BEST & WORST bits of my Audi S3 so far | Long-Term Test, Episode 2

[@ParkersTV]

Have you got an Audi S3? What are your favourite bits about it?

[@DecKelly1]

Just got the new S3 last week, disappointed with it not having keyless entry its definitely a hindrance, it should be standard!

[@ParkersTV]

Agreed Dec!

[@lesminchinton-smith8488]

Best it’s Drive train. Brilliant fun and over 46mpg on a long motorway trip. Worst, lack of options for the digital dash / only having 1 slot for a mem pen for audio as the phone has to be in the other. I can live without keyless entry.

[@boodits]

What year is this S3? I have a 2023 and I can open the doors by opening the back doors. I can also raise the trunk with my foot under the middle of it. I live in Canada so I've equipped the S3 with Nokian tyres. In the winter I will be running the Nokian Hakkapelitta 10 studded and in the spring/summer/parts of fall I run the Nokian WR-G4 All Weather. I love the acceleration (had a WRX previously) and I've not noticed a turbo lag that was mentioned from other sites, the only lag is if I'm in a super high gear and want to punch it, if I manually gear to 4000rpm there's no lag anywhere.

[@slen6293]

I have the new S3. Likes: - powertrain 100%, though I’ve found the gearbox a bit slow on kick down. - the look of the seats Dislikes: - chrome trim on the outside, wish I got black edition but would’ve put me over the 40k luxury car tax - poor build quality inside, materials are cheap and hard plastic, poor carpet quality, and I get quite a few rattles, especially if I play music loud the door cards can’t handle it. - the seats have pretty poor side bolstering and don’t hold you in place well. Compared to m135i and A35 which are much better in that regard!

[@robertharle6377]

Took Delivery of my Audi S3 recently. Keyless Entry and Adaptive Dampers are Standard here in Australia. But that is reflected in the final price. We always pay more here in Oz. Enjoying driving my S3. My previous car was a 2017 Audi A3 Quattro.😀

[@peterb5644]

My Australian-delivered S3 will have its 12-month service in three days time. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to experience it’s strengths and weaknesses. I agree with all of your positives. This car handles superbly on twisty mountain roads at speed. It has great acceleration from rest or at speed. The Australian S3 comes with almost all extras as standard so I have not experienced your body roll with the adaptive dampers installed. Yes, it does feel imperfections in the road at city speeds, but part of that is because I punctured two 19” tyres in the first month on potholes. Since keeping tyre pressures at the recommended level I’ve had no further problems. Brake dust might be a German brake pad issue because my 1986 Porsche is no better. However, my wheels are black, not silver, so it’s not noticeable. A fortnightly detail avoids too much buildup. In conclusion, I love this little car and the only problem is that my Porsche now rarely escapes the garage.

[@Ibz87]

How’s your s3 going now? I’m looking for a hot hatch as my daily. I drove the mk8r and hated it. I also drove the 2018 s3 and the mk7.5r and loved the gold the most. Not sure if I should go mk7.5r or the new s3. Any recommendations?

[@peterb5644]

My S3 is great and after two years ownership I know that it meets all my expectations and has had absolutely no mechanical problems. However, I’ve had no experience of the Golf R. Because of its various driving mode choices it is a car that gives me hard sporty driving but with a switch to a gentler comfort mode it is a car that my wife is very happy to use. You can only decide based on your own test driving and research. In Australia, where I live, the Audi will be considerably more expensive to buy for a similarly aged car. Best wishes for your future buy.

[@Ibz87]

@@peterb5644 fair enough. I’m in Australia too. I’m just not sure if I should pay that extra over the golf. Thank you for your time.

[@brianbenfield111]

Now 7 months in with mine and it's the best every day car I've ever owned. Fun when you want it and comfortable on long journeys. Comfort and Sound pack, 19 inch alloys and red calipers. A pocket rocket without the in your face looks.

[@samgab]

I’ve got the 2017 S3 with mag ride, and I have to say, it’s really good. The comfort setting is noticeably smoother than auto or dynamic.

[@JoWilliams-b3n]

The fact that they built features jnto the car and hide them behind a software license (Acc) is criminal

[@Pkari]

Lower tyre pressures helped the ride a lot when I tried that for several weeks on Golf GTI (no adaptive dampers, 18” rims) but I would be afraid of smacking a pothole with those lower pressures on 19s - looks like the can bulge easily. This shows why adaptive dampers are amazing - tried them on the sister car Cupra Leon and it rides significantly better despite larger 19” wheels. The cabin is a bit noisier than S3 or GTI but that’s negligible with the beats stereo on in my pov. The only reason I would want the S3 is that interior & badge snobbery - it’s just not worth the huge premium over the Cupra VZ lineup in my view - they are actually prettier and often come with loads of optional extras thrown in like DCC & sunroof.

