Audi A3/S3

[NorthernBoy]

_VTEC_ said:

There's a 3.2 S line but it says nothing about being blown or it actually being an 'S3'.

The s-line is just a spec for an A3. I have the brochure here, and it is not the "s" model.

Is this being confused with an S3, or does someone actually have a link to a turbocharged new S3?

MimiB, does your car say "S3" on it, or is it actually an A3 S-line?

[Balmoral Green]

Ah, now, there is a very good possibility here that I may be talking out of my arse about the twin turbos, I may have assumed too much

I am more than a little malted up however

[toppstuff]

Can someone explain the Audi " thing" to me , because i really , genuinely , do not get it.

- The dealers are truly awful

- The cars have much in common with VW, Skoda, Seat , who offer similar driving experiences for a LOT less money.

- The engines are average, with the diesels certainly not being the best.

- The handling is dull, and the steering is lifeless in the extreme

- They are very expensive for what they are. Equally competant ( and often better ) cars are cheaper to buy and to service.

So why would anyone buy an Audi A3 over a Golf, Seat , or Skoda?

If buying an S3 or 3,2 Quattro then I might understand ( they have few competitors ) but as for the cooking A3's and A4's, I genuinely do not understand why anyone buys them...

[agent006]

OK,

Mimi's S3 is a Mk1 and as such has the 1.8 turbo engine. No S-line rubbish on the MK1 range.

The Mk2 S3 does not exist as yet, but the 3.2 is an S3 in all but name. S-line is a badge that gets stuck to the grille when a fancy audi bodykit is fitted.

[NorthernBoy]

toppstuff said:

Can someone explain the Audi " thing" to me , because i really , genuinely , do not get it. - The dealers are truly awful - The cars have much in common with VW, Skoda, Seat , who offer similar driving experiences for a LOT less money. - The engines are average, with the diesels certainly not being the best. - The handling is dull, and the steering is lifeless in the extreme - They are very expensive for what they are. Equally competant ( and often better ) cars are cheaper to buy and to service. So why would anyone buy an Audi A3 over a Golf, Seat , or Skoda? If buying an S3 or 3,2 Quattro then I might understand ( they have few competitors ) but as for the cooking A3's and A4's, I genuinely do not understand why anyone buys them...

I maybe agree with your last point, but I do think there is reason to buy the better ones over Seats, and the like.

I used to have an S4, which was stolen, and, as I was about to start doing a 60 mile round trip to work (into central London), I decided tto get a Toledo V5 to replace it. It cost 8k, had a 2.3 litre engine, all the whistles and bells, ad was a nice car to be in.

However, it was a lot slower than the S4, the interior, though very nice, was noticeably less nice than the Audi, and, importantly, only the front wheels were driven.

If I want to stick with a car that has 4 doors, and a boot, but is very fast, has 4 wheel drive, and, importantly, has a great interior, then the new S4 seems to be a very good choice for me.

I definitely wouldn't but the 2.8 A4 over the outgoing Toledo model, though, nor an A3 1.8 Turbo over the Seat Leon Cupra R (well, except for the tacky interior on the Seat.

Seats, for me, are better value, but the range tops out at too low a level for what I now want. If they made the old Toledo, with 4WD, and 300BHP, it'd probably be everything I needed.

[NorthernBoy]

agent006 said:

OK, Mimi's S3 is a Mk1 and as such has the 1.8 turbo engine. No S-line rubbish on the MK1 range. The Mk2 S3 does not exist as yet, but the 3.2 is an S3 in all but name. S-line is a badge that gets stuck to the grille when a fancy audi bodykit is fitted.

Thought as much. Was the confusion beer related?

[catso]

AFAIK there is no turbo version of the 3.2, although there are companies that will sell you a turbo kit with up to 550bhp

The S line is a different spec, like SE on a BMW or Ghia on a Ford - trim, 18' wheels etc.

As for Audi dealers, I have 2 near to me, I had a test drive at one but strangely the guy didn't seem to want to sell me a car, offered me one in the wrong colour & spec with no discount and never called me to follow up the visit (I don't think he took me seriously) so I went to the other 4 days later and bought the car I wanted at a good price and their service has so far been very good.

If you do get one get the DSG, it really is a good gearbox.



edited coz I've had too much hic

>> Edited by catso on Saturday 9th April 22:21

[NorthernBoy]

catso said:

If you do get one get the DSG, it really is a good gearbox.

Can't. It is mainly for the wife, and she is not happy with anything other than a standard manual, which is a pity. I would like an SL55, but they only come in automatic, so it is immediately a no no. Same with the RS6.

[Ribol]

Northernboy said:

I turned up a few years back to buy an S4, and they simply could not be bothered to sell me one. Today, I turned up again with every intention of buying an S4 if I liked one, and, again, the salesman simply had no interest in trying to sell me anything. He seemed to want no more than to give me a brochure and go back to his coffee. I think that I might write to Audi UK, it was so bad.

