Discussion
I am looking at the RS3 as the next toy and have a few question. For me it is enough of a toy for weekend fun but practical enough to carry my wife and nipper.
Dynamics:
It is clearly very fast and capable and will see little track use. How is it on winding B roads. Lots of talk of understeer and if that’s the case that would kill the fun I am looking for.
Issues:
I havre read that brakes have some issue but can’t find anything specific?
Depreciation:
If I manage to big a car with my desired spec for 30k with 30k miles or less on it which seems achievable. In 3 years time at 3-5k per annum, I am hoping it will only lose 1-2k per year in value. Is this about right for this car?
Any other isssues I need to be aware of?
Spec:
Looking at it I would like the sport seats, styling pack, comfort pack, nav, exterior black pack, tints, head light upgrade, b&o and magnetic ride. Anything else I need to consider?
Cheers
Stu
Dynamics:
It is clearly very fast and capable and will see little track use. How is it on winding B roads. Lots of talk of understeer and if that’s the case that would kill the fun I am looking for.
Issues:
I havre read that brakes have some issue but can’t find anything specific?
Depreciation:
If I manage to big a car with my desired spec for 30k with 30k miles or less on it which seems achievable. In 3 years time at 3-5k per annum, I am hoping it will only lose 1-2k per year in value. Is this about right for this car?
Any other isssues I need to be aware of?
Spec:
Looking at it I would like the sport seats, styling pack, comfort pack, nav, exterior black pack, tints, head light upgrade, b&o and magnetic ride. Anything else I need to consider?
Cheers
Stu
Edited by stuno1 on Thursday 23 May 12:25
1-2K per annum depreciation? I think you're dreaming...
Not driving an RS3, but all these VAG things understeer by default, requiring a kick of the throttle to overcome it.
I suspect it won't be a beautifully balanced, RWD-like experience, but it can be fun to drive around the behaviour (speaking as a Golf R driver).
I was a bit spoilt by my RX8, everything else seems a bit of a blunt instrument by comparison, but from what I know of other fastish VAG cars and have read about the RS3, I suspect it, too, will fall into that category.
M
Not driving an RS3, but all these VAG things understeer by default, requiring a kick of the throttle to overcome it.
I suspect it won't be a beautifully balanced, RWD-like experience, but it can be fun to drive around the behaviour (speaking as a Golf R driver).
I was a bit spoilt by my RX8, everything else seems a bit of a blunt instrument by comparison, but from what I know of other fastish VAG cars and have read about the RS3, I suspect it, too, will fall into that category.
M
Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 23 May 13:11
I am certainly not expecting ad much fun as my Evora or isf but if it understeers at not huge pace in to B road corners it will be no fun at all.
1-2k per year depreciation having suffered most of its depreciation at 5 years old seems reasonable to do these depreciate heavily until they get super cheap?
1-2k per year depreciation having suffered most of its depreciation at 5 years old seems reasonable to do these depreciate heavily until they get super cheap?
I had one back in December for a day and they only understeer if you drive stupid like any car!
I took it from Wakefield upto Whitby across to castleton through Helmsley and then all A and B roads back! The North Yorkshire moors were built for this car very fast flowing corners a few hairpins and just a lot of fun!
The power doesn’t let up either! It’s quite comical!!
Just do it don’t worry about depreciation and enjoy it
I took it from Wakefield upto Whitby across to castleton through Helmsley and then all A and B roads back! The North Yorkshire moors were built for this car very fast flowing corners a few hairpins and just a lot of fun!
The power doesn’t let up either! It’s quite comical!!
Just do it don’t worry about depreciation and enjoy it
I took a serious look at these but couldn't get past the interior, very little special about it, and that screen doesn't even drop down in the dash. It just really shows the age of the car (in my opinion)
However, they are a car I'd still love to own for a while, (I might even hire one for a long weekend) purely for the engine alone.
When I was looking at specs, I thought the Dynamic pack was worth having for the sports exhaust and the dynamic ride control.
I would also want folding mirrors and advanced key, but that's due to ease of getting in my garage and having had the key in the last 2 Audi's I've owned.
However, they are a car I'd still love to own for a while, (I might even hire one for a long weekend) purely for the engine alone.
When I was looking at specs, I thought the Dynamic pack was worth having for the sports exhaust and the dynamic ride control.
I would also want folding mirrors and advanced key, but that's due to ease of getting in my garage and having had the key in the last 2 Audi's I've owned.
You have to be pushing very hard to experience real understeer but there is always that feeling that the front end is reluctant to dig in and swing round. The engine is very heavy and sits very far forward and you never really get away from it.
I remember getting a diesel A3 cabriolet as a courtesy car once and it felt pointy in comparison.
The RS3 is a hammer rather than a scalpel and you need to drive one to see if it fits the bill. For a daily driver covering big miles as fast as possible they are excellent, but they are not reknowned for their dynamics and you'll want to be looking somewhere where the engine sits behind the front wheels rather than over or in front of them.
