[Closed] Audi S3 - quite fast!

my friend just picked up a new one (he's had a few A3/S3s and just ditched his Cayman for the new S3), I can confirm that it is very very quick indeed 😯

Chris Harris of Pistonheads wrote a review on it. I think he was taken aback from what he was expecting.

Edit: http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/doc.asp?c=2&i=29784

New Golf R looks very nice indeed too, very slightly quicker.

One came past me last night at a hell of a rate, wasn't hanging around either....

I had a bit of a ding-dong with an older S3 on the M40 - I was in a vRS.

Admittedly I backed out when I felt things were becoming silly (which doesn't take too much now I'm past 30), but it didn't seem to be mind-numbingly quick.

I was on the sliproad behind him as we both pulled off anyway...

Edit - cracking review there. It's suddenly a lot more interesting.

but it didn't seem to be mind-numbingly quick

are there many corners on the m40?

Read that Chris Harris review the other day with interest...

Although older- I borrowed a S3 1.8T for a long weekend from Manchester to Edinburgh. Zero fuss (even soul?), just did it very rapidly.

When its engine was remapped it transformed the engine too which gave it some life/soul. If I had the money I'd definitely consider a newer S3 as a day to day car.

They are amazing cars, especially the newest evolution.

The key to deploying the power is without doubt the 4wd in the twisties it's developed so well over the many years they've used it.

I prefer the newer understated looks of the S3 over the Golf R and it would be interesting to see how they compared head to head on a track.

S3, £30k (probably £35k when you add in a few options), nice, but for around half that or less you could get a second hand B5 or B7 RS4 Avant that's been well looked after and would leave the S3 for absolute dust (even with a full load of bikes, dogs or a wardrobe in the back). Plus with the RS4 you wouldn't have to worry about the depreciation?

Good I'm glad it's a proppa fast car I feel better now 🙂

Plus with the RS4 you wouldn't have to worry about the depreciation?

No, just the bills, based on a friends experience 🙂

Rs4s aren't that's bad to run as long as the brakes have been done and the DRC hasn't disintegrated. I had a 2009 S3 which was quite rapid. It had a shocking ride with the dcc though , esp at slow speeds. I loved my RS4 and would have another B7 in a heartbeat. 4 up, 4 bikes and 2 surfskis on the roof passing stuff in 6th with no fuss. Amazing cars and great on the track too although that was an expensive tyre day !

No, just the bills, based on a friends experience

You'd have to really go some at the garage to match the depreciation on a new S3 - around £15k in the first three years?

are there many corners on the m40?

Well, there's this rather tight one joining it: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Denham/ @51.5593026,-0.5281267,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x48766e5873ef52d9:0xd64521e0661c39ce

I had a 51 plate S3 and loved it to pieces, still wish I'd kept it. However, shortly after I got it a mate bought an S reg S4 and by christ that was quick.

I've always fancied an RS4 Avant, one day Rodney.....

An S3 took out a cyclist on a road near to me this weekend. As great a car it is, it only takes a lapse of concentration by the idiot behind to wheel and someone's dead.

I know I won't be popular posting that but it's on my mind a lot and I thought I'd post just to balance the conversation out. By all means carry on talking about fast cars...

And the award for most pointless post of the year goes to..............

Any car with an idiot behind the wheel is dangerous - are you posting the above on all car threads?

traildog

A woman in a tiny car almost took us out last night. Then a bloke in a Peugeot Boxer camper van almost smeared STw'er mrcrhrispy over the kerb. All within a few miles.

Neither were driving a S3.

I personally think it was mrchrispy they were after though 😯

These models produce very high cornering speeds & most driver's can not process unexpected road data quickly enough drive within their limits/control.. enough said 😉

agreed brilliant cars - please don't flame me. I'm both car and cycling advocate where appropriate to journey/usage 🙂

These models produce very high cornering speeds & most driver's can not process unexpected road data quickly enough drive within their limits/control.. enough said

But people like that WILL have accidents sooner rather than later.

People with high end/decentish performance cars tend to bimble everywhere I've noticed. After a while the high fuel consumption and/or the almost stressful nature of speeding everywhere just gets too much.

