The New 400HP Audi RS3 is One Car That Does It All - TheSmokingTire

[@cw5285]

That 5 cylinder sound will never get old 🔥

[@Robin1436MC]

Got the most mundane golf wagon with a 2.5 5 cylinder non-turbo. I get crap gas mileage because I always want to hear it scream. It's soo smooth too! Something about no companion cylinder in the firing order make them real smooooth. I love these engines.

[@mufflejoy]

Indeed - 5 cyl is my all time favourite sound (or bring back F1 V10)

[@PDJ4L]

Been WAITING for THIS REVIEW!!!! So happy we didn’t have to wait for US unveil to get it. Thank you for your effort in literally flying halfway across the world from California to bring us this content bro🙏🏾

[@Alecd2023]

I adore my RS3. Best car I’ve ever purchased

[@ferretkiller9454]

Right it really does a lot right, and tuning and mods just wakes it up.. its absolutely hilarious to see peoples reaction when you tell them what it is.

[@potatochobit]

Go electric

[@TheImperfectGuy]

​@@potatochobit(with an 8000$ used BMW i3 with just about enough range left in the battery for daily running about)

[@ExonTwins]

@@potatochobit 👎

[@louKushh]

​@@potatochobitnah

[@feenyx6394]

This might sound a bit weird, but I miss when every maker had a car like this in their lineup.

[@oppos727]

Why would that be weird

[@GrayFox370]

I don't think that ever happened with most car makers.

[@pdx7776]

This would be my next car if it had ventilated seats and an actual shift knob. The hatch would be a huge plus.

[@stealthhtm23]

that shifter is LAME AF!!!! will not buy the 8.5Y RS3 because of it

[@GrayFox370]

Get a Golf. Throw in this engine. Problem solved

[@stealthhtm23]

@@GrayFox370 MK8’s have the same shifter

[@Nick996]

Always wish Audi USA would bring the 5-door version. If they did, I'd be driving one.

[@dnice362]

What’s 5 door?

[@dnice362]

All cars usually have 2 or 4 and a trunk and a hood?

[@MikeSmith-bn8xp]

@@dnice362Hatchback

[@Goonswami]

@@dnice362 the hatchback version is colloquially referred to as the 5 door, only available in Europe

[@dnice362]

@ good keep it their. The sedan looks way better

[@chrisball1992]

This is the first new car that has excited me in years thanks to Matt’s review. Apart from the stupid driver assists, it’s been a while I’ve actually thought… I want that

[@TheMostSmokeCrew]

@TheSmokingTire I bought the RS3 8Y in part because of your 8Y review; loving it. Great review of this new 8Y.5 Matt and liking the green dial on your wrist. Keep on keeping it real brother. Much love from Texas.

[@joeracer302]

Same, I bought an 8Y RS3 without having driven one, I only found an S3 locally at the time during the pandemic, but I instantly fell in love with the RS3 when I got it and I never want to get rid of it. It’s my favorite Audi ever, and if I replace it with anything it’ll be another RS3, hopefully a hatchback if they ever bring it to the states …

I love smallAudi's ..had two back in the day 1986 Audi Quattro 4000 and a 1990 Audi 90 Quattro..both with manual trans..have to have a manual...

[@luciussander8217]

Small? It's a mid-sized in the UK and it wasn't that long ago that an RS4 Evant was about the same size as my RS3 Sportback.

[@VenomousGarage]

5 Cyl sounds good and very refreshing in today's EV/Hybrid environment.

[@05EVORS]

The CTR/ITS is a cool daily, but a daily with half of a Lambo V10 & 4WD is pretty rad especially since we no longer have a new, real 4 season rally car choice anymore.

[@r0b3rt_959]

“Can't drive FWD/RWD cars in the snow” Yeah, you can if you buy proper winter tires.

[@jammose6208]

I remember when Audi made an A3 Clubsport which for the most part ended up as the RS3 but heavily detuned and without the adaptive spoiler. Ever since I saw that car I knew I had to have one. To this day I’ve never owned an RS3 but it’s always held a special spot in my heart.

[@trevorsosnowy7386]

I love my RS3, best car I've ever owned and no plans to ever sell it and the sound is stellar.

[@magmavr6]

Just curious if you drove/considered and RS5?

[@h2junkey]

I don’t give a damn about how many gadgets the Audi RS3 has or non-analog it is . The car is a total sleeper and “under the radar” by so-called auto enthusiasts.

