remember being wowed by the Mk 2 Golf GTI with the 136hp 16 valve engine!!!

Yeee Gods

One thing - I used to get lent a 20v quattro sometimes - loved everything about it, so I do ponder why this is not the auromatic default choice such a long time later!