Hence owners default to 'knowing' what their car can do and drive happy.

Not driven the S3 but we did get a new Golf R for LHS junior a few weeks back and the few times she has let me drive it I have to say it is pretty eye-watering. Extremely smooth power delivery and sounds great. Not sure it would be a match for my old Focus RS500 though.

And the award for most pointless post of the year goes to..............

Any car with an idiot behind the wheel is dangerous - are you posting the above on all car threads?

I dunno, I'd really enjoy driving a fast car, but part of the reason I don't own one is because I know it would encourage me to drive like a bell end. Same reason I don't own a motorbike.

Chris Harris absolutely slated the new RS3. The S3 seems a better judged car. Golf R looks good too what I'm looking forward too is the new Cupra R which will have the same under pinnings as both but even more more power (and a shit interior!)

I wasn't inferring a particular type of driver, Hora - "[b]most[/b] driver's can not process unexpected road data quick enough" full stop.

I'd really enjoy driving a fast car, but part of the reason I don't own one is because I know it would encourage me to drive like a bell end. Same reason I don't own a motorbike.

I think probably I'd say the same thing. I have a heavy right foot but after a while you do calm down. When you hop out of bed in the morning, you naturally default to driving within your ability on the day. i.e. tired.

S3, £30k (probably £35k when you add in a few options), nice, but for around half that or less you could get a second hand B5 or B7 RS4 Avant that's been well looked after and would leave the S3 for absolute dust (even with a full load of bikes, dogs or a wardrobe in the back). Plus with the RS4 you wouldn't have to worry about the depreciation?

Some people just want a new car though (and don't need/want something as big as an RS4). I can't quite see the logic in buying a new Hyundai town car when for the same money I bought a 260bhp BMW estate loaded with toys but everyone is different!

As for leaving an S3 for dust, you need to look at the stats for the new S3. Its stupidly quick. I know 0-60 times aren't everything but I think the B7 RS4 and S3 are identical. I think an older RS4 would struggle to shake an S3 - no way in the world would it 'leave it for dust'.

That said, I'd love an older RS4 but the running costs would scare me. A mate had a B5 RS4 a few years back and I seem to remember a service at Audi once costing him £2k.

My mate had an RS4 and the biggest problem he had was people trying to nick it. He had his house broken into twice once while he was in, and they were just looking for the keys.

He got rid in the end and bought a 911, apparently nobody wants to nick them!

Armed robberies require a driver and 2+ people to carry out the raid.

I wasn't inferring a particular type of driver, Hora - "most driver's can not process unexpected road data quick enough" full stop.

I suppose. I once drove a chipped STI Impreza, its the only car that scared me. Its pickup, the way it held speed and pulled were mind-boggling (to me).

Any car with an idiot behind the wheel is dangerous - are you posting the above on all car threads?

Hardly a pointless post to remind anyone that cars kill. The family of the dead person certainly won't think it pointless. Those reminds is what makes you are good driver - learn rather than abuse.

And no I am not posting it on all car threads and I clearly stated (if you can read?) that this is just on my mind at the moment because it's just happened and the car happened to be an S3.

But if you must I will continue. The trouble with cars like this is that they are just too good. At normal speeds you feel like you are not moving. I enjoyed it when I downgraded my car, because now its a more involving experience on a normal road. Add in the cost of running them, the tyres, brakes etc all cost a fortune even though you are stuck in the same traffic gams and speed limits as ever other car.

So yes, like everyone else I love the idea of these cars, but I'd never own one (although I don't have any car now). Sure, carry on talking about them, it's fun.

I quite fancy a polo R when they become available.
Golfs / s3 size cars are a bit bigger than I need or really want.

A "ding dong" on a motorway in cars that fly through 150mph in the time it takes to go down the slip road and move through to the fast lane... .

[url= http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xz439y_top-speed-0-265-km-h-en-audi-s3-quattro-2013_auto ]Illegal in seconds in the UK[/url]

The trouble with cars like this is that they are just too good. At normal speeds you feel like you are not moving. I enjoyed it when I downgraded my car, because now its a more involving experience on a normal road.

