Rory, this was great content. Loved that Audi brought a pre-production model and asked you to judge it and that you stayed brutally honest about the car’s different attributes.
@@alexjacobs8874 totally agree on that one. Same engine too I would say since no Golf R Mk8 did less then 340 on the dyno and this one wouldn’t either. Think VAG group is digging a bigger hole for themselves and they overestimate the value of the Audi rings. Why would anyone buy a S3 over a Golf R when it’s basically same car for a “cheaper” price AND the Golf R has drift mode..?🤷🏻 If they want to sell more S3 that have to give the customers something that the Golf can’t provide..
@@josefinkjellsson7051 Completely. S3 is probably the worst value for money car out their right now from audi. As it stands, you either get a golf R, which is brilliant, but fails to be a car in everyday usability, or you get an S3 for more money, which is a worse car. Like who thought that was a good strategy?
@@drmonstervibes a family-first car doesn't need 333HP. Why are you making excuses for them? This engine has sounded bad ever since it was launched, even by 4-cylinder standards.
No 4 cyl sounds good. Can't stand people with exhausts on their civics and STIs. Love my S3 but I will never put an exhaust on it lol. Although with engine noise set to present it's pretty good sounding in the car.
So basically, they are retrofitting all the goodies found in the latest Golf R 20th anniversary to the S3 (extra power, smart rear differential, akrapovic exhaust...).
The s3 was held back by the golf r until now they didn't have access to parts Wich they were available for the golf r and in this gen it was even less powerful that must hurt the sales the more expansive car was slower and less attractive but that will change
@@EB720Sit was much faster than prev gen S3 and my stage 1 tuned S3 makes 400hp with no additional mods and almost 400tq at like 2200 rpm. Pretty impressive beast for a 2.0.
We live in an age where this type of car is basically as near to perfect for the average driver and in particular their needs. I guess for me anyway the real question is how much change out of 50k are we going to get for the new fully loaded s3 and will people be willing to pay that much for the s3 given current deals and interest rates 🤔
@@SomeUnremarkableGuy Probably company policy, I mean it's like you never signed and red through a job contract to what you are allowed to do and what not (the employees rights/responsibilities and the companies rights/responsibilities)
My old b6 audi steering was still the best feeling one. Have a Golf 7 gti now...that old audi steering still kicks this gti one's butt. Something about mechanical feel...
Hi Rory miss you in top gear I think you are a great automotive ambassador for the automotive sector and wish you where n a lot more exposure on tv you deserve it m8 all the best and Iam a big fan. Keep it up John
I believe you can go into the driving modes and select individual and then change the steering to a lighter consistent setting, whilst selecting any suspension setting, exhaust noise level and throttle response. I think the electronic damping is only with vorsprung model though.
2024 S3 - 333BHP. That makes me happy. My 2006 A4 EA113 2.0TFSI is stage 2+ with 290BHP. So I wont be too far behind. I like new Audi's but they are very expensive but I still REALLY love my B7 with permanent mechanical 4WD.
Yes finally, Audi has listened!! What has always made the Golf R an awesome choice in the past is that it had shared the drivetrain of the S3 for less cost. When the 8Y S3 was released I couldn’t believe it didn’t have the RS3 rear differential like the Golf R that has the same level quality interior and costs $3k less! Finally they have corrected it! Thats all I wanted to get from this video😂
i got the current version of the S3 and thought the facelift version will only get some cosmetic changes. pretty surprised to hear it got more HP, that exhaust, bigger breaks and that torque splitter now. That really surprises me. The optical changes on the outside do not convince me. The tail lights are much more boring / less aggressive as the current ones. The front lights look a bit weird. as if they got cut in three. and the parts doe not really match together. the bottom extra corner now has no purpose at all anymore. The front grill is also not my kind of style. i prefer the honeycone of the current generation. all together: step up in performance and sport, step down in design.
not going to lie if they offered those orange grills and wheels as an option id totally go for them would look pretty sick with some black paint and tinted windows.
I have the S3 8y saloon amazeing cars only difference is the rear torque set up they added that's in golf mk8 golf r , no difference in power claimed 310bhp but all been tested on dynos all running over 330bhp all gen4 models due to the continental turbo, bigger brakes would be a good welcome and that exhaust needs to be louder standard and that one on here can still hardly here and what's the price going to be as getting to high ?
Akropovic exhaust standard?? Anyway I have A4 with only 261 hp version of this engine and it zips around fast enough for me to be happy as a daily driver. However in the smaller S3, that motor can put you into the 4's and tbh I really like the A3 too; I could have gone either way but I needed to be able to carry 4 adults in comfort so I went with the A4. I love the Audi "S" models; give me any of them and I'd be happy!
Hi trevor :) you said ‘only 261 hp’ :) that is pretty much and enough for accelarating :) i just only have 190 hp A4 b6 1.8 T . Relativite theory of physics rule of speed and accelaration. 🚀
The clip board is hilarious… the most German thing ever 😂… I have to use a clipboard for my Grman wife on Holidays.. can’t even enjoy the trip because I’m busy giving feedback 😂
I always was a bmw guy, had 4 bmw cars a couple of lexus cars but its time to get an Audi. There is something special and mature about their cars. Build quality, materials they use, REAL AWD system. A8 or Q8... haven't decided yet.
