RE: Audi S3: Spotted

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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is1 said:
The spec list states:

"Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive".

I thought it was four-wheel drive?
It's haldex, so FWD until you slip, then gets you out of trouble with the rear wheels. smile

4wd would indicate constant four wheel drive like a Impreza for example.

These s3's are a good price now, must look out for cambelt changes, every 40K service if dsg and every 40k haldex service to keep it tip top.

Break downs are rare if looked after but cam follower needs checking to make sure it's not wearing too bad (rare in UK afaik) and HPFP can fail.

A fine steer for the money though

smile

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
Love S3s! All ages.

So much so I went and bought one on Friday - egregious picture.



https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

biggrin

martin mrt

3,768 posts

200 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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cerb4.5lee said:
I've always admired the S3 over all its generations and I still turn my head whenever I see one. I wasn't a fan of the haldex system on the 2012 TTS I had though, I've not driven the S3 to see if it is better or worse than what I experienced in the TT.

I'd like a go in one because I really like the package that they offer.
It’s the same set up, I actually thought the TTS was a good if not overly damped steer



Greg the Fish

1,410 posts

65 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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Worlds apart from my girlfriend's A3 1.6 which is absolutely horrible.

paultownsend

2,228 posts

182 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
martin mrt said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I've always admired the S3 over all its generations and I still turn my head whenever I see one. I wasn't a fan of the haldex system on the 2012 TTS I had though, I've not driven the S3 to see if it is better or worse than what I experienced in the TT.

I'd like a go in one because I really like the package that they offer.
It’s the same set up, I actually thought the TTS was a good if not overly damped steer
Not totally correct. Pre facelift S3 is gen2 Haldex, with post face lift being gen4. I believe the TTS is gen4 also.

I have a pre facelift S3, so gen2. It was purchased with generic Chinese tyres. But even still you can put all power to the tarmac, rain or shine without a hint of slip.
I clearly remember my step fathers ED30 Golf DSG when new. With its detuned S3 engine. It struggled not to spin a tyre, even in the dry.

9k rpm

515 posts

209 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
I ran a manual one of these for a year. It was quick (especially once remapped to 300bhp) but dull and understeered like a bus. The remap ate the clutch after 10k too but I should have upgraded it.

Interior was solid and it was comfy (not that harsh a ride in my opinion).

It did come into its own in the snow on winter tyres when traction was incredible.

As a point to point car on a B road it was a bit of a weapon but not much fun. If only it had handled like the Golf GTi would probably have been the perfect hot hatch......

The wing mirrors got nicked too.

sledge68

749 posts

196 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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Leins said:
Dark555 said:
Quote ---> Audi was there in 2006

And Subaru were there 10 years earlier! biggrin
Missing the “premium” tag from the headline though, FWIW
That's subjective, personally the Subaru for me, JDM, sure the S3 is good but a bit of a clitoris car for me.

STiG911

1,210 posts

166 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
Leins said:
Dark555 said:
Quote ---> Audi was there in 2006

And Subaru were there 10 years earlier! biggrin
Missing the “premium” tag from the headline though, FWIW
And 'Hot Hatch' - Kinda key that...

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
9k rpm said:
As a point to point car on a B road it was a bit of a weapon but not much fun. If only it had handled like the Golf GTi would probably have been the perfect hot hatch......
I came away with that conclusion with the TTS and I thought that it would actually be better to drive as FWD only.

Titan2

146 posts

95 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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s m said:
It did get picked over a 911 ......IN AN EVO MAG GROUP TEST! yikes

That has to be newsworthy on its own

Made it to the top 3 ahead of all the old rally reps too








Final verdict


[thumb]https://i.imgur.com/J5YnKF8.jpg[/Img]
It's funny to read that review now considering the crazy prices some of the cars tested are now...

22B probably £100k,Skyline £60k plus yet at the time they weren't top of the pile.
But I guess that's what rose tinted glasses and playing Gran Turismo in the late 90's will do.

I too would love either of these cars but that will never happen now the prices have gone nuts!!

WCZ

10,492 posts

193 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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tempting. a friend of mine has had one from new and just keeps tuning it and tweaking it, he's test driven everything from the new rs3/focus rs/a45 to m3's and still prefers his tuned s3!

wondering what you'd end up with spending £10k on an sp and £10k on tuning

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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I think these have always been a fairly discrete, quality choice, I know a chap who has had the earlier model from new and it is still like new despite quite a lot of miles. I remember driving one when they first came out and being utterly amazed at the performance and grip, funny how those roginal ones seem a bit slow and ponderous now, still nice though.