Very true. A friend has just bought a M335 tourer and is actually a little worried by it. He's had motorbikes and quick cars in the past, but it's the perceived lack of effort it takes 100mph and staying there that's scared him.

In a similar vein, I used to own a 205 GTi (1.6) which was an absolute B-road pocket rocket. However, in comparison to the above Beamer, stiff suspension, no power steering and the wind whistling through the gaps in the bodywork made it a very involving drive that you needed to be totally focussed on. It also revved at 4.5k while sitting at 80, which made motorway drives either expensive or slow.

I think an older RS4 would struggle to shake an S3 - no way in the world would it 'leave it for dust'.

Looking at the 0-60's they are very similar (although the S3 does have a snazzy launch controller rather than human operator to help achieve this). 0-60 (or 0-62) has never really reflected real world performance though and I expect the in gear times (30-70, 0-100) etc will tell a slightly different story, particularly as speeds increase. Don't forget that the RS4's, even the early B5 versions are genuine 180mph cars.

180mph cars in a country with a 70mph national speed limit. If insurance companies can fit black boxes to newly qualified drivers' cars they can do it to all cars.

My comment stands. I still don't think there'd be an awful lot in it.

I'm not joining in on the debate about drivers being able to drive quickly, I CBA'd.

However I have a mate who bought one of the very first S3's and he still has it and loves it as much now as he's ever done. Always Audi serviced, done 204k and in a retro kinda way it just looks right.
He's had a sucession of fast cars, R32's, RX7's, etc. and bought a 60 plate S3 too but sold it and kept his old one.

I kinda admire him for that.

6k I saw a b5 rs4 avant for the other day. £460 insurance cheaper that a 205gti oddly

The S3 is quite a bit quicker and grown up than the previous S3

I can only dream of having a hot hatch, I really really want one. They're just so chuckable, especially older hot hatches. Unfortunately I'm driving a diesel estate, which to be fair has its fun moments, and the wife doesn't want to drive a big car (she wants a family hatchback sized car max) so means my only real speed thrills come from a motorbike

Hot hatches are cool

I had an S3 back in 2007, it was very very fast, and crucially very very easy to drive fast.

I maintain its the fastest car for a british b road I've ever had, and I've had some fast cars (e92 m3, caterham 7 , lotus elise, bmw m135i, TVR cerbera 4.2 v8 etc etc).

Its not the fastest on a racetrack, but on a B road where you need easy to drive, accesible power, I reckon its untouchable.

OP well done for not chasing after him! Obviously you're aware that in a straight line drag race your R1 would destroy the S3, but on a twisty back road you can't compete on cornering grip and usable stopping power. In my younger motorbike days I would have gone after him, then as the years went by I learnt my limits and a little self-control! Wish I still had my R1 though 🙁

180mph cars in a country with a 70mph national speed limit. If insurance companies can fit black boxes to newly qualified drivers' cars they can do it to all cars.

I'd happily accept this. As long as we also got compulsory annual eye tests.

6k I saw a b5 rs4 avant for the other day. £460 insurance cheaper that a 205gti oddly

Probably because the 205 is like driving a fuel-injected Tupperware box... 😉

Edit: and, I believe, easier to steal than a Granny's purse if you know what you're doing.

Would really like an RS4. Not sure I could justify the upkeep though. And then there's the worst-in-class boot space...

Edukator - Troll
180mph cars in a country with a 70mph national speed limit. If insurance companies can fit black boxes to newly qualified drivers' cars they can do it to all cars.

You can easily shorten this ^ to "child's, face."

Its not the fastest on a racetrack, but on a B road where you need easy to drive, accesible power, I reckon its untouchable.

A Mitsubishi Evo would have an S3 for breakfast, before going on to munch on 911 Turbos for dinner.

They are entirely different ownership prospects though. An S3 is a premium hatchback with a very impressive turn of speed. An Evo is a batshit mental stripped out rally racer with crashy suspension and a stupidly heavy clutch.

Just to add though, I thought my S3 was also the most boring fast car I've ever had, I hated it, despite its speed.