It’s mad to think Porsches used to have the same power now it’s in an audi S3. Great review Rory top gear should have kept you maybe it would still be going 😎👏🏽👊🏽👍🏽
I mean it's an RS. If you aren't getting better performance someone really f'd up. RS3 is a completely different animal. Stage 1 tuned S3s are making over 400hp though which is super impressive for a 2.0 with no mods. And stage 1 RS3s are putting out 500+hp. I do love the TTRS though as well.
I was expecting Norbert to say something like - Ja Dankeschön. We’ll take your comments into consideration and then chucks the folder down the ravine, tyre smoke and you are left by the side of the road 😂😂😂
Wasn't keen on the 8Y when it came out, got 8V. But facelift defo an improvement. Both section of the headlights pointing the same direction now! And back to more power than the GolfR - like it should =) Have they dropped Haldex for proper Quattro now then?
Nice upgrade from the PFL. I like the exterior a lot more than the PFL. It finally looks more like the 8V, which looks much better than the 8Y PFL. I would take this over the Golf R for more physical buttons alone.
hey do you know what antispin wheel system the use now S3 is not same with rs 3 or s3 old for me looks same like cupra vz use Haldex gen for me is the best top
great car for the money! I have the RS3, but this is nice if you don't need the epic sound and power the legendary 5 provides;) It is only fair this gets what the R has already had...
So basically this is just an expensive golf 8r from 2020 🤔 Same diff (magna) Same engine as anniversary golf R (333) Why do they think people are idiots? Shame on you audi
Please add dedicated button, ideally on steering wheel for mode selector. Its crazy to switching driving modes via infotainment system all the time. Especially in this car, which can be daily but you also want to switch to sport/dynamic mode quite often :D
I’ve got a 23 Golf r 20 years(333ps), with the DCC. The car is essence the same as this with rear diff etc. The car is brilliant in so many way. But, the steering just feels so numb. I have a 2009 focus RS and the steering in that is perfect, feedback and weighting are superb. Someone from VAG needs to get hold of one them, find out what they did with the steering and you’ve got the perfect car if they integrated in to their range. I purely mean the EHPS system!
A further point would be the paddles. It would be epic if they could devise a way to have them so you can have them either column mounted or wheel mounted with a simple lever or something. I find with them on the wheel they are never where want them on corner exit. It picks up revs so fast in lower gear you need the next gear so quickly and lacks the torque to use the gear above. Having them column mounted would enable a much better experience in manual mode on tight country lanes. Even some roundabout you want the next gear just on the exit turn I find. Being cross armed doesn’t work for me.
If it got a 1 it would be an RS3, the old 8V S3 was a great car, looks like they have tried to fix a lot of the issues, mainly understeering and lack of feel versus the Golf R, lets see what it's like on the road.
Another Rory 'classic'. Oh what a review. Norbet too. [Audi Man] Yes more please. I get it but why so close to the RS3? Surely the RS3 just becomes a track 'play thing'? Drift mode etc. And what will VW do with the Golf R? Thanks Rory...
Rory just smashing out such great content. Love the RS3, and because I missed the last gen. Will likely go for the revamped model whenever that arrives
They also need to have a look at the inside of the car are you have to stretch to far to reach the hazard lights when driving. Also you should be able to change driver settings on steering wheel.
I have found out that audi and mbz do the skinny tires mainly because they want their clients to visit service shop more often, where almost never BMW sells M cars with 30 size thickness and they dedicated to Michelin
The EA888 engine is such a beast of an engine! It just loves to rev and has power all the way to the redline! Going from a Cupra 280 to a M135i F40 im alittle bit disappointed in its engine TBH comapred to the EA engine anyway!
An ad of yours got me here the ad guy says they're name and then that's when the skip button appears maybe save those first seconds for an intro to what you do thought I'd help out and let you know
Very nice content! Liked it alot! Agreed! Why no drift mode? Its a sports car its suposed to be fun and the golf R has it so... If the S3 is not suposed to be better than the Golf R then don't make a Audi S3 just make the best Golf R you can and the best Audi RS3 you can. Variable steering every car jornalist says they don't like it because of the same reasons you said they complain about it in Audis and Lamborghinis which has far has i know are the only two brands that use it. Exhaust note agreed! While revving stand still it sounds good but in acceleration it sounds bad sounds like a vaccum cleaner. Plus i think they should offer a less sound deadening option pack so you can listen more the exhaust instead of using speaker sound. Also the exhaust note should be louder but like you said its probably because of regulations.
Forgot about the soft rev limiter! Yeah soft rev limiter is boring and annoying hard rev limiter is very cool. They should use soft rev limiter for normal mode and hard rev limiter in sport mode. Also make it drift properly! Not wheel bumping! And put a option to disable the fake engine sound in the display.
It's a hot hatch, not a sports car and as for drift mode - I have 23 RS3 8Y and will never use it. It is pointless on a road car that'll spend most of its time going from A to B at 40mph. The rest of your comments, oh dear, get a life. This is a hatchback for taking the kids to school, doing the shopping, etc. Do what I do, get another car for being silly, I have a 718 GT4 for that, in addition to the RS3 sportback.
