RE: Audi S3

[stigcv8]

for 20k you could also be looking at a 350z or a Monaro (coincidentally owned both so I am bias)

What does 20k give you with these over the cupra etc? RWD and driveable power. OK one is a 2 seater but the other is a huge v8 4 seater with almost limitless tuning potential for mucho cheapness.

[normski]

All of you people knocking the S3 must now realise five months on that you are full of it, too much opinion as usual on something that none of you know much about.

I have owned several scoobies, and EVO 8, a Mk4 and a Mk5 R32.

I recently decided to put a few of these through their paces when looking for a new car that I can still get the kids in for £30 with 4wd.

For me, out of scoobie STI, FQ Evo's, R32 and couple of other motors, I have picked the S3, with no bias to Audi at all.

1. The car can be remapped for £500 to 300+bhp (mine has as have numerous others).
2. It has a modified haldex as standard with60/40 drive in favour of the rear, and I tell you it drives like the rears are driven more than the front. The grip is phenominal.

I have been lucky enough that my Mrs kept the R32, so me, my mate with his FQ320 and the R32 went to the track....the R32 was way slower and the Audi and the FQ were neck and neck, within .2 either way with no definite winner. Both my mate and I agree that the S3 handles better than his Evo, and to drive around in it is a different class.

If you want everyone to look at you, then get an Evo or the nastier scoobie, but if you want to go slightly more unnoticed, with great residuals get an S3.

[Mr Whippy]

normski said:

so me, my mate with his FQ320 and the R32 went to the track....the R32 was way slower and the Audi and the FQ were neck and neck, within .2 either way with no definite winner.

Yep, them S3's are damn fine handling cars, another £500 on an exhaust and K&N will see another 50bhp and be blowing those Evo's into the weeds!

Dave

[ScoobieWRX]

S3 Handles better than Evo

[Checkitoot]

ScoobieWRX said:

S3 Handles better than Evo

still looks like a ford ST rip off too

[drybeer]

Mr Whippy said:

Audi looked like they had the right idea with the new RS4, revs, NA power, rear-biased torque.

Why didn't they throw the 3.2 into the S3, rather than another beautifully dull 2.0 turbo...

Dave

Sadly the problem is that the 3.2 is VERY heavy, and has a higher centre of gravity - so the handling is shit in a 3.2 Golf or A3 IN COMPARISON to a 2.0T before anyone complains!!!

The higher punch of the 4 cyl turbo and the weight influenced the choice of engine...

This was also the case with the TT quattro Sport with a tuned 1.8T at an official 240ps...

That being said, I believe the engine can be cheaply chipped to get up to 300bhp on the new S3...

Just not sure you would need to - it's already fast, and trust me the handling is already good.

Drive it yourself before making a judgemet, and remember that it's one thing saying an Evo would be a better driving car, but quite another to say it's a car you would rather own as your ONE car to use every day!!

[Mr Whippy]

drybeer said:

Mr Whippy said:

Audi looked like they had the right idea with the new RS4, revs, NA power, rear-biased torque.

Why didn't they throw the 3.2 into the S3, rather than another beautifully dull 2.0 turbo...

Dave

Sadly the problem is that the 3.2 is VERY heavy, and has a higher centre of gravity - so the handling is shit in a 3.2 Golf or A3 IN COMPARISON to a 2.0T before anyone complains!!!

The higher punch of the 4 cyl turbo and the weight influenced the choice of engine...

This was also the case with the TT quattro Sport with a tuned 1.8T at an official 240ps...

That being said, I believe the engine can be cheaply chipped to get up to 300bhp on the new S3...

Just not sure you would need to - it's already fast, and trust me the handling is already good.

Drive it yourself before making a judgemet, and remember that it's one thing saying an Evo would be a better driving car, but quite another to say it's a car you would rather own as your ONE car to use every day!!

But it's still a laggy turbo delivery bland engine with no interesting sound.

If the V6 is that heavy, make a bloody lighter one!

And it's not like the S3 is about light car handling either anyway. It's huge and heavy to start with!

Dave

[pentoman]

Mr Whippy said:

If the V6 is that heavy, make a bloody lighter one!

Like BMW or the Japanese would!

[dave_hedgehog]

Seams alot for the S3 but is it? What alternatives are there, very few.

First of lets loose the sports car nonsense unless your driving a R500, exige, ariel atom etc your car is compromised, its just a matter of how much sportyness you are willing to loose for other considerations

Im looking for a fast car that can seat 4, has a decent boot, good on long trips, lots of toys for around 30 grand and i dont want it wheelspining everytime i pull away or go round a corner on the 190avg damp days a year we have.