Could someone explain what "child's, face" means please. Google isn't helping.

Eye testing I agree with, Hora. A list of prescription medication incompatible with driving and leading to suspension of one's driving licence as well.

Didn't EVO mag do a test some years back with a host of cars for getting around the Peak in which included a Lambo, some other exotica and fast hatchs/saloons and they came to the conclusion the a pug 106 GTI was the best overall car to have.
It's not all about power

A Mitsubishi Evo would have an S3 for breakfast, before going on to munch on 911 Turbos for dinner.

True.

They are entirely different ownership prospects though. An S3 is a premium hatchback with a very impressive turn of speed. An Evo is a batshit mental stripped out rally racer with crashy suspension and a stupidly heavy clutch.

Also true. A good friend is an enthusiast with a 'batshit' Evo6 that has been altered to produce 420bhp on it's last rolling road test (it's been altered further since). 0-60 was somewhere in the 3 second region.

Saying that, it's a bloody uncomfortable ride, it drinks fuel (Shell V-Power only) and requires constant loving to keep it on top of its game. A comfortable, low maintenance mile-muncher it isn't.

Nice to see a few people respecting the good old b5's, My b5 s4 eats stock, and most modded s3's for breakfast. And unless the the evo has over 450-480bhp I will destroy them aswell, mine isn't stock mind, has £10k under the bonnet.

new cupra 280 will be the one that catches everyone with their pants down. amazing performance

Saw an episode of police interceptors a few weeks back where a chap in an S3 overtook someone and went haring off up the road at a ton plus. Unfortunately for him the car behind was an unmarked police S3. Justice was duly dispensed.

Is the B5 the twin turbo V6?

I would imagine they are very tunable.

I have to say at this point the S3 simply disappeared. There was a puff of smoke out of the 4 exhausts and it just cleared off. I had kind of expected to breeze past it (as one does on an R1) but not this time.

Operator error.

A quick google gives an S3 1/4 mile time of just under 14 seconds, and around the 5.5s mark to 60mph
An R1, depending on which model is about 10.5s 1/4 mile and 3s 0-60

An R1 should annihilate an S3 without breaking sweat.

I had an 2010 S3 with the S-Tronic / DSG gearbox - and a fairly conservative remap.Like most other proper recent hot hatches, it was stunningly quick - standard 0-100 is under 14s; and closer to 12 with the 300PS 2013- S3.

It was (thanks to DSG) very easy to drive around town. Launch Control in an S3 is one of life's essential experiences. 🙂

The one thing my S3 lacked was "soul". It's no suprise then that I now have a last-of-the-line 2008 Golf R32 (long story - I had a company car between this and the S3). It's fractionally slower, but much more characterful and I enjoy it more because of the sense of occasion every time I drive.

It's also only fair to point out that actually using the full performance potential of a properly fast car is nigh on impossible if you are a considerate, responsible human being. I know life isn't *all* about being sensible, but it is most of the time.

new cupra 280 will be the one that catches everyone with their pants down. amazing performance

I've got my eye on one as a good s/h buy in 2-3 years time. FWD is the only downside.

I'm a fan of fast SEAT's they really are good value for money especially s/h. And Mr BMW 320d sitting up your chuff in the fast lane never expects them to be quite so fast...

They are indeed 2.7 twin turbo v6, if you want to know how tunable, have a look on YouTube for the mrc white widebody s4, or loba motorsport s4, both knocking on 800hp

Mine runs a measly 509hp and 534ft lbs torque, they are really nice drivable cars with good lowdown torque, and massive kick in the back at 3500rpm and holds 26psi till 7200rpm

Just get ready for big bills 😀

In my younger motorbike days I would have gone after him

Operator error

🙂

A Mitsubishi Evo

Is FUGLY and as practical as?

Also - is it a reliable car? Finally and more crucially, who wants to be in the same club/seen as' as those who drive in woolly hats (like they are pro's going between Wales rally stages) and still live at home with their mum or girlfriend Tina?

Operator error.

A quick google gives an S3 1/4 mile time of just under 14 seconds, and around the 5.5s mark to 60mph
An R1, depending on which model is about 10.5s 1/4 mile and 3s 0-60

An R1 should annihilate an S3 without breaking sweat.

