Hello guys, bit of brain storming going on here. Im currently driving a 11 months old CR VRS my 3rd vrs but had a few issues with it and its left me feeling a bit numb towards it, as well as that I wish Id have bought the DSG TFSI instead as I dont have as much fun in the CR as the old petrol VRS I had before that I regret selling.

Anyway a few days ago I stupidly test drove a higher millage Audi s3 (45000 miles) and to my surprise it felt as tight as new but they are still expensive and hold there value at just under £20000!! I know they are not comparable models but to be honest I can see why the S3 have a following, I was very impressed with the drive and handling and as I do under 15000 miles a year I'm now considering selling mine on and getting an S3, I could cope with a smaller car. Anyone on here owned either the S3 and or petrol VRS with DSG or even driven both as opinions are welcome. Ive Never driven a dsg petrol and none of the local dealers have one and Im wondering if a good remap or from REVO for example would close the gap between the VRS and S3.

Thanks..

A remap would close the gap a bit, in the dry. But then you could map the K04 powered S3 to 320bhp+, and it has 4WD

No contest, I'd say.

I'd love an S3 but the boot is too small for my needs.

Get the S3, but de-badge as they are well up there on the most wanted with the criminal minded people we live with.

I would have considered an S3, but they are due replacement and the 2.0 TFSI is getting on a bit

I have a petrol vRS TSi with DSG and it is phenomenal. Pound for pound the best car I have owned. I test drove a manual CR and in my opinion the petrol wins hands down. I have never driven an S3 so can't comment on it.

Not a true drivers car but capable, good build and potentially rapid. Typical Audi - a bit boring but very capable.

S3's won't hold their value long term and £20k is more than I'd care to pay for that type of car tbh.

Personally I'd get a RS4, preferably a B5 (which will hold it's value) or the later n/a V8.

Ive heard they are high up the criminal most wanted list and a tracker may be needed, seems to be a good get away car apparently and I can see why tbh. I agree on the £19000 price tag is usual main dealer profiteering, would hope to knock them down if a deal was struck. An RS4 would be amazing but a friend has one and the running costs are high the S3 doesn't seem that bad. The new A3 is out now but S3 is still years off apparently. It just felt completely safe and planted and made effortless progress. Really should try a DSG octavia for comparison though.

A friend just bought a stunning 2008 S3 S-Line Quattro 3.2 with 34K on the clock. £10K. Even I had to say that was an astonishing bargain. Gumtree locally. Now I love my VRS but that is a lot of car for £10K.

A remap would close the gap a bit, in the dry. But then you could map the K04 powered S3 to 320bhp+, and it has 4WD

No contest, I'd say.

A standard S3 wouldn't see which way a remapped vRS tsi went. Similar power to weight ratios of circa 180bhp per ton but the vRS has a torque to weight ratio of 233 lbs per ton compared to the S3's 177 lbs per ton. That extra torque makes a massive difference in real world driving terms. Of course a remapped S3 would be a different story again.....

By way of comparison, a Golf R is very similar to the S3, same engine, similar power and torque to weight rations and both 4wd, albeit different systems. A Revo stage 1 vRS tsi is only 1 second slower 40mph to 100mph in 4th than a Revo stage 1 Golf R and several seconds quicker than a standard Golf R.

Of course from a standing start the S3 and Golf R would walk away from a remapped vRS as they will get the power down but that's not real world apart from many once a year at GTi International on the quarter mile strip.

Personally I am looking at an S4 or A6 3.0T next.....

Edited 19 September, 201213 yr by Guest

Not quite sure where you've got your figures from, Jonno, but the standard S3 is 260bhp and 260 lbs/ft of torque...

Mapped is 320bhp & 320 lbs/ft

Octy would be 250/300 ish with a remap

Not quite sure where you've got your figures from, Jonno, but the standard S3 is 260bhp and 260 lbs/ft of torque...

Mapped is 320bhp & 320 lbs/ft

Octy would be 250/300 ish with a remap

Got the S3 figures from Evo. 261bhp and 258lbs and weighs 1455kg. The vRS figures were 244bhp and 315lbs which is what mine did on Shark's dyno. vRS weighs 1,350kg. You do the math.

