S3 Saloon 310ps home

[Paulm]

Interesting car.

FL DSG saloon in Black. Not usually a black person but Audi S3 colours are very limited.

HUGE improvement over the RS3 in terms of comfort, tech, looks, gearbox( FL has 7 speed DSG) and dare I say engine? I think Audi are telling porkies re the 310ps this thing (for what it is ) is bloody fast. easily as quick as my old RS3. I think the thing that makes it a good bit quicker is the gearbox. Its much faster and seems to be more intuitive re which gear it should be in. I complained about the RS3 being slow to get in gear and go, especially if driving behind a car at around 60 then nailing it to quickly pass. The RS3 just sat there finished its fag then went for it, the S3 just goes making it far quicker passing when needed. yes I could have selected manual in the RS3 but not much point having an auto if you have to go into manual all the time. S3 is deffo more advanced in terms of engine and box harmony.

* Road noise is an issue but I always find that. Sound proofing the rear of the RS3 made a noticeable difference I intend doing the same to the S3.
* Comfort. Not as compliant as I was expecting but definitely more comfortable than the RS3, and is acceptable.
* Tech. virtual dash is awesome, especially the satnav. fantastic well worth the money. All the different options is very smart.
* LED lights, although I did not go for matrix they are still LED and are excellent
* Seats again HUGE difference over the RS3 where I always felt I was sitting way too high the S3 is back to feeling like the RS6 which I loved. I did not spec electric seats just in case it made the seating position too high again
* Engine feels very impressive for being "only" 2.0, it is very torquey at low revs and is very eager to rev. great power for a wee power plant. It does not feel like I have lost 500cc
* Handling is pretty crazy, soo much fun and so far (only done 100 miles) not found its limits

early days but I wonder if I have actually found a car I like with huge tuning potential that wont empty my bank account

loads more to come.

PS we need a new section

[MikeFish]

Congrats but you know the rules!!!!!

And why do we need a new section?

[bam_bam]

Rule 1. NEOW!

[Paulm]

well we don't but need a wee tag on for the FL 310ps model

only go the one. Will get more tomrrow

Been out for a good old blast today. Very impressed. Turn in is very aggressive so much so I overdid it and had to correct the car mid corner (close to being in the field LOL). I am used to that corner in the old car but geee this thing fairly puts its nose in, well impressed. Although the RS3 never really had issues with turn in this thing is so much more direct and pointy.

[bam_bam]

Do like.

[MikeFish]

Nice one Paul. I do like the S3 saloon a lot. Shame the RS3 photos look so lame so far. More photos please.

None of the other forums on here have a tag on for facelift models, they all live happily in there together. It's not like it's a very busy forum is it?

[Paulm]

Yes but they all list / recognise the power increases or plus models etc, don't really care either way.

More pics tomorrow including the really cool Virtual cockpit. That's deffo the way froward.

No mods this time home but a few in the pipeline though.

On my wee test track it's 2 mph faster than the RS3 so I guess it's got at least 335ps or just a good chunk lighter??

[535dboy]

Nice one Paul - staying standard this one

Old man is about to order new cars for him and mum

He is going VC and matrix lights for his but probably not bother with hers.

Blasted up the bypass today following A 16 plate (facelift?), bloody thing shifted. I'm hoping it was remapped!!

Look forward to more pics.

[Ian_C]

well we don't but need a wee tag on for the FL 310ps model

only go the one. Will get more tomrrow

Been out for a good old blast today. Very impressed. Turn in is very aggressive so much so I overdid it and had to correct the car mid corner (close to being in the field LOL). I am used to that corner in the old car but geee this thing fairly puts its nose in, well impressed. Although the RS3 never really had issues with turn in this thing is so much more direct and pointy.

Paul, do you mean compared with the current 8V RS3, or the previous 8P? Neither are in your sig'

[MikeFish]

Ian, Paul recently had an 8P RS3 so I would say he is comparing to that.

Paul, I see what you are saying about the tag now! I didn't quite know what you meant before.

[toyneg]

i should have mine in a few weeks, it is sat at the Port in Germany at the moment - can't wait to get my hands on it.

[MikeFish]

Have you started boat watching yet Graham?

[TobyRS4]

early days but I wonder if I have actually found a car I like with huge tuning potential that wont empty my bank account

in a word.... nope! its the bug that empties your bank account not the car!

on a serious note these look really good, iv seen a fair few with only basic upgrades now running 11.8-11.9 quarter miles too, the launch control on the new DSG is something quite impressive

[toyneg]

Have you started boat watching yet Graham?

im trying not too Mike lol to be fair Audi have lent me a brand new A5 until mine arrives

[Paulm]

Nice one Paul - staying standard this one

Old man is about to order new cars for him and mum

He is going VC and matrix lights for his but probably not bother with hers.

Blasted up the bypass today following A 16 plate (facelift?), bloody thing shifted. I'm hoping it was remapped!!

Look forward to more pics.

Car is deffo fast. I am really quite surprised. I drove the manual before I bought this but the torque is lower due to the clutch not being able to cope, when this thing arrived and I gave it a blast I did not expect it to be so quick.

I had Matrix on the RS6 and although they were great I was not prepared to pay for them. The LEDs on the S3 are the very same lights as the Matrix but just don't dip individual LEDs. So when a car comes towards you it goes into dip whereas the Matrix will only dip 1 or more LEDs, that's how I understand it. Matrix was extremely cool though.

Not sure keeping standard or not

Remap & exhaust is around 400bhp. Intercooler and tte 525 gives around 530bhp. That would be pretty crazy in this small car.

I intend keeping it a year or so as there are a few interesting cars being released next year.

E AMG, M5 Possible 4wd, RS3, RSQ5, Hyundai i30 concept rumour has it they are making something not so extreme but will be pretty in your face ( I am not a badge snob I will buy anything if it tics all the boxes) to name a few. On saying that the S3 is very good value for money not so sure they others listed will be.

I guess the temptation to play with this one will be too big though lol