Forester XT to MKV GTI to MKVI R to Audi S3

[Candyman]

[AdamD]

To put it briefly, a grown ups Golf R and in a good way.

Sensational.

[Sharkie]

That blue looks awesome! It has the blackout option, yes?

I spent the weekend test driving and evaluating a few cars (330i, 340i and S3 sedan) in prep for a comparison with the Mustang next month.

Have to say the 8spd auto in the BMWs is so much better than the STronic I drove (no manual S3 in stock as a demo anywhere in Qld), but the S3 as a package and especially the quality of the interior is just leaps ahead of both th BMWs.

S3 still equally top of my list at the moment and the Mustang will have to be unbelievable (which I doubt) to beat it.

[Candyman]

I couldn't live with the styling (interior and exterior) of the BMWs. I really was disappointed in the handling of them in the wet as well with any power down.

Yes, we have the black optics option, a must IMO. We considered the Mustang but the extended wait, the 'bulky' look and the running costs put us off. Again, we wanted AWD so the choice was easy.

Enjoying the car, already put 1,000 km on it. Superb.

[AdamD]

Have to say the 8spd auto in the BMWs is so much better than the STronic I drove (no manual S3 in stock as a demo anywhere in Qld)

I wrote a bit of a rant about the S3 manual, if you're considering one.

[Candyman]

Loving this car. 1,000 km done and very impressed

No hesitation off the mark, no waste gate rattle, no pogoing over speed bumps.

Finally got the media setup with my fav DVDA in the DVD player, fav tracks on the jukebox, rest of my music on SD1, movies and TV shows in SD2, current tracks and playlists on an iPod connected via AMI and our phones connected via bt

Need to get oil temp on all screens - must find someone with vagcom

Seats are superb

Brilliant little car

[Candyman]

Just clicked over 3,000 km and car is still problem free.

I don't think it enjoys being pushed too hard into corners at speeds (8/10ths driving) but I'm aware of it's shortcomings and I don't drive like that anymore. Mind you, on dynamic it handles that driving well but I tend to keep suspension in comfort so partly my fault.

I definately couldn't go back to a hatch/sportback. The sedan shape is just too sexy.

Great car indeed.

[AdamD]

I don't think it enjoys being pushed too hard into corners at speeds (8/10ths driving) but I'm aware of it's shortcomings and I don't drive like that anymore. Mind you, on dynamic it handles that driving well but I tend to keep suspension in comfort so partly my fault.

I was meaning to ask you Warwick (on ozAudi, but I'm rarely on there, or here, these days...), what tyre pressures are you running - and have you measured the pressures when the car's warm, with a reliable gauge? I've never before owned a car that's as sensitive to pressures as my S3 (running on the 18s, bear in mind) is. I find mine to be understeery, poorly-controlled over mid-corner bumps and more than a bit nervous in the rear when the tyres are at or above about 39psi. On one drive I made the mistake of adding air at a servo with an 'untrusted' gauge which under-read, and ended up with about 41psi front and 39 rear, and the change was dramatic and thoroughly disappointing. Back to 38psi front and ~37psi rear and it grips and handles like a different car entirely.

Right now, mine's currently about 1-2psi too high again and it's still not right. I need to buy a proper accurate gauge with this car, and make sure I'm much more careful when I check pressures. It's a pain, but getting it right makes all the difference.

[Candyman]

Forester XT to MKV GTI to MKVI R to Audi S3

Will check Adam. Thanks

Edit - assume you mean when cold. Maybe the Contis at fault as well

Edit 2 - just checked them cold. They were 1 psi below recommended for light load (checked with the garage gauge and my own digital gauge). So, not tyre pressures as an issue.

[Candyman]

Three months in and around 4,000 km.

Few minor items.

Missing torx screws from plastic sumpguard. Common issue it seems after talking to the service dept and other owners. Got a set of 8 replacements for free and replaced missing ones and used a dab of silicon under the head of each screw before tightening.

Minor creases on compression areas on seats. Hasn't changed much since they showed up after a few hundred kms. Not really an issue.

Minor rattle that is infrequent on left side of dash and only on sharp left hand corners. Turned the B&O up a bit.

No oil use at all. No DSG issues to speak of. Still no wastegate rattle.

Decided not to use VCDS to turn off Stop/Start as have gotten into a routine of turning it off when starting the car.

Seats and overall comfort are a big step up from our R. Wife and passengers notice the same. Car is a much better place to be on our roads and on the open road versus our R, even in Dynamic mode.

Engine running very smooth although in Sport manual mode the changes from 1st to 2nd a little abrupt when cold. Same as my R when it got tuned and due to excess boost. Settles down when warm.

No DSG clunks and no noticeable hesitation off the mark (sold the PeddleBox as wasn't of any value).

Paint is superb, noticeably more resistant to marks than my Golf R. B pillars are still easy to mark though.

Surprised how much gear we can fit in the boot and the car feels much roomier inside than our R.

Have become very adept at using the MMI and nav and touchpad (as Adma said we would). The B&O system is OK but not as good as I expected it to be based on other B&O systems in higher end Audis. Still, again, a big step up from the basic system in our R.

BT, voice control and overall in car connectivity is excellent. Still have a minor annoyance with some of the satnav pronunciations but oh well. Gives me a giggle now and then.

Fuel economy has been rather good in a surprisingly good way.

[AdamD]

Glad to hear you're enjoying it Warwick - it is indeed a great car.

[Candyman]

7,000 km done and thoughts haven't changed.

Great car and likely to keep it for some time.

Noticeable improvement in power delivery and fuel economy which is interesting.

[AdamD]

7,000 km done and thoughts haven't changed.

Great car and likely to keep it for some time.

Noticeable improvement in power delivery and fuel economy which is interesting.

Glad to hear it!

Mine's just been in for its first annual service. Just ticked over 3,800km.

[Candyman]

Glad to hear it!

Mine's just been in for its first annual service. Just ticked over 3,800km.

Only 3,800 km ?

Wow.

How did the first service go Adam ?

[AdamD]

Only 3,800 km ?

Wow.

How did the first service go Adam ?

Yeah, I just don't seem to find the time to drive it!

First service went great thanks Warwick - dealer was extremely polite and hospitable, and there were no issues at all (car has been faultless and hopefully will remain so!). And because I'm Audi Corporate, the service was free!