[@BOOSTEDDUDE]

I like the updates. Looks really good and the rear differential tweaks are very impressive!

[@joeplatz7289]

Great car, also is that a GS on your wrist? Beauty!

[@ryanmurphy7537]

SBGJ259

[@TheImperfectGuy]

Matt hugely endorses Grand Seiko watches at any opportunity

[@zTheBigFishz]

I had a 2018 TTRS for about a year or so. I loved it. Sounded great, the interior was fabulous, and nobody knew what it was...a bit of an advantage at a stop light.

[@JCRS3-20]

Great vid. Can't wait for this to hit the states!

[@adamfrost9048]

I like that new rear diffuser with the fin in the middle. If someone described it to me I wouldn't think that I would like it, but it looks good.

[@masterofdisaster666]

Please keep making videos! We appreciate you!

[@Nyx_88888]

I had the older version, what a little ripper, one cool thing is how the power feels, it has a turbo feel and has a late breaking power curve which feels really cool along with the colorful tach as you pull, I also had the car on VIR and it was remarkably good

[@docwyte]

Too bad we don't get the Sportbak and those seats here in the US. Just the sportbak would make me buy one immediately...

[@calebloewen]

I just wish we could get them in Canada. Total dream car for sure!

[@whalenahlstrom2553]

forever will be one of my favorite production cars

[@seandebottis3276]

Bucket list car for me. Will own one, kids and bills aside they hold their value well and I find a hard time looking for deals on used ones. I have an original 93 S4 with the 5cyl AAN mates to a 6spd manual and that 5cyl makes me giggle every time. One day……one day I’ll add the RS3

[@Edizzle15]

I miss my 1991 Coupe Quattro with the 2.3l 5cyl and miss my fully RS2’d 1995.5 URS6 even more. Best cars I’ve ever owned and I’d give my left testicle to have them both back.

[@rayestefania3725]

I've always liked this car. If this would be your only car then I think it's a great option. If you would have two cars, a daily and a sports car then I'd have a Cayman or something like that over this. The direct competitor of this is an M2 and this has 4 doors. Great review!

[@zbatchDOC]

Damn I miss the TT

[@Bysior88]

I also love tits

[@FalconXE302]

Cars this size are perfect... not too big and not too small... they give you a bit of everything... sort of the swiss army knife of cars. First impressions of this new model... I like.

[@Jfromes1]

I almost bought one of these last year but ended up passing because it was a tad small for me. I need room for myself (6'2 with long legs) and my nieces along with our snowboard gear. I ended up with an S5 Sportback instead.

[@Sayu2x]

Great engine

[@matthewsteinert1002]

Personal favorite of mine that Audi has. 5 cylinders have a place in my heart.

[@seinsmeld13]

Great review Matt. Hopefully we get this car here in Canada. Currently it is not sold here. I had a 2018 RS3 which I gave up after my lease finished. Currently I am driving a 2023 M2. If this car gets sold here in Canada I will buy/order one. Cheers🍻

[@ikampbush1722]

RS4 Avant is the sweet spot I think.

[@jackkrauser2361]

Great review Matt! 👍

[@xtnuser5338]

Things I would change about my 2023 model are: 1. The brake pedal feel and travel. It's over-boosted and long for my liking. The amount of braking G-force I get is not linearly related to pedal pressure throughout the full range of travel, and that's kind of annoying. That range of travel is about 30% too long, and that's also annoying. Nothing wrong with the brakes at all, they do the job they're supposed to do. It's just the pedal feel and travel that I dislike. If anybody knows how to change the boost level, I'm all ears. 2. The B-pillar location. I would move it rearwards about two inches so I can slide directly out of the seat instead of pulling my torso forward to get around it. Not worth actually changing for real, but it's something I notice every time. 3. The ride height. I would lower it. Only about 3/4 of an inch. Just for slightly less fender gap above the tires. 4. The safety feature that automatically applies the brakes hard if it thinks you might risk hitting another car. Yeah, I know it might save my life some day, but it's annoying as hell. 5. The low-speed rebound damping. There is a bit more undulation motion in the body than I like. It's like going over waves at an angle in a boat, and seems most prominent in the 2 to 3 hertz range. On a non-perfectly smooth track, in a turn, the motion tricks you into thinking you need to make small corrections. You don't, because it sticks and follows the line you intended, but your butt-O-meter tells you that you need to, and you have to consciously program yourself not to and just drive through it instead. That's it. Absolutely love everything else about it. It's the perfect iteration of an everyday little badass sedan. Oh wait, one more thing... 6. It's a sedan. I really, really would have preferred the hatchback here in the USA. You hear me Audi?

