New S3 (Test Drive)
10 January 2007, 07:39 PM
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I'll quote your data rather than my waste of effort ones, even though the ones we are interested in are the same.
No they are not faster around the ring. All cars were from showroom specification.
Lamborghini Murciélago -------------------------------- 7.50 min
BMW M3 CSL -------------------------------------------- 7.50 min (R-tire)
Lamborghini Gallardo ----------------------------------- 7.52 min
Anyway, moving on the the S3 time....it's not quicker than the M3 is it?
No they are not faster around the ring. All cars were from showroom specification.
Lamborghini Murciélago -------------------------------- 7.50 min
BMW M3 CSL -------------------------------------------- 7.50 min (R-tire)
Lamborghini Gallardo ----------------------------------- 7.52 min
Anyway, moving on the the S3 time....it's not quicker than the M3 is it?
10 January 2007, 07:45 PM
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I'll quote your data rather than my waste of effort ones, even though the ones we are interested in are the same.
No they are not faster around the ring. All cars were from showroom specification.
Lamborghini Murciélago -------------------------------- 7.50 min
BMW M3 CSL -------------------------------------------- 7.50 min (R-tire)
Lamborghini Gallardo ----------------------------------- 7.52 min
Anyway, moving on the the S3 time....it's not quicker than the M3 is it?
No they are not faster around the ring. All cars were from showroom specification.
Lamborghini Murciélago -------------------------------- 7.50 min
BMW M3 CSL -------------------------------------------- 7.50 min (R-tire)
Lamborghini Gallardo ----------------------------------- 7.52 min
Anyway, moving on the the S3 time....it's not quicker than the M3 is it?
Porsche 996 GT3 RS ----------------------------------------- 7.47 min
Porsche 997 GT3 ----------------------------------------- 7.48 min (R-tire)
Gallardo SE--------------------------------------------------7.48
Lamborghini Murciélago -------------------------------- 7.50 min
BMW M3 CSL -------------------------------------------- 7.50 min (R-tire)
10 January 2007, 07:51 PM
#64
32 grand for a small hatchback, jesus Audi have got people just where they want them, 'no smoker pack', lol, only German manufacturers could claim the lack of a cig lighter and ashtray is an option pack.
10 January 2007, 07:52 PM
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I came across a new S3 today in the astra. Hmm!! I bet he thought he'd wipe my ****! After 5 miles of sitting on his tail he gave up. Just to heavy, and to much tranny losses as standard to leave a torque monster...
Dave
Dave
10 January 2007, 08:06 PM
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Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 -------------------------------- 7.47 min
Porsche 996 GT3 RS ----------------------------------------- 7.47 min
Porsche 997 GT3 ----------------------------------------- 7.48 min (R-tire)
Gallardo SE--------------------------------------------------7.48
Lamborghini Murciélago -------------------------------- 7.50 min
BMW M3 CSL -------------------------------------------- 7.50 min (R-tire)
Porsche 996 GT3 RS ----------------------------------------- 7.47 min
Porsche 997 GT3 ----------------------------------------- 7.48 min (R-tire)
Gallardo SE--------------------------------------------------7.48
Lamborghini Murciélago -------------------------------- 7.50 min
BMW M3 CSL -------------------------------------------- 7.50 min (R-tire)
I for one am completely stunned the CSL is only 3 seconds slower than cars costing many times more.
10 January 2007, 08:21 PM
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It's Haldex so 2wd unless slip detected. Maybe he was running it in. Out of interest is yours an older Astra? Just thought the torque was higher standard on the new ones?
Last edited by MattW; 10 January 2007 at 08:24 PM.
10 January 2007, 09:10 PM
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Still a good car though...
PistonHeads Logo
* HOMEROAD TESTS
* Audi S3
Wednesday 11th October 2006
AUDI S3
Steve Bell shakes a stick at Audi's new £27,000 hot hatch. But what else could you buy?
Audi S3
Audi S3
Here's a little exercise. Grab a pen and paper and write down a list of new cars that cost £27,000.
Out of the list, which of these floats your boat? For a few pennies over, you could have a Lexus IS 250, or maybe a Lotus Exige. Mitsubishi Evo FQ300 perhaps? Quite a choice when you start to look isn’t it?
Enter Audi's new S3. The company believes that one day all sports hatches will be like this. In the past couple of years Audi designers have got the bit between their teeth. The A4, A6 and A8 have a definite and distinctive theme running through them. That’s real progress. If you’re anything like me you probably can't recall a single visual attribute of the previous 'S' range of A3s, other than they were too plain looking, and mostly painted Pukey Purple metallic.
Today though Audi is focused. The S3 still has strong reliability, speed, and will keep its value way pass your 80th birthday. Yawn. But now it has visual impact too and an eyebrow-raising 261bhp.
On the press drive, journalists were given a butt-numbingly long speech about all of the differences from old to new -- trying not to nod off became impossible. I won't bore you with the detail, but it's impressive stuff once you get to drive it.
Having dropped my chin to the floor, it seems I'll need a few more years at this diet thing before I can fit the body-shape style of the S3 sports seats. At least the top of my knees won't be crushed every time I turn the wheel. Thankfully for us well-built individuals, your hands grip the S4's flat-bottomed steering wheel.
Although all Audi interiors are an extra special place to be, they're becoming a bit like a flat-packed chest of drawers from Ikea. You could be blindfolded, led into any Audi and guess which one you’re in with Derren Brown accuracy.
It’s still very top quality though. The driving position has improved slightly giving you plenty of movement to get the (ever so tight) seat and steering adjustment right without the hateful stretch to reach everything. Once you're ready to go, twist the fob and fire up the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, now found in every VW group hot-hatch.
As I take my turn driving the new car, an Audi bigwig towers over the front wing and leans through the window sternly mumblimg, "Don't crash it, will you?"
Well, there goes Plan A.
Replica car
Two things hit you as you catch a glimpse of the S3's outline driving around. Firstly, it’s an exact replica of the old car, but secondly it's still very familiar Audi. Obviously, there is the ludicrously oversized front spoiler, and mega-thin low profile tyres set around a car that shouts Pimp My Ride. But it's a crucial clue, whether you like it or not, you are driving an Audi S3. It's been given a nip and tuck overhaul making it more aggressive and purposeful which will certainly make it stand out amongst the competition.
More important is the S3's roadgoing ability. The car responds to the slightest input with anticipation that borders ESP. That's thanks to a complicated if boring explanation of the S3's sophisticated Haldex four-wheel drive system. Although it doesn't share any resemblance to permanent drive to all four wheels, it shifts power to the rear especially as you're about to skim a nicely trimmed hedge heading into a corner a tad too quickly.
This creates a balance that pays huge dividends, keeping the car poised and neutral at ever increasing speeds. The brakes are also superb, with plenty of feel and a graduation to the bite that optimises the S3's ability to stop not just quickly but smoothly.
Grunt shortfall
When you get to drive it, like me, you'll probably be disappointed with the shortfall in grunt despite having the high bhp figure to admire. It’s still quick enough and maintains a supreme level of stability as a rapid point-to-point car.
But if you want to show off, don't trouble the rev limiter. Its mid range punch is enough to pull the blood to the back of your head but gets silly and uncomposed if you keep nailing the throttle. The turbocharged engine sounds distressed and strained so stick to the more delightful background hum. If you want to mimic chauffeur dawdling, then the gear lever will press through the gate like an A2. It also keeps the momentum going when your shifting like mad and barely slips a cog crunching in despair. The clutch makes light work of your left leg.
However, the accelerator pedal is too sensitive even in light traffic. You'll look like a right Muppet kangarooing up the high street trying to keep your cool.
Driven in the manner intended, the S3 hurls over the crests with a hard yet forgiving ride and doesn't give you the injuries like some crazed sadistic whip mistress. It does have a tendency to bounce lightly on the motorway, but you don't have to cringe anymore and swerve 20 feet to miss a hole in the tarmac, or drive so slowly over a speed hump that you might as well get out and crawl using your chin.
What else could you buy?
Overall, the new S3 is certainly a step forward from the old one. However, go back to the beginning of my review and look down your list of cars for £27K. Now use another sheet of paper containing today’s best hot-hatches and suddenly the S3 looks distant.
Lets look at it once more just before the S3 sits in a list all on its own - 0-62 mph in 5.7 seconds, 155 mph, 261 bhp and the looks of a Rhinoceros. Maybe 31 mpg will wake you from the dead? No. Thought not. There are so many other cars to spend this type of money on.
Yes, the S3 is a very good car but, unfortunately, Audi's pricing strategy won't help it prove this.
torque as standard 350nm/258lbs/ft
© Steve Bell 2006
61 comments on this story
Latest comment by stigcv8
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PistonHeads Logo
* HOMEROAD TESTS
* Audi S3
Wednesday 11th October 2006
AUDI S3
Steve Bell shakes a stick at Audi's new £27,000 hot hatch. But what else could you buy?
Audi S3
Audi S3
Here's a little exercise. Grab a pen and paper and write down a list of new cars that cost £27,000.
Out of the list, which of these floats your boat? For a few pennies over, you could have a Lexus IS 250, or maybe a Lotus Exige. Mitsubishi Evo FQ300 perhaps? Quite a choice when you start to look isn’t it?
Enter Audi's new S3. The company believes that one day all sports hatches will be like this. In the past couple of years Audi designers have got the bit between their teeth. The A4, A6 and A8 have a definite and distinctive theme running through them. That’s real progress. If you’re anything like me you probably can't recall a single visual attribute of the previous 'S' range of A3s, other than they were too plain looking, and mostly painted Pukey Purple metallic.
Today though Audi is focused. The S3 still has strong reliability, speed, and will keep its value way pass your 80th birthday. Yawn. But now it has visual impact too and an eyebrow-raising 261bhp.
On the press drive, journalists were given a butt-numbingly long speech about all of the differences from old to new -- trying not to nod off became impossible. I won't bore you with the detail, but it's impressive stuff once you get to drive it.
Having dropped my chin to the floor, it seems I'll need a few more years at this diet thing before I can fit the body-shape style of the S3 sports seats. At least the top of my knees won't be crushed every time I turn the wheel. Thankfully for us well-built individuals, your hands grip the S4's flat-bottomed steering wheel.
Although all Audi interiors are an extra special place to be, they're becoming a bit like a flat-packed chest of drawers from Ikea. You could be blindfolded, led into any Audi and guess which one you’re in with Derren Brown accuracy.
It’s still very top quality though. The driving position has improved slightly giving you plenty of movement to get the (ever so tight) seat and steering adjustment right without the hateful stretch to reach everything. Once you're ready to go, twist the fob and fire up the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, now found in every VW group hot-hatch.
As I take my turn driving the new car, an Audi bigwig towers over the front wing and leans through the window sternly mumblimg, "Don't crash it, will you?"
Well, there goes Plan A.
Replica car
Two things hit you as you catch a glimpse of the S3's outline driving around. Firstly, it’s an exact replica of the old car, but secondly it's still very familiar Audi. Obviously, there is the ludicrously oversized front spoiler, and mega-thin low profile tyres set around a car that shouts Pimp My Ride. But it's a crucial clue, whether you like it or not, you are driving an Audi S3. It's been given a nip and tuck overhaul making it more aggressive and purposeful which will certainly make it stand out amongst the competition.
More important is the S3's roadgoing ability. The car responds to the slightest input with anticipation that borders ESP. That's thanks to a complicated if boring explanation of the S3's sophisticated Haldex four-wheel drive system. Although it doesn't share any resemblance to permanent drive to all four wheels, it shifts power to the rear especially as you're about to skim a nicely trimmed hedge heading into a corner a tad too quickly.
This creates a balance that pays huge dividends, keeping the car poised and neutral at ever increasing speeds. The brakes are also superb, with plenty of feel and a graduation to the bite that optimises the S3's ability to stop not just quickly but smoothly.
Grunt shortfall
When you get to drive it, like me, you'll probably be disappointed with the shortfall in grunt despite having the high bhp figure to admire. It’s still quick enough and maintains a supreme level of stability as a rapid point-to-point car.
But if you want to show off, don't trouble the rev limiter. Its mid range punch is enough to pull the blood to the back of your head but gets silly and uncomposed if you keep nailing the throttle. The turbocharged engine sounds distressed and strained so stick to the more delightful background hum. If you want to mimic chauffeur dawdling, then the gear lever will press through the gate like an A2. It also keeps the momentum going when your shifting like mad and barely slips a cog crunching in despair. The clutch makes light work of your left leg.
