Day of testdrives - The feedback (hope you are sitting comfortably !)

[drisser]

I'm going back tomorrow for a 2nd bite of S3 test drive actually this time a longer one..

And also booked an hour in the RS3.. That car gets under my skin thinking about it.. Both are Seoang and love the colour..

I actually really like the s3 saloon .. Haven't seen one in the flesh but seen Sepang saloon on the auc website and do like it.. Trouble is its then knocking on 38k pre discount and you are close to  RS3..

Will report back after the longer drives tomorrow .. Want to really test the ride comfort on Rs3

[am1w]

I found the ride of the RS3 quite hard with the sound of thumping wheels on rough surfaces. Quite a bit harder riding than my R which is on 18". I don't think I could stand it for too long. The RS3 boot capacity is the same as a Polo at 280 litres and it has no spare tyre.

[James75]

Not really the point perhaps but the options on the RS3 are staggering...

Just watching a review on XCAR and specced one up on the Audi website, there's not much as standard, that may be true of all Audi's but if it was me, I'd feel a bit peeved that I have to pay for things I think should be standard.

It's not quite Porsche levels of cheekiness when it comes to options, but surely Audi can stretch to fitting things like folding mirrors as standard.

Probably not the point I do admire the RS3, it's a beautiful car but it's a lot of money.

[drisser]

I had a lengthy drive again today of the 330d / S3 / RS3 to try and make a choice.

The 330d is a brilliant all round car and the S3 kind of sits in the middle ground, both really good cars.  The RS3 however has really got under my skin.. to the point im pretty sure I am going to order one next week.. despite ranking it "disappointing" before.

1.  Exclusivity.  I have a good rappor with my local Audi dealer and spent a good bit of time chewing the fat today.  They are not allowed to order an RS model speculatively it must be a customer order and provide proof as such.  They have been caught out with the demand (not so the TT - they said it has been " very disappointing" because of the pricing and they have 2 prereg cars on their forecourt.  If you fancy a new TT, bargain hard - at least 10% discount is possible or more).  So they said if I order an RS3 this week, not chance before 2016 of seeing it, likely to be mid Q1, in other words march 16 reg.  I had a look at previous model RS3's and 4 year old ones are still high 20k's at dealers..

2.  The engine has grown on me, its a real beauty.  I managed to eek 27 mpg out of it as well on a 1 hour varied test drive.  The 7 speed DSG and more torque means at 80mpg it turns over at 2k rpm v around 3k for the S3.  Didn't notice this before but the S3 managed 30.1 on the same route, not a lot in it.  Service costs and 5 year warranty are the same price.

3.  Spec and prices.  If you study the brochure in detail the RS3 actually isn't badly equipped at all.  I looked on the RS3 forum and some people are speccing them up to 54k.. ridiculous ..  Like anything, I think simpler is better so specced up metallic, 5 year warranty, titanium rotor alloys, B&O sound system (it was on demo car, awesome), cruise control, privacy glass, super sports diamond leather.  That added about £3k onto list and I think I will get £1500-£2000 discount as a repeat good customer - about £42k for a very good spec car.  I will skip the nav as the dealer said you can buy and SD car at any time for £495, the car is pre wired for nav anyway and the HDD nav is crap compared to BMW's prof nav..  The comfort and sound pack (B&O and cruise is much better value and more use to me)

With a decent deposit of around £15k it comes in at around £150 a month. 

4.  Looks - subtle aggression - not OTT or in your face but people "know".  I think my test drive was summed up by - nobody wanted to take me on, except a motorbike on the twisties.. and he struggled !

Overall, its one of those cars that is a grower for sure.  If you do fancy a test drive, make sure you get it for minimum 1-2 hours, try the ride settings etc etc.  A spin round the block wont do it justice..

So, there you go.. somewhat confusing !?  Still love the BMW 330d as an everyday car, its awesome.  AM seriously pondering keeping my A3 diesel to run to work in and ordering an RS3, it just has a special feeling and lots of practicality.  Of course you can buy a Cayman for around £42k, but the RS has some exclusive appeal, 4wd, boot, back doors etc.. could see me keeping one a long time.

Aggghh, cant make my mind up.  The audi sales guy nearly fell off his seat when I said I can get a fully loaded 330d for £45k list discounted to around £34k !

[andrewparker]

I can understand the allure if it's your one and only car, but as a second car/weekend toy I think you'd be mad to spend £42k on an RS3. So many options at that price if practicality isn't important.

[am1w]

Have you thought of a Macan?

[James75]

There are items on the RS3 that i would expect to be standard.   I can get round 'paying for a badge' - I did to some extent with the Golf, I get that you're paying for the power/design/engineering but this, when you've added a few bits is 45 - 50k car - that poses a lot of options, admittedly few with the practicality of the RS3 but I think having to pay for folding mirrors etc etc - that's just cheeky and I wouldn't.

But like the R, that does miss the point, maybe just take it at base spec, enjoy it and move on when you're ready.  There's no denying it is an amazing car and would be an amazing experience to own, no matter what the spec.

James

[charv94]

My dad pulled the trigger a month or so back to chop his cls 63 for a sepang blue s3. It's going to be just a quick in real terms as the cls because of the 4wd and being completely unable to dump 560bhp onto the road at any time regardless of weather. He was aiming for cheap as possible due to wanting a facelift end 911 when mums car is up so that explained not getting an RS3 but I also don't know if the RS is enough more car to justify the quite significant price jump. Safe to say you'd be excited by an S3 enough to not pine after an RS imo

[AndyG]

RS3 go for it.I would if I could afford one.

[drisser]

there is no denying it isn't a cheap car.. and there is always the "what else can you buy for the money" but that applies at 20k, 30k, or 40k - you can get a 911 for the price of a golf GTi..

but I don't have the time for hassles and breakdowns so that performance, practicality etc is a compelling package with a 5 year warranty.. and RS3s hold their value incredibly well, which is a consideration.

I can quite do without folding mirrors or all kinds of bumf - the appeal is the powerplant and hardware so with 5 options on it, at £43,500 less £2k discount its just over £40k.. and lets face it if you spec a golf R with leather and heated seats, 19 inch alloys (all std on RS3) and a few other toys, its very easy to get into high £30s.

Yes there are better discounts but that always comes back in resale - it always does..

Anyway, I haven't decided for sure but I think its a compelling package - BUT - only if you keep the price very close to £40k... and I can spec what I need / want for that, I think people speccing to £50k+ are mad.. plus most dealers are giving 0 discount so I reckon with £2k off and £3.5 of options that isn't a bad deal..

Sometimes the sum of the parts is greater than the individual items and I think with the RS3 v S3 this holds true as well as I drove them back to back.. S3, very efficient, fast etc.. but the RS3 makes you tingle, it really does.