[@bokiNYC]

Very well said and agree on all points, especially 2, 4 and 6. 👍👍

[@EddieRicks-i8v]

I had the a3 as a loaner and I put 94 octane for the day and it drove down nice and for a base car it was great and this one with double the horsepower 😂 lol

[@luciussander8217]

S3 has 333bhp and RS3 has 400. Your math isn't up to much.

[@EddieRicks-i8v]

@ the s3 and the rs3 are great but the base was so much fun I can only imagine how much faster they are

[@westsidevadios]

Those wheels looks great, especially the silver ones

[@johnmac609]

Agree the wheel should be round.

[@evalonious]

I love my 5cyl. Like a pair of old shoes mixed with a tractor. Jetta SportWagen 2009 with 2.5 5cyl. A 10/10s car ❤🏁 0-60 8.4 & Yes, I Auto crossed it 😂

[@bokiNYC]

😂😂👍 I had a mk5 Jetta 2.5l 5 cylinder n/a with manual and loooved it! 👍

[@evalonious]

@bokiNYC best slow car fast ever! Cheers brother 🍻

[@100PROOF-G]

Keep up the outstanding work! Freakin awesome

[@Duuhvis]

3cyl and 5cyl just have such a unique sound. Love them!

[@NForce211]

Great review Matt. Have been tossing up between an RS3 and a M3 in manual. Do the annoying safety systems stay off when you turn the car on next time? Hate that stuff!

[@jordanstone3630]

Looks like the perfect daily driver!

[@bud215]

Such a great car.

[@jpslaym0936]

Looks like doppelgänger for southern California canyon roads (or other way around) I wouldnt have known if you hadnt told me

[@GarageSupra]

For videos like this where you dont know the specs (or you do) it might be worth getting a Racebox to take on a drive with ya to get some info about the performance.

[@bokiNYC]

He probably has one but I believe the organizers didn't allow the use of it for this event.

[@johnmac609]

Thing rules. Want. Always have. 5 cylinder makes a unique sound. If you're gonna burn gas it should sound good.

[@alexibragimov918]

Wish they could send us (US) the hatchback, that thing is perfect

[@mikelyon5595]

Love the sound! Those doors are awfully small for a full size guy!

[@bokiNYC]

Ha, I don't see people noticing that at all but that's one of the few little complaints I have about my 8Y RS3. 👍

[@maxximase]

Palmer was the first track I thought of....and then Matt goes and mentions Palmer....had no idea you had been out here to Palmer!

[@dbeckMSP]

love a reverse stagger

[@mshawnroxy]

Most underrated

[@sterkrazzy]

Just glad the PFL is a better looking car.

[@bokiNYC]

Same 👍

[@somerandomfella]

If you can, buy one before they go hybrid or stop making them.

[@ricepony33]

They really need to build a boxy rally inspired car.

[@jammose6208]

Here’s me wishing they made an RS1 with the same engine in it.

[@Triptisim]

Interested to know how functional the capacitive looking buttons on the steering wheel work. Just don’t love the look and wondering if they get in the way as well like the Golf’s do.

[@amiller2121]

I wonder if they're going to bring this car back to Canada. How are they not letting us have the nice seats??

[@bokiNYC]

I believe I heard the ThrottleHouse guys say that Audi is bringing the RS3 back to Canada.

[@JohnInSale]

Lovely car… except, the steering wheel, black front and rear badges you can’t see and the darned rear tinted windows D’oh !!! Otherwise it’s a beautiful car 🤔

[@bvedant]

This car competes more directly with the M2 than the M4.

[@Moving_Chicane]

But for $20-25K more, does the M3 Comp Xdrive make sense and be that much better?

[@awdrpepper]

@@Moving_Chicane In Australia an RS3 is roughly $100K after taxes. An M2 is roughly $130K after taxes. An M3 is roughly $180K

[@amiller2121]

@@Moving_Chicane The 3 series platform is quite a bit bigger. Smaller is better in this case.

[@joeracer302]

The RS3 is also 200 lbs lighter than an M2.

[@fzr1000981]

​@@awdrpeppercrazy....M2 is 68k here

[@AndrewBeveridge461]

Just give us a Golf R wagon, an S3 Avant, or an RS3 Avant in the US already dammit. Even an S4 or S6 wagon. And no, the "sportback" doesn't count. Can't put anything taller than a backpack in the very back. Instead we get the RS6 which is just dumb expensive. I camp and fill my wagon to the brim with gear. I play music and move drums and amps. I run sound and move a PA. That stuff all fits in my Alltrack. It won't fit in a hatch size Golf or a little sedan. Just give us ONE of these, any one of them!

