morpheus1870

Just want to share my experience owning this car now for the past 5 months. I have to say this car truly has a Jekyell and Hyde character. With the comfort selected on the mag ride / drive select, I can tootle around with the family in civil and sedate manner and then at the flick of a switch turn the car into an exhaust popping bullet that eats up the road at blistering speed. This engine which truly is a work of engineering art mated with the dual clutch s-tronic box is a match made in heaven. Consistent 3.9 seconds 0-60 times with ease yet all the luxury one could ever need in a car. Handling is superb, direct and responsive with no under steer unlike the previous gen. The Audi sports exhaust system is superb, loud, raspy, pops, bangs and all from a stock. Not sure how many on here have gone the RS3 route, but it's safe to say, Audi hit the nail right on the head when they made the new RS3.

scoobiepaul

This is number one on my next car list, thanks for the feedback, probably a worthy replacement for my Litchfield T25.

coupe_20vt

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the write up.

I'm in the market for a new car early next year and at the moment I'm considering an RS3 or the new A45. Mind you there's due to be a new Focus RS in 2020........

Gambit

iTrader: (6)

RS3 is the only car im more or less set on as my next. nothing else ticks all the boxes like the rs3 does imo

silver-sub

They truly are awesome cars.

dpb

Just don't expect the RS3 to match the best hot hatches when it comes to driver involvement. You may be able to cover ground at an unbelievable rate, but the steering still offers little to no feedback and the car is almost too capable. It doesn't challenge you in the way that the M140i and Focus RS do, and can instead be driven hard almost instantly.

RAGGY DOO

iTrader: (1)

And this is a bad thing is it ?
why do people think they are the next clarkson
oh I want my car to be more involving
most m bmws try to kill you in the wet
but hey it’s exciting and involving innit

Gambit

iTrader: (6)

no different from hatch sti then lol!

@RAGGY DOO i agree with you - im not looking the next ultimate hot hatch either as itll be a daily driver, i'm looking at it solely because it has the 5cylinder engine & i loved the original UR quattro's

its all about getting a car that puts a smile on your face everytime you get into it!

RAGGY DOO

iTrader: (1)

They are very quick too
had a play with one on the 95 octane map 420 hp
and the Impreza was only pulling ever so slightly couple of car lengths

Brun

I have a 2016 RS3. I love it as it ticks so many boxes. The only criticism is the relatively numb handling although one of my previous daily’s was an Elise so not much will ever compare. I believe the latest RS3 has addressed the numbness in a fairly major way but also is stuck with a Euro enforced opf filter which has numbed the exhaust somewhat compared the the previous gen.
Get some pics up

silver-sub

Would have loved to have seen that!

Shaun

The engine is a peach..... especially when tuned they go like badgers **** off a teflon shovel.

DanPhillips

Picked up a 2018 Nardo Gray 2 months or so ago, initially it was a bit tame, coming from a stage 2 Golf R.
Went stage 2 after a couple of weeks, downpipe, turbo inlet pipe, intercooler and a remap. Effortless vicious unnerving and completely terrifying, I like it a lot

Cheers
Dan

imprezagaz

iTrader: (2)

I changed last year from a blob sti to a rs3 8p. Stage 2
now and I love it. The only downside is I went for black so it’s a pain to keep clean

SmurfyBhoy

Got a few vids of my mates "stage 2" apr Rs3

If you get a real Gucci spec one then its like a smaller R8 (if we forget about the TT)

Bolt on an upgraded turbo and run 9-10 secs for fun

With one of the best places to sit & that engine note

The only downside is the price but as with most things u get what you pay for.

morpheus1870

You're not wrong but it changes over time. I went from the Focus to the RS and honestly I initially felt disconnected from the car. However a few months in, a couple of auto x events and some handling/performance mods, I can tell you the drive and experience is exhilarating. You can turn all of the traction aids off if you wish and go into dynamic sports manual, once I get the TCU tune the experience will be even more amazing. I still miss the focus though as the manual shifting tight fitting recaro seats and torque steer made it a lot of fun. But, the way this car can tear up the road and power out of corners is amazing.

morpheus1870

I test drove an M4 before settled with the Rs3, and that car scared the **** out of me, even with a 60% or so throttle the car was twitchy as ****. Lovely looking car but not for me.

morpheus1870

No filter here, I'm in the Middle East. The face lift had literally no understeer as I'm running the staggered wheel setup part of the sports pack from Audi. 255 30 19 front and 235 35 19 rear. The wider contact patch at the front makes turn sharp and direct. Plus I've got front and rear sway bars, drop links and magride spring upgrades. Subframe mounts and dogbone insert transformed the transmission and movement in the rear during heavy acceleration. Stage 2 coming soon expecting 500/510 and a **** load of torque to come too.

morpheus1870

Fishbowlhead

iTrader: (1)

Love that grey Audi use. Cracking looking car and sound like a lot of fun.

RAGGY DOO

iTrader: (1)

Nice car No doubt
but
id keep my jdm hatch any day of the week

hedgecutter

iTrader: (5)

You could have bought two RS3's by now with what you've spent!

RAGGY DOO

iTrader: (1)

3 lad haaaaaaa

Fishbowlhead

iTrader: (1)

Yikes. Could of just bought another 😮

dpb

Some lunatic passed me and line cars in a 30 wong side of road in black one these few days ago , no idea whether was rs ( anything) or not

clearly decided he was invincible

Shaun

Of course..... German engineering makes it so.

DeweyAXD

Was looking at one of these the other day. Lovely looking cars. Glad Audi are finely making nicer interiors (those older style red LCD dashes were never my taste).
Always liked the idea of an RS model Audi as the 'comfy upgrade' to a Scoob one day.
Out of interest how do you guys feel about the steering on them? I noticed someone mentioned it was kinda numb. I assume like most these days they went the electric steering rather than hydraulic? I have it in my Octavia vRS and it really kills the urge to push it round the bends.... just no feed back at all even in vRS mode (granted its a.... sigh.... diesal).

hedgecutter

iTrader: (5)

We don't see many RS's at all down here, but the only 2 RS3s that I have noticed were being driven over and beyond what I have come to expect from normal Audi drivers. It's obviously hard to resist!

Dingdongler

Nice cars. I've considered one in sportback form as my daily but its a bit too small.

However, and I'm sure this doesn't go for anybody here but they always seem to be driven by *********

silver-sub

All the drug dealers have the hatch around here.