I always find journos opinions on the whole a waste of time. Nothing can beat personal review.

This one shows the RS3 in a good light.....and that couldn't possibly be right

I didn't mean it that way. I have no preference to the Rs3 being good or bad. I just meant in general

I didn't mean it that way. I have no preference to the Rs3 being good or bad. I just meant in general

I know you don't, but showing it in a good light doesn't suit everyone

Yea that's true. I have an s3 but brutely honest I didn't once read a review that's shat my test drive was for

All I'm saying is I love that engine noise lol

Just been on the Audi site out of interest (They still have a deposit for an RS3 and tried to call me yesterday) to see what's what.

 

Yes it's not a cheap car.  But unusually for a smaller Audi it's quite well specced.

 

Then I got to the point where you need to choose if you want cruise control... and it's the same basic system with no option for Adaptive.

Shame really, adaptive is so much better in real world use IMO where you are on and off the cruise control all the time as others can't maintain a sensible speed.

On a £40k base cost it should be an option.  Especially as they've had the technology for some time.

 

Auto only and no adaptive definitely rules it out.

^^ don't suppose it had 'Limit'? I use this instead of cruise these days, unless I'm driving in the middle of nowhere or it's somewhere in the dead of night, then cruise works fine.

Just been on the Audi site out of interest (They still have a deposit for an RS3 and tried to call me yesterday) to see what's what.

Yes it's not a cheap car. But unusually for a smaller Audi it's quite well specced.

Then I got to the point where you need to choose if you want cruise control... and it's the same basic system with no option for Adaptive.

Shame really, adaptive is so much better in real world use IMO where you are on and off the cruise control all the time as others can't maintain a sensible speed.

On a £40k base cost it should be an option. Especially as they've had the technology for some time.

Auto only and no adaptive definitely rules it out.

Adaptive cruise IS an option.

Hidden away as Driver Assistance Package.

Audi Code - PCE - £705

Taken from brochure-

Driver assistance package. Contains all of the following assistance functions: Adaptive cruise control, which uses a radar sensor to detect vehicles ahead and maintain a set distance by automatically braking and accelerating. 4 distance levels and different driving modes can be selected individually. Also includes Audi active lane assist (PCB) and High beam assistant (8G1)

Manual and adaptive doesn't IMHO really work that well so are we back on for another addition to the pit lane Richard?

Adaptive cruise IS an option.

Hidden away as Driver Assistance Package.

Audi Code - PCE - £705

Taken from brochure-

Driver assistance package. Contains all of the following assistance functions: Adaptive cruise control, which uses a radar sensor to detect vehicles ahead and maintain a set distance by automatically braking and accelerating. 4 distance levels and different driving modes can be selected individually. Also includes Audi active lane assist (PCB) and High beam assistant (8G1)

 

Well spotted, hidden away on one line, page 53.

 

 

Manual and adaptive doesn't IMHO really work that well so are we back on for another addition to the pit lane Richard?

 

Who knows.

This is probably my favorite engine.

Do I need it, no.

 

But Mrs Fox (who can only drive auto) has mentioned once or twice that she'd sometimes like something with a bit more poke than her 1.2 DSG Yeti...  although getting her to part with the Yeti won't be easy!

I am looking to shift the A8 so it could be a handy way to get shot of it.

And this will fit in the garage, which is the most important thing for Mrs Fox.  I suspect because she wants to stop me putting a race car in there.

Well spotted, hidden away on one line, page 53.

Who knows.

This is probably my favorite engine.

Do I need it, no.

But Mrs Fox (who can only drive auto) has mentioned once or twice that she'd sometimes like something with a bit more poke than her 1.2 DSG Yeti... although getting her to part with the Yeti won't be easy!

I am looking to shift the A8 so it could be a handy way to get shot of it.

And this will fit in the garage, which is the most important thing for Mrs Fox. I suspect because she wants to stop me putting a race car there.

You have race cars?

You have race cars?

 

Half the people on FB do, I am no different.

Half the people on FB do, I am no different.

Forgot about all the 250bhp standard turbo Mk1 Fabias

Manual and adaptive doesn't IMHO really work that well so are we back on for another addition to the pit lane Richard?

It's not as autonomous as DSG with AC, but I have it on my manual & think it's great. I prefer it to normal cruise on a manual anyway

I saw 2 RS3s yesterday on 15 plates in convoy..one a dark blue and the other a red one. Deffo had RS3 badges on the front grills and looked more aggressive than the A3. From what's being said above they arnt available yet but they were deffo badged up. Near Boston.

They seem to make an even better noise than the previous model from what I have seen on the interweb. brilliant sound Just need a forest and some mad Finnish bloke to drive it around once the current 135/235 goes out of production, this will be the only 'more than 4' cylinder engine left in a hatchback :( Even Porsche are going to (mostly) 4 cylinder engines soon. Still as long as I can one day afford a second hand Caymen/Boxter 3.4 I will be a happy bunny.

Yea that's true. I have an s3 but brutely honest I didn't once read a review that's shat my test drive was for

All I'm saying is I love that engine noise lol

Not a bad noise for a 4 pot -

I love the 5cyl just something as bit different I guess

Not a bad noise for a 4 pot -

This car was on my list when I went looking last time. It's mental with the Merc Performance exhaust, it's super loud and aggressive. The video doesn't do justice to the exhaust sound and the pops and bangs sound like a high powered rifle! (I realise that the exhaust might not be the Merc Perf exhaust, but you get the drift).

 

The interior is a mixed bag, buttons and switches were identical to my 350CDi and the stuck on ipad look is awful imho, but the seats are superb, probably the best of all the ones I looked at in it's rivals and boy does it go. In a straight line there probably isn't much between say an S3/Golf R/M135, but the A45 feels noticeably more rapid. The handling is great, although the ride quality is none existent (I have a feeling the one I looked at had the AMG suspension). I could live with one if it was just a weekend car, but I'd need a chiropractor on standby if was doing 20K miles a year in it. The gearbox isn't a patch on the ZF 8 speed or the DSGs either. Great going up, but not so great coming down again

 

Overall it's probably just me getting too old for it :( I gather the facelift version will have around 375PS with more to follow in an 'S' or some such version to come later. I'd lose my liscence in a week if I had one I had a look at the GLA45 too as it's a bit softer set up, but it also was all a bit too manic for me really.

In order to maintain a balance:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUoncZpvcqc

No question the 5 cylinders sound more than 20% better than the 4

Remember your maths. 4 plus 20% is only 4.8

No question the 5 cylinders sound more than 20% better than the 4

That's good, because it should sound 25% better, shouldn't it, or is it my maths? :(

Remember your maths. 4 plus 20% is only 4.8

I did the subtraction. 5 - 20% = 4

 

 

 

Edit: The thread is about the 5 cylinder, so I used that as my base line for the maths.

Edited 29 May, 201511 yr by Lady Elanore

'Audi Driver' magazine,  May Edition has very good detailed stuff on the 2015 RS3,   & the S3.  

Mentions the 98 RON issue on the S3 which seldom does get spoken about.

 

Good article on the Original S2 / RS2 as well, the Engines built by Cosworth in Wellingbourgh, which i never knew.

Remember your maths. 4 plus 20% is only 4.8

Ah hem........ what about my maths :p