However, the accelerator pedal is too sensitive even in light traffic. You'll look like a right Muppet kangarooing up the high street trying to keep your cool.
Driven in the manner intended, the S3 hurls over the crests with a hard yet forgiving ride and doesn't give you the injuries like some crazed sadistic whip mistress. It does have a tendency to bounce lightly on the motorway, but you don't have to cringe anymore and swerve 20 feet to miss a hole in the tarmac, or drive so slowly over a speed hump that you might as well get out and crawl using your chin.
What else could you buy?
Overall, the new S3 is certainly a step forward from the old one. However, go back to the beginning of my review and look down your list of cars for £27K. Now use another sheet of paper containing today’s best hot-hatches and suddenly the S3 looks distant.
Lets look at it once more just before the S3 sits in a list all on its own - 0-62 mph in 5.7 seconds, 155 mph, 261 bhp and the looks of a Rhinoceros. Maybe 31 mpg will wake you from the dead? No. Thought not. There are so many other cars to spend this type of money on.
Yes, the S3 is a very good car but, unfortunately, Audi's pricing strategy won't help it prove this.
torque as standard 350nm/258lbs/ft
© Steve Bell 2006
61 comments on this story
Latest comment by stigcv8
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Last edited by misty; 10 January 2007 at 09:31 PM.
10 January 2007, 09:37 PM
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11 January 2007, 10:41 AM
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Not quite sure how a Lotus Exige or a Mitsubishi Evo FQ300 can compare to an S3.. Very different markets as far as I'm concerned.
Surely the only real competition in the S3's sector is the Lexus and the BMW 130 and possibly the Golf R32 - i.e. compact, luxurious cars that are quick and sporty(ish)?
Surely the only real competition in the S3's sector is the Lexus and the BMW 130 and possibly the Golf R32 - i.e. compact, luxurious cars that are quick and sporty(ish)?
11 January 2007, 11:33 AM
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Not quite sure how a Lotus Exige or a Mitsubishi Evo FQ300 can compare to an S3.. Very different markets as far as I'm concerned.
Surely the only real competition in the S3's sector is the Lexus and the BMW 130 and possibly the Golf R32 - i.e. compact, luxurious cars that are quick and sporty(ish)?
Surely the only real competition in the S3's sector is the Lexus and the BMW 130 and possibly the Golf R32 - i.e. compact, luxurious cars that are quick and sporty(ish)?
Your average S3 buyer doesn't want to drive around in a Rally replica with scoops and spoilers everywhere. What they want is a well built, well styled car that is confortable to drive, yet can still be very quick and fun to drive when they feel in the mood.
Same as the RS4. Yes a FQ340 is faster round a track, and more hardcore and in ya face. Your RS4 driver wants speed with comfort and build quality.
The S3 will appeal to people who don't want the Hardcore style of the Imprezza/Evo's, or are just getting bored of them and want better build quality (That's me).
On UK roads now, it's getting harder to use our hardcore Rally reps to the max. Constantly getting stuck behind lines of cars doing 40mph, it doesn't matter how much faster your car is, you ain't going any faster.
11 January 2007, 12:58 PM
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The S3 has a major advantage over the R32 - It looks heaps better.
The previous S3 looked a bit better than the current one, the previous mk4 R32 (which I had for a year) looks LOADS better.
R32s engine is sweet though - Makes the S3s sound a bit weedy although the R32 is much less tuneable.
The previous S3 looked a bit better than the current one, the previous mk4 R32 (which I had for a year) looks LOADS better.
R32s engine is sweet though - Makes the S3s sound a bit weedy although the R32 is much less tuneable.
12 January 2007, 01:19 PM
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After having that S3 for 24 hours and 250 miles I can pretty much say that it is near enough on par with mine in regards to performance (straight line).. And mine would pull the pants down of a Astra CDTI 150 (Remapped or not). I left a 888 with his exhaust pipe in between his legs a few months ago after he came gunning up behind me looking for a blast..
No doubt those remapped Astra Diesels go well, but find another S3 with a decent driver mate, cause he WILL leave you if so... Trust me!
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