USED RS3

[Daytona3]

Good morning all,

I paid a refundable deposit on a used Daytona Grey RS 3 (registered Oct 2012) and with 2,700 miles on the clock. The car was being used by a Sales Manager at an Audi approved Dealership. I have read ravishing reviews on the car and needless to say I am very excited to go pick up the car. I was looking for something in the lines of a compact estate with some serious ooomph so the RS3 was the obvious choice.

However, on reading some threads from this website yesterday, I was quite alarmed with the number of quality-related complaints - the worst being that an RS 3 owner's engine went bust after 4000 odd miles. The there were other minor issues such as the hard plastic feel of the rear passenger car doors and wind noise. Other issues appeared to be the tyres. Having an A1 as well, I can confirm that the tyres are complete crap on any type of vehicle.

I would appreciate if any of you people would help me out with the following:

1. Are there are any defects on the car I should be aware of? Is there anything I should look out for?
2. Have there been any vehicle recalls I should be aware of so that I can confirm with the dealership that they have been done?
3. There is mixed feedback on fuel economy... some guys seem to be doing quite well in economy while others are disappointed.... Does this boil down to the driver then?
4. Is the Bose sound system worth it?
5. The car doesn't come with a space saver spare wheel. Has anybody purchased one, if so from where and how much did it cost? AM not really a fan of the foamy stuff they supply with the car.

Thanks for the help. I look forward to your replies.

Cheers,

Ken

[HYFR]

I'm on 4500miles in under 2months

No issues at all.

Tyres are crap.

Fuel economy is OK, but won't do 300+ miles to a tank without really really trying, but still not bad for 340PS

[P_G]

First of all; FON!

Minor problem with forums is that they are good for identifying issues because people want help /assistance with them but if cars run well then you don't hear about it as much which has potential to scare the crap out of potential owners.

Hedgehog was unfortunate with his engine but then consider how many of these engiens are also in the TTRS and how many issues they have (not many) so Dave's, whilst unfortunate is in the minority and was sorted under warranty. As for your queries;

1. Are there are any defects on the car I should be aware of? Is there anything I should look out for? No real defects
2. Have there been any vehicle recalls I should be aware of so that I can confirm with the dealership that they have been done? Front bumper brake duct ventillation recall, s-tronic software and supposeldy there may be a flash for cold start and an oil cooler one but not sure on these
3. There is mixed feedback on fuel economy... some guys seem to be doing quite well in economy while others are disappointed.... Does this boil down to the driver then? Depends on the driver. I've just done 342 miles on 50 litres and hit the magic 31mpg on winter tyres but a lot is to do with my commuting driving. At 3k miles on the clock the engine isn't broken in yet so I expect it to improve still but if I am just hooning around it'll do teens to early 20's
4. Is the Bose sound system worth it? IMO yes having had Audi's with and without Bose. if you haven't had it before, you may not miss it. It's not the best in sound quality e.g. compared to B&O, but then you're in a car for driving?
5. The car doesn't come with a space saver spare wheel. Has anybody purchased one, if so from where and how much did it cost? AM not really a fan of the foamy stuff they supply with the car. Can't help here, have winter and summer wheels if I do ever get a puncture lomg enough to get a new tyre.

As for wind noise it does suffer a bit but then if I have music on it is not a bother for me. I have no interior build quality issues, rattles or squeeks and occasional break squeel but only when I haven't been using the brakes as they should be and a set of Mintex anti squeel shims at worst case would sort this out. My only critcisms of the car are compared to an RS4 in that the handling and cabin plastics aren't as good and it doesn't sound as good by a long way but then that was an RS4. Otherwise it's a dream in commute in 'D' mode, more fuel efficient, more discreet, larger interior cabin than the RS4 and far chaeper tuning potential.

If you are buying form a dealer see if they'll do as part of the deal some Goodyears or Michelins to get rid of the Conti's.

HTH.

[535dboy]

Ha ha contradiction there P_G !

Don't worry about Bose because you've bought the car for driving then ....

.... There is wind noise but I drown it out with the radio!

[P_G]

But Bose wouldn't make any difference to the volume your radio could produce even if it was 'drowning it out'. Reality is that if I don't have the car in sport mode and the exhauist note is over what wind noise there is, then the radio on at a normal level is sufficient for you not to notice wind noise unless your head is pressed up against the door glass.

[barryrs]

As a side note and knowing how family & friends in the motor trade drive.

Would someone not running a car in correctly have an adverse effect on any potential warranty claims?

The sales manager may drive like miss daisy but personal experience tells me otherwise or maybe im just a pessimist!

[Daytona3]

thanks to all you for your feedback.

What barry is pointing out is quite a good point actually... I have not seen or known this person my entire life. For all I know he thrashed the living daylights out of the car but then I am sure this would show from the tyre shoulders especially the front ones and with an auto box i dont think there is much chance of missing a gear....

my only fear - and there is no way i can check that - is the fact that the car may have been redlined often when changing gears.... How many miles for a typical run-in of an engine? I would have thought 3000 miles were enough.

cheers,

ken

[HYFR]

Ken. You seem to be worrying a lot. The car has 3yrs warranty. It will be fine.

[SteveCuz]

That won't affect warranty at all.

I've 17,000 miles on mine now so probably have more than most on here.

The car has been the best car I have ever owned and any issues have been very minor.

Got rid of the contis but got 12,000 or so out of them.

Get 300 miles every tank since the car was about 3 months old. Mainly 340-350 but last time involved a fair bit of fun combined with my commute and got 300 on the button.

Had some rattles which was sorted at first service and also the drivers door seal replaced.

Had the update for the brake cooling and software upgrade for the ABS (this stalled me picking up the car as the update wouldn't go through and I overreacted and thought the issue concerning another RS3 owner and a failed ecu update was going to happen to me but all was good)

My brakes squealed (a lot of performance brakes do too) for the first 8,000 miles or so but anytime they did it was normally due to slow traffic on my commute. I spirited braking session sorted that and I wouldn't get it again for a while.

Have had no brake squeal for over 6 months now.

Love the car, 340 bhp, 0-60 4 secs, 30mpg (or mid to late 20s), can carry my family of 5, new and under warranty for 5 years - what else can do that? (the new A45 AMG LOL but nothing else)

Steve

[Daytona3]

guess you're right D_K...

fact is I am travelling from abroad to go pick up the car then export the vehicle once the deal is done... I just want to be aware of as many things as possible because international warranty or not - the fact that i would be using it in a different country means I wont face the same dealership should anything come up. :s

cheers D_K

[HYFR]

The hardware is well proven via the TTRS since 2010.

Engine, gearbox, brakes etc.

I've had x3 TTRS's and driven them all hard and they've not had a single issue over 25000miles.

These are cars are fairly uncomplicated and pretty reliable.

[geek]

The only recurring issue I have experienced is squealing brakes. Drive it as it was designed to be driven and this goes, they only squeal when driven around town excessively.

Just buy it and enjoy it.

The engine is a gem; I have driven it hard since day one / 40 miles and it just feels stronger by the mile.

If I do a motorway commute I will see a 31/33 average, if I push it I will get 18/23....After 3500 miles I am at an average of 24.5. I don't hold back, i drive it as designed when conditions allow.

I only have one rule, don't put the engine under load until you are seeing 90c on the digital gauge.

This is a 4ish second to 60 car; set your expectations accordingly and all will be good.

[Daytona3]

Hi all. Cheers for the feedback. Is there a recommended oil for the RS3 that is best suited to the car? Ratio of usage will be 60% city driving and 40% motorway.

[Dave_Hedgehog]

My car went bang, Audi and primarily Walton Audi where superb, I got a new car, free S3 DSG as a loaner and 1000 miles in a brand new R8 spyder

My first car had a raft if fauls, my new one has been faultless (touch wood), its a late car like yours and u suspect they ironed out a lot of bugs

Only minor problem I know of is squeaky brakes at low speed, Audi are working in a fix

Your car being later should have had the few minor recalls built into it

I get 22mpg but I use it properly, 31 is easy when cruising

BOSE is worth every penny IMO my first car had the stock radio and it sounded horrid, BOSE whisks not audiophile quality is fine for me, first car audio system I have not had to adjust the bass/treble in, it's bloody loud as well

Not bothered with the space saver got Audi recovery and 30 films on my iPhone

[Dave_Hedgehog]

Oh yeah the tyres are <beep>