Topic: First Drive: 2018 Audi RS3 Sedan

[dirtyjeffer]

Well let's see. The M2 comes with dual zone climate automatic, seat and steering wheel heating, electric adjustable seats with lumbar support adjustments, Start-stop automatic, bi-xenon headlamps for inclement weather, good sound system with CD player, and more.

I don't think it's lacking in comfort........

I mean, if your commute is 10km and the car never gets to operating temperature in the winter, that may be problematic. But if you asked me to do a multi-hour drive I don't think I'd get bored.

But I guess everyone's definition of "daily confort" is different. 

i'm not saying the M2 is garbage, i'm just saying the RS3 is likely the better daily driver...if you wanted to buy one of these cars and have bragging rights at the track, get the M2...if want to buy one of these cars to have a performance vehicle you can enjoy year round with more comfort in daily commutes, get the RS3.

[Noto]

I just find it funny how "all in the name of performance" is listed while a transverse engine is equipped...

I'm still far more interested in the Golf R.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

If you want performance and that's your focus you have have the Ss ILE and the GT500 in this realm. C7 And zl1 not far off.

That is the issue with me. I think I'd go pure performance route with something like and Ss 1le or go more understated luxury with a C43 or S5 sport back

Nothing wrong with the RS3.....awesome machine. Just stating my position as someone probably looking in this price range right now. I have not even considered the RS3

What if you want a luxurious performance car as your only car? That's a serious question, I can't think of anything better in remotely the same price range.. SS1LE, Gt500 etc. do not have the luxury and aren't very good in winter. C43 and S5 sport back don't have that much performance. I guess CLA and GLA AMG would be competitors, but they have I4 engines.

oops, bad editing:

how about a Macan S/GTS?

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I just find it funny how "all in the name of performance" is listed while a transverse engine is equipped...

I'm still far more interested in the Golf R.

Lambo Miura  and Cizeta Moroder V16t would like a word with you, not to mention the late great Evo X.

There's nothing inherently wrong with a transverse engine.

[dirtyjeffer]

I just find it funny how "all in the name of performance" is listed while a transverse engine is equipped...

why would that matter??...this car is damn fast, grips like velcro, is very well equipped and comparatively decently priced.

i almost get the feeling some people are just trying to find an excuse to exclude this car...reminds me of this Honda commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASq2CYZlqD0

[micha]

If you want performance and that's your focus you have have the Ss ILE and the GT500 in this realm. C7 And zl1 not far off.

That is the issue with me. I think I'd go pure performance route with something like and Ss 1le or go more understated luxury with a C43 or S5 sport back

Nothing wrong with the RS3.....awesome machine. Just stating my position as someone probably looking in this price range right now. I have not even considered the RS3

What if you want a luxurious performance car as your only car? That's a serious question, I can't think of anything better in remotely the same price range.. SS1LE, Gt500 etc. do not have the luxury and aren't very good in winter. C43 and S5 sport back don't have that much performance. I guess CLA and GLA AMG would be competitors, but they have I4 engines.

Then pony up and get a C4S.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

In a perfect world, I could afford a 991...

If you want performance and that's your focus you have have the Ss ILE and the GT500 in this realm. C7 And zl1 not far off.

That is the issue with me. I think I'd go pure performance route with something like and Ss 1le or go more understated luxury with a C43 or S5 sport back

Nothing wrong with the RS3.....awesome machine. Just stating my position as someone probably looking in this price range right now. I have not even considered the RS3

What if you want a luxurious performance car as your only car? That's a serious question, I can't think of anything better in remotely the same price range.. SS1LE, Gt500 etc. do not have the luxury and aren't very good in winter. C43 and S5 sport back don't have that much performance. I guess CLA and GLA AMG would be competitors, but they have I4 engines.

oops, bad editing:

how about a Macan S/GTS?

Macan S/GTS isn't any faster than a S5 or C43.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

That's it. No harm in differing opinions.

 

[dirtyjeffer]

I think you're coming up with excuses for why everyone should buy one.

not at all...i'm not implying everyone should buy one, i just don't understand why so many people are against it "XYZ is so much better value...ABC is much faster at the track...etc".

we finally get an RS3 here, and some people just can't resist shitting on it, for no apparent reason.

