New RS3 in waiting

[Dave_Hedgehog]

had a good look at the new A3 this morning

it has very pronounced creases / lines on the side which don't show very will in the pics

inside is the usual audi quality, very similar to the outgoing car just with updated tech

30k for a 180bhp sline thou a couple of grand more will get you in an RS3

[PetrolDave]

30k for a 180bhp sline thou

That's the problem with Audi now, their sales are booming so they're cranking the prices up.

Don't reckon I'll be buying another Audi, there are much better value cars in the VAG Group with little (if any) loss in build quality of technology.

[535dboy]

Forgot about this, was invited.

Feel like taking lotus for a blast so may whizz down quickly.

[Adams RS]

Forgot about this, was invited.

Feel like taking lotus for a blast so may whizz down quickly.

new lotus exige s 345bhp and weighs 1176kg allot new but be good to see how much they are on the second hand Market in a year or so

[Dave_Hedgehog]

got of my ample ass and posted the pics

the car is far more sculpted than comes across in the pics, very strong lines (creases) and curves especially on the side, quality but understated interior. Not a massive change up from the 8P apart from the electric gizmos if you are into those kinds of gimmicks

but hells bells, 30k for a basic 180bhp engine!! whats the S3 sportback going to come in at with a few options, 45K???

its getting ever harder to resit putting down a deposit on an R8 and being in debt for eternity lol ..

[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/rvfnCNEP.jp ... m/rvfnCNEP

[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/P79RzIa3.jp ... m/P79RzIa3

[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/8EQnA7Do.jp ... m/8EQnA7Do

[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/otBSZfp6.jp ... m/otBSZfp6

[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/23GuuoGb.jp ... m/23GuuoGb

[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/dxvP8UJ3.jp ... m/dxvP8UJ3

[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/R6MB7dHM.jp ... m/R6MB7dHM

[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/s3OGPAmc.jp ... m/s3OGPAmc

[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/PAdh9gPT.jp ... m/PAdh9gPT

[Dave_Hedgehog]

Forgot about this, was invited.

Feel like taking lotus for a blast so may whizz down quickly.

new lotus exige s 345bhp and weighs 1176kg allot new but be good to see how much they are on the second hand Market in a year or so

about 10k i would imagine after lotus go bust

[HYFR]

LOL
The 8P is like from the 1970's compared to the new A3
Everything about it is miles better
Its price is competitive in the market segment
Dave best you buy a Skoda

[Dave_Hedgehog]

LOL
The 8P is like from the 1970's compared to the new A3
Everything about it is miles better
Its price is competitive in the market segment
Dave best you buy a Skoda

how so?

it looks almost identical externally apart from having the latest set of audi styling Qs, they are just a bit more pronounced in the metal than on the pics, 99% of normal punters couldnt tell which model A3 you had

the interior material quality is no better, its just arranged in a slightly different layout

its got more buttons and electric crap but they add zero to the performance of the car, but there aimed at the yuth market not the drivers market

most of the weight saving comes from comparing large heavy old tech engines that are now replaced with smaller but more powerful units

obviously i haven't driven one, but i suspect the drive will be very much like the stock models of the old A3 and the stock models of the new A4 (which i have driven), ie as involving as a washing machine, just like 99% of the rest of the Audi range.


and £29,995 gets you a M135i with 320bhp that does sub 5 sec 60s, albeit in a smaller body

[HYFR]

Lol
Erm completely new chassis platform which is much lighter and handles much better than the 1970 A3 but still not great compared to a BM
Interior tech is night and day. Old A3 has an RNSE!! This has full blown Audi MMI which is easily best in the industry

The old A3 came out in 2004
That is 8 years ago!!!

[Dave_Hedgehog]

Lol
Erm completely new chassis platform which is much lighter and handles much better than the 1970 A3 but still not great compared to a BM
Interior tech is night and day. Old A3 has an RNSE!! This has full blown Audi MMI which is easily best in the industry

The old A3 came out in 2004
That is 8 years ago!!!

it does not matter how old it is, or how the chassis is designed, what matters is how it drives

i have been in both and material quality is no different, it is just arranged differently

as i said most of the weight saving is from comparing a super heavy old engine with a much smaller but equally powerfully newer engine, i doubt there will be 30kgs difference between RS3s using the same engine/drivetrain etc

i honestly don't care about the MMI crap, its a marketing gimmick, i have had audi loan cars with it, you play with it, set it up and forget about it, im sure to the iphone/andriod/xbox generation its important to upgrade your tech every 6 weeks but it has zero impact on how the car turns in, accelerates, brakes etc which is what is important, this is don't forget RS246 not mumsnet or letsbuyaudiprcrap.

[andre3k]

Flat-bottomed steering wheel straight of the bat? They're really making it difficult to want to own the RS when the same styling can be had on the base model.

[Dave_Hedgehog]

Flat-bottomed steering wheel straight of the bat? They're really making it difficult to want to own the RS when the same styling can be had on the base model.

yeah i was a bit miffed about that

as long as they don't put the 5pot in anything other than the RS all is well in the world

[535dboy]

Forgot about this, was invited.

Feel like taking lotus for a blast so may whizz down quickly.

new lotus exige s 345bhp and weighs 1176kg allot new but be good to see how much they are on the second hand Market in a year or so

about 10k i would imagine after lotus go bust

I fear we have gone off topic a bit here but quickly........

....I drove the new Exige recently on a track day at LeMans I was on because Lotus brough one done on an RMA day.

I was mightly impressed on the handling front and general composure of it all, giving you more confidence to push on though.

The downsides as pointed out are the 200 extra kilos. Mine is running 280BHP with 200 less kg to carry around and the fact for the spec I would want/need it is now a £60k car !

On the residual front the Lotus I have had have been my soundest investment in cars!

Example

Bought both the Exige and wifey's high spec TTV6 vert new in 2008 in the same month. Both cost £40k. 4 years later with similar mileages I sold the TT for £11.5k and was offered between £25-27k on the Lotus

[gilford]

Im not keen on it, but then I've never really liked the A3

Can't see an RS3 for a good while yet, and if those prices are anything to go by it will be near £50k!

[HYFR]

LOL