[@travis3810]

That Grand Seiko tho 🤌🏼

[@BroVCam]

1st) thanks for the awesome review! You guy's content rocks! Man; I love this car! But I wish Audi offered us that Sportback!!! Damn near makes ya wish you could afford to live by-country, just for the opp to own it! SB in Europe and Sedan in the US! 😂 But thanks again for your always cool reviews! ✌🏽❤️✊🏽💯😁

[@bokiNYC]

Agree 100%! 👍

[@clonetrooper576]

It's pretty, spacious, small enough, amazing engine, full of tech, yes its a bit expensive, but screw it, I'm getting one of these cars in a few years!!!!

[@spinnetti]

I wish they had updated the nose like the other A3's. Don't like the full black nose. At the same price as a used R8, Feels like the R8 is the better buy (was for me)... I still want one though lol.

[@thabangngobeni2706]

"Here we go Habibi" 🤣🤣

[@tw16044]

I hope that intro music was Matt sneaking some of his guitar playing into a video.

[@FreshlySnipes]

If Audi would bring back the manual option for their RS cars, they’d have something really great going on.

[@kyleheffner2285]

Matt and Zach are the best! Next to throttle house that is lol

[@luciussander8217]

It's just a facelift, not a new car and some of the things they should have sorted out from the current model, they haven't. It's also ten grand more to buy and they've used more plastic in this update. I've had my RS3 for a year now and am not rushing out to order the facelift. At least we get the bucket seats in the UK I guess. Good review.

[@mostlypostie1]

Needs the front RS badge!!!!

[@bokiNYC]

👍👍

[@slonlo364]

I have a '17 S3, and this is the ONLY car that I want to replace it with.

[@fale892]

Looks like a beauty, except for the steering wheel

[@hardykornfeld1733]

Wider wheels on the front of the RS3 sounds as weird as having them on the back of a 911. Despite the weirdness, I’ll flip my aging S4 for a new RS3 when they go on sale in America, if I can find a dealership that doesn’t demand a markup.

[@anthonyfrios]

Nice bro 👌

[@fzr1000981]

I like what Audi did with it but very minor changes over 8Y....68k is very expensive for this car. Too bad carbon buckets aren't coming to US

[@PDJ4L]

Says who? In regards to carbon buckets in the states. I literally can’t find any facts about US release at all

[@fzr1000981]

@PDJ4L matt claims that in the video

[@Dormantee]

Does this make a good weekend car if you already have 2 other Daily Duty vehicles?

[@neilturner6749]

I think you know the answer! The whole point of cars like the S/RS3, M2/3 and A45/C63 is that they’re aimed at the one-car owner and therefore have to be able to do everything. Given the compromises involved, they do a great job overall, but a regular A3/A4/Q3 2.0T or 120i/323i/X1 will be a fast-enough and more sensible daily commuter and a Boxster/Z4/Emira makes a better weekend fun car. If you can afford to run (and have the space for) two or three cars, there’s no logic to buying something like this, cool as it is.

[@Dormantee]

@@neilturner6749 thank you. I appreciate the insight. I love the RS3 but I don't think it would hold me over for the sportscar experience

[@TheMostSmokeCrew]

Depends on what you want. If this is what you want then it's a special machine and you'll love it.

[@xtnuser5338]

@@neilturner6749 "If you can afford to run (and have the space for) two or three cars, there’s no logic to buying something like this, cool as it is." I've got a GT3RS for track and only occasional street use, and an F250 for M-F work duty. The RS3 slotted right in between as a regular evening/weekend general use car for hooning around, taking the wife to dinner, going to hang with friends, running errands, 3-hour road trips to visit my boys in college, etc, etc, etc. If you've got the money to run two or three cars, there's not a lot of logical reasons NOT to have something like this be one of them.

[@bokiNYC]

​@@DormanteeI'd suggest you go test drive one and then decide if it's for you or not. Unless you have money for 718 Cayman or 911 for your weekend car. 👍

[@acmoreland1]

Upgrading from the 2023 S3 when this becomes available

[@nicholassmith7048]

5:16 hopefully USDM models can finally get those sequential amber rear turn signals. One of my pet peeves is how Audi, and a lot of others, downgrade the tailllights by completely removing the amber rear turn signals and combining the turn signals with the red brake lights like its 1920. Why can't they just make them solid amber lights instead of throwing the baby out with the bath water?

