RE: 2021 Audi RS3 gets drift mode, will do 180mph

[jamieduff1981]

glennjamin said:

Audi spent millions trying to turn Joe average into a accomplished driver only to have it all over ruled by a button. Look out for the donnuts coming to a carpark near you. Would like to see the claim form for when it goes horribly wrong. After the son takes his Dad's car out for a try....

I think you're being extremely generous to Joe. Audi are marketed squarely at, and appeal mostly to, people who sincerely believe rear wheel drive cars are scary and/or unusable much of the year in European climates. Joe isn't average - Joe is dangerous and lacks the intelligence to understand AWD might help you hoof more power down when its wet outside but it doesn't help with changing direction or stopping in same slippery conditions. Adding this button in will just get more of them written off even faster. Hopefully they only hit roadside furniture though and not other people or their more vulnerable property.

[Turbobanana]

I can't work out which is more pointless - the drift mode that either won't be used or (as someone else has pointed out) will be used hamfistedly, or the firing order on the side of a car that'll never be serviced anywhere other than a main dealer.

[Mapt]

Turbobanana said:

I can't work out which is more pointless - the drift mode that either won't be used or (as someone else has pointed out) will be used hamfistedly, or the firing order on the side of a car that'll never be serviced anywhere other than a main dealer.

The firing order graphics are to advertise that it’s a 5-cylinder engine, seeing as that’s a USP in this segment. Not sure what it would have to do with servicing?

[wab172uk]

As an everyday do it all Mega Hatch, it'll be an incredible car to own. Stupidly fast, and secure.

Yes, it won't be the last thing in handling, but for 95% of customers, they won't care.

Drift mode? Stupid gimmick that was stupid on the Focus RS, and will be stupid on the RS3.

Price will be eye watering, especially when options fitted. And given how the new A3 interior is a step backwards from the last gen A3, then the price will seam even more ridiculous.

As said before. Once you pick it up from the dealers, it's just a matter of time before you see it again on Police Interceptors.

[9k rpm]

Technically a great car however every RS3 I see seems to be driven very badly in a built up area by an innit bruv bell end.

[Mapt]

ducnick said:

I had always assumed these were just badge engineered golf/seat/Skoda but it sounds like they use a 5 cylinder instead of the 4 cylinder used in the rest of the range. Now I understand the reason folks go for the Audi version over the others.

The RS3 has always had a 5-cylinder engine, I thought that was pretty well known after 10 years on the market. The same engine is used in the TT RS and RSQ3.

[Fetchez la vache]

Turbobanana said:

I can't work out which is more pointless - the drift mode that either won't be used or (as someone else has pointed out) will be used hamfistedly...

I can't see the point either.

Wonder how long it'll be before "drift mode" is illegal on the sale of new cars? It is 2021 after all.

[Spiros115]

What is the obsession with “drifting”? I mean it’s a really, really slow and crap way to go round a corner, mashes tyres, makes an awful screech when you could be listening to an engine.... honestly additions of things like “drift mode” just say to me they’ve run out of ideas how to actually make the car better but know they need something to charge more than the last, its the same as the stupid wiping rear indicators.

[essayer]

So fking boring

[Dave Hedgehog]

i am genuinly interested in driving this version to see if they have made it fun

i just hope it does not have Audi's awful dynamic steering

[GreatScott2016]

wab172uk said:

As an everyday do it all Mega Hatch, it'll be an incredible car to own. Stupidly fast, and secure.

Yes, it won't be the last thing in handling, but for 95% of customers, they won't care.

Drift mode? Stupid gimmick that was stupid on the Focus RS, and will be stupid on the RS3.

Price will be eye watering, especially when options fitted. And given how the new A3 interior is a step backwards from the last gen A3, then the price will seam even more ridiculous.

As said before. Once you pick it up from the dealers, it's just a matter of time before you see it again on Police Interceptors.

Couldn’t agree more. I had a Mark 3 RS and never used the drift mode (or the track mode for that matter). Great that these cars are still being produced though but it won’t temp me away from my M2.

[Leon R]

Spiros115 said:

What is the obsession with “drifting”? I mean it’s a really, really slow and crap way to go round a corner, mashes tyres, makes an awful screech when you could be listening to an engine.... honestly additions of things like “drift mode” just say to me they’ve run out of ideas how to actually make the car better but know they need something to charge more than the last, its the same as the stupid wiping rear indicators.

