Audi RS3; Confusing Porsche Hybrid; Tumbler; Chrysler's Demise - TST Podcast

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman discuss the changes to the new Audi RS3 and how it performs on the road and track; give their take on driving the new high-powered Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid (and why it confuses them); a real Tumbler Batmobile is available for $3,000,000, spurring us to discuss our favorite Batmobiles of all time; and what has happened - and will happen- to Chrysler?
Patreon questions include:
Why you should or shouldn't modify your high school dream car
Do cheap cars come with Mag Ride?
How did Chrysler go wrong?
Can you make an E36 M3 "nice" inside?
How to be a car person in NYC
When to use a dash cam
Is an R34 Nissan GT-R worth it over an R32 or R33?
What would we drive on the Isle of Man TT?
And more!
Recorded November 4, 2024
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[@cmikesmith664]

Hey Zach, Your content is so relatable and down-to-earth. Best on KZbin. Keep up the good work.

[@grahmdoughty]

I have a '24 RS3 and it's the best daily I've ever owned. Competent and comfortable but manages not to be soulless because of the engine. Over 30 mpg on the highway, 0-60 in ~3.4, backseats have enough room, fun on the track, physical buttons for everything. Car journalists love cars that are awesome on the track (so do I) but for something you drive everyday this is an amazing formula - especially if you live somewhere that gets rain or snow.

[@spinnetti]

Love it, but couldn't justify the cost. Got a used R8 for the same money, then got a used S3 for peanuts which I modified to RS3 performance including lots of suspension mods and the reverse stagger tires. Best of both worlds!

[@grahmdoughty]

@@spinnetti amazing combo, congrats! The RS3 is definitely expensive for what it is but the pro is that it depreciates less than any other new Audi (and as far as I know any other car in its class?)

[@DekiaryCarter]

Love to hear it! I’m planning on getting the 8Y or 8Y.5 so this is great insight.

[@DekiaryCarter]

@@grahmdoughty💯💯 the RS3 holds its value way better than other Audi vehicles. I’ve been watching the RS3 market for years.

[@joeracer302]

I’ve had my ‘23 RS3 for over a year now. It’s my favorite car that Audi has ever made, and I plan to keep driving it for as long as I can. I didn’t really do a “does this make financial sense” calculus; I just really like the car and buy the things I like.

[@kjbcny]

I was curious about that comment that Matt made about 80,000 RS3s sold globally each year, so I looked it up. That's actually the total number of RS3s sold since they started making them in 2011. Since I got my '24 RS3 in January I've only seen 2 other 8Ys on the road. Granted, I live in mostly rural central NY state, but I still see countless other cool cars on a weekly basis. Definitely a rare car and an absolute perfect daily driver for me.

[@OdyTypeR]

Thank you, that sounds way more plausible. (I was thinking maybe rs3, s3, and a3 sales combined = 80k/year) Congrats on choosing a special car 👍👍

[@kcw9313]

It’s rare because a case of not selling well

I was about to make the same comment. The boys make some good content, but a lot of erroneous comments from them lately. How on Earth does he really think they sell that many annually, if that were the case Audi wouldn't be laying off 15% of their workforce right now. They sales are way down right now. It's clear he wasn't paying attention during the press briefing in Spain, because one of the other video reviews of the rs3 that went up the same day, that reviewer quotes the stat correctly. Total production output since 2011

[@kjbcny]

@@kcw9313 To be fair, not many people are going to even consider dropping $70k on a compact car, which I'm sure has some impact on sales. Also, like all of their RS models, Audi simply does not produce many of these cars compared to their standard ones. For myself, while I am sure that Covid had something to do with it, it took over 2 years from order date until my car even went into production. I was 1st in line at my dealer, and while they did get two factory-spec cars sent to them before mine was made I declined them both due to not having the spec I wanted.

[@Json918]

Imagine even thinking that was the case, as soon as I heard him make that statement, it gave me a good chuckle 😂

[@m1st3rf]

One thing to note when comparing aerodynamics is that the drag coefficient only represents the efficiency of the shape and NOT the overall frontal area. The overall drag force incorporates air speed/density as well as the area

[@NO3V]

It's a shame they pre-record those so far in advance, because reasons.

[@muftigt]

I came for Matts' political rant too.

