Audi S3 - does it get any better?

[marctwo]

I just have to say that I love my car. I am really struggling to think of anything else that delivers such a complete package.

• Well buit - 6 years old and still feels solid and smells new!

• Comfortable - leather and alcantara recaros, nice.

• Understated - doesn't shout but has presence.

• Good looking - well proportioned and enough to make it different to A3s but without looking bling.

• Practical - Ikea trips no problem.

• Easy to drive - MrsTwo has no issues.

• Safe - I think 10 airbags should be enough combined with stability control and four wheel drive.

• Fast(ish) - remapped to 270bhp / 280lbft 0-60 in about 6s.

• Economical - DIS reads 33.7mpg (long term) and managed over 400 miles on my last tank.

• Reliable - the only time in 4 years of ownership it has let me down was a flat battery.

I challange anyone to think of another car around the same price that delivers a better all round package.

[Fidgits]

I dunno...

Mine is great - it really is, I bought it as an 'in between car' after the porker sold, and have had it for something like 7/8 months, so it cant be that bad.

Yes its well built, 5 years old and 80k and it feels well screwed together...
Yes its comfy, though ride could be better.

MPG sucks somewhat, even when taking it easy - which i wouldnt mind if it was hugely fast, but I expected more from the 225bhp tbh..

Practicality.. erm, not really - the 4WD really does make the boot small, and the recaros are great, but kill rear leg room in an already small rear.


Dont get me wrong - its a great car - very competent - but yes, you can get much better cars

[marctwo]

Fidgits said:

MPG sucks somewhat, even when taking it easy - which i wouldnt mind if it was hugely fast, but I expected more from the 225bhp tbh..

What mpg are you getting? I agree that the standard 225 is not as quick as you might expect. Time for a remap I think.

Fidgits said:

Dont get me wrong - its a great car - very competent - but yes, you can get much better cars

So what are they then??

[Fidgits]

I get an average of 33MPG taking it easy on long Motorway runs... which is worse than my 911...

and it can go down to single figures if im having *fun*

Your right about the remap - but i really didnt want to do that..

[marctwo]

A 911 is a very nice car indeed but it costs twice as much and I would like to see you get 5 adults plus luggage into one.

I expect lots of people will reply with Leon Cupra R and Octavia vRS but neither one of these feels anything like a special as the S3 and they don't have the Haldex 4wd.

[mel]

Yes an S4, all of the points you make with the exception of fuel economy but then you do get the V8 soundtrack which makes it worth it.

Oh yes and will you feel as good about it when the cam belt goes? remember Audi originally said 120,000 then dropped it to 80,000 without telling us, mine went at 79,400 but was 2 months over the time slot (can't remember if it was 4 or 5 years now) so Audi washed their hands of it, get them done at 60,000 or less. Or get a V8 with a cam chain

[Fidgits]

marctwo said:

A 911 is a very nice car indeed but it costs twice as much and I would like to see you get 5 adults plus luggage into one.

I expect lots of people will reply with Leon Cupra R and Octavia vRS but neither one of these feels anything like a special as the S3 and they don't have the Haldex 4wd.

There is no way on earth I could get 5 adults and luggage into an S3 - I could certainly get more into an M3

I'm not knocking its a good car - i own one after all - its just not 'all that'

[Pooh]

Nice enough car but not as good as an Alfa GTV V6(according to a top gear magazine group test)

[marctwo]

Fidgits said:

There is no way on earth I could get 5 adults and luggage into an S3 - I could certainly get more into an M3

I guess I have small friends then!

Fidgits said:

I'm not knocking its a good car - i own one after all - its just not 'all that'

Don't get me wrong, this is not a 'my car is the best in the world' thread but I am genuinely impressed by it. Yes, there are better cars but they tend to be better in some areas and worse in others. The S3 just seems to be pretty good at everything.

If I had to fault it I would say that the ride was a little harsh, the engine sounds rubbish and it's expensive to service but everything else more than makes up for this.

[marctwo]

Pooh said:

Nice enough car but not as good as an Alfa GTV V6(according to a top gear magazine group test)

Isn't that a 2+2?

[UpTheIron]

marctwo said:

Fidgits said:

MPG sucks somewhat, even when taking it easy - which i wouldnt mind if it was hugely fast, but I expected more from the 225bhp tbh..

What mpg are you getting?

Do you both find the DIS accurate? Over the course of a tankful, if I reset the average first, I'll record around 32-34 Mpg, but a quick calculation at the pumps shows I normally get around 27-30mpg.

