Forester XT to MKV GTI to MKVI R to Audi S3

[Candyman]

I still remember with fondness our Fozz XT we bought new back in 2006.

Was an ugly little thing but the stage 2 tune (whilst looking stock) meant it could move when it needed to but remain the fishing/camping vehicle I used it for.

My partner hated driving it however so the MKV GTI was born.

Surprisingly, that car stayed stock for the 3 years we had it. Was a great little car but I wanted AWD again.

Enter the MKVI R (known as the fridge by a certain silver haired gentleman on this forum).

The R was pretty much all I wanted in a vehicle. Fast, useful for carrying people and gear, nice inside and enough tech.

Times have moved on and the R has been looking for some young fella to take it to custom levels.

I have grown a bit tired of the big bus windows, the aging tech and the hatch look.

Enter the Audi S3 MY16 sedan. Just dropped a deposit on one in Sepang Blue with the performance pack (and a few other options).

Due for delivery in October.

Thanks to Adam and others, here and on OzAudi, for help in the dealer discussions.

[Sharkie]

Nice !

The S3 sedan (in a manual) is jointly at the top of my list for my next purchase ...... still to decide red or the same blue you ordered.

The only alternative is a new Mustang V8 (in a manual) ..... waiting for them to arrive so that I can drive that and have a good look at the fit and finish before going for my 1st ever Ford. I know the S3 is brilliant (good looking and not a hatch, over that too), but the Mustang has such a seductive look.

Problem is I actually really want both but the Minister for Recreation and Finance said I can only have 1 ....

[Candyman]

After having owned two DSG endowed vehicles, I'm addicted, so it had to be a sedan with S Tronic.

We (well, I) considered the Mustang but the wait time is ridiculous and frankly owning a Ford, never again after our Fiesta (both the brand and the dealers).

The Stang was really going to be an expensive long term option as well (insurance, fuel use ....). We had a Cobra in the States when we lived there but fuel was about 30c a litre back then !

[AdamD]

Congrats Candyman - you're going to love it.

The S3 sedan (in a manual) is jointly at the top of my list for my next purchase ...... still to decide red or the same blue you ordered.

The manual is nice, but the shift quality is not up there with the best I've experienced (Hondas, MX-5s etc), and the car is quite a bit slower in general driving than the S-tronic (DSG) equivalent. Jumping from mine into my dad's S-tronic is a bit of a shock - the auto is a much sharper tool point to point. By all means grab a manual if that's your bent, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone unreservedly.

[Sharkie]

I have owned a DSG before and absolutely hated it .... The lag off the line I simply can't live with. Every DSG and S-tronic I've ever driven or test driven had the issue. I'll stick with a manual thanks and was so happy when the S3 sedan became available with it.

When I get old enough I'll buy a Merc/Bmw with a proper auto .... Lol

[Candyman]

And yet the manuals are slower

Lag is FBW/DBW - easy to manage.

Still, some like old school

[AdamD]

The lag off the line I simply can't live with. Every DSG and S-tronic I've ever driven or test driven had the issue. I'll stick with a manual thanks and was so happy when the S3 sedan became available with it.

Annoyingly, the stock throttle mapping in 1st gear is incredibly soft and vague, even in dynamic mode. I'm seriously considering a PedalBox to liven it up. As it is, you could be jumping up and down on the pedal and still not kangaroo-hop.

[Candyman]

Is this an MY15 thing ?

Didn't notice it in the demos we drove.

Maybe I'm used to the R and rolling into the throttle

[Sharkie]

And yet the manuals are slower

Lag is FBW/DBW - easy to manage.

Still, some like old school

Popular misconception .... unless you use launch control in the DSG /S-Tronic the manuals (if driven properly) will always be quicker off the mark. By the time the DSGs get rolling you are already at least a car length behind. On the move obviously the quick changes make up some time but over a quarter mile (without launch control on the DSgs) the manuals still win. No really important if you are not that into getting quickest off the line.

Annoyingly, the stock throttle mapping in 1st gear is incredibly soft and vague, even in dynamic mode. I'm seriously considering a PedalBox to liven it up. As it is, you could be jumping up and down on the pedal and still not kangaroo-hop.

Nothing an APR tune can't fix, I'm sure Adam

[Candyman]

The DSG is faster discussion has been done many times

The track proves it is (as you say, LC)

Real world shows it (LC and/or no failed shifts).

