RE: Audi unveils its new S3
Discussion
Reading all the comments is making me feel old and boring.
Ive a 61 plate S3, owned from new, with flappy paddles, perfect for someone like me who needs an auto.
Apart from the terrible fuel mpg, think 20-22 mpg, then I bloody love it, in a lot of ways more so than the R35 GTR i had before .
Its comfortable, lots of toys and gadgets to play with,and plenty quick enough for my needs.
Im liking the look of the new model, and will be taking a look when this ones due for a change next yr.
Ive a 61 plate S3, owned from new, with flappy paddles, perfect for someone like me who needs an auto.
Apart from the terrible fuel mpg, think 20-22 mpg, then I bloody love it, in a lot of ways more so than the R35 GTR i had before .
Its comfortable, lots of toys and gadgets to play with,and plenty quick enough for my needs.
Im liking the look of the new model, and will be taking a look when this ones due for a change next yr.
the-photographer said:
blackchrome917 said:
I'd put my money on a new Mercedes A class - "Engineered by AMG". The BMW 1 is too ugly and the Audi too much like the previous one.
Yes its coming soon, the new A-class AMG350PS
450NM
2.0T
4WD
Having poured over it at Geneva the build quality wasn't great. Ugly exposed welds, tinnie hard plastic on the B pillars, 80's nightclub glitterball front grille. The tiny rear windows and high waistline made sitting in the rear seats feel horribly claustraphobic. You wouldn't want to be in there for a long journey.
Worst of all it looks like they have blu-tacked a snide ipad onto the dash. Seriously, it looks awful a total after thought.
The whole thing looked built to a price. Not a terrible car perhaps but "the best or nothing" - I don't think so.
Maldini35 said:
RS3 dull? really? Have you ever driven one? Be honest now.
If you have driven it you can't have really spanked it.
From personal experience I can safely say it was not a dull car. The engine was a peach, made a lovely 5 pot burble with accompanying turbo whooshes and bangs and with 340bhp it had insane accelleration. There is more to life than 0-60 times I grant you, but 4.5 seconds is genuinely rapid.
It was not the most polished handler, in fact it was a bit of a bucking bronco, but this just added character for me.
It is a mental car - it looks dull yes but everything else was palm-sweatingly exciting.
Having driven an Audi RS3, albeit briefly I'd suggest you need to drive a properly exciting car! Yes the RS3 is very fast and capable, but it's not 'fun' (unless you only get kicks through straight line pace)If you have driven it you can't have really spanked it.
From personal experience I can safely say it was not a dull car. The engine was a peach, made a lovely 5 pot burble with accompanying turbo whooshes and bangs and with 340bhp it had insane accelleration. There is more to life than 0-60 times I grant you, but 4.5 seconds is genuinely rapid.
It was not the most polished handler, in fact it was a bit of a bucking bronco, but this just added character for me.
It is a mental car - it looks dull yes but everything else was palm-sweatingly exciting.
Go drive a Clio Cup for a fun, exciting drive! Just don't expect it to be fast in a straight line..
That actually seems to be a bit of a bargain as long as it's not hugely over £30k when sold in the UK. My old S3 that was bought in very early 2000 was just less than £30k with the few optional extras that were included.
If a 300bhp hot hatch can be boring to some of you I'm pretty amazed, just because it will stick to the road like s
t to a blanket doesn't mean it's boring to me.
PH, please do a test of this vs. the 135i when they're both selling over here.
If a 300bhp hot hatch can be boring to some of you I'm pretty amazed, just because it will stick to the road like s
t to a blanket doesn't mean it's boring to me.PH, please do a test of this vs. the 135i when they're both selling over here.