I remember getting a diesel A3 cabriolet as a courtesy car once and it felt pointy in comparison.
The RS3 is a hammer rather than a scalpel and you need to drive one to see if it fits the bill. For a daily driver covering big miles as fast as possible they are excellent, but they are not reknowned for their dynamics and you'll want to be looking somewhere where the engine sits behind the front wheels rather than over or in front of them.
I owned one for 2.5 years and 44k of miles.
It does not understeer. The only people who ever say this are (a) non owners (b) yet more non owners ragging them around a track as if their life depended on it. In the real world that will not happen.
I hated the brakes and changed them for AP Racing.
If you get one with sports exhaust and rear cats removed there really is no other car for that money / same age that sounds so good.
TX.
It does not understeer. The only people who ever say this are (a) non owners (b) yet more non owners ragging them around a track as if their life depended on it. In the real world that will not happen.
I hated the brakes and changed them for AP Racing.
If you get one with sports exhaust and rear cats removed there really is no other car for that money / same age that sounds so good.
TX.
Cheers for the reply’s. My biggest concern was that for a toy car it would be poop on back roads but the consensus seems to be that is not the case.
Good info packs as well.
They seem good money and while I know it will depreciate I hope 1-2k per year is about right. Especially if I buy well and won’t be doing many miles in it each year.
Good info packs as well.
They seem good money and while I know it will depreciate I hope 1-2k per year is about right. Especially if I buy well and won’t be doing many miles in it each year.
Terminator X said:
I owned one for 2.5 years and 44k of miles.
It does not understeer. The only people who ever say this are (a) non owners (b) yet more non owners ragging them around a track as if their life depended on it. In the real world that will not happen.
I hated the brakes and changed them for AP Racing.
If you get one with sports exhaust and rear cats removed there really is no other car for that money / same age that sounds so good.
TX.
A friend has an 8v RS3, and It does feel a bit slow in, fast out, corner wise, but it's a quick car everywhere else. And I'd imagine in the wet it would be all over a lot of fast 2wd cars.It does not understeer. The only people who ever say this are (a) non owners (b) yet more non owners ragging them around a track as if their life depended on it. In the real world that will not happen.
I hated the brakes and changed them for AP Racing.
If you get one with sports exhaust and rear cats removed there really is no other car for that money / same age that sounds so good.
TX.
I've not driven an M2, but I would certainly look at that, if I didn't want the added practicality of a hatchback, partly because it looks so damned good.
The RS3 isn't a bad looking car, but to my eye, the M2 is really something special. They always catch my eye. Others, of course, might like the subtlety of the Audi.
For me it comes back to the first line of the OP, this is going to be a toy. I think there are better cars for outright fun, the Audi is an excellent everyday car.
M
The RS3 isn't a bad looking car, but to my eye, the M2 is really something special. They always catch my eye. Others, of course, might like the subtlety of the Audi.
For me it comes back to the first line of the OP, this is going to be a toy. I think there are better cars for outright fun, the Audi is an excellent everyday car.
M
I've had both, and unless you're doing big miles I would choose the M2, especially the non-comp model.
In terms of noise the N55 really sings in that car so you're not missing out on that front. They look mega too, with a proper wide track.
In terms of dynamics there's not much out there that can match it. Where you slow right down and drag the RS3 round the corners, the M2 tips in and then you have more options to be playful on corner exit. You feel the chassis balance at all speeds though, you don't have to be pushing to appreciate the difference.
The RS3 will make it easy to go fast but, compared to an M2, is pretty dull. Its only party piece is launch control.
If you're doing big miles though, the M2 is a bit jiggly and I don't think the DCT is very good in auto mode.
In terms of noise the N55 really sings in that car so you're not missing out on that front. They look mega too, with a proper wide track.
In terms of dynamics there's not much out there that can match it. Where you slow right down and drag the RS3 round the corners, the M2 tips in and then you have more options to be playful on corner exit. You feel the chassis balance at all speeds though, you don't have to be pushing to appreciate the difference.
The RS3 will make it easy to go fast but, compared to an M2, is pretty dull. Its only party piece is launch control.
If you're doing big miles though, the M2 is a bit jiggly and I don't think the DCT is very good in auto mode.
Brainpox said:
I've had both, and unless you're doing big miles I would choose the M2, especially the non-comp model.
In terms of noise the N55 really sings in that car so you're not missing out on that front. They look mega too, with a proper wide track.
In terms of dynamics there's not much out there that can match it. Where you slow right down and drag the RS3 round the corners, the M2 tips in and then you have more options to be playful on corner exit. You feel the chassis balance at all speeds though, you don't have to be pushing to appreciate the difference.
The RS3 will make it easy to go fast but, compared to an M2, is pretty dull. Its only party piece is launch control.
If you're doing big miles though, the M2 is a bit jiggly and I don't think the DCT is very good in auto mode.
In terms of noise the N55 really sings in that car so you're not missing out on that front. They look mega too, with a proper wide track.