[@ParkersTV]

Good to know, thanks!

[@lesminchinton-smith8488]

On brake dust yep 100% agree. Still it makes the 18” the wheels look better IMHO. Why 18” wheels because at the time I bought my S3 new it was under £40K just, so for a lower ved bracket hot hatch, it’s great fun.

[@ivorbigun8214]

The * star button on the steering wheel can be programmed to almost any function on the Mmi mine is set for the wife and radio 2 Q3 Sportback 45

[@cynicalmanc]

I have the same car and agree the slow speed ride is just too firm compared to my previous long line of Golfs GTI's which were much more compliant. Have tried lowering the tyre pressures to no avail. I had the standard wheels powder coated gloss black which look so much better and mask the brake dust problem in between washes.

[@MyHandleIsVeryCool]

3:59 RIP 😢

[@johannesblomeyer1494]

How does starting the car work without the keyless go seeing as there is still an engine start stop button? Do you need to put the key into an ignition lock and then press start stop?

[@lambrosstamos4494]

Easy fix with your favourite coilover suspension and some better brake pads.

[@xaviersariceable]

What would be a modification worth having on an s3???

[@kristianrobinson7415]

Hi I do have a answer to your for four problems well excluding the brake dust issue! I brought a S3 8Y vorsprung and I find it has none of these issues and just more things to like ! Hope this helps

[@ParkersTV]

Very good point, Vorsprung spec does solve most of the negatives!

[@slen6293]

sure the outside looks a bit better in vorsprung spec but it also takes the car way over £40k, interior plastics are still cheap and poor ergonomic design. For a 40k+ car it’s just not good enough.

[@kristianrobinson7415]

I only paid 46 for mine as a brand new order and with extras which there are many over standard,that's definitely the best deal ,as for the interior plastics personally they are not much worse than the 8v !

[@slen6293]

@@kristianrobinson7415 exactly my point, 46k for an S3 is just crazy money for an interior that is easily beaten by cars in the low 30k region. Definitely not worth that and the luxury tax is a kick in the teeth on top of a bad decision!

[@robertgrifiths9504]

re the break dust I used to fit a set of dust guards that fitted behind the wheel and it cut the problem by95%

[@peterb4620]

How do you rate this to the Alfa Giulia Veloce you had.

[@ParkersTV]

Handling/ride isn’t as good on S3. Powertrain/infotainment/cabin is better, though. Tough choice choosing between the two!

[@mohammadsattar5488]

Great looking Golf

[@mauricetoussaint7283]

It's an Audi, not a VW. Have you even sat in an S3? Muppet.

[@mohammadsattar5488]

@@mauricetoussaint7283 don't you get sarcasm you plank

[@realtrappalini4346]

Have s3 saloon with 19 inch alloys with adaptive suspension ride is way too firm quite terrible tbh should’ve got 18s

[@CybrHwk]

It sounds like the review car is a poverty spec, it should at least be a black edition

[@lapamful]

Yup, harsh ride, excessive brake dust, all standard issues with VW group products. Also later you'll start getting jerky gear changes when slowing down. Oil and coolant leaks. I'll stick with my GR Yaris, even though it's far less refined and elegant looking.

[@timobataille5210]

The MMI in the 8Y is horrible. They have so many issues and can´t fix them since 2 years

[@robinhosleftfoot]

Same as the Golf software issues?

[@greymark420]

A German car requiring options which should be standard, how unusual.🙄

[@resnonverba137]

No doubt it's a good car, but why do Audi have to make it look so dull?

[@mauricetoussaint7283]

It's an S, not an RS. There's your answer.

[@resnonverba137]

@@mauricetoussaint7283 Hardly. It's the general form of the car that's at fault. It may be better in RS guise but it's not an exciting car to look at.

[@eoinmca]

Black edition and up look more like the RS

[@tpzgnt5100]

@@eoinmcawhats the best black edition option?

[@mauricetoussaint7283]

I had one for a month whilst waiting for my RS3 to get to the showroom. I wasn't that impressed and looks wise, it's not as good as the previous S3. Thankfully, my RS3 is way better in every area and frankly blows the S3 into the weeds and come on, it sounds nothing like the RS3! Brake dust? I've got the carbon ceramic brakes, so no problem there. LOL. Keyless entry? It is standard on my car, but I switched it off the day I picked the car up. You wan your car stolen, leave it switched on. The S3 has always been a good car, but the latest one is too dumbed down to be a S car. My advice, spend more and get a proper performance car, the RS3.

[@derekstamp206]

Fake exhaust sound is absolutely unforgivable.

[@akent46]

Brake dust 🙄 you have two choices, put up with brake dust and stop bitching, or, opt for a harder compound brake pad and then have accelerated brake disc wear. I would rather a bit of brake dust which just hoses off after a coat of ceramic anyway.