New S3 vs current RS3

Post by **Revolution** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:05 pm

great debate guys....

Thinking of making the jump over to an RS3 for the turbo, paddles and more potential for big power...

Slightly different topic but anyone regretted the jump from an RS4 - RS3...?

Glenn

Post by **Dave_Hedgehog** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 3:01 pm

MARKETING - making the latest greatest new thing you just bought worthless so that you go out and buy the new improved latest greatest thing

I'm sure the S3 will be a big jump over the last car (wouldn't be hard as it was a 6/10 car) i put 5k miles on the loaner one I had, biggest problem it has is the engine is devoid of any character just as it is in the A5 black or the R golf

It also wont be a limited run which will hit residuals

Post by **Dave_Hedgehog** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 3:04 pm

RSphantom wrote:
I think of it like this; If you at the traffic lights in your current S3, S4 or S5 and the equivalent current RS3, RS4 or RS5 pulled up along side I would probably think "I wish I had one of those". However, if I was at the lights in my new model S3 and a current RS3 pulled up along side I not sure I would........

If I was in a new RS4 sitting next to a B5 RS4 I would be thinking I wish my car looked that good and had an engine that had torque below 4k revs

Why I haven't ordered one

Post by **klauster** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 3:44 pm

I seriously don't think ill ever pull up alongside an S Audi and wish I'd bought one... I never felt like that in the RS4...

Post by **klauster** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 3:51 pm

Revolution wrote:great debate guys....

Thinking of making the jump over to an RS3 for the turbo, paddles and more potential for big power...

Slightly different topic but anyone regretted the jump from an RS4 - RS3...?

Glenn

Too early to tell for me Glenn, its different, the interior is nowhere near as good.. quality wise, and the ride is firmer for sure, but it feels faster then the RS4 to 70/80mph and doesn't handle anywhere near as bad as the reviews, the tyres must be the problem, as I have changed mine and its ace

Post by **Daytona3** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:10 pm

Hi Klauster, It's the RS3 you are talking about when you say it's ace now that you changed the tyres aye? If so what have you replaced the Conti's with?

Post by **Revolution** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:16 pm

klauster wrote:
Too early to tell for me Glenn, its different, the interior is nowhere near as good.. quality wise, and the ride is firmer for sure, but it feels faster then the RS4 to 70/80mph and doesn't handle anywhere near as bad as the reviews, the tyres must be the problem, as I have changed mine and its ace

cheers for info...
handling could be sorted easily with tyres, bars etc...as you say I doubt its a major issue though...

maybe need a back to back test with a B8 RS4 to make my mind up...

Post by **klauster** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:16 pm

Daytona3 wrote:Hi Klauster, It's the RS3 you are talking about when you say it's ace now that you changed the tyres aye? If so what have you replaced the Conti's with?

Goodyear Asymmetric 2s

Post by **Daytona3** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:20 pm

cheers... sorry for the first question.... now I am realising that in your signature there's GONE near RS4

Post by **HYFR** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 5:20 pm

Turn TC to sport mode on the RS 3!
Completely different car!

Post by **Revolution** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:06 pm

D_K wrote:Turn TC to sport mode on the RS 3!
Completely different car!

DK - can you turn completely off...?

Post by **P_G** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:10 pm

Revolution wrote:
klauster wrote:
Too early to tell for me Glenn, its different, the interior is nowhere near as good.. quality wise, and the ride is firmer for sure, but it feels faster then the RS4 to 70/80mph and doesn't handle anywhere near as bad as the reviews, the tyres must be the problem, as I have changed mine and its ace
cheers for info...
handling could be sorted easily with tyres, bars etc...as you say I doubt its a major issue though...

maybe need a back to back test with a B8 RS4 to make my mind up...

Surely little Glen having driven my RS3 plus your own and my RS4 would be able to tell you a little about how the cars stack up? If you hadn't been snowboaridng you could have had a try of mine!

Post by **HYFR** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:07 pm

Yes, but you might die!

Revolution wrote:
D_K wrote:Turn TC to sport mode on the RS 3!
Completely different car!
DK - can you turn completely off...?

Post by **535dboy** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:46 pm

D_K wrote:Yes, but you might die!

Revolution wrote:
D_K wrote:Turn TC to sport mode on the RS 3!
Completely different car!
DK - can you turn completely off...?

According to the handbook!

Post by **JonG** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:12 pm

ChinsRS wrote: I used to have the old S3 and a Golf R DSG .....

Hey there Chins, I remember you from the Golf R forum

I think you'll miss the 5-pot if you go for an S3 ... it is IMHO a great combination with the 7 sp S-tronic box with it's low down torque. I know you never liked the Golf R DSG box (well in D mode anyway) and I reckon the new S3 will be a step back towards that for you. Let us know how your test drive goes.

Back on topic :

I think Audi would have had to do something terribly wrong if the new S3 did'nt close the gap to the RS3 ... it will be lighter and more powerful than the old S3, and the handling should be much improved too I hope. I guess we'll have to wait for all the road tests / reviews to see how it really drives. Then everything inside will be much more modern and up to date too.

However I suspect that after adding some reasonable options to the new S3 (and with hardly any dealer discount too for a year or two) , the price gap will also have closed !!! .... so a new £36,000 specced up S3 vs a £39,000 discounted RS3 ... mmm ... decisions, decisions

The big attraction for me is the RS3's engine and performance, which mated with the 7sp S-tronic box and AWD is easily the best combo I've ever driven (my only RS car though btw) and almost intoxicating to drive sometimes, whatever the weather

Peronally I won't be casting any envious glances over at new S3's because of this

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