[@mdkflip7231]

Love the car, but as my only car the back seat and trunk aren't great. Too bad we don't get the wagon

[@jesusredondobarrena6247]

a trip to the other part of the world for the presentation of an Audi RS3?someone likes Spain and Im not looking to nobody...😀😀

[@speedfiend925]

I did not find the squarish steering wheel in the C8 Corvette unpleasant to use but it sounds like the Audi is not so great even if it mimics the Corvettes eh?

[@bokiNYC]

😂👍

[@JK-tu1xx]

How does it stack up to other daily driveable sports cars like the GR Corolla, Type R, BMW M240i, etc.?

[@TheMostSmokeCrew]

Better performance, interior, comfort, handling, etc. You pay for it though as the RS3 is more expensive.

[@mitchellsteindler]

​@TheMostSmokeCrew and more expensive to maintain, and very small interior room with nowhere near the ft3, and no manual. Engine and awd are the actual advantage here.

[@xtnuser5338]

The M240i is the closest competitor in my opinion, excepting the 2-door versus 4-door thing. I personally chose the RS3 because the BMW was just too 'modern BMW' for my tastes, especially the interior design.

[@bokiNYC]

They all have their strengths and weaknesses - you have to test drive them all and decide what exactly works best for you man but I can tell you I absolutely looove my 2022 RS3! The only thing I wish is that it was manual but after 40 years of driving manual cars only I had to try this and I'm not regretting it at all. I don't have the money for a manual Cayman or 911 so the RS3 will do.

[@randyforce8406]

Bring the wagon to the US!

[@Francis-qj2yf]

4:42 not quite vibing with the interior design language… especially that updated steering wheel 😳

[@eliaswreford4523]

I do truly like these cars. I don’t know if I’d own one, but I’d sure as shit would encourage my girl to get one. I think it would be pretty perfect for her “fun” car. Used, of course.

[@tdrcar]

Can you actually get one of these for list price, or do dealers jack up the price?

[@brandon7136]

I had a 2018 when they first came to the U.S. ive been waiting to get back in a RS3 but there's not enough changes with the FL for me.

[@bokiNYC]

Did you test drive the 8y? I did test both used 8v and 8y RS3 and bought the 8y - felt nuch better to me, but that's subjective, not saying it better for everyone.

[@brandon7136]

​@@bokiNYC No I haven't, they're kind of hard to come by. I sold my AV for a Taycan when they first came out. Taycan is faster and handles way better but not much emotion. If they up the power a bit I'd happily get another RS3.

[@bokiNYC]

@brandon7136 The stock power is the same but the 8y has that trick torque vectoring rear diff now and the Unitronic and APR are working on the tunes since the Bosch MG1 ECU's are cracked now. That should give us about 450-500hp with minimum modifications (intake, intercooler and tune, no exhaust/cat modifications needed I believe).

[@joed3613]

Great car, but damn it's expensive.

[@darienlux4735]

I’d like to see this vs. M340i.

[@notdaltonxd]

The last gen RS3 looks so much better. It's my dream daily and I can't wait to own one one day.

[@shaunlunney7551]

This or the CT4 BW? and why?

[@diegomoncada0]

I rather have an evo x. Looks better then that audi

[@mikehagmaier3949]

The previous flat bottom steering wheel was the ultimate to hold. Why did they mess that up????

[@prashanthp5448]

My next favourite engine after Porsche’s flat 6

[@wcmontana]

This or ATS-V?

[@dking108]

I gotta know what that flannel shirt is

[@kgosim7851]

I can see they paid for Matts flight and accommodation. 😂😂😂.

[@rw1592]

I had a fully specced RS3Y and whilst the performance and driving dynamics were really nice, the interior, door panels, dashboard are cheap and plasticky, the heating struggles in the real cold and the air conditioning underperforms in hot temperatures. Audi cut too many corners for the price they charge. I traded mine in for a M4 and never looked back.

[@PDJ4L]

What car sounds better? Be honest

[@bokiNYC]

Agree on all points although my a/c cooling was resolved by filling up the refridgerant since it was down to 50% or so amd they couldn't find the leak. It now cools extremely well even in the hottest days. The M4 is $10-20k more expensive so it should for sure be a bit better in performance/luxury department. 👍

[@RumblestripDotNet]

Zack didn't color grade this one?