RS3 Ordered!

[MikeFish]

Yeah that sports exhaust sold it for me.

[Ian_C]

My turn to drive today after seeing / hearing them at Le Mans and Goodwood.

Brief summary of the spec - a launch / demo spec like all 165-ish in the country right now

Nardo Grey
Default standard mirror, window and grille
Electric folding mirrors
Alu roof rails
Alu dash trim
Titanium alloys, 255 front tyres
Super Sport Seats - lunar silver
Extended leather
Dynamic Package - mag dampers and sports exhaust
Comfort Package - incl B&O
Tech Package - MMI Connect
etc

It certainly builds on the excellent S3 - I'd say its much closer in character to the S3 than the RS4 is to the S4 for example. And that is no bad thing imo - it definitely has the Jekyll & Hyde schizophrenic quality that all S & RS models should have. Its smooth and relaxing to drive when you want to pootle in town / cruise / sit on Motorway - something that cannot always be said of the RS4. But on the flip side, the sports exhaust is demented, and with the turbocharged rush if anything it feels faster than the outgoing RS4. With 479 miles on the clock it was barely run in, but it certainly feels a step up from the S3

Just like the S3, there's a bit of lag built in - possibly to make it smoother and easier to drive / modulate the throttle. But after that half second when the turbo picks up it just feels relentless. Acceleration from lower rpm in higher gears was very decent too. 343 lb ft is more than any iteration of the now-defunct naturally aspirated 4.2 litre V8. And the 8V MQB platform is a whole load lighter than any 4.2 engined Audi

You have the traditional ADS (Audi Drive Select) set up of comfort, dynamic, auto or individual. And you have manual, drive and toggle back for sport on the gear shift selector as S tronics have had the last couple of years now. It has creep built in - I thought some S tronics now remained stationary unless you apply throttle? It remains in second at junctions and roundabouts unless you come to a complete stop. However I was pleasantly surprised how early it lets you change down manually - including into first. The exhaust is comical, crackling naughtily on downshifts, it had me giggling continuously.

Before I set off I put the ADS in individual and put everything in Dynamic bar the dampers in comfort. My test route was the B526 - a fast sweeping B road between the villages, similar to bits of the B660. At no point did I think the dampers were too soft. Or that I wanted harder suspension. Tried the dampers in Dynamic briefly, which made the car far too busy. The 255/30 over 235/35 front tyres won't help in that dept either. Would be interesting to drive a fixed-damper car (ie. without the mag dampers). Whilst its a very brilliant system engineering wise, it does make you wonder whether the mag suspension is pointless on UK roads imo.

Good fun overall though on the road just as I suspected it would be - the RS3 is very much a wolf disguised in five-seat five-door clothing like other great S & RS models







Pic of boot because there is confusion how large it is in some Audi literature - its the same as the S3 and A3 quattros - 340 litres

[HYFR]

The mag ride is always working

[Ian_C]

The mag ride is always working

Even in comfort mode? Its stiffening up when you are cornering hard / hit some bumps? Be interesting to drive non-mag and mag suspension cars back to back and see if you can 'feel' the difference!

[MikeFish]

Is the standard flat botom wheel half leather / half alcantara? The dealer told my wife the alcanatara was standard but her spec list just say leather steering wheel.
And does anyknow know exactly what the mono-pur is? Dealer seemed to be blagging it to me. The brochure and the website are both a bit vague. The demo car had alcantara thigh pads and door cards, not sure if this is it, or if they are normally leather or plastic?

[HYFR]

Yes mag ride is always adjusting damping

It's a common mis conception with the R8 that to set the dampers to Sport Suspension is to "turn on mag ride"

It's always working to smooth the ride as best as possible

Btw a Nardo car went past me as I was out running. Sounded ace !!

[Ian_C]

Is the standard flat botom wheel half leather / half alcantara? The dealer told my wife the alcanatara was standard but her spec list just say leather steering wheel.
And does anyknow know exactly what the mono-pur is? Dealer seemed to be blagging it to me. The brochure and the website are both a bit vague. The demo car had alcantara thigh pads and door cards, not sure if this is it, or if they are normally leather or plastic?

Yes, the wheel was half suede / alcantara. Its not the same fuffy alcantara like S and RS models of old I don't think.

Extended leather (why they call it Mono pur in the brochure I have no idea - I'm obviously missing something) is 295 and adds leather thigh pads (either side of the gearstick below the dash front) and leather door handle grabs. You can order it with standard or sports seats. However, if you ordered red stitched Super Sports Seats, mono pur becomes unavailable. I'd imagine this is because the 'RS3 Design Pack' is a 895 option (on top of the 795 Super Sport Seats) that gives you all the red touches - seat belts, air vents, and it includes a red stitched mono pur with it. So Audi probably don't want people ordering the cheaper red Super Sports + mono pur instead of the Super Sports and the more expensive 'RS Design Pack'

If you don't order extended mono pur (or the RS3 Design Pack) the thigh pads and door handles are just the normal plastic.

And as a side note, if you order lunar silver Super Sports with mono pur, the door handles one colour and the thigh pads another? Seems a bit odd to me

[MikeFish]

Thanks Ian. The demo car had all leather seats but alcantara thigh bits and door cards?
Her spec sheet says mono put but this makes the rs3 embossed seats deleted.

[Ian_C]

The door cards will be standard. Its the thigh pads and leather covered door grabs that are the optional bit.

Mono pur available with standard seats and with Super Sports Seats. Both appear to be marked with RS3 embossed on the config?

[MikeFish]

The missus has ordered her one now. Delivery December!!!

[HYFR]

saw a white one with black optics today

looked good !

[MikeFish]

saw a white one with black optics today

looked good !

That's what she's ordered. I said she should have gloss black mirrors too but she went with body coloured.

[HYFR]

she should have listened to you !

[MikeFish]

If she listened to me she'd have been taking delivery of it soon instead of December. She even said she should have listened cos i'm normally right about these things.

[Ian_C]

Post up the full spec dude.