Many people who are not angry old men like those things.

[otolith]

Has someone put something in the water at Ingolstadt?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFPpeXTEcDM

[J4CKO]

JmatthewB said:

GTEYE said:

I don’t know why I cringe at use of the word “skids”. The correct word is surely “drifts”. Maybe it’s just me.

Me too.

To me skid is what you do on a push bike as a child when you brake hard with the rear brake.

And this is the big boys toy version, its exactly the same really.

Best not kid ourselves that it isn't just big kids doing what they did when they were little kids only with 400 bhp to break traction which wasn't possible on a Grifter so you had to make do with the back brake, and you could get it to slide sideways, a "Broady" as they were known.

[Martyn76]

Terminator X said:

If it really is 400hp then there is not enough clear air between it and the fking rapid new Golf R imho. Audi do seem to have shot the RS3 in the foot by giving the RS4 "just" 450hp imho.

TX.

I think the new Golf R is putting out more than the quoted 320hp (there are dyno vids on youtube I think) so I would imagine the RS3 is putting out more than the published figures again?

[SturdyHSV]

Spiros115 said:

What is the obsession with “drifting”? I mean it’s a really, really slow and crap way to go round a corner, mashes tyres, makes an awful screech when you could be listening to an engine.... honestly additions of things like “drift mode” just say to me they’ve run out of ideas how to actually make the car better but know they need something to charge more than the last, its the same as the stupid wiping rear indicators.

Hmm, why could people be drawn to an oversteer mode

Almost every single car review video or magazine shot has to have at least one big smoking drift picture / scene whilst the presenter / journo shouts about how great the car is to drive. This isn't new, Needell, Clarkson, Harris etc. etc.

Every film with a car chase in has the cars oversteering around because it makes it look fast / exciting, that's been going on for what, 70 years easily?

That's all before drifting as an actual motorsport was as popular as it is (obviously not in all circles).

A 'dab of oppo' is even a PH driving god cliché for smurf's sake.

'Oversteer is cool' is drummed into people from an early age.

It is also fun, frankly, so ps off with your cornering efficiency Some contrived 'mode' that makes it akin to the handling in Ridge Racer doesn't really appeal to me though to be honest, but as has been said, it'll make for some fun clips of people binning them into bushes leaving car meets.

[Four Litre]

9k rpm said:

Technically a great car however every RS3 I see seems to be driven very badly in a built up area by an innit bruv bell end.

This sadly rings true. I live in a small village on the outskirts of London. All I ever see (and hear) are Golf R's, S3's and RS3's with the odd 1 series being redlined past the pub and up the small street doing about 70mph, whilst backfiring like they are on a special stage. I don't even look anymore as I know exactly what they will be!

[SidewaysSi]

JmatthewB said:

GTEYE said:

I don’t know why I cringe at use of the word “skids”. The correct word is surely “drifts”. Maybe it’s just me.

Me too.

To me skid is what you do on a push bike as a child when you brake hard with the rear brake.

To me a skid is what you leave in your pants after trying to hold off taking a dump for hours following a big meal.

[Martyn76]

J4CKO said:

JmatthewB said:

GTEYE said:

I don’t know why I cringe at use of the word “skids”. The correct word is surely “drifts”. Maybe it’s just me.

Me too.

To me skid is what you do on a push bike as a child when you brake hard with the rear brake.

And this is the big boys toy version, its exactly the same really.

Best not kid ourselves that it isn't just big kids doing what they did when they were little kids only with 400 bhp to break traction which wasn't possible on a Grifter so you had to make do with the back brake, and you could get it to slide sideways, a "Broady" as they were known.

A handbrake turn is a "skid"? Drifting is, well, moving forwards by going sideways? Looks cool and when executed properly is an indicator of car control\skill (it's a competitive sport) but not something I see as a selling point, but hey I'm old and can't afford this car anyway!

[Bobskirs6]

Having owned RS6's, RS3,s and RS4's all in stock and modified versions I have come to the conclusion that although excellent and A-B in the fastest possible way they just don't involve the driver as much. I test drove a CLA45S+ shooting brake the other day and it was a revelation by comparison.