Really good all rounder, trouble is that a few have migrated down into city centre drag racers, all dump valves and sketchy geysers.

Are these quite such of a theft issue as the later ones ?


SD_1

7,258 posts

157 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
Really like these, a colleague has the newer 300bhp version and it is very quick indeed. Lovely interior too which is nice to see on a smaller car. His is a DSG but I would definitely go for a manual one, ideally in 5 door form although that saloon posted above is lovely!

Very discrete too, to most they look the same as a normal one with the S Line kit. Suppose that would be a negative to some, but Audi S cars are generally quite good at that, exhausts aside.

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
SD_1 said:
Really like these, a colleague has the newer 300bhp version and it is very quick indeed. Lovely interior too which is nice to see on a smaller car. His is a DSG but I would definitely go for a manual one, ideally in 5 door form although that saloon posted above is lovely!

Very discrete too, to most they look the same as a normal one with the S Line kit. Suppose that would be a negative to some, but Audi S cars are generally quite good at that, exhausts aside.
Yeah, these are quite plain, but in a good, subtle way.

MDMA .

8,849 posts

100 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
WCZ said:
tempting. a friend of mine has had one from new and just keeps tuning it and tweaking it, he's test driven everything from the new rs3/focus rs/a45 to m3's and still prefers his tuned s3!

wondering what you'd end up with spending £10k on an sp and £10k on tuning
No need to spend 10k tuning it. 5k will get you a hybrid turbo, uprated HPFP, associated mapping, decent suspension and tyres and over 400bhp.

tigamilla

507 posts

79 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
MDMA . said:
WCZ said:
tempting. a friend of mine has had one from new and just keeps tuning it and tweaking it, he's test driven everything from the new rs3/focus rs/a45 to m3's and still prefers his tuned s3!

wondering what you'd end up with spending £10k on an sp and £10k on tuning
No need to spend 10k tuning it. 5k will get you a hybrid turbo, uprated HPFP, associated mapping, decent suspension and tyres and over 400bhp.
Yes, quite a few with the 2 litre TFSI engine pushing well over 500 hp power with large turbos...

I 8 a 4RE

339 posts

240 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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Not sure if it's a compliment to this car or an indictment to contemporary Audi design, but stick a few fancy LED lights in there and could pass as a current car!

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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i had an 11 plate for 5 months, really disliked it, felt gutless and 'fell to pieces' if you drove it over 7/10ths

nice cabin

wab172uk

2,005 posts

226 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
SD_1 said:
Really like these, a colleague has the newer 300bhp version and it is very quick indeed. Lovely interior too which is nice to see on a smaller car. His is a DSG but I would definitely go for a manual one, ideally in 5 door form although that saloon posted above is lovely!

Very discrete too, to most they look the same as a normal one with the S Line kit. Suppose that would be a negative to some, but Audi S cars are generally quite good at that, exhausts aside.
I have the current S3 Saloon (Manual) and that's the thing with these cars. The may not be the best drivers cars, but they are very very good at what they do. Stylish, well build, and thanks to AWD, can be used in all weather.

The engine is better than most people think. I owned many moons ago a 300bhp Impreza. My current 300bhp S3 would wipe the floor with it. Engine is so much stronger everywhere.

I latched onto a motorbike in a hurry from Middleton-in-Teesdale to Alston on Sunday. The S3 did itself proud. I would have had more feedback with other cars, but for out and out pace across the ground, and crucially having the interaction of a manual (not the greatest box) there is nothing really out there that would leave it behind.

And when the fun stops, it goes back to being a very comfortable cruiser, with decent mpg, and all the attributes of Audi that more fun driver focused cars can't match.

Mines 4 years old now, and there is nothing out there I want to replace it with. They really are great cars.

KerwinR

135 posts

81 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
paultownsend said:
Not totally correct. Pre facelift S3 is gen2 Haldex, with post face lift being gen4. I believe the TTS is gen4 also.

I have a pre facelift S3, so gen2. It was purchased with generic Chinese tyres. But even still you can put all power to the tarmac, rain or shine without a hint of slip.
I clearly remember my step fathers ED30 Golf DSG when new. With its detuned S3 engine. It struggled not to spin a tyre, even in the dry.
That's correct TTS is gen4 haldex.