Doesn't a std s3 do 62 in 5.6sec and top out at a ltd 155mph?that's some octy to keep up with that,1350kgs? That's mk 1 vrs weight surly mk2 is heavier(1395kgs evo mag weight)

Edited 19 September, 201213 yr by MR G

Nice edit to add "per ton" after the torque figure

Either way, I don't think it's as cut and dry. And comparing a mapped car against a standard one, especially if the owner is looking into remaps, is silly anyway. The outcome would be a mapped "car", and if that's the S3, it'll be faster in all conditions than a mapped Octavia. The standard S3 will be faster than a mapped Octavia in any conditions where the Octavia can't get the power down, simple physics.

Also, Audi > Skoda

But yes, an S4 would be much better!

Doesn't a std s3 do 62 in 5.6sec and top out at a ltd 155mph?that's some octy to keep up with that

As I said above I am talking real world driving. 0-60 is not real world and of course the S3 will be quicker. In terms of the top end I am reliably informed that a stage 1 vRS tsi will do 160mph.

You need to remember the power and torque figures mean nothing without considering the weight of the car and the S3 weighs over 100kg more. Also the S3 will suffer 4wd transmission losses.

Octy = 1375 kg

S3 = 1455 kg

(both from Parkers)

!= "over 100kg" more.

To be honest, most of the extra weight is 4WD kit, and there's only "loses" when the 4WD is engaged. At which point it's still got more power going the wheels that will help it grip than the Octavia.

Nice edit to add "per ton" after the torque figure

Either way, I don't think it's as cut and dry. And comparing a mapped car against a standard one, especially if the owner is looking into remaps, is silly anyway. The outcome would be a mapped "car", and if that's the S3, it'll be faster in all conditions than a mapped Octavia. The standard S3 will be faster than a mapped Octavia in any conditions where the Octavia can't get the power down, simple physics.

Also, Audi > Skoda

But yes, an S4 would be much better!

That wasn't the edit.

From 30mph upwards mine doesn't struggle to get the power down so again, and sorry to labour the point, in real world driving, whether that be through the gears or in gear acceleration the remapped vRS is quicker. Trust me on this, my mate who's got an S3 was very disappointed about this!

I'm comparing mapped car vs standard car as that was something the op asked about and you responded that it would close the gap. My point is that it does more than just close the gap.

Any money saved by lower running costs would be lost in depreciation over a B5 RS4.

Tbh I'd probably buy a E46 M3, a hugely competent drivers car with an utterly fabulous engine and used prices make them a very attractive buy. In a different league to S3's if you ask me.

Octy = 1375 kg

S3 = 1455 kg

(both from Parkers)

!= "over 100kg" more.

To be honest, most of the extra weight is 4WD kit, and there's only "loses" when the 4WD is engaged. At which point it's still got more power going the wheels that will help it grip than the Octavia.

1,375kg is the pre fl. The fl lost 25kg and is 1,350kg.

Nice motahs, but IMHO too flashy and wanted by low life villans, the S3 is quite a popular stolen car!

Stick with a VRS

Marmite colour but you get the idea :

http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/4032073.htm

I'll dust it off, and roll it out...

He wasn't trying

A mapped vRS against a standard S3, rolling, in the dry, would be fairly even, with the Octavia pulling ahead a bit. Map the S3, or add some rain (we get quite a lot of that, here) and the S3 waltzes off into the sunset.

Subjectively, the S3 is also a much, much nicer place to sit, and the Octavia has a nice interior (especially compared the the 1990's Hyundai that is the current Fabia interior)

Marmite colour but you get the idea :

http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/4032073.htm

A lot of car for the money but you need to work them hard to exploit the power.

Marmite colour but you get the idea :

http://mobile.piston...les/4032073.htm

Does it come with a short sleeved shirt and a skinny tie?

Actually...

Have we all got it wrong?

Is the OP asking if he remapped his tractor-engined vRS, will it close the gap on an S3?