Tuesday 17th March 2009

Audi RS3 Could Get TT-RS Five Pot

340hp five-cylinder 'under consideration' for RS3

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Audi is considering putting the turbocharged five-cylinder unit from the TT-RS into the A3 hatchback, it has been reported. As yet there has been no RS3 but Audi seems keen to stretch the appeal of its top-line brand and this could include its smallest model.

Speaking with Dutch website Autovisie, Audi development boss Michael Dick said a new RS3 fitted with the five-cylinder turbocharged engine from the TT-RS was under serious consideration.

Output is expected to be the same 340hp and 332lb ft as the TT-RS, which could give the A3 sub-five second 0-60mph capability. However some reports suggest the engine would be de-tuned so as not to upset those who have shelled out £43,000 on the coupe.

Considering the S3 already costs almost £30K, though, the price of an RS3 would likely be in the region of £35K – making it one of the most expensive hatchbacks ever, bar a few homologation specials.

A five-cylinder for the car may be under consideration, according to Dick, but he gave no indication of whether an RS3 is confirmed.

[Matt_]

Nice idea and I'd love them to make it but on the other hand you'd be bonkers to buy one at the price they will no doubt want.

An S3 starts at 27k though, not 30k.

edit - you edited the article after I posted that...

Edited by Matt_ on Tuesday 17th March 13:18

[n4aat]

Put me down for one of those.

Plus a quick chip and fettle up to 400bhp.

Now your talking.

[mitch78]

We live in hope.

[AB]

Id want that power, and would want to spend than money on something a little more interesting than an A3. If I had £35k on a car, this wouldnt get a look in.

[Bizzle]

Michael Dick....

snigger.

[Cassius81]

Like the sound of this, but a year old one for about £25/28k...

Should be able to get the power down too (see Evo article this month which features a 400bhp S3)

[Oli S]

Matt_ said:

Nice idea and I'd love them to make it but on the other hand you'd be bonkers to buy one at the price they will no doubt want.

An S3 starts at 27k though, not 30k.

edit - you edited the article after I posted that...

Edited by Matt_ on Tuesday 17th March 13:18

No I didn't...

[snoggleberry]

It's too much money for a fast A3. I drive an A3 at the moment, £35,000 could get you so much more car

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Bizzle said:

Michael Dick....

snigger.

Or Micky Dick to his friends

[Spiritual_Beggar]

snoggleberry said:

It's too much money for a fast A3. I drive an A3 at the moment, £35,000 could get you so much more car

Quite a few people say its too much.


Answer this then;


What NEW car would you get for that price with similar performance or luxury?



Its easy to say £35k will get you 2nd hand M3, RS4, etc, but thats not comparing like for like now is it.



P.S.: Not having a pop , just curious as to what these 'other' cars are. Also, remember you paying a fair bit for the brand as well.

Edited by Spiritual_Beggar on Tuesday 17th March 14:51

[AstonV12]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

snoggleberry said:

It's too much money for a fast A3. I drive an A3 at the moment, £35,000 could get you so much more car

Quite a few people say its too much.


Answer this then;


What NEW car would you get for that price with similar performance or luxury?



Its easy to say £35k will get you 2nd hand M3, RS4, etc, but thats not comparing like for like now is it.



P.S.: Not having a pop , just curious as to what these 'other' cars are. Also, remember you paying a fair bit for the brand as well.

Edited by Spiritual_Beggar on Tuesday 17th March 14:51

Oh I dunno,

335i
Cayman
Boxster
Focus RS (10k saving)
Z4C


Thing is the Audi will be quick - but it'll also not be half the car those are (interior aside)
Just spanks of a parts bin special. IMHO

And why would you pay near as makes no difference of 40k for a car you can buy at 27k and remap to give similar performance.

I do like the sound of the 5 cylinder engine though...

[AstonV12]

...and also the second hand angle is 100% valid.

35k can get you into serious metal - make no mistake.

[nickfrog]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

What NEW car would you get for that price with similar performance or luxury?

BMW 135i M-Sport has a list price of £29,610. For that money you get RWD rather than front wheel drive + Haldex "fake Quattro", lower emmissions (I assume), a bit quicker (I assume), better equipped (I assume).
OK, lower traction (but more predictable and progressive).

£6K+ saving.

It renders the RS3 VERY expensive indeed.

[UncappedTag]

And you thought the RS was expensive! £35k on that, err how about no!

[Spiritual_Beggar]

AstonV12 said:

...and also the second hand angle is 100% valid.

35k can get you into serious metal - make no mistake.

Not really though, because you could say that about any new car that comes out!!!! £50-60K for a new M3 seems a lot when you could pick up 2nd hand Ferraris and Lambo's for that......see my point.

[BSC]

You would buy a RS3 as it's good british understatement, isn't it?

Delete on the option list all Halfords and MaxPower items and keep the Bentley as second car.

Edited by BSC on Tuesday 17th March 15:12

[AstonV12]

Audi are on a resurgence at the moment sales and image wise and good on them.

I just can't help thinking that underneath all that glitz and fetish-like styling, they are mostly an ordinary product. Bit like an i-pod really. IMHO

R8 and RS4 aside

[AstonV12]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

AstonV12 said:

...and also the second hand angle is 100% valid.

35k can get you into serious metal - make no mistake.

Not really though, because you could say that about any new car that comes out!!!! £50-60K for a new M3 seems a lot when you could pick up 2nd hand Ferraris and Lambo's for that......see my point.

True, but begs the question, why would you not buy a 5-10,000 mile example of, say, an E92 BMW M3 Merc C55AMG or even an Audi RS4 for that money?

I think most RS3's purchased would be nearer 45k with options, and OK that a whole world of cash which for a car in my eyes has nothing bespoke or special about it.

So if we're talking 45k, I feel the secondhand arguement is even more valid.

Edited by AstonV12 on Tuesday 17th March 15:16

Edited by AstonV12 on Tuesday 17th March 15:18

[btdk5]

AstonV12 said:

Audi are on a resurgence at the moment sales and image wise and good on them.

I just can't help thinking that underneath all that glitz and fetish-like styling, they are mostly an ordinary product. Bit like an i-pod really. IMHO

R8 and RS4 aside

Yeah in my opinion I think BMW are a bit too common these days I think audi seems a bit more special.

Not saying that BMW's arent nice cars at all but its nice to have something a bit different.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

[quote=AstonV12
True, but begs the question, why would you not buy a 5-10,000 mile example of, say, an E92 BMW M3 Merc C55AMG or even an Audi RS4 for that money?

I think most RS3's purchased would be nearer 45k with options, and OK that a whole world of cash which for a car in my eyes has nothing bespoke or special about it.

So if we're talking 45k, I feel the secondhand arguement is even more valid.

Edited by AstonV12 on Tuesday 17th March 15:16

Edited by AstonV12 on Tuesday 17th March 15:18

[/quote]

Thats true.

I personally would opt for the 2nd hand M3/RS4 myself, I just dont get it when people say "not at that price" and then don't compare like for like

Plus, those cars listed above......are 'similar' (theoretical) performance, and 'similar' luxury, and around the same price range new.

Though, I'd argue the Z4 and RS are similar luxury. Think the quality of the RS3 would be a little bit better than these two.