[@b3dazzl3]

I just want to know if the Harris/Walz campaign was vaccinated 🤷‍♂️

[@nickrodnooriafshar8599]

31:13 RS3 talk

[@theoneandonlybosable]

Not up on Apple Podcasts btw!

[@VS666]

Those sales numbers for the RS3 are confusing, I’ve looked for brand new RS3 probably six times in the last couple years and nobody in the PNW seems to have one

[@grahmdoughty]

He's confused about that number. Audi has sold almost 80,000 RS3s worldwide since it launched in 2011. So that's like 6K per year split between the world

[@CEOLISSS]

For comparison, Audi sold ~4k 8.5v RS3 in the US from 2017 - 2020.

[@mprinvale]

Always love when a new one comes out in the middle of work to keep me entertained! Thanks for all the quality shows! ❤

[@Alecd2023]

Another thing the RS3 has going for it over the M cars is that it’s much more under the radar. I think far more people will know what an M2/M3 is relative to the RS3 (even with the more aggressive new look). Some people don’t like that, but I love it

[@AllSpeed]

The Roadster Shop just revealed a full chassis for the Fox Body Mustang,

[@joeracer302]

I have an 8Y RS3, it’s my very favorite Golf that has ever been made ;)

[@2fast2nick]

Nice, I was just looking for something to listen to! Perfect timing

[@mydsmber05]

The seats in the turbo are just the 18-Ways. They are optional on all Cayennes and are only $400 more

[@The_Stanman]

Came here to say this. No "special wishes" required!

[@CedricParker]

Something happen to the podcast, I didn't get the latest episode on the player I use

[@eddiefalcon8316]

Same here. Not sure what happened. Maybe they will clarify

[@theparrilloproject1899]

RS3 @ 31:10 - Looking into the RS3 (US). If you can get an allocation, and wait 12-24 months for one and can get it for MSRP and want to lease it I was told 7-10% interest rate for tier 1 credit. Put a deposit down on one in May for MSRP. However 2 different dealers I spoke with are willing to give discounts on the new S3 with incentivized rates so is it worth getting hosed on the financing for an RS3 if you can’t pay cash or should you consider new S3 as a daily?

[@SNiiPEDoGG]

Neither, bail to m240 xdrive and get a discount, better financing and within a sneeze of the rs3.

[@ArchimedeanEye]

When is Matt moving out of the US? This must be an emotional time for him 😂

[@adogmcdizzle]

Did they mention the election in this podcast? Its the only time I want Matt to talk about politics 😂

[@AP-cc1uw]

I’ve got a Giulia Quadrifoglio and I feel like it’s the perfect balance between performance and comfort. In its softest setting you can drive all day. However, it’s missing AWD and I’m in Canada. Looking very closely at an RS3 as my winter car as I transition the QV to a summer/weekend car to preserve it.

[@googleleavemynamealone9145]

As a live shopper for any gen Cayenne Hybrids, my perfect would be a 958 GTS Hybrid (V8-h). The 958 S e-hybrid's supercharged v6 doesn't have the novelty enough to change from our Lexus LS's Yamaha V8. Meanwhile the only V8 cayenne hybrid is a twin turbo V8 that's way too overkill for my dad to drive to church and the grocery stores when his trips will be mostly electric, which is why I was into the Hybrids at all. An NA V8 + Hybrid range (GTS-h) would be perfect IMO

[@Baimobile7]

I make a point to never touch my phone if possible while I’m driving. I’d rather miss a text message by 5 mins than risk my and others safety on the road. When I had my Mini, it had a button to activate Siri and I would send messages that way, which was helpful and now in my Miata, I just have to hold on my phone and activate Siri to send a text if required. I get that a lot of people don’t care about the texting and driving rules (which sucks), but I do my best too put safety above all else so voice assistance is a plus for me.

[@ragweedmakesmesneeze]

I had the same realization about "how much horsepower do you need?" on a much more modest scale. I was coming out of a 2004 normally aspirated Outback where I had to plan for highway passes and spend more time in the right lanes than I expected when loaded down with family and gear. So when it was time for a new vehicle, I was sure I "needed" the 260hp turbocharged engine in the XT Outback. So that's what I got. Then I had a long-term loaner with the normally aspirated engine and I discovered that it not only got much better mileage, but it did all the passing/accelerating/driving things I needed it to do just fine. Now, I'm sticking with the XT, but when it's time for something else, I'm definitely going to have more of an open mind about how much HP I ACTUALLY need in a family vehicle.