So all the fast FWD hot hatch cars are out, got a CTR atm and i hate the way you have to use the throttle like a pussy in damp conditions compared to my STi PPP that it replaced.

Scoobys and EVOs are out, EVOs are just to hardcore for everyday transport, Scoobys are better on UK roads but still tiring on long drives but either way you look a plonker in them with there plastic fantastic body kits so there out.

1 series BMW is out since its got ZERO boot and rear leg room.

So that left me with the Golf R32 DSG, great space, good on long distance, great in london (no riding the clutch) looks discrete, all the toys i want it seams perfect so i ordered one and it arrives end 04/2007

HOWEVER im not taking it and im gonna blow my deposit and buy the S3 instead

why??? because its VED band F and the Golf is a G. VED band G is the kiss of death for cars that dont cost 60 grand+

£400 tax next year, then what 500..600 £1000?? whose gonna buy a 5 year old car for 10k that costs £500+ to tax each year

then theres the big kill, our best pal Mayor Ken, hes introducing £25 per day charge for band Gs thats an extra £6,500 per year in tax on top of the £500

Band Gs are dead and suddenly if you want a quality sporty car for under 30k that wont wheel spin all the time (the new haldex works very well) the S3 has suddenly become a bargin.

Dave

[macg]

dave_hedgehog said:

HOWEVER im not taking it and im gonna blow my deposit and buy the S3 instead

A reasonable dealer might not insist that you lose your deposit. If they can shift it or run it as a demo they should give the cash back. Mind you, this is a VW dealer we are talking about. Best of luck and good choice - my S3 arrives in May/June.

[figbat]

dave_hedgehog said:

1 series BMW is out since its got ZERO boot and rear leg room.

Rubbish. When I was test driving cars last summer I had an A3 Sportback and a 1-Series back-to-back for a few days each. There's nothing in it in terms of boot space - the Audi's is a touch wider but the BMW has load lashing points and a restraining net which I was surprised to see wasn't available in the Audi. I have had a MTB in the back of both, no problems (front wheel off).

Rear seating is pretty much the same - the much-vaunted cramped seating in the back of the BMW is really not that bad, and no worse than the A3 s/b. Of course this is an S3 thread, so the 3-door only, which will be less practical than the 5-door 1er in bootspace and rear seat access.

The S3 wasn't launched when I chose my car, so I tested the 3.2 DSG (over-hyped gearbox, lazy, characterless engine). I bought the BMW (awesome engine). I might have had the S3 on my shortlist if it was available but was really looking at 5-doors. Would be really interested in a S3 Sportback though.

[McNab]

Well, Autocar said:

"But as a performance car for the real world it has a huge range of appeal. It’s fast, handles way better than we expected, looks good in a subtle kind of way and oozes desirability from every corner. All in all, we reckon it could be the best car Audi has ever made."

http://www.autocarmagazine.com/CarReviews/RoadTest...



A bit pricey, but exactly what I want - not flash - quick enough - great on twisty roads. Test drive in a few days time, and I'll be surprised if I don't order one. I never rely on Autocar 100% but when they give a car four-and-a-half stars they're usually right.

[Lordsmut]

I tested one a while back with the idea of replacing my 330ci. I found that the interior was no where near as nice as mine and the driving position wasnt as good even after fiddling with the seat positions, I found it was just too high. The power delivery wasn't very nice and the steering felt a tad light too. After I specced one up with some decent options it was pushing £30K. I've seen sense and am now going to bag a M3. Plus those wing mirrors, awful unless you have a silver car. Well at least they are not chromed

[JENNY7000]

S3 Is far better than any of the competition by far, you can over take FORD focus ST'S Like they are stood still and i hit 155mph on a very short peice of road nearly every day, Also i raced a New BMW M3 up to 110mph and there was nothing in it, i have owned evos and a a TT 3.2 and the 3.2 engine feels dead compared to the 262bhp of the S3, It mite cost 27k but when you drive the compertition its worth the extra cash easy!

ps, do not buy a Golf GTI!!!!! I had one for 3 months waiting for my S3 and it were really slow!!!! my mate could pass me in his old 100k 306 gti 6 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haha

[rs4lover]

You cant even compare a Focus ST to an Audi S3.Audi is just in a different league.Put it this way in 10 years the Ford will sound like a bag of spanners (as do most Fords-i have even heard new ones sounding very tired),and the Audi will most likely sound as sweet as ever. Oh and IMO ill have the S4 over M3 anyday.Each to their own though

Edited by rs4lover on Tuesday 13th November 16:25

[stigmundfreud]

rs4lover said:

