New Audi S3

[jsc15]

There's a massive thread for the Golf R but nothing meaningful for the new-model S3 that I can find. I bought one in June, have done over 4k in it now, and looking to see if any other PH'ers out there with one and feedback/comments.

I got one which was just going into factory pre-build, so only had to wait about 3 or 4 weeks for it. Will try and get some pics up here too.

Spec is:
3 Door with S-Tronic
Misano Red
Bang & Olufsen
Bi-Colour alloys
Black pack
Cruise Control (so far unused)
Alcantara/Leather

Likes:
Solid feeling and totally reliable (so far), although I'd had 2 Alfa Breras before this. The Alfa's were better than popular opinion would have you think but had numerous small issues that dented confidence
Overtakes with amazing ease, although is going to get me a speeding ticket very soon, as the speed creeps up effortlessly
Still fairly rare on the roads. Have seen a couple of white and grey examples, but no other red ones so far.
Quattro helps a lot although yet to drive it in snow, and I'm too old to hoon it around retail parks
When used in Efficiency mode I can get 33 mpg, with Dynamic mode it's more like 30 mpg, as Efficiency allows coasting in neutral
Forecast to hold it's value fairly well (final value/payment on PCP is nearly £18k against total cost of £34k, although based on prices of the previous model I'm hoping value after 3 yrs will be £20k+)

Dislikes:
Power steering seems a bit noisy, especially when reversing round corners, when it whines loudly. Will get this checked out at first service
Not convinced the B&O is as "premium" as you'd hope
CD player is a fiddly thing to get to in the glove box, and would prefer if the satnav/entertainment screen could be manually stopped from appearing on ignition.
Plastic on inside of door seems to have blotches as though it's been stressed when moulded. It goes away if wiped down but then returns. Will get this checked out too.
Quad exhausts get noticeably dirty on only 1 tailpipe on each side, which can look a bit daft

Overall, I'm still very happy with it although could easily have dropped the Cruise Control, B&O, and kept the standard alloys....and opted for the Pano roof instead. Planning to keep it the full 3+ years.

Edited by jsc15 on Monday 13th October 01:55

[MrPaulo]

This is a very timely post.

I am looking at going into my local Audi dealer this weekend and placing an order for an S3.

What sort of discount might I expect just walking off the street and placing an order then and there?

[whp1983]

I love mine...but no so rare where I live! I don't miss my old E92 M3 at all (well maybe the noise if I'm honest).

I find handling of S3 superb, I really enjoy the B&O stereo. The only thing I prob wouldn't spec again was the crystal black paint, which looks awesome in perfect bright sunlight which flecks of purple running through but the rest of the time it is just a glossy black.

Now the weather is turning I'm enjoying 4wd immensely.

Overall a great car and the more I drive the more I love everything about it

[roddyp]

MrPaulo said:

What sort of discount might I expect just walking off the street and placing an order then and there?

About 10% from a broker, so that's what you should aim for.

[Flibble]

MrPaulo said:

What sort of discount might I expect just walking off the street and placing an order then and there?

Check a few brokers, find the best price, get them to match it (or within a few hundred quid).

As for the car, I like mine. It's fast but doesn't feel as fast as you'd think - there's no sudden wallop of acceleration when you boot it for instance, but then you realise you're going much faster than expected. Never use efficiency, it seems to make little difference. Dynamic all the way for me.

Inner two tailpipes do soot up more quickly than the outer two as noted which is due to the way the exhaust system works.

Not got B&O, I find the cheaper Audi sound upgrade fine for my needs. Can't say I've noticed the power steering noise either.

I have cruise control, it works. A lot of people rave about the adaptive version, seems to be worth it if you do a lot of motorway miles at busy times.

[roddyp]

My OH has had a year-old 3-door for a couple of months. Ex-VAG UK car : Manual with tech pack (and parking sensors ).

The good: Performance, traction, handling, interior quality, great seats.

The bad : We had a post-cat lambda sensor fail in the first day of ownership. Took nearly three weeks for the correct replacement to become available.

The so-so: Tailpipes do soot up differently, which makes it look like the outer two are dummies (they aren't, AFAIK - And they need an almost weekly clean). Despite getting the seating position spot-on, the keys always brush against my my knee annoyingly. And as a Q-car fan, the four tailpipes are just too obvious. First-world problems...

[Rythmic slapping]

As above a very timely topic - been in to my local Notts dealer a few times looking first at the S4 / S5 and then being very impressed with the S3 in the showroom.

Specc'd up to what I would want it was in the low £38k's I then tried a broker - Carwow (many others are available ) and the quote came back from Audi Coventry at around £4k off - the broker has very good reviews and is someone early next year I will get in touch with and see what deals they can do on March / Feb time.

As a poster above says - take the quote from a broker and see what the local dealer will do - if they are thousands apart then walk away - but if its a few hundred quid I would rather stay local.

Some good reviews on youtube on the S3.

[...Mole...]

I've had mine for 7 months now and put 11k miles on it, very usable as a daily driver.
Havent had any issues with it at all and hopefully it continues that way.



Should be able to get decent discounts on them now I managed 8.5% or near enough when I ordered
mine back in October 2013.

