Audi A3/S3

[kingr seven]

JonRB said:

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.

The first result on my google search of "audi RS3" brought up this :

wheels.co.za said:

At the heart of the 2006 RS3 will be a modified version of the current A3 range topper's 3.2-litre V6 engine. This unit will be turbocharged and will also feature FSI direct-injection technology and torque will be about 450Nm.

[MimiB]

fid said:

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

IIRC I have never once mentioned the place I live. I find it severely unlikely you'd know the place I live if you lived next door to it! If I had something to prove I would go and take pictures, but being as I have to prove nothing to you - I won't be taking them.

However, if needs be I'm in Taunton all day tomorrow. Come visit if your desperation to 'prove me wrong' stretches that far. And could you please explain the numberplate theory?

[fid]

MimiB said:

fid said: 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 IIRC I have never once mentioned the place I live. I find it severely unlikely you'd know the place I live if you lived next door to it! If I had something to prove I would go and take pictures, but being as I have to prove nothing to you - I won't be taking them. However, if needs be I'm in Taunton all day tomorrow. Come visit if your desperation to 'prove me wrong' stretches that far. And could you please explain the numberplate theory?

Your numberplate, M1 HBS, which you've now removed from your profile is registered to a Mercedes CL 500...simple as!

[llamekcuf]

Where art thou Dokic!

[NorthernBoy]

GetCarter said:

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

One thing that lead me to buy my S4 over the opposition was that I wanted a 4 door. For the price I paid (20k for a 2 year old car), there didn't seem to be anything else that had the performance, comfort, and practicality.

I knew that the handling was pretty dead, and that was a pity, but everything else I looked at fell down too much in other areas.

I really loved that car, and was very upset when it was stolen. If you could buy that same model in a two year old car, I think I'd have another one.

Despite all my vacillating over which car to get (as was so kindly poinnted out by mr Ribol), I think I am maybe coming down towards an Audi again, Either an S4, or one of the quicker A3s.

[Woody_450]

To get back to the original topic...I've got a S3, but I haven't been in the new shape yet so can't compare the two.

I've had the S3 since nov 2003 (it's a Feb 03 facelift model 225bhp) and I haven't had any major problems with it apart from the front ARB needed replacing (common fault)

Other common faults are the coil pack failing (pre-facelift models) and the self leveling headlights start pretending to be WWII search lights!

During ownership I've found that if you want to take rear passengers then make sure they don't need any legroom, douglas bader or someone like that. When I've got the drivers seat in a comfy position for me (5' 11") the rear passenger has very little space.

Get better brakes if you're driving around welsh country roads showing your mate what a S3 can do around the winding bits! The standard ones tend to fade a little too much for me...

The boot is big enough for me to carry my footie kit and the weekly shopping (beer) but expect too much to get crammed in there.

Apart from that it's a fun car to drive, you can tootle around town then have a traffic light GP (it hits 30 in under 2 seconds!)

There's a load of advise on audi-sport.net, can I plug other web sites? Too late

email me if you need to know any more...

Rich

>> Edited by Woody_450 on Tuesday 12th April 08:43

[Ribol]

NorthernBoy said:

Despite all my vacillating over which car to get (as was so kindly poinnted out by mr Ribol)

Sorry matey, I was just offering up a reason why the salesman may have showed little interest in attending to you - clearly his loss.
Any doubts about your standing in the car buying community were cast aside a while back by your £20k used Audi purchase, a good choice over the F550/996 you were also considering, it must have been a hard one to call.

[Plotloss]

I dont think they will do an S3 personally, they'll stick with the S line 3.2

Thing is about S3 its not segmentally different enough. You could make a 1.8T quattro identical to an S3 in all but wheels and seats for £400.

I think they will stick with 3.2 as the top of the line and bring out a hard hitting £30K+ RS3 (which I didnt think they would release originally)

[fishtek69]

So do the S3 and A3 1.8T quattro have the same exhaust and suspension setup? Does that £400 just cover an engine remap or what? I quite like A3's and love S3's, but think the sleeper-factor of the 225bhp A3 would be quite appealing. Is the remap on the 1.8T stable, i.e. does it raise any reliability issues?

