RE: Audi S3: Driven
Discussion
Just sold my S3 S-Tronic.
Great little car, but the gearbox is not as slick as the latest cars and the ride is quite harsh.
Too laggy for me though, not much poke below 3500, then when the power arrived it did so in such a big blob that it was hard to drive at pace, you were either going really slow, or really quick.
Great little car, but the gearbox is not as slick as the latest cars and the ride is quite harsh.
Too laggy for me though, not much poke below 3500, then when the power arrived it did so in such a big blob that it was hard to drive at pace, you were either going really slow, or really quick.
Really does look dull in white. I always thought Audi got the look just right with the first gen S3 (so much so that I bought one) - everything slightly flared (arches, bumpers) but still classily restrained and tasteful. This lacks the flare and when the basic shape is this conservative that means it consequently lacks any flair...
Wolands Advocate said:
Really does look dull in white. I always thought Audi got the look just right with the first gen S3 (so much so that I bought one) - everything slightly flared (arches, bumpers) but still classily restrained and tasteful. This lacks the flare and when the basic shape is this conservative that means it consequently lacks any flair...
Agreed, the 8L S3 was unique, not the best drivers car but a great allrounder, audi then improve on the performance side of things with the 8P but didnt do much to attually distinquish the S3 from a standard A3 in the looks department, seems they done the same with the latest version too.g3org3y said:
adzpz said:
4 exhausts - Wow, must be fast!!
Quite! Maybe the RS3 will have 6!The funny thing for those poking fun at this is that this actually is fast whichever way you cut it, probably dipping under 5 seconds in reality with the PDK box. Most of the hero cars from not that long ago were slower than that and no one complained at their exhaust configuration.
Ashley1987 said:
I drove the new A3 for a few days whilst my boat A6 was in for a minor repair.
As always they are nice inside, the engine was a bit punchy, nothing special.
The interior won it for me, that is why I bought an Audi. I won't buy one again though because it is akin to driving a trifle.
NEARLY the same with me. I had a 1.6tdi as a loaner last week and used it for a As always they are nice inside, the engine was a bit punchy, nothing special.
The interior won it for me, that is why I bought an Audi. I won't buy one again though because it is akin to driving a trifle.
trip to a customer who is located some 30 Km from the Nurburgring in the Eifel.
Some nicely stretched out tarmac there. (Didn't do the ring in it, god forbid.)
Man, did I come away underwhelmed. This thingy had no punch and no personality.
In format simular to my 316i compact from 15 years ago it didn't show much progress.
In contrary, those new electric steering systems are loathsome. Difficult to press hard
through bumpy back roads and roundabouts behind that wheel on those small but high mounted
chairs.
It may look like an Italian, but at heart it is still the agricultural Golf Diesel of old.
Martin 480 Turbo
JDMDrifter said:
It doesn't stand out enough ... Mind you neither does the M135i , we seem to be getting more and more regular monotonous hot hatches. Long gone are the days of epic lift off oversteer and 'whale-tail' wings 
Strange how people criticise the s3 for being bland and then rave about how amazing the s4 and s6 are because they can trouble 911s whilst looking like a tdi 4 Exhausts = trying too hard
Why why not just have a large single exhaust (two at a push, e.g. Audi RS range) and a proper spare wheel too?
For my money 4 x exhausts look OTT. A single large diameter exhaust looks much more purposeful on most cars. See below for what I mean:
OTT & Chavy
Perfect and Purposeful
Why why not just have a large single exhaust (two at a push, e.g. Audi RS range) and a proper spare wheel too?
For my money 4 x exhausts look OTT. A single large diameter exhaust looks much more purposeful on most cars. See below for what I mean:
OTT & Chavy
Perfect and Purposeful
I'm so very underwhelmed by this! 
4 exhaust pipes on a 4 cylinder is very odd too.
It sounds like standard Audi affair now, to offer a car which form wise, is a very attractive offering - classy, well built, etc, but function wise lacks sparkle and magic.
In my opinion the S3 still looks better than the M135i, but I couldn't bring myself to buy a car like this which didn't offer an element of excitement, so I'd still buy the M135i, every day of the week.
4 exhaust pipes on a 4 cylinder is very odd too.
It sounds like standard Audi affair now, to offer a car which form wise, is a very attractive offering - classy, well built, etc, but function wise lacks sparkle and magic.
In my opinion the S3 still looks better than the M135i, but I couldn't bring myself to buy a car like this which didn't offer an element of excitement, so I'd still buy the M135i, every day of the week.
I've had a couple of S3s and probably wouldn't buy another.
First one was a 225 bhp three door. Heavy steering, heavy doors and not very supportive seats. Only kept it a year. Second one was a S3 Sportback 265 bhp - much better in every respect compared to the first one and I kept it for three years.
Both cars were beautifully built and 100% reliable - quick but not very involving. It was actually the fuel consumption that convinced me to part with the second one - I suppose 25-29 on average is to be expected, but it didn't get much better with a light right foot. I did a 500 mile round trip with no time pressures so I thought I'd see what gentle driving would return - the answer was 33 mpg. Bearing in mind that the new one has 300 horsepower, I find the quoted consumption figures pretty... ummm..... impressive.
First one was a 225 bhp three door. Heavy steering, heavy doors and not very supportive seats. Only kept it a year. Second one was a S3 Sportback 265 bhp - much better in every respect compared to the first one and I kept it for three years.
Both cars were beautifully built and 100% reliable - quick but not very involving. It was actually the fuel consumption that convinced me to part with the second one - I suppose 25-29 on average is to be expected, but it didn't get much better with a light right foot. I did a 500 mile round trip with no time pressures so I thought I'd see what gentle driving would return - the answer was 33 mpg. Bearing in mind that the new one has 300 horsepower, I find the quoted consumption figures pretty... ummm..... impressive.
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