You cant even compare a Focus ST to an Audi S3.Audi is just in a different league.Put it this way in 10 years the Ford will sound like a bag of spanners (as do most Fords-i have even heard new ones sounding very tired),and the Audi will most likely sound as sweet as ever. Oh and IMO ill have the S4 over M3 anyday.Each to their own though

Edited by rs4lover on Tuesday 13th November 16:25

of course, with a name like that we expect nothing but 100% unbias

[D1MAC]

JENNY7000 said:

S3 Is far better than any of the competition by far, you can over take FORD focus ST'S Like they are stood still and i hit 155mph on a very short peice of road nearly every day, Also i raced a New BMW M3 up to 110mph and there was nothing in it, i have owned evos and a a TT 3.2 and the 3.2 engine feels dead compared to the 262bhp of the S3, It mite cost 27k but when you drive the compertition its worth the extra cash easy!

ps, do not buy a Golf GTI!!!!! I had one for 3 months waiting for my S3 and it were really slow!!!! my mate could pass me in his old 100k 306 gti 6 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haha

That would be the 414ps M3 that's probably 4-5 seconds quicker to 110mph
As for the ST - I would suggest that one that has seen a few hundred quids worth of tuning would be just as quick from a rolling start.

Finally, if you hit 155mph on a UK road with any regularity and spend your time racing everything and anything that dares to be in the same ballpark as your precious S3 then you're a prize pk with serious little dick syndrome.
Or maybe school had finished for the day?

Edited by D1MAC on Tuesday 13th November 18:18

[rs4lover]

stigmundfreud said:

rs4lover said:

You cant even compare a Focus ST to an Audi S3.Audi is just in a different league.Put it this way in 10 years the Ford will sound like a bag of spanners (as do most Fords-i have even heard new ones sounding very tired),and the Audi will most likely sound as sweet as ever. Oh and IMO ill have the S4 over M3 anyday.Each to their own though

Edited by rs4lover on Tuesday 13th November 16:25

of course, with a name like that we expect nothing but 100% unbias

Surely the name is suggesting that i do very much appreciate what is known as the RS4.Now im entitled to my opinion as much as you.Ill stick with what i said above,Thanks.

Edited by rs4lover on Tuesday 13th November 19:13

[AsianMpower]

rs4lover said:

You cant even compare a Focus ST to an Audi S3.Audi is just in a different league.Put it this way in 10 years the Ford will sound like a bag of spanners (as do most Fords-i have even heard new ones sounding very tired),and the Audi will most likely sound as sweet as ever. Oh and IMO ill have the S4 over M3 anyday.Each to their own though

Edited by rs4lover on Tuesday 13th November 16:25

Do you live in Germany?
Focus ST engine is probably the most robust engine ever to be placed in a ford car due to the fact it has come from a volvo. 2.5 5 cylinder and 5pot warble sound is 100 times better and than any 2.0t fsi engine that sounds like a diesel when it isn't moving!
As for comparing these 2 cars together in terms of quality, performance, all journalist have group tested these 2 carry, as for reliability just look at the previous gen s3 which was plagued with problems like the haldex, coil paks, mafs! no ford in the last 10 years have been this unreliable! and as for audis sound sweet as ever both s3 old and new sound like diesel engines! you probably have never owned any to know this!

[Mr Whippy]

AsianMpower said:

rs4lover said:

You cant even compare a Focus ST to an Audi S3.Audi is just in a different league.Put it this way in 10 years the Ford will sound like a bag of spanners (as do most Fords-i have even heard new ones sounding very tired),and the Audi will most likely sound as sweet as ever. Oh and IMO ill have the S4 over M3 anyday.Each to their own though

Edited by rs4lover on Tuesday 13th November 16:25

Do you live in Germany?
Focus ST engine is probably the most robust engine ever to be placed in a ford car due to the fact it has come from a volvo. 2.5 5 cylinder and 5pot warble sound is 100 times better and than any 2.0t fsi engine that sounds like a diesel when it isn't moving!
As for comparing these 2 cars together in terms of quality, performance, all journalist have group tested these 2 carry, as for reliability just look at the previous gen s3 which was plagued with problems like the haldex, coil paks, mafs! no ford in the last 10 years have been this unreliable! and as for audis sound sweet as ever both s3 old and new sound like diesel engines! you probably have never owned any to know this!

Not been in the new S3, but sampled a 250bhp+ TFSI lump, and the older 1.8T, imho, has the measure of the new one on character. Yes it's more laggy, less smooth, and hardly a good sound, but it oozes character in comparison. It's kinda put me off the TFSI 2.0 as an engine for use in an aspirational car at least.

Dave