[@iluvtorace4786]

On that far right leaning rivian I wonder if somehow one wheel was being driven slightly faster than the wheel on the other side? Could that make it drift to one side?

[@lowstrife]

24:45 my slippery aerodrynamic LS400 has zero wind buffeting. None, at all. Not a problem, from any window, even just the driver window slightly open. 0.28 drag coef.

[@spinnetti]

I've got a couple of those.... Even race one lol.

[@ragweedmakesmesneeze]

I'm older than Matt and the ONE voice command that I use in my Outback, the only one that works everytime? Is pressing a button on the steering wheel, then saying "Call [my wife]" That is definitely easier than using buttons on the phone to call home. But otherwise, I agree. BRING BACK BUTTONS.

[@jjohnbowie]

1:07 I'm 25 and never used any of that crap and don't see myself ever needing it. Similar with my friends around the same age

[@thatredvr6]

Same here

[@Cars.On.Coffee]

1:21:30 used Regal GS is your mag ride bargain.

[@kingjaf]

Regarding Fox body project goals, wasn't one of them to lap a track faster than Zach's e46? Did that ever happen?

[@cw5285]

I own a 8V RS3 and it’s the best car I’ve owned. Perfect daily driver as it can get well over 30mpgs on the highway and at 400hp (now well over 500 with some simple bolt ons and tune😉) it’s a great all around car. And that five cylinder sound never gets old. Such a unique sound to anything on the road these days

[@johnb712]

Love my RS3!!! Such an amazing machine.

[@afinch1992]

I’d take a base Range Rover or even higher speced one over that Cayenne all day

[@The_Stanman]

Just depends on how much you value driving dynamics vs luxury (and high seating position). Lack of physical controls is a deal breaker for me on RR.

[@AlainSTO]

"Do you use siri frequently?" I'm in my late 30's and I definitely do. Siri is perfect for things like, "Remind me at 5pm tomorrow to call the dentist" or "Set a timer for 5 minutes." Siri sucks for anything where you have to be on the phone anyway like "Remote start the car." In the actual car, siri is great for "texting" since it's pretty much a conversation

[@afinch1992]

Siri for setting a timer is a game changer

[@ravendethshadow]

Best batmobile imo is the 90s animated series one.

[@gnoxycat]

Reasonable Wear Tire. Also use a Tesla voice command. Its perfect, always.

[@dan.r9220]

2 hours? Sign me up!!!

[@adamwilson2203]

Best quote. "F ChatGPT, it doesn't know s**t"

[@davevan9150]

The squircle steering wheel helps with reading the gauges.

[@MrChevybaja]

Matt, is the buffeting worse than your VOlt?

[@travis3810]

I’m 27 and do use Siri/Alexa, but only for fairly basic stuff like asking the weather when my phone is across the room or turning off a lamp when I’m already cozy in bed

[@porscherain]

RS3 - Do the haptic buttons on the steering wheel get accidental contacts? Do they suck to operate?

[@HumanFriend1]

From other reviews I’ve watched on the 2025, accidental presses were not happening. It’s such a huge mistake to have haptic anything on steering wheels. I think Europe passed a law making haptic on steering wheels a no-go for future cars. Any manufacture making wheels with haptics, has to replace them with real buttons. It was such an absurd trend.

[@pipbriceno]

you are over thinking the Porsche Cayenne thing, The whose this for question is answered by Zach. They just want the most expensive one , doesn't matter what power it has or if its too stiff.

[@choyayahyah]

I have a turbo gt, I do not want a heavy battery hybrid system in my already heavy SUV

[@Natemire]

Hahaha "I blue myself" is gold

[@larssonk22]

Tobias you blowhard

[@robertpawley5715]

Now compare CdX you have to account for frontal area not just CD or coefficient of drag

[@VS666]

I used to talk to my android phone all the time. I really enjoyed being able to learn facts while I’m driving and just listen to the response. Siri is some of the worst voice recognition software I’ve ever encountered in my life, and actually caused me to buy a android work phone because I do a lot of voice dictation while I’m driving

[@HumanFriend1]

80,000 since launch, in 2011… Not 80,000 per year. That would be a crazy amount of RS3s on the road. LoL And as far as I’ve read and seen, the 2025 Euro spec RS3 has carbon buckets as an option. They aren’t fake carbon.