Maybe the saleman has read some of your car buying posts on here, might have been the 996, F550, Boxter S, SL55, M3, RS6, S4, A3, S3 and has got you down as a tyre kicker?
Little does he know that you are actually someone at the top of his game in the city, although your posts could do with being a little more consistent if you want to stand half a chance with that story.

[NorthernBoy]

Ribol said:

Maybe the saleman has read some of your car buying posts on here, might have been the 996, F550, Boxter S, SL55, M3, RS6, S4, A3, S3 and has got you down as a tyre kicker? Little does he know that you are actually someone at the top of his game in the city, although your posts could do with being a little more consistent if you want to stand half a chance with that story.

Well, his dealership used to service my old S4, which should still be listed on his system.

But if you want to pretend that I live in a hut and drive a reliant van, that's fine by me matey, whatever floats your boat.

>> Edited by NorthernBoy on Sunday 10th April 12:19

[MimiB]

Jeez! Calm Down! I was on the vino before heading out.
For the record, my made up car is infact, a 1.8 S3 (even has a red S3 Badge on the back - fancy that!). Not a 3.2. I don't recall why I wrote 3.2, I can't remember making that post!

Apologies all round. But if anyone DOES find a 3.2 I'd be more than happy to have it.

[kingr seven]

My understanding was that Audi now intend to use the "S" badge for performance N/A cars, and the "RS" badge for even higher performance turbo'ed cars. I also understood that the forthcoming S3 will use the 3.2 V6 at a higher than normal state of tune and then with turbos on it for the RS3.

Kingr

[Davislove]

toppstuff said:

Can someone explain the Audi " thing" to me , because i really , genuinely , do not get it. - The dealers are truly awful - The cars have much in common with VW, Skoda, Seat , who offer similar driving experiences for a LOT less money. - The engines are average, with the diesels certainly not being the best. - The handling is dull, and the steering is lifeless in the extreme - They are very expensive for what they are. Equally competant ( and often better ) cars are cheaper to buy and to service. So why would anyone buy an Audi A3 over a Golf, Seat , or Skoda? If buying an S3 or 3,2 Quattro then I might understand ( they have few competitors ) but as for the cooking A3's and A4's, I genuinely do not understand why anyone buys them...

I agree totally with your post toppstuff, they've never done anything for me, however, but they are built like tanks which some people find reassuring I suspect

[clubsport]

MimiB said:

Jeez! Calm Down! I was on the vino before heading out. For the record, my made up car is infact, a 1.8 S3 (even has a red S3 Badge on the back - fancy that!). Not a 3.2. I don't recall why I wrote 3.2, I can't remember making that post! Apologies all round. But if anyone DOES find a 3.2 I'd be more than happy to have it.

Anyone would think you were a dizzy blonde

[parrot of doom]

Want my advice? Steer clear of Audi dealers. By all means buy an Audi, but have it serviced at a specialist.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=137403

[JonRB]

kingr seven said:

My understanding was that Audi now intend to use the "S" badge for performance N/A cars, and the "RS" badge for even higher performance turbo'ed cars. I also understood that the forthcoming S3 will use the 3.2 V6 at a higher than normal state of tune and then with turbos on it for the RS3.

A brilliant theory, but with one small flaw...

... the new RS4 has already been announced as having a tuned-up version of the same engine as the current S4 - ie. no addition of turbos.

[GetCarter]

Re: why Audi?...

If BMW would get their finger out and make an M5 tourer, then I'd sell the RS6 Avant tomorrow. But they don't - so If I want 450+ bhp and the ability to carry a string quartet (with all the instruments) 'presto', the Audi is the only car that will do the job.

Have to agree that the dealers are a bit pants... but as has been mentioned, the cars are built like Panzers.

Nice noise from the V8tt too

[medicineman]

Just bought an A3 3.2 S line. The dealership, Gilders in Sheffield where very good. Pleasant, helpful and I got a good discount on the price.

The S line is 18in alloys, lower and stiffer suspension and a sports steering wheel.

The debate about the new S3 rubbles on.

[fid]

NorthernBoy said:

MimiB said: I have a 3.2 supermachine aka the S3. OK, I accept that I might not have the facts here, buut have you not just made that car up? I really did not think that there existed such a car as an Audo S3 with a 3.2 litre engine. What gives, what do you actually have? Or are you not sure, or am I being very foolish?

Going by what she's said before, she lives near me...but I've never seen the girl in the pictures in any of those cars before, and it's not something I'd forget in a hurry if I did...
Make yer own minds up

Oh, and it seems her S3's numberplate is registered to a Mercedes CL 500!

But obviously, feel free to prove me wrong.
>> Edited by fid on Sunday 10th April 16:35

>> Edited by fid on Sunday 10th April 16:39

[TVR 350 MAD]

My brother has an s3 and loves it, says that the power is phanominal(do doro do phanominal) especially away from the traffic lights. allround 8/10