Listen to the engine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-LtBGs97J0#t=3m45s
It sounds amazing... like a V8. Actually no. It sounds st and boring as expected of a modern eco 4-pot with a turbo bolted on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-LtBGs97J0#t=3m45s
It sounds amazing... like a V8. Actually no. It sounds s
t and boring as expected of a modern eco 4-pot with a turbo bolted on.Edited by BlackPorker on Friday 21st September 17:17
Maldini35 said:
Debaser said:
I couldn't believe how dull the current RS3 was. I hope this is a lot more interesting, although I doubt it will be.
RS3 dull? really? Have you ever driven one? Be honest now.If you have driven it you can't have really spanked it.
From personal experience I can safely say it was not a dull car. The engine was a peach, made a lovely 5 pot burble with accompanying turbo whooshes and bangs and with 340bhp it had insane accelleration. There is more to life than 0-60 times I grant you, but 4.5 seconds is genuinely rapid.
It was not the most polished handler, in fact it was a bit of a bucking bronco, but this just added character for me.
It is a mental car - it looks dull yes but everything else was palm-sweatingly exciting.
There's no denying it's very fast, and I thought it had good brakes. It grips well too. The problem for me is that although it can travel fast, it didn't put a smile on my face (or make my palms sweat). It just felt like a dull FWD car (yes I know it's Haldex). Oh, and why is the driver's seat set so high?
I didn't notice any good sounding bangs, full throttle upshifts generated a small fart noise from the exhaust - I thought it was embarrassing.
It's a nice enough car to do the shopping in, but not one I'd ever choose to drive down a good road. I'm no fan of FWD cars, but something like a hot Clio is way more fun than an RS3 (despite being quite slow in a straight line).
Other than the fact that things happened at higher speeds, it wasn't any more interesting to drive than my boring six year old Passat.
Maldini35 said:
the-photographer said:
blackchrome917 said:
I'd put my money on a new Mercedes A class - "Engineered by AMG". The BMW 1 is too ugly and the Audi too much like the previous one.
Yes its coming soon, the new A-class AMG350PS
450NM
2.0T
4WD
Having poured over it at Geneva the build quality wasn't great. Ugly exposed welds, tinnie hard plastic on the B pillars, 80's nightclub glitterball front grille. The tiny rear windows and high waistline made sitting in the rear seats feel horribly claustraphobic. You wouldn't want to be in there for a long journey.
Worst of all it looks like they have blu-tacked a snide ipad onto the dash. Seriously, it looks awful a total after thought.
The whole thing looked built to a price. Not a terrible car perhaps but "the best or nothing" - I don't think so.
Not sure about the full fat A45 AMG - but certainly the 2 litre turbo looks good.
Surely there has to be a more exciting way of spending 30K+ then this? I'm sure its a capable car but it just looks so....grey if that makes sense? VAG group produce some good cars, capable cars, i know as i own one, however you can always tell that the designers are hemmed in by the accountants. Always a certain amount of soul missing from them......
Not doubting its quick though. But i'd still rather have a second hand M3, or even a tricked out Focus RS to be honest....
Not doubting its quick though. But i'd still rather have a second hand M3, or even a tricked out Focus RS to be honest....
said:
It is 25mm lower than the regular A3, boasts variable ratio steering and has 18-inch alloys as standard. Audi doesn’t make too many great claims about the sporting prowess of the chassis, but the basic quality of the platform – including a four-link rear end – will hopefully mean it’s better than the current car. Which wouldn’t be too hard.
I dont get the last sentence there. What was wrong with the previous 8P S3? I thought it was a decent car. Well setup chassis, good interior, sublte but nice exterior, plenty of grip and more than enough speed with 265bhp. Im betting hes one of these people who thinks the Golf GTI is fantastic whereas the S3 is boring despite them sharing the same chassis. Yeh boring because its got awd over fwd giving it superior grip...Im not overly fussed about the looks of the new car. Does seem a little restrained though. Will need to have a look at one in the flesh and have a seat in it. The new engine, extra power and reduced weight is an interesting start though.
Edited by MintyChris on Saturday 22 September 15:55
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