[craigq]

i almost get the feeling some people are just trying to find an excuse to exclude this car...reminds me of this Honda commercial:

I would buy one if I could afford it 

[lebowski]

Macan S/GTS isn't any faster than a S5 or C43.

I was thinking more as a daily driver, the Macan would be that much more practical than the S5 or C43, while still offering a lot of performance. The Macan with its added practicality is, personally, where my RS3 money would go.

[dirtyjeffer]

Macan S/GTS isn't any faster than a S5 or C43.

I was thinking more as a daily driver, the Macan would be that much more practical than the S5 or C43, while still offering a lot of performance. The Macan with its added practicality is, personally, where my RS3 money would go.

i really like the Macan as well, and as a vehicle i would likely purchase if i were in that price bracket, it would be high on my list.

[quadzilla]

Macan S/GTS isn't any faster than a S5 or C43.

I was thinking more as a daily driver, the Macan would be that much more practical than the S5 or C43, while still offering a lot of performance. The Macan with its added practicality is, personally, where my RS3 money would go.

I'd go S5 Sportback over the coupe.  I was blown away with how big the trunk is.

[Noto]

we finally get an RS3 here, and some people just can't resist shitting on it, for no apparent reason.

I'm not shitting on it. I merely found it funny and stated that I'd rather buy the Golf R based on price and practicality.

[dirtyjeffer]

I'd go S5 Sportback over the coupe.  I was blown away with how big the trunk is.

that blue S5 Sportback looks sweet too.

[lebowski]

Macan S/GTS isn't any faster than a S5 or C43.

I was thinking more as a daily driver, the Macan would be that much more practical than the S5 or C43, while still offering a lot of performance. The Macan with its added practicality is, personally, where my RS3 money would go.

I'd go S5 Sportback over the coupe.  I was blown away with how big the trunk is.

Man, that does look sweet 

[Blueprint]

My 2 involved cents on A3 body styles: at an even 6', I can't sit in the back of the A3 sedans. My head is jammed in the headliner. No such issues in the Sportback. I think we all agree we that we need a RS3 Sportback 

[rrocket]

My 2 involved cents on A3 body styles: at an even 6', I can't sit in the back of the A3 sedans. My head is jammed in the headliner. No such issues in the Sportback. I think we all agree we that we need a RS3 Sportback 

So you're going to buy an A3 so you can ride around in the back?

Interesting.

[Blueprint]

My 2 involved cents on A3 body styles: at an even 6', I can't sit in the back of the A3 sedans. My head is jammed in the headliner. No such issues in the Sportback. I think we all agree we that we need a RS3 Sportback 

So you're going to buy an A3 so you can ride around in the back?

Interesting.

Have you seen the size of teenagers these days? I have three to stuff back there 

[CanuckS2K]

Simple solution.

Buy a used TT-RS.  They came with stick.

meh...DCTs are quicker anyway, and if you want to "row your own", use the paddle shifters...either is quicker than any person could actually manipulate a manual gearbox.

And, i hear if you cook a steak in a microwave it's faster than if you bbq it.

  

That sums it up for me just perfectly!  In fact, in a sportscar I don't want any Bluetooth, hmi, sat nav, cgi bunk.  Just three pedals, a nice short throw shifter, good seats, sharp steering, a decent power band, and preferably the wind in my hair.   . How quickly it gets me from point a to point b means very little to me.  It's all the visceral stuff that matters.

Exactly the same here.  Sounds like you should test drive an S2000 if you haven't already.   

[RedDragonRider]

late checking in here - I'm trading in my S3 for the RS3, arriving at the local port Friday.  I was able to test drive one a few days ago.

This car desperately needs a Manual, but those days are fading.  The back seat's big enough for my adult kids, and I can just get my road bike in the trunk with the back seats down.  It'll let me drive our local mountains year-round.  It's a little smaller and roughly the same price as a C43, and that's a tempting choice.  I can hide the pop-up tablet in the Audi, and  I prefer smaller, lighter, and more power myself.  The CLA45 is too ugly imvho.   if I could fit my kids in the back of the Evora we'd be having a different conversation.  For days I want to actually drive and shift for myself, I keep a 348 spider. 

The extra cost of the RS3 certainly isn't for everyone, but the sport exhaust is addictive.   And as a few have said, it's a tiny market segment for a sub 4 second small awd family sedan.