Audi RS3

[aerostar]

Are there any reasons not to get this car?

Any big reliability concerns or what not?

I've been looking into the M3 and the RS3 and I love the Audi interior... it's hard to pass up.

And it's *quick*.

[DrtyJrze]

Wouldn't that be a better question for an audi forum to answer?

[Habber]

So many things to consider:

AWD
Smaller inside
Different interior
Cost

This is a bmw forum so might get biased answers here since we all chose BMW over Audi.

[jpog]

I looked at it before pulling the trigger on my F80. My summary of the RS3 is:

Pros: very quick, AWD grip, price, colors (Ara, Nardo).

Cons: interior room, appointments (S4/5 much better appointed inside), exterior styling (my preference), more jitter in the corners over broken pavement.

[f80er]

Yeah it's tiny and looks hella funny from the side. It isn't all about performance. Car has to look good too.

But by all means go buy one we won't stop you.

[R-M4]

You love the Audi interior???
Man, I really like the exterior of the RS3 but I think the interior is too basic. But, hey... personal taste is personal taste and I respect yours.
I think the M3 is much more of a car, regardless of how fast the RS3 is.

[Palomequet]

Wider front tires, did I miss something?

[gatorfast]

Would go TTRS over the rs3 but m3 over them both as it has the looks, practicality, and performance the others compromise on.

[CanAutM3]

We have an RS3 on order to replace our aging 2006 B7 S4. My wife passed on the B8 S4 as she felt it was less sporty and less "upscale" than her B7 when she went to test drive one a few years ago. She decided to hold onto her B7. When going to shop for a B9 S4 at the end of the summer, we saw the RS3 in the dealer showroom. We connected to it right away. Dimensionally and from a driving spirit point of view, the RS3 is much closer to the B7 S4 than the B9 S4 is. The RS3 is amazingly fast from launch and has great all weather capability. It also feels very nimble and agile at street legal speeds. The virtual cockpit is amazing too. And that sound from the I-5 is truly

The drawback to the RS3 is that it is less luxuriously appointed, one feels the "low-end" origin of the A3 / Golf platform. I also suspect it will not be as adept around a race track compared to the M3/4 and it does not have the top-end pull that the S55 does.

But I figure having the M4 and RS3 in the driveway will be a great complementary pair .

[Jojipoji]

Plenty of reasons

No manual
It’s slower at higher speeds
Maintenance is way more expensive
Smaller than m3
Ceramics only available on the fronts

Originally Posted by aerostar

Are there any reasons not to get this car?

Any big reliability concerns or what not?

I've been looking into the M3 and the RS3 and I love the Audi interior... it's hard to pass up.

And it's *quick*.

[F80Dreamer]

Overall, it is a great car...I actually had one on order but I cancelled it last