Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

2.5 I5 20v TFSI - 335 bhp
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BillTheButcher
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Re: Test driving an RS3 Sportback this weekend

Post by BillTheButcher » Fri Oct 30, 2015 12:27 pm

marc1 wrote:I guess that means there will potentially be less competition buying it perhaps. It was a tongue in cheek comment about the looks really (sorry :P ).
:lol:
marc1 wrote:If you like it, great. For me the front flare vs normal rear is a no no. Personally I'd lease a Golf R. Better car and less cost over the period.
The more subtle the better this time around. I've been driving a V6 Exige for the last year and I'm getting a bit tired of all the attention.

I'm test driving a Golf R tomorrow as well. I drove one with DSG last year and it was :sleeping_2:. It looked much better in the metal than in photos but the synthesised noise in the cabin was rubbish and I found it very dull to drive. If the manual livens it up a bit maybe I could learn to live with the pathetic soundtrack.
marc1 wrote:See how it shapes up on the test drive.
:thumbs:

Fatneck73
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Re: Test driving an RS3 Sportback this weekend

Post by Fatneck73 » Fri Oct 30, 2015 2:05 pm

If for one am keen to see what you think of the Golf R v's the RS3...
Last edited by Fatneck73 on Fri Oct 30, 2015 2:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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BillTheButcher
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Re: Test driving an RS3 Sportback this weekend

Post by BillTheButcher » Fri Oct 30, 2015 2:29 pm

Fatneck73 wrote:If for be am keen to see what you think of the Golf R v's the RS3...
I'll post in here when I get back. :)

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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by pete62 » Fri Oct 30, 2015 8:03 pm

Recently I was in a similar position. I wanted a smaller rs model to own alongside my c5 rs6 and looked at both the b7 and b8 rs4.
I also came across an 2012 rs3 and test drove it mindful of the kind of comments seen above and in a nutshell I liked it.
Is it perfect...nope
Is the handling brilliant.. nope, but I personally didn't find it that bad
Still made me smile ,great engine ,5 door practicality , auto which I like cause I'm lazy .
So I say enjoy your test drive and if you like it try not to be too influenced by those that don't .
Let us know what you think

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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by HYFR » Fri Oct 30, 2015 8:12 pm

^ totally agree. If you like it, buy it.

not everyone needs to have the last word in handling

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BillTheButcher
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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by BillTheButcher » Fri Oct 30, 2015 10:52 pm

The Exige S was wasted on me. I'm not a talented enough driver to make the most of its abilities.

With that in mind, perhaps something like an RS3 or a Golf R will be perfect for me. :mrgreen:

I appreciate everyone's comments but they will have no bearing on which car I buy. :)

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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by 535dboy » Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:26 am

335d BMW then if you don't want to totally give up !

Good economy and will keep up with an S4 fine if that bothers you

Shame about the lotus though
Currently :
2019 Porsche 992S (£21k of extra toys)
2019 Porsche Macan S (£18k of extra toys)
2015 Lotus Exige V6 ( c430bhp)
2019 Seat Ibiza excellence Lux! (115bhp, 3 cyl, dsg)
1987 Porsche 928S4
1967 Jaaag Mk2 3.4

Ex
2017 AMG E class wagon
2012 Audi RS4 (B8)
2012 Porsche Boxster S (981)

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Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by doodlebug » Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:28 am

Devils fuel. Wouldn't touch with a barge pole. And I suspect part of the VW fallout will confirm this (again) and tax will be tweaked.

Personally I'd take the S4. RS3 is OK in a straight line, but the interior and controls are prehistoric. RNS-E!!

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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by HYFR » Sat Oct 31, 2015 8:58 pm

+1 S4

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BillTheButcher
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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by BillTheButcher » Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:38 pm

535dboy wrote:335d BMW then if you don't want to totally give up !

Good economy and will keep up with an S4 fine if that bothers you

Shame about the lotus though
The Lotus has been an amazing car to own but I need something different for the time being.

I've owned one diesel. I hope I never have to own another. :lol: I know they can be as quick as, or quicker than, their petrol counterparts but I just can't stand the way they sound. Noise forms a huge part of my enjoyment of a car.
doodlebug wrote:Devils fuel. Wouldn't touch with a barge pole. And I suspect part of the VW fallout will confirm this (again) and tax will be tweaked.

Personally I'd take the S4. RS3 is OK in a straight line, but the interior and controls are prehistoric. RNS-E!!
I looked at and had a passenger run in an S4 on my way to the test drives yesterday. The interior was nice but the car didn't feel special enough to me. Maybe a drive would have changed that but it's a bit late now...

Deal done. I'm picking up the RS3 tomorrow. :)

It was never going to be as sharp, as precise or as angry as the Exige (in fairness I've never driven anything that was) but I absolutely love the noise, the pace, the interior and the gearbox.

My drive in the Golf R in the morning confirmed my thoughts from driving the DSG version last year. A competent car but not in the least bit exciting even when I was pushing on. The manual 'box livened things up a bit but not nearly enough. And the noise that's pumped into the cabin was as pitiful as I remembered it being.

The biggest surprise getting into the '3 was how much nicer the cabin is than the Golf's. The last Audi I drove was my C5 RS6. I didn't realise interiors had moved on so much by the 8P.

I'm very happy with my decision. I know the RS3 isn't to everyone's taste but I really like it and I'm looking forward to putting some miles on it. 8)

I'd like to make the most of the noise (even with S pressed I feel it could do with being a bit louder especially in the cabin) so a catback will probably be in order before too long. :)
Last edited by BillTheButcher on Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:52 am, edited 3 times in total.

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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by HYFR » Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:42 pm

You can fit the car by pass pipes for £200 which will make a difference

Drive with the ESP in Sport mode. Makes a massive difference, makes it drive less like a FWD car. And fit Michelin PSS

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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by HYFR » Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:42 pm

*cat

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BillTheButcher
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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by BillTheButcher » Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:45 pm

HYFR wrote:You can fit the car by pass pipes for £200 which will make a difference
:thumbs:
HYFR wrote:Drive with the ESP in Sport mode. Makes a massive difference, makes it drive less like a FWD car. And fit Michelin PSS
Is that what the S button does or is the ESP something different? I thought the S button just changed the throttle response and noise.

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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by marc1 » Mon Nov 02, 2015 7:33 am

Pleased you're happy Bill. Look forward to some pictures once you've collected it. :thumbs:

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Re: Driving an RS3 Sportback (and a Mk7 Golf R) this weekend

Post by BillTheButcher » Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:30 am

Thanks, Marc. :)

I'll take some pictures when I pick it up this afternoon. It will never be that clean again. :lol:

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