New S3 (Test Drive)
 

Just got back from a day with the New S3 (although I do have it till the morning, which is nice :) ) :lol:
If i'm honest I don't want to give it back.. :cry: What a lovely motor..
First of all on the looks side of it, the only thing that lets it down for me is the wheels.. Nice design but look a little small IMO (see pics) and the rear end could do with a few subtle changes to seperate it more from the normal 2.0T. Apart from that, I think it's looks the business.. See for yourself and give opinions..
Performance wise it's impressive.. I would put it somewhere between a standard LCR and a remapped one.. Definatly quicker than mine when in standard form, but would struggle to hang on to a remapped one I think..
It has a different power delivery to mine, less aggresive and more progressive, which is nice to see on a turbo charged motor. Revs round nicely to 7,000rpm and feels like it can go more if it wasn't for the rev limiter having it's say. But the good thing is, you can drive it balls out or just as easily potter about town in it feeling more relaxed than ever. It's a very good comprimise i'd say. Especially on the motorway, as you can again be Mr outside lane man trying to break the sound barrier, or be driving Miss Daisy trundling along at 50-60 on the inside lane.. What ever suits really..
Handling wise... Again another thumbs up! Although I haven't exactly taken it on a rally stage.. lol. It seems to handle very well and not wollow as much as mine (LCR) and has awesome grip out of the bends (helped by 4WD obviously). But as I said, with me having all my work folders everywhere, I didn't throw it about to much, otherwise it would end up looking like an explosion in WH Smith's inside.. :lol:
Fuel wise I didn't find it that bad.. I started with half a tank and have done about 150miles of reasonably aggressive driving and the fuel light has only just come on. Averaging about 25-26 last time I looked. So probably about the same as mine really...
If anyone wants to ask any other questions on it, feel free... But it's a big thumbs up from me so far!! :thumright: :thumright:
:thumright:
Some pics I took earlier ..
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/9499/s3004xx6.jpg
https://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8947/s3002ao5.jpg
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8552/s3003ud5.jpg
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9809/s3012ef5.jpg
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/...014rq5.jpg</a>
Anyone else had the pleasure and what were there thoughts?

Like it, but not in that colour

Nice, shame about the alloys like you said though.

lovely car, awful colour.

and horrendous alloys considering its the top of the range sporting model. They look like a spare set of winter of wheels someone had put on.

Also a big shame theres no flared arches this time, that rear quarter is crying out for a bit of a buldge

Audi makes overpriced quality cars. They are beautifully built, no doubt a joy to own, but you admire them rather than lust after them. I have seen this car in this colour and it is even brighter than the Ford orange, but, like the Focus ST, no one except the most hardened petrolhead will know you are driving something special unless it is orange. Most S3s will be ordered in black or some inoffensive light metallic and so will be totally unrecognisable from the lesser models. And those alloys look like wheel trims - why have they not fitted RS4-like wheels? Does anyone really think that this looks like a £30k car?

Nice interior as usual but that exterior looks pretty tragic to me.
The old S3 had about three times the presence!

Assume you can spec nicer alloys? They look like something you'd see on a low rent Proton.

I would bet money it was an S-Line - it just isn't aggressive enough, and like most other people I think the colour is awful!

Personally i think thats offensive to the S-Lines as i think they look so much better than the S3 :)

Excellent interior as usual but a serious let down externally.

Audi have totally lost the unobtrusive but agressive look of the old S3, and have turned out a standard A3 with crap 'added on look' front bumper, with some shiny mirrors (that most A3 seem to have these days anyway) with the worse set of audi wheels ive seen in a long time on a sporting model.

The wheels look better in the flesh.

Mine is being built this week, should be here by the end of the month :thumb:

I actually like the fact that it is fairly anonymous, been through the Impreza/Evo thing and want something that blended in a little more. Performance wise, it is one quick car :D, was certainly difficult to tell much between my Sti PPP and the S3. I absolutely loved it, really put a smile on my face, plenty of oversteer, easy to induce, absolute hoot to drive.

The flat bottomed steering wheel (option) is a must too, the standard one looks crap. Would agree about the colour choice though, I considered white but eventually went for Sprint Blue.

The shiny mirrors are standard on all S models, the S4 etc included.

http://www.tyresmoke.net/attachments/994906-S3side2.jpg

Any talk of an RS3 ?? ............

Lots of rumour, but many believe it is unlikely.

I will have one in 6 weeks on an 07 plate with the recaro bucket seats if anyones interested.

Expensive option :D Post up the spec then ;)

looks just the thing for understeering to work and back in :thumb:

LMAO you sound like Audilover, opinion on a car you've not tried.:thumb:

I don't need to try it to be proved right and you know it ;)

Beside, it would do me fine...a nice refined car for my 100 mile a day commute along the m1.

You may be surprised

I may be yes.

As a company type car it would be perfect I'd imagine, it certainly ticks all the right boxes...does it come in a 5 door?

However, for something for kicks and grins I'd suggest looking else where. It all depends what you want from a car I suppose.

Naturally. It's all a balance though, no car ticks all the boxes, depends on which boxes you'd prefer to have the big bold ticks. This time I wanted the nice place to be, reasonably economical, decent residuals and decent fun factor, but I have been to the white knuckle ride, **** your pants, corners like on rails columns before, just a shame that comes with downsides. :)

Yes it was a very expensive extra but it had to be done :D

Recaro bucket seats
6 cd boose stereo system
I pod connector
arm rest
sunroof
adaptive lights (i think):wonder:
Black leather
Am sure there was more :wonder:

Cant really remember the rest :brickwall

In total it's costing £32k

The S3 undeersteered a certain track faster than a E46 M3 :lol1:

Is it quicker than the RS4 time from October 2000?

...and the RS6 time from September 2002?

You must have had the symphony stereo as well ( to have 6 cd and ipod)

I went with:

Ipod
Bose
Light/Rain sensor
Flat bottomed multi function steering wheel
Armrest
Bluetooth phone prep in armrest
Through load
Piano black inlays
No smoking pack
Electric Lumbar
Metallic paint (of course)

Black leather is standard. As are Bi-Xenons, however I think the adaptive bit was an option.

that is sexy as fook. i want it. now.

lol look who edited their reply

MK2 S3 has no official 'ring time yet, but its only a sec slower than the E46 M3 even though it does have less power, quite a bit less power at that. (never mind a remap can fix that)

Cant find the source where the S3 beats the M3, but when I do you will know about it;)

In other news the RS4 laps the 'ring faster than the M5, and the R8 slaps all beemers silly:D

I got the sports wheel to and it's also de-chromed.
All black;)

that interior looks tasty!!! exterior looks great....interesting colour :D

I only edited it to include more info, not to try and make you look more stupid....you do a good enough job of that. Interesting you would say in one post it's quicker and another it's 1 sec slower. Still things move on and I expect the tyres and track has improved since 2000....in fact I know it has.

Funny you can't find the source huh? Not like you to be unable to back up your "facts".

What is the the R8 lap time? Must be quicker than 7.50?

No more questions your honour....further proof to the dury, that he is indeed a rival for jonno johnson in the cretin steaks.

The R8 is about 3-4 secs slower than the gallardo.

and no the track and tyres hasnt improved you fookin moron, as they tested the M3 again only recently to keep comparisons fair.