[@Ludoppicco]

if Mazda’s reading this, is it possible to drop the driver’s seat height by 3 to 6 inches for us folks that would absolutely enjoy a stock Miata MX-5 without any sort of modification?

[@Ludoppicco]

… or provide a “Mazda approved” lowering seat kit for the Miata MX-5, that can be installed by the dealer or certified shops?

[@GameCubeGuru]

37:25 i think an M2 would be more in its class or a amg cla 45. M3 has too much ass for the rs3

[@benglasby8014]

💯

[@PHFilms3]

I noticed my MK8 golf has terrible wind buffeting similar to my brother in law’s Supra. My e92 bmw is great with the windows down

iam all in for the Audi rs3 but wish it can be had with a manual trans

[@M_IkeLeBlanc]

Guys, remember coefficient of drag is a ratio based on the frontal area of the car. That’s why your Ferrari has such a relatively low CD. LOVE this podcast! 👍

[@OdyTypeR]

No it's not. Frontal area of the car gets multiplied by the coefficient of drag to get the actual drag force. I.e. drag is based on frontal area Coefficient of drag is independent of frontal area. That's why the Ferrari's _drag_ is so low. The Ferrari's _coefficient of drag_ is low because slippery mirrors, underbody aero, flush mount glass, etc.

[@frozencarguy6274]

Movie: A demon driving around in a Dodge Demon killing people on Halloween night.

[@The_Stanman]

Base Cayenne can get the same 18-way seats as a Cayenne Turbo (and any Porsche for that matter). Turbo just gets it standard instead of as an option.

[@pashkaS54]

I don’t think Matt and Zach have been in a well maintained e36. The interiors can be extremely nice and door panels are still available new from BMW and they are made way way better. My daily has a pristine interior and it is 300k miles.

[@twistedsneaks1932]

Please review an Alpina B3 GT!!

[@meissiah]

Voice command will never be faster than a tap of a button for simple commands. Also, it is also impossible to multi-task vocally as humans only have one note of polyphony (unless you're Lalah Hathaway). But I can press multiple buttons with my off-hand while carrying on a conversation. Voice command for macros make sense but it should not be the de-facto means of auxiliary control.

[@TyB_23]

Need Timestamps for conversations topics

[@super8hell]

RS3 wagon might be a perfect only reaasonable car to have.

[@kishan813]

Would be interesting to see how many of those high-end Cayenne hybrids are sold to people who can take the depreciation off their taxes and who are trying to get into 911 allocations. I suspect that many of them are.

[@BlackwingDan]

Saw Zach’s shirt. Tried to buy two of them. Sold out in all sizes. [Insert sad trombone sound here.]

[@AP-cc1uw]

Please just give us the RS3 hatchback in North America for god’s sake.

[@clubracer6]

I think the CT4-V Blackwing it a far better choice for me over the RS3.

[@dylanpierce_]

Voice commands should be reserved for applications on your phone, not the car IMHO

[@AllSpeed]

did you see that 700hp chinese car, the Xiaomi SU7, crash on track? the brakes look like they should have been on a VW Polo

[@ejdiamond1000]

I’m in my mid 20s, and I genuinely HATE talking to any device. The only tech that I’ve been able to deal with that requires you talk to is Alexa, but talking to it is the only option of input so that’s probably why. I will genuinely never use a voice assistant in a car, it just feels like an unnecessary complication that doesn’t make anything easier.

[@philbegas]

Chrysler missed the chance to bring back a car on the charger/challenger platforms from the 60s

[@haeikou]

Expatrick, geht a Polo GTI!

[@twistedsneaks1932]

I only use my Alexa when I lose my tv remote😂

[@kbolash100]

RS3 or CT4 Blackwing? Better price comparison than M3

[@grahmdoughty]

RS3 for driving in rain or snow, usable back seat passenger room, way more fuel efficient, faster 0-60, weighs less, looks better. CT4-V Blackwing for chassis, driving dynamics and feedback, manual transmission, RWD. If I lived somewhere that was only sunny and didn't need to put people in back I'd totally consider the Blackwing

[@stotheh]

Why are you comparing the RS3 to an M3? It's meant to be the same segment as a 1-series....