All sports bikes will annihilate an S3, even 600s, in a drag. I think the OP was just saying it was surprisingly quick , not that he couldn't have caught it if he wanted to.

On a tight, bumpy, pot holey and twisty road it would be hard work to keep up.

On certain roads (i.e. as described above) I reckon I'm slower on my Fireblade than I was on my Street Triple R.

I think the OP was just saying it was surprisingly quick...

...not that he couldn't have caught it if he wanted to

I've got a Cupra r. It's silly quick and handles nicely, but it's too much power for a front wheel drive IMO. Next car may be the s3 just for the Quattro, or possibly something slower but remapped, maybe skoda Octavia scout to 180 (only cos I drive these fast all day and they're quite comfy and nice but need a bit more oomph!)

It was probably an RS3 not S3.
Think the RS3 has the 2.5lt TFSI 335bhp engine as opposed to the 2lt TFSI of the S3
A heavily modified RS3 would surprise most R1 riders on the twisty B roads

My focus would piss over the lot of you. Coolant probably.

(only cos I drive these fast all day and they're quite comfy and nice but need a bit more oomph!)

Paramedic or lawman? 🙂

Just to add though, I thought my S3 was also the most boring fast car I've ever had, I hated it, despite its speed.

The older S3 was described by EVO mag as 'soulless' but that one was based on a mkIV golf which was a pretty awful car.

Yeah mkiv golf, tt, Cupra, s3, vrs all ran the 1.8t in 150 to 225 bhp, replaced by the 2.0fsi I think, apparently smoother but less nuts? Paramedic mr pimp, not sure I could be trusted to be a police officer, we have an ex traffic Volvo v70 which frightens me spinning wheels in 3rd and handling like a large Volvo!

it’s just a bit of fun until somebody loses a leg.
maybe wannabe motorsport hero’s should stick to playing top trumps

we have an ex traffic Volvo v70 which frightens me spinning wheels in 3rd and handling like a large Volvo!

😆

6k I saw a b5 rs4 avant for the other day

Was it in a pile of bits for that price? I thought even galactic mileage B5s were nearer £10k.

maybe wannabe motorsport hero’s should stick to playing top trumps

Or they could pay a local track some money and go and drive really fast there.

Hopefully they'd then not feel the urge to drive like a complete nutsack on public roads.

bearnecessities - Member
My focus would piss over the lot of you. Coolant probably

Don't ask me, i drive a diesel........ 😉

Davey. Tell a lie 6995 cat D stolen rec

I had a 12 plate Golf r as well! fantastic chassis but the dsg box was awful for everyday driving. great on the track though. My times were v close to the RS on the track but it has two long straights where the RS was getting up to 220kmh. It's braking power was actually what made it faster really as you could left foot brake really late on turn in and carry more speed. I do think the Rs4 avant, the b7 will eba future classic as while it had a boot the size of a peanut as a package it was immense. I've driven the 6 a lot as well and as an autobahn stormer it's a great car but v heavy. The small engined, turbo cars now are really impressive, the new golf gti is superb with the performance pack and manual box. I look forward to the new R. Audi sadly have lost the plot with their RS range now. Shame.

bearnecessities - Member
My focus would piss over the lot of you. Coolant probably.
POSTED 4 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

That's an actual lol!

I do admit I hanker for a proper fast petrol car, but feel my luck would run out and I know my enthusiasm is way higher than my ability (actually, that's embarrassing descriptive for nearly all I do!)

[url= http://road.cc/content/news/116704-witness-appeal-after-cyclist-killed-near-preston-sunday ]Nothing says 'I am most likely driving like an inconsiderate cock' more than an Audi S3[/url]

I'm gobsmacked that on a forum like this, there should be a dick swinging contest about how fast people drive.

At some point, hopefully, driving like this will be seen as soially unacceptable as drink driving. In fact, if you think about it, the degree of response impairment you get from driving at silly speeds is the same as being drunk.

Always nice to see some STW offended-ness, but I'm sorry to sorry that Edukator got in well before you on page 2