In terms of dynamics there's not much out there that can match it. Where you slow right down and drag the RS3 round the corners, the M2 tips in and then you have more options to be playful on corner exit. You feel the chassis balance at all speeds though, you don't have to be pushing to appreciate the difference.
The RS3 will make it easy to go fast but, compared to an M2, is pretty dull. Its only party piece is launch control.
If you're doing big miles though, the M2 is a bit jiggly and I don't think the DCT is very good in auto mode.
This sums up the last 24 hours of my thinking. It will be a toy car for weekend and track fun. Some European trips and also needs to be practical enough to take my 5 year old and wife away for weekends. The m2 ticks more boxes than the rs3 having done a lot more research with the key being driving dynamics.
MattS5 said:
I took a serious look at these but couldn't get past the interior, very little special about it, and that screen doesn't even drop down in the dash. It just really shows the age of the car (in my opinion)
However, they are a car I'd still love to own for a while, (I might even hire one for a long weekend) purely for the engine alone.
When I was looking at specs, I thought the Dynamic pack was worth having for the sports exhaust and the dynamic ride control.
I would also want folding mirrors and advanced key, but that's due to ease of getting in my garage and having had the key in the last 2 Audi's I've owned.
The Nav screen does drop into the dash. It’s got a switch to pop it up or down.However, they are a car I'd still love to own for a while, (I might even hire one for a long weekend) purely for the engine alone.
When I was looking at specs, I thought the Dynamic pack was worth having for the sports exhaust and the dynamic ride control.
I would also want folding mirrors and advanced key, but that's due to ease of getting in my garage and having had the key in the last 2 Audi's I've owned.
M2 for me especially with the latest software updates that were out a few weeks ago, smoother gear changes in auto and less of a thud in the rear in sport/sport+ In manual, more importantly the traction control/stability has been eased off it doesn’t cut in as much as what it did before.
I had an 8p RS3 for 3 years when they first came out and that understeered in fast road use but they were very tyre sensitive, great engine and gearbox though, the A45 that replaced the Audi handled much better and that 2.0 engine doesn’t sound bad with the optional exhaust.
Can’t comment on the 8v RS3.
I had an 8p RS3 for 3 years when they first came out and that understeered in fast road use but they were very tyre sensitive, great engine and gearbox though, the A45 that replaced the Audi handled much better and that 2.0 engine doesn’t sound bad with the optional exhaust.
Can’t comment on the 8v RS3.
ubbs said:
M2 for me especially with the latest software updates that were out a few weeks ago, smoother gear changes in auto and less of a thud in the rear in sport/sport+ In manual, more importantly the traction control/stability has been eased off it doesn’t cut in as much as what it did before.
I had an 8p RS3 for 3 years when they first came out and that understeered in fast road use but they were very tyre sensitive, great engine and gearbox though, the A45 that replaced the Audi handled much better and that 2.0 engine doesn’t sound bad with the optional exhaust.
Can’t comment on the 8v RS3.
Will the dealer to the update on a used car? Assume at a cost? I had an 8p RS3 for 3 years when they first came out and that understeered in fast road use but they were very tyre sensitive, great engine and gearbox though, the A45 that replaced the Audi handled much better and that 2.0 engine doesn’t sound bad with the optional exhaust.
Can’t comment on the 8v RS3.
marcosgt said:
1-2K per annum depreciation? I think you're dreaming...
Not driving an RS3, but all these VAG things understeer by default, requiring a kick of the throttle to overcome it.
I suspect it won't be a beautifully balanced, RWD-like experience, but it can be fun to drive around the behaviour (speaking as a Golf R driver).
I was a bit spoilt by my RX8, everything else seems a bit of a blunt instrument by comparison, but from what I know of other fastish VAG cars and have read about the RS3, I suspect it, too, will fall into that category.
M
I think 1-2k is a fair assumption for this particular model. For a good spec 2015-2016 (pre-facelift) model, it costs more now than it did 12-18 months ago (helped by the fact that production stopped for a while due to the emissions.) I can see them continuing to hold their value well for the next 2 or 3 years, assuming you don't do mega mileage and find an example with the desirable options.Not driving an RS3, but all these VAG things understeer by default, requiring a kick of the throttle to overcome it.
I suspect it won't be a beautifully balanced, RWD-like experience, but it can be fun to drive around the behaviour (speaking as a Golf R driver).
I was a bit spoilt by my RX8, everything else seems a bit of a blunt instrument by comparison, but from what I know of other fastish VAG cars and have read about the RS3, I suspect it, too, will fall into that category.
M
Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 23 May 13:11
DillonL said:
I think 1-2k is a fair assumption for this particular model. For a good spec 2015-2016 (pre-facelift) model, it costs more now than it did 12-18 months ago (helped by the fact that production stopped for a while due to the emissions.) I can see them continuing to hold their value well for the next 2 or 3 years, assuming you don't do mega mileage and find an example with the desirable options.
That was my thinking. Most the depreciation has happened in terms of heavy annual hit. It’s not like the m3 and m4 in terms of volumes. Keeping miles to 5k per year (probably less) will also help.Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff