New Audi S3

evil_scooby · 10-23-2010, 06:52 AM

Just wondering if anyone has one of these or has driven one. Thinking about selling my 335d coupe and getting one. They look decent inside and out, and I love the Audi blue just now.
I was wondering if they feel fast when driving them or are similar feel to the 335 after a remap.
I see the remaps alone take them up to about 305bhp. 0-60 seems similar to the BMW.

Any views or drivers?

dxb335d · 10-23-2010, 06:56 AM

Looks very nice! I'm sure will drive well also.
I think I'll go and test drive one. Still not a major fan of the hatchbackness of it
though. Prefer a Coupe myself!

JLR1969 · 10-23-2010, 07:10 AM

I once drove one and although very well made did not make me think WOW. At the time I was only driving a 320D as well.

Possibly it was faster than it felt. For me Audi's all seem the same inside, boring and a little bit plasticky, not what they were.

Still a quality car though!

gIzzE · 10-23-2010, 09:31 AM

I had one on loan for 2 days, well from 9am till 5pm the next day.

I took it back after 45 mins, it was shite!!

I bought the 123d instead, completely different league. Don't get me wrong nothing wrong with the A3 and I had a DSG 2.0tdi s-line back in 2005, but the S3 just fails.
I know 3 BMW guys who have bought them and the longest lasted 4 months in it before swapping it.

E92Fan · 10-23-2010, 10:45 AM

Ask Paul (Biscuits) - he had a white S3 for almost half a year. Think it was remapped as well with a few mods etc.

BGM · 10-23-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gIzzE

I had one on loan for 2 days, well from 9am till 5pm the next day.

I took it back after 45 mins, it was shite!!

I bought the 123d instead, completely different league. Don't get me wrong nothing wrong with the A3 and I had a DSG 2.0tdi s-line back in 2005, but the S3 just fails.
I know 3 BMW guys who have bought them and the longest lasted 4 months in it before swapping it.

wow, really?!

Silver Shadow · 10-23-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLR1969

For me Audi's all seem the same inside, boring and a little bit plasticky, not what they were.

Are you suggesting BMW make better interiors than Audi?? My last A3's interior felt soooooooooo much better put together than my current £35K BMW!! Better materials, less creaks/sqeaks and a far nicer place to be...

Parbox · 10-24-2010, 05:48 PM

I lasted 6 months in a 58 plate S3. Wanted to chip it up but found that it would probably need a new clutch within around 10K miles according to most of the forums.

It had good power but was not at all linear. The noise was more like a vacume cleaner.

The great thing about it was that I could beat many bigger cars as the handling was very predictable and I would be on full throttle much more of the time gaining good ground.

In the end I felt I was too old (39) to be driving a hot hatch.

Would recommend a test drive over a weekend if possible - day one will feel great as it is light and quite good fun - after that it felt a little lacking.

Good luck deciding.

evil_scooby · 10-24-2010, 06:10 PM

hmmm, not the most positive comments lol
As for the interior, to be honest I thought the Audis looked nicer than the bmw, espeically the a5 I was tempted with before I got my 335.

New clutch when its remapped? Is that on the manuals? Bit dissapointing if it cant handle much more power.

Whats the mpg like compared to a fast BMW diesel? On paper they seem semi similar

If a 123d is more fun than the s3 I think it may not be the best choice as I felt the 123d a little duller than I expected. It was nice but not really exciting.

Parbox · 10-24-2010, 06:32 PM

I was getting 22mpg in town and 28 on the motorways in the S3. A mate has the 123d and although a really nice car I think the S3 is much more fun - but he gets 35/45 mpg.

The clutch on the manuals is the weak point - looks like it cost £1000 for a new one.

Carefull of the A5 - it is heavy.

If I was buying now - I think it would be a 370Z.

evil_scooby · 10-25-2010, 03:42 PM

Not good regarding the clutch :-( Bit tired of the auto in the 335d so didnt really want to get the auto in the s3 but maybe its best if it can handle the extra power of the remap.

28mpg on the motorway sounds pretty bad

I was planning on getting the 370z but after having a shot in one for the day it just felt a little lifeless. Maybe cause it didnt have the turbo and the intial grunt. I liked the looks of it and the interior, just thought it would be faster with the 330 odd bhp

JLR1969 · 10-25-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Shadow

Are you suggesting BMW make better interiors than Audi?? My last A3's interior felt soooooooooo much better put together than my current £35K BMW!! Better materials, less creaks/sqeaks and a far nicer place to be...

I feel that Audi interiors are very well made but have taken a backwards step in the last few years.

I used to have a 2007 A4 and went to look at a 2008 as it was a new model. In comparison the 2008 seemed a lot less special.

Given the choice of interior I would prefer a BMW. My 08 E92 was faultless .

Parbox · 10-26-2010, 02:17 AM

Scooby, How about a manual 335i or a S4 3.0 with sports diff?

Oli · 10-27-2010, 03:12 PM

I had one, great little car. With remap and exhaust was getting on near 330bhp. Not many cars to keep up with it proper little rocket! Steering feel a little dead.

I'd have dsg if I had one again - my wife loved it, so could be on the short list again in the future, as a second car!

evil_scooby · 11-06-2010, 02:18 PM

Oli, how does it feel and compare with your 335D ?

Oli · 11-07-2010, 08:26 AM

A lot more fun and when mapped, like for like, I found it faster.

BGM · 11-07-2010, 08:49 AM

do these come in quattro and DSG ?

don't seem to be a selectable option on the audi site...

beemerbird · 11-07-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGM

do these come in quattro and DSG ?

don't seem to be a selectable option on the audi site...

If you look at the blurb on the S3 it appears that quattro is standard and S tronic (dual clutch). The configurator contradicts this stating 6 speed manual or s tronic as gearbox options. Think they need to update their site!

I would base things on the initial blurb tbh.

http://www.audi.co.uk/new-cars/a3/s3/quattro.html

BGM · 11-07-2010, 09:59 AM

oh right, so it only comes in that combo now? like the RS5?

beemerbird · 11-07-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGM

oh right, so it only comes in that combo now? like the RS5?

The website implies that, or rather that is my interpretation, but I could be wrong obviously. It's the way they are promoting the dual clutch system that makes me think this is the case. Normally under the heading of transmission, they would word it along the lines of ' the optional s tronic gearbox offers......'

Might have to ring my dealer tomorrow now as it's bugging me lol.

Bungle009 · 11-07-2010, 11:52 AM

Manual & Quattro are standard on the S3. S-tronic (DSG) is a cost option.

Irnbrukid · 11-07-2010, 12:00 PM

Think S-tronic has been an option on the S3 for about the last 18 months.

10-23-2010, 06:52 AM	#1
evil_scooby m340i owner 25 Rep 292 Posts Drives: Ex Scoob, Ex S4, ex 335d m340i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	New Audi S3 Just wondering if anyone has one of these or has driven one. Thinking about selling my 335d coupe and getting one. They look decent inside and out, and I love the Audi blue just now. I was wondering if they feel fast when driving them or are similar feel to the 335 after a remap. I see the remaps alone take them up to about 305bhp. 0-60 seems similar to the BMW. Any views or drivers?
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10-23-2010, 06:56 AM	#2
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 949 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Looks very nice! I'm sure will drive well also. I think I'll go and test drive one. Still not a major fan of the hatchbackness of it though. Prefer a Coupe myself! __________________ 997.2 GT3
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10-23-2010, 07:10 AM	#3
JLR1969 Major General 1882 Rep 7,000 Posts Drives: Kubota GR1600 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: England iTrader: (1)	I once drove one and although very well made did not make me think WOW. At the time I was only driving a 320D as well. Possibly it was faster than it felt. For me Audi's all seem the same inside, boring and a little bit plasticky, not what they were. Still a quality car though!
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10-23-2010, 09:31 AM	#4
gIzzE Major General 363 Rep 5,984 Posts Drives: F11 + 911 C4 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norfolk, UK. iTrader: (2)	I had one on loan for 2 days, well from 9am till 5pm the next day. I took it back after 45 mins, it was shite!! I bought the 123d instead, completely different league. Don't get me wrong nothing wrong with the A3 and I had a DSG 2.0tdi s-line back in 2005, but the S3 just fails. I know 3 BMW guys who have bought them and the longest lasted 4 months in it before swapping it.
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10-23-2010, 10:45 AM	#5
E92Fan Moderator 322 Rep 5,493 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: . iTrader: (0)	Ask Paul (Biscuits) - he had a white S3 for almost half a year. Think it was remapped as well with a few mods etc. __________________ ... ... ... DMS Remap Review ----- Quaife LSD Review ----- Hartge Antiroll Bars Review ----- Bilstein PSS10 B16 Ride Control Review ----- Detail by ShineOn ----- Paintshield Review
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10-24-2010, 05:48 PM	#8
Parbox Enlisted Member 0 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Surrey, UK iTrader: (0)	I lasted 6 months in a 58 plate S3. Wanted to chip it up but found that it would probably need a new clutch within around 10K miles according to most of the forums. It had good power but was not at all linear. The noise was more like a vacume cleaner. The great thing about it was that I could beat many bigger cars as the handling was very predictable and I would be on full throttle much more of the time gaining good ground. In the end I felt I was too old (39) to be driving a hot hatch. Would recommend a test drive over a weekend if possible - day one will feel great as it is light and quite good fun - after that it felt a little lacking. Good luck deciding.
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10-24-2010, 06:10 PM	#9
evil_scooby m340i owner 25 Rep 292 Posts Drives: Ex Scoob, Ex S4, ex 335d m340i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	hmmm, not the most positive comments lol As for the interior, to be honest I thought the Audis looked nicer than the bmw, espeically the a5 I was tempted with before I got my 335. New clutch when its remapped? Is that on the manuals? Bit dissapointing if it cant handle much more power. Whats the mpg like compared to a fast BMW diesel? On paper they seem semi similar If a 123d is more fun than the s3 I think it may not be the best choice as I felt the 123d a little duller than I expected. It was nice but not really exciting.
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10-24-2010, 06:32 PM	#10
Parbox Enlisted Member 0 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Surrey, UK iTrader: (0)	I was getting 22mpg in town and 28 on the motorways in the S3. A mate has the 123d and although a really nice car I think the S3 is much more fun - but he gets 35/45 mpg. The clutch on the manuals is the weak point - looks like it cost £1000 for a new one. Carefull of the A5 - it is heavy. If I was buying now - I think it would be a 370Z.
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10-25-2010, 03:42 PM	#11
evil_scooby m340i owner 25 Rep 292 Posts Drives: Ex Scoob, Ex S4, ex 335d m340i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	Not good regarding the clutch :-( Bit tired of the auto in the 335d so didnt really want to get the auto in the s3 but maybe its best if it can handle the extra power of the remap. 28mpg on the motorway sounds pretty bad I was planning on getting the 370z but after having a shot in one for the day it just felt a little lifeless. Maybe cause it didnt have the turbo and the intial grunt. I liked the looks of it and the interior, just thought it would be faster with the 330 odd bhp
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10-26-2010, 02:17 AM	#13
Parbox Enlisted Member 0 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Surrey, UK iTrader: (0)	Scooby, How about a manual 335i or a S4 3.0 with sports diff?
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10-27-2010, 03:12 PM	#14
Oli Campervan man 94 Rep 2,667 Posts Drives: RS3 and VW Kombi Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: here, there, everywhere...... iTrader: (1)	I had one, great little car. With remap and exhaust was getting on near 330bhp. Not many cars to keep up with it proper little rocket! Steering feel a little dead. I'd have dsg if I had one again - my wife loved it, so could be on the short list again in the future, as a second car! __________________ www.bmvs-camperhire.co.uk Genuine VW T5 California Rental
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11-06-2010, 02:18 PM	#15
evil_scooby m340i owner 25 Rep 292 Posts Drives: Ex Scoob, Ex S4, ex 335d m340i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	Oli, how does it feel and compare with your 335D ?
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11-07-2010, 08:26 AM	#16
Oli Campervan man 94 Rep 2,667 Posts Drives: RS3 and VW Kombi Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: here, there, everywhere...... iTrader: (1)	A lot more fun and when mapped, like for like, I found it faster. __________________ www.bmvs-camperhire.co.uk Genuine VW T5 California Rental
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11-07-2010, 08:49 AM	#17
BGM Colonel 58 Rep 2,398 Posts Drives: F20 M140i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Farnborough, UK iTrader: (0)	do these come in quattro and DSG ? don't seem to be a selectable option on the audi site...
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11-07-2010, 09:59 AM	#19
BGM Colonel 58 Rep 2,398 Posts Drives: F20 M140i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Farnborough, UK iTrader: (0)	oh right, so it only comes in that combo now? like the RS5?
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11-07-2010, 11:52 AM	#21
Bungle009 Lieutenant 10 Rep 579 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Alton iTrader: (0)	Manual & Quattro are standard on the S3. S-tronic (DSG) is a cost option.
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11-07-2010, 12:00 PM	#22
Irnbrukid Major 45 Rep 1,486 Posts Drives: Imaginary M2 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Think S-tronic has been an option on the S3 for about the last 18 months.
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