Edited by ...Mole... on Tuesday 14th October 15:06

[MrPaulo]

I am going to approach my local Audi dealer and go for 5% off. I have done some research and 8% looks quite possible using a broker but everyone needs to make some margin and I’d rather buy local if possible.

[andrewparker]

This is Audi mate, they're not a charity! If you can get 10% go for it - otherwise you could pay £1500+ more than you need to.

[roddyp]

MrPaulo said:

I am going to approach my local Audi dealer and go for 5% off. I have done some research and 8% looks quite possible using a broker but everyone needs to make some margin and I’d rather buy local if possible.

Brokers (and Dealers) aren't charities. Both make money when you buy through a broker. Start by offering same price as a broker and let them try and move it upwards. And don't forget : Same discount rate on all options!

(If you really don't enjoy haggling, do a deal over the phone once you've seen the car.)

[Little Lofty]

MrPaulo said:

I am going to approach my local Audi dealer and go for 5% off. I have done some research and 8% looks quite possible using a broker but everyone needs to make some margin and I’d rather buy local if possible.

My local Audi dealer always matched the Drive The Deal price and more recently my VW dealer matched their price on a Golf R, no harm in asking, the money is better in your bank than theirs.

[M1keH]

I went from two Leon Cupras to an S3 in July (was ordered April), and have not been disappointed.

I went through the local dealer and ended up with a deal around 6%.

A few positive points:

• The interior is a nice place to be, and the Mono.pur, black inlays, privacy glass and lighting pack all add to this
• Driveability – Doesn’t need to be ‘driven’ in the same way as the Cupra’s. Far more refined, less thrashy and almost drives itself – which is what comes from greater power and torque band
• Handling – no complaints here – it goes where it’s pointed. Much more fun than then Cupra’s, doesn’t need to be worked as hard, and surpisingly similar to OH’s A1 in this regard.
• The low road tax band. (The DVLA refund of 8 months from the last Cupra will pay for the S3 for a year)!

The only negative:

• I have a slight ‘clunk’ from the drivers door area. This only occurs on certain lumps and bumps and is not triggered by generally uneven or rutted road surfaces. It's been back to the dealer once, and whilst initially sorted has now returned

Otherwise, yes I like the car, a lot.

Edited by M1keH on Wednesday 15th October 12:26

[CraigV6]

I'm not a fan. Will have owned for just under a year when I trade it in.

Haldex system is poor - too easy to make understeer. Steering is lifeless (very Audi) and the seating position is too high. Better off with a FWD with a decent suspension and diff set up.
There are better driving cars out there with less power for less money, but likely quicker A to B too.

All depends on what you want out of it really, but it isn't for me, doesn't really excite in any way.
As a daily runner it's not all bad provided you have something exciting to run alongside it. At the moment I'm not running a second car so don't have that luxury.

There are things I do like : I think it looks good (certainly better than a Golf R), is well built and B&O is definitely worthwhile.

[CraigV6]

I'm not a fan. Will have owned for just under a year when I trade it in.

Haldex system is poor - too easy to make understeer. Steering is lifeless (very Audi) and the seating position is too high. Better off with a FWD with a decent suspension and diff set up.
There are better driving cars out there with less power for less money, but likely quicker A to B too.

All depends on what you want out of it really, but it isn't for me, doesn't really excite in any way.
As a daily runner it's not all bad provided you have something exciting to run alongside it. At the moment I'm not running a second car so don't have that luxury.

There are things I do like : I think it looks good (certainly better than a Golf R), is well built and B&O is definitely worthwhile.

Edited by CraigV6 on Wednesday 15th October 17:51

[Flibble]

M1keH said:

• I have a slight ‘clunk’ from the drivers door area. This only occurs on certain lumps and bumps and is not triggered by generally uneven or rutted road surfaces. It's been back to the dealer once, and whilst initially sorted has now returned

Mine does that in the wet; it's the seal between the window and the door. You can get some goop stuff off ebay to sort the seal out for a few quid, need to get round to doing mine really.

[SuperchargedVR6]

CraigV6 said:

Haldex system is poor - too easy to make understeer. Steering is lifeless (very Audi) and the seating position is too high. Better off with a FWD with a decent suspension and diff set up.
There are better driving cars out there with less power for less money, but likely quicker A to B too.

Agree with all of that. The newer Haldex (and indeed the older one with the sport module) is throttle pedal position governed, so if you give it some beans on the apex to try and get some rear wheel action (it will never do that anyway), the rear axle just pushes the nose wide. Pointless.

Haldex in the UK is useful for just one thing: traffic light grand prix in the wet. It's no Evo or Subaru in the snow either, which most people seem to expect.

The MK5 GTI Edition 30 is exactly the FWD you speak of. That car is 90% of a Golf R / S3, but people just want the kudos of a newer model, even it does mean renting it.

[discodeek]

awaiting delivery of mine also- Hatchback version.

test drove the sportback and found it a very capable car, good power, handled well looks nice.


due in 3 weeks

[RammyMP]

How firm is the ride? I find the previous shape S3 too harsh but I have a feeling I might be ordering one in the next couple of months...

[Flibble]

Less harsh than the previous model.