Some like DSG, some don't.

I prefer it for many reasons and would never go back to manual. It isn't an age thing.

For me it is combination of multiple shifting options, the aural pleasure of the changes and the resale value.

Adam - re the lag. Yep, as with the VW, it is the FBW/DBW. Get a pedal box mate, simple plug and play. I know the VW equivalent gets shot down a bit on the forums but if it makes it seem better, why not. As I said, didn't notice it much on the demos we tried but if ours shows it, I'll drop a PB in but I want to get used to the vehicle for at least 3 months before anything gets added (or removed) . Quicker and cheaper than a tune and the S3 as it is, fast enough without the complications of the APR tune ....Some had mentioned that the delay in throttle response might have been dealt with in the MY16 ?

Edit - also, I'm the kind of guy that will have the soundaktor volume turned to high in the Individual settings on the MMI

Might be an artificially induced engine noise but it sounds good.

[Candyman]

Finally sourced some S3 branded floor mats.

As I did with the R, I'll put the dealers ones away in storage for when we sell it.

[Lucas_R]

I disconnected the sound actor device in my work friends Mk7 R at his request. Sounded absolutely horrible and fake with it fitted. Sounds much better with it unplugged.

Same as the Mk6, much better with the sound actor removed/disconnected.

No doubt the S3 uses the same/similar sound generator as the Mk7 R?

[Candyman]

Not sure Lucas but it sounds vastly different to the one in my MKVI R (and sounded very different to the MKVII R we test drove).

It is a personal thing I guess. The S3 one allows you to alter the volume output in settings

With or without it on, it is still a turbo 4

Edit - must get around to putting up an EOI on the R. Most likely sell once the car arrives as we don't need the cash for the purchase but would be nice to sell it via this forum to someone interested in a clean MKVI R.

[AdamD]

Adam - re the lag. Yep, as with the VW, it is the FBW/DBW. Get a pedal box mate, simple plug and play. I know the VW equivalent gets shot down a bit on the forums but if it makes it seem better, why not. As I said, didn't notice it much on the demos we tried but if ours shows it, I'll drop a PB in but I want to get used to the vehicle for at least 3 months before anything gets added (or removed) . Quicker and cheaper than a tune and the S3 as it is, fast enough without the complications of the APR tune ....Some had mentioned that the delay in throttle response might have been dealt with in the MY16 ?

Unfortunately my car arrived just after the first group-buy had finished up on ozAudi (close to 20 were in for it I believe). I've put my name down for the next one but the thread's gone quiet. Might have to buy one at full retail!

The DBW throttle lag is very noticeable in the S-tronic in certain situations only - like when you're wanting to turn right ahead of oncoming traffic and you want instant response from a light measured throttle application, and it feels like it's doing absolutely nothing. Having come from a DSG Mk6 GTI for 5 years and having driven many many other DSG-equipped cars I can say that it's all down to the throttle mapping of the S3 and isn't a characteristic of the DQ250 in general, and a lot of people on ozAudi were complaining very loudly about it - hence the size of the group buy. I'm sure you'll notice the lag/delay with time under certain situations; as to whether it bothers you or not is another question entirely (it doesn't bother my dad enough to get a PedalBox; he just makes a note of using 90%+ throttle every single time he takes off, and that never gets tired, heh).

I (wrongly) assumed that the throttle lag wouldn't be an issue for me with a manual; it's still a problem, but in a very different way. It's just incredibly docile in 1st gear and you need to mentally rethink how much throttle is needed (lots) to get going at the speed you intend. I suppose it's programmed for traffic driveability and to ensure the car is easy for rough drivers to drive without throwing the car around.

No doubt the S3 uses the same/similar sound generator as the Mk7 R?

Same general type of mechanism, but quite a different sound effect. The S3 is much more muted and has something of an older WRX burble to it from inside the car at certain revs with the Soundaktor on its Dynamic setting.

[Candyman]

Adam - I'll need to see how the car goes when we get it. Second test drive today and not getting this delay/lag ?

I tried hard to find situations that would cause it.

We also drove an S3 cab, seemed quite slow compared to the R ?

Weird.

If there is a GB still running after we get our car and I see an issue, I'll be in for it for sure as I'm definitely not tuning the car.