Random thoughts S3 v RS3

[Dave_Hedgehog]

I hate drug dealer glass inside even more than outside, feels like a van inside, very claustrophobic

BOSE, has fidelity but no bass unless you ramp it up to 9 million on the volume, sounds like there's no sub which is odd as the RS with no bose had a very loud sub

MPG - the S3 is almost as bad as the R32, its getting 5mpg less than the RS3 on the same runs into work? must be the lack of a tall 7th gear

torque steer, i got torque steer coming out of a fast right hand bend on a damp road?? never had that on the R32 or the RS

braking, the S3 gets badly out of shape on moderate braking, what i would call 4/10 in the RS

handling, the S3 is a very handy little box, handles really well, much better than the R32, the back is extremely controllable on the throttle (something which I can not do on the RS, probably down to the new rear end on the RS) turn in is very good. But the RS feels 4 foot wider on the front and turns in even better. Steering is noticeably lighter with less feedback but its plenty good enough

DSG 6 dry clutch, works much faster than the one in my R32 but they may have been shagged, its smouth and quick but does not slam it in gear like the RS does

exhaust - i assume its got a vacuum butterfly valve like the R32, it gets very loud when pressing on, i have actually had people turn around to look at me (bring back stealth hooning). It makes the most fantastic loud barp on full bore gear changes which is brilliant but unstealthy .. its not a very soulful sound thou

engine, very eager to rev, pulls very respectably in 1+2 starts to lack a little pace in taller gears, the lack of low down torque is noticeable (probably because the A6 had massive amounts lol) i have to knock it down 2 cogs to wake it up, no hardship with DSG thou, not the most characterfull of engines

inside, its the same apart from the seats, gear knob and steering wheel, which is good as i like it a lot, I actually prefer the A3's interior to the A4, A5 and last model A6 (acres of cheap painted plastic blurghhh ) I am getting a little back ache from the seats, lumber support is a bit odd

suspension, its a firm ride but very soft compared to the RS, however moderate bumps and holes can fire individual wheels into the stratosphere, you can feel the wheel leave the road! it badly compromises the handling , RS has never done this, the whole car can jump sideways a few feet at ludicrous speed but it feels like all 4 wheels and the body are one, the S3 does not feel like this

the S3 is one of those cars that's very easy to drive, you can jump in and go flat out having never driven before, its very benign and communicates well but gets a little out of shape on hard cornering, bumps or hard braking, its a truly great hot hatch, quick everywhere no matter the weather, will take all the family and there stuff and is a nice place to be in.

the RS is just so different and thank you audi for putting all the money into the oily bits on the RS and not wasting it on changing the way it looks, all the important bits are just so much better

[drybeer]

I hate drug dealer glass inside even more than outside, feels like a van inside, very claustrophobic

BOSE, has fidelity but no bass unless you ramp it up to 9 million on the volume, sounds like there's no sub which is odd as the RS with no bose had a very loud sub

That's interesting - I thought similarly on an older A3 Sportback 2.0TFSi quattro S-line I had - the BOSE was noticeably better quality, but the bass was subtle. IIRC it changed completely if you drove above 80mph at HIGH volume and the audio pilot software then ramps up the bottom end more nicely but still clear sounding.

[Dave_Hedgehog]

I hate drug dealer glass inside even more than outside, feels like a van inside, very claustrophobic

BOSE, has fidelity but no bass unless you ramp it up to 9 million on the volume, sounds like there's no sub which is odd as the RS with no bose had a very loud sub

That's interesting - I thought similarly on an older A3 Sportback 2.0TFSi quattro S-line I had - the BOSE was noticeably better quality, but the bass was subtle. IIRC it changed completely if you drove above 80mph at HIGH volume and the audio pilot software then ramps up the bottom end more nicely but still clear sounding.

ah yeah, i fooking hate that the auto adjusting volume, pisses me right off, goes up and down on its own when stationary grrrrr

you could turn it off on the base radio, cant seam to find an option on the bose

[drybeer]

Yes on BOSE Audiopilot is always on - I don't mind it.

[Dave_Hedgehog]

Yes on BOSE Audiopilot is always on - I don't mind it.

i do because i auto adjust the volume, then it does, then i does and i end up sitting it traffic stationary having a <beep> fight with the volume


even worse when the phone rings and it ups the poxy volume and im spinning it down and its turning up and im still spinning it down and its turning up.....

[HYFR]

strange, i hated my S3 black edition S-tronic ... have never ordered another

hopefully the new one will be better

[Dave_Hedgehog]

bored of it now, its far too similar to the R32, far to easy to drive at 100% everywhere, but the lack of torque low down makes it very inflexible in the real world, 3-4 second delay from pressing the loud pedal at the lights to it actually starting to move...