That's a mix of fast motorway and fast town driving, doing around 650 miles a week.

No gripes about the economy, but a bigger fuel tank would help!

I keep wondering what to replace it with, but not come up with anything yet...

[Pooh]

marctwo said:

Pooh said:

Nice enough car but not as good as an Alfa GTV V6(according to a top gear magazine group test)

Isn't that a 2+2?

Yes it is, so in terms of space they are not really comparable, I was wondering what reaction I would get, the thing about the TG test is true though.

[steebo888]

i had a 225 s3 and yes the extra weight from the 4wd does slow it down.
the leon 210/210 is faster. I also got left by a focus st. So a remap would have helped but not for the mpg

i cant say its faultless though as i had issues with the driver door dropping (setting off the door open sensor), plastic cubby lid breaking, front arb bushes going, sensors going, maf going, electric switches fading and so on. it had full audi service and was in mint condition as well.

it was a great car though but has a lot less room than the mk 4 golf i replaced it with which i do prefer

Edited by steebo888 on Monday 14th January 12:55

[LeoSayer]

'All round' for me generally means compromised and your priorities dictate what you're willing to accept.

It sound like you've found the perfect car for your needs marc, but I would not be willing to accept the rear legroom, boot space, rough sounding engine and manual gearbox found in an S3. So I bought an A6 Avant V6 Auto instead.

The only compromise is on fuel consumption.

[marctwo]

UpTheIron said:

Do you both find the DIS accurate? Over the course of a tankful, if I reset the average first, I'll record around 32-34 Mpg, but a quick calculation at the pumps shows I normally get around 27-30mpg.

That's a mix of fast motorway and fast town driving, doing around 650 miles a week.

No gripes about the economy, but a bigger fuel tank would help!

Yesterday I filled up with the DIS showing 15 miles to go and the trip showing 405 miles. Let's say I had another 5 miles left, that's 31mpg so the DIS probably over-reads by a couple of mpg but it's not bad.

UpTheIron said:

I keep wondering what to replace it with, but not come up with anything yet...

I've narrowed it down to a B6 S4 (V8), although petrol prices have me a little worried so am also considering a 3.0tdi A4 (remapped of course). Probably should look at an M3 or 335d but can't quite bring myself to consider a BMW.

[marctwo]

Pooh said:

marctwo said:

Pooh said:

Nice enough car but not as good as an Alfa GTV V6(according to a top gear magazine group test)

Isn't that a 2+2?

Yes it is, so in terms of space they are not really comparable, I was wondering what reaction I would get, the thing about the TG test is true though.

I believe you, and I looked at the GTV before buying the S3 as I really like the look of them and that V6 sounds but I wouldn't go to Ikea with one, not sure about reliability and have no idea what mpg to expect.

[steebo888]

DIS is about 10% out. it does not account for tyre pressure/type and tread left, road condition, weather etc.
for an accurate figure its better to work it out

Edited by steebo888 on Monday 14th January 13:07

[marctwo]

LeoSayer said:

'All round' for me generally means compromised and your priorities dictate what you're willing to accept.

It sound like you've found the perfect car for your needs marc, but I would not be willing to accept the rear legroom, boot space, rough sounding engine and manual gearbox found in an S3. So I bought an A6 Avant V6 Auto instead.

The only compromise is on fuel consumption.

I can't argue with any of that, I guess it's just 'right' for my needs.

[Pooh]

marctwo said:

Pooh said:

marctwo said:

Pooh said:

Nice enough car but not as good as an Alfa GTV V6(according to a top gear magazine group test)

Isn't that a 2+2?

Yes it is, so in terms of space they are not really comparable, I was wondering what reaction I would get, the thing about the TG test is true though.

I believe you, and I looked at the GTV before buying the S3 as I really like the look of them and that V6 sounds but I wouldn't go to Ikea with one, not sure about reliability and have no idea what mpg to expect.

If you ditch the spare wheel, the boot is not too bad and the back seats come in handy(not what I would choose for a trip to Ikea though), the engine is fantastic but I never check the mpg so I don't kow but I guess 25mpg ish.
Mine has done 93k miles and is mechanically and bodily superb but I have had the odd niggle such as the (crap Bosch)airflow meter, some suspension bushes and a window motor. So to me the reliability is not too bad.

[Dr G]

I love the days I get to play with S3s - was thinking the same thing recently and can' thing of anything else that offers such a well rounded package.