>> Edited by fishtek69 on Tuesday 12th April 09:32

[Plotloss]

I suppose the suspension and exhaust maybe a little different but not much. A lot of S3 owners rip out the brakes, suspension and exhaust anyway.

Fundamentally its a remap the 1.8T in the 1.8T quattro pushes out 180 and in the S3 its 225.

Same engine, different map.

[fishtek69]

Hmmm, sounds interesting. Might have to have a skirt about and see how much 1.8T quattro's are going for?! I still think it'll be a brand-new clio 182 that I get next, but anything different that offers similar if not better performance, has to be worth a look.

[JonRB]

Plotloss said:

Fundamentally its a remap the 1.8T in the 1.8T quattro pushes out 180 and in the S3 its 225. Same engine, different map.

And with a little trip to AmD and a lightening of the wallet by £550+VAT, 260-270bhp.

Actually, I thought that the 180bhp cars lacked the intercooler of the 225bhp cars. But I could be wrong.

[Plotloss]

Possibly, cant remember its been a while since I played with an Audi.

I would have thought that intake temps arent much of an issue if running a 225 map without an intercooler.

Maybe at 270 odd though...

[JonRB]

I'm not totally sure about my facts either - it's just something I seem to recall.

An S3 is currently on our shopping list for a combined replacement for the Cupra and Corrado, so I'd better start doing a bit of research.
(Having said that, I can't see it happening this year to be honest).

[Plotloss]

Great cars, much better than their peers.

Post 2000 (when the 225 came in) is the better car.

Big reds on the front is a very worthwhile upgrade.

[funkihamsta]

Although there is a touch of Dokic about our 'Ermione my sense of romantic ambition hopes that idle hyper-fit society girls do indeed post on forums mainly inhabited by middle aged IT contractors.

Try 1 HB as l recall that might be the correct plate before she was likely warned that she might get stalked/robbed etc..

Mimi, why on earth would you go to Taunton? Taunton's only notable aspect is that everyone has either lived or been there at some point in their lives.

[Mark Benson]

funkihamsta said:

my sense of romantic ambition hopes that idle hyper-fit society girls do indeed post on forums mainly inhabited by middle aged IT contractors.

I say it's Streetcop.

A3 (150 or 180bhp) - smaller tunbo and intercooler so chipping to much over 200bhp isn't possible.
S3 - Larger turbo and can be chipped to 270ish without too much bother.

Still dull as ditchwater to drive though.

[Rob_F]

Might this be time to make a quick observation about my friend and yours Mimi?

Okkaaay.. I didn't think she was real either chaps to be honest, and didn't really care. However out of natural interest when i noticed Minimax was emailing her a while ago i decided it'd be interesting to see if she was indeed registered with Exeter Uni as she said she was (like myself). There's a system allowing students to look up anybodys uni email address so when you get group assignments you can get in contact with people - it's compulsery and happens automatically when you register. Alas after trying different variations of her double barrelled surname it does seem as so she isn't on the uni system at all.

Did i mention this to Tom? Hell no, i was hoping he'd end up meeting up with some 45 year old hairy transvesite or even worse, Vixpy in a dress pretending to be a female student, but then, i am a git.

If you are real Mimi i do apologise.

Cheers,
Rob.

[Mr Whippy]

Get a Golf R32, much nicer than the A3 3.2 Quattro...

Same underneath, except the VW probably has all the kit standard wheras you pay for it on the Audi.

Dave

[fid]

funkihamsta said:

...Try 1 HB as l recall that might be the correct plate before she was likely warned that she might get stalked/robbed etc...

Nope, it was definitely M1 HBS...I copied and pasted it straight from 'her' page.

I was suspicious ever since her, erm...first post. She didn't post very often though so I wasn't too fussed...but so many people replied to her thread about leaving uni that it was just taking the piss out of a lot of people!