Audi S3 - After the first week

S

skelters

Veteran
 Greenock, Scotland
I've had the S3 2.0l TFSI Quattro for a week now and all I can say is, what a car.

Here's how I've found it better than the Z4 so far....

More space and visibility.
More comfortable.
Better underseat heating.
Better brakes.
No squeaks or rattles.
Less stressful to drive.
Very quick. VERY, VERY QUICK!

Downside
Takes the engine longer to heat up for some reason even though it's a 4 pot.
Heater doesn't seem as good at the moment. This may be due to the extra space it's heating.
Noticeable understeer.
Not as good a turning circle as the Z4.

Overall it's a fantastic car and I think BMW can shove their cars, service costs, salesmen and dealerships where the sun doesn't shine. This is mainly due to nobody getting back to me after going in to Harry Fairbairn's, Glasgow dealership 3 times, leaving my name and number, how much I would spend and what I was looking for!

Although I've had few problems with the dealership on the service side of things, wrong diagnosis of fault, tools being left in the car, car not washed or hoovered, servicing costs not accurate and work being carried out that I didn't ask for I'll not be going back if this is the level of service on the sales front.

I'm afraid BMW may have lost a customer for good!
 
How about the cupholder? :P Sorry to hear about your less than overwhelming experience with your BMW dealership. :(
 
Interesting - I've had similar (actually worse) treatment at the local Audi dealer...they were complete a-holes to me a while back when I ws comparison shopping a 5 series against an A6 or A8. They would not even give me a freaking brochure! :headbang:

Anyway, glad you are enjoying the car.

BTW just wondering why the Z was "stressful" to drive?
 
Cupholder, two holes under the arm rest. Pretty pointless really.

There's a really useless tray near the CD which opens at an angle.


Useful things,

Sun Visor for the rear view mirror. It flips down from above the mirror.


I always found the Z4 stressful to drive on the motorway. HGV's, other cars driving too close. always at it's worst in heavy traffic and mostly due to the visibility from inside the car.

Don't get anyone driving too close in the S3 as it blends in like any other A3 and there's loads of those!!!
 
I don't find visibility a problem personally. Can see your point about being half the size of HGV wheels though :o
 
"I don't find visibility a problem personally."

There is no glass between the door window and the rear windscreen... Inherently this means there is reduced visibility over a normal hard-top car. When I look over my shoulder in the Z4, all I see is soft-top. As much as I love this car compared to my old 330, there's no getting away from the fact that changing lanes, especially in traffic, requires a lot more attention. A small price to pay...
 
Spandex said:
"I don't find visibility a problem personally."

There is no glass between the door window and the rear windscreen... Inherently this means there is reduced visibility over a normal hard-top car. When I look over my shoulder in the Z4, all I see is soft-top. As much as I love this car compared to my old 330, there's no getting away from the fact that changing lanes, especially in traffic, requires a lot more attention. A small price to pay...
Click to expand...

To compensate for that lack of glass I find the wing mirrors are far superior to any other car I've driven. I also lean slightly forward before looking over my shoulder thus looking round the void :thumbsup:
 
I’m with gannet, on this one the side mirrors (wing mirrors!! showing your age :lol: ) are very good and a lot more uses than the rear view even on the coupe where you just see the head lining anyway. :o
 
Rama said:
BTW just wondering why the Z was "stressful" to drive?
Click to expand...
To be honest I agree here. After my JCW MINI I did find the Z4 more stressful to drive! It takes more concentration to drive the Z4 quickly than the MINI did. A bit more skittish on the road. :wink:
 
how is more concentration a bad thing or stressy :?

I think a lot of skittishness is down to the tyres - mine is a lot more composed and stable on the Michelin's than the standard Bridgestones. Just my 2p worth :D
 
Concentrating because you're hammering down a country lane isn't stressy, but having to concentrate harder than normal for 3 hours on the motorway isn't a good thing. I don't want to sound like I'm knocking the Z because it's easily the best car I've driven but there are always compromises and as soon as Skelters said how the Audi was less stressful to drive I knew exactly what he meant.
 
I have better resuts on time trials than S3's with my 3.0i.
From the guys I talked the car is not easy to be driven to its limits. Understeering is a major issue.
So, of course as an ordinary looking hatchback it is less stressfull in everyday driving, but If you have any intentions of track driving stay away.... Go for an STI or Evo X instead.
 
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