[@kalasanty433]

Voice control makes sense... but if you consider it has to be translated to all the languages of countries the car/device is sold at... and even all the accents english has... not such a good idea

[@safedriver1979]

Batwoman does charity work, Their is a new commercial with voice commands and after his dentist appointment he can't get inside his house.

[@CharlieDB96]

1:00:25

[@M67v]

28:38 Matt: AI is always wrong! 😡 The AI: /gets the information exactly right

[@davevan9150]

Twice the battery for same range as the R1. So the new Hummer is the new Hummer.

[@EJames22]

Re: voice ccmmands, what if you're sick? Now your car is forcing you to speak for it to operate? Shows how fully fledged these ideas are. The people who like this are the same people who use speaker phone in public

[@renaissanceman2868]

Early gang.

[@deanlambert8758]

Squad

[@conspicuoustraverser7375]

🧑🏾‍💻I'm here

[@michaelgregory903]

I'm 41 and I use Siri, but not a lot. It has gotten worse over the last several years too, seemingly getting worse with each iOS version. I grew up watching 90's Star Trek and I envision the future of talking to devices like that, but we're NO WHERE NEAR that capability yet. Could it happen? Sure! It really needs to have the comprehension of a human for understanding multipart questions and sentences. Anyway, Rivian is crazy we still want physical buttons for some things. They are not a bug, what a stupid ass thing to say...

[@tyler9703]

I'm 21 y/o and I *DESPISE* voice-activated controls.

Only here because the podcast app didn’t update

[@gtrzero2157]

you guys should have on matts lemon law attorney. I had to lemon law a 2017 nissan gtr. it might be a helpful guest to have on. cheers

[@keithrobertson2401]

I don’t have any children but I was once a little bastard I mean child 😂 and I could imagine young me absolutely ruining adults life from the furthest seat back giving the car my own voice commands! So until they can make one that recognizes the voices that are communicating and having some selection on who it listens to it still could be very problematic.

[@spinnetti]

M2 is a better comparison.. but that's too ugly and too heavy. You can get it to rotate easy... alignment adjustment and a stiffer rear sway bar.. easy (I surprised myself and spun out a few times lol). Funny irony is your S4 came with the ugly wheel and my A4Quattro sport of the same time came with the nice wheel lol.

[@JB-rp6it]

MAGA

[@jakethesnake4971]

Hey Matt and Zack, did you guys catch the election results?

[@Oldmurray9323]

lmao

[@JonathanPfaff]

I have the trouble forming sentences and its effecting my freedom so that I just get shut down. I don't know how you get out of it. I get the dreams of images of my mother my body feels severely poisoned and is very slow and painful so that lifting 5-7 LBS is a very difficult challenge. the neck on me is soo locked, and I'm a very normal structured person as far as bones go, but I wont be able to look left and right properly because it shifts into snapped feeling positions. I cant barely do straight ahead and chewing and drinking is severely poor quality cases of slurping pain. I do hope its not the worst case and I'm actually kind of afraid of the eating thing. the people in the videos are the real celebrate people to me and i wish i can get better just inside so that the very very poor audio quality of my voice that i think may not be real but these freaky surrounding poor attacking problems that are problems existing in other peoples freedom is real, i maybe perhaps think. will and hopefully come to a good halt and stop. because it seems like a very very poor mistake accident that I've struggled to spell out in my head. hopefully i can get away with it in a better happening thinking position some type of other time.

[@Sammyzuko]

Alright, can someone post the Elon/Trump timestamps

[@jasonoconnor8337]

Only reason I came here aswell😂😂

[@giovannymontes9835]

Might have been recorded pre election night

[@Bob_Smith19]

As much as I want to see the meltdown I’d rather they didn’t mention it and went about life as normal.

[@jakethesnake4971]

​@@Bob_Smith19nah man, as much crap as the liberals talked, it must be addressed.

[@Bob_Smith19]

@@jakethesnake4971You already know how it’s going to play out. If anything it should make a good drinking game. Take a shot anytime Matt says fascist.

[@OdyTypeR]

"Voice commands are better than buttons" Nah bro, gesture commands! 👋🤙🤏☝️👆👉🖖🤷🏼‍♂️🖕 /s Let me press a button, and then it clicks as it gets pushed in rather than vibrating in place. Seems like it wouldn't be that hard? Note to self: keep Rivian off the buyers list, even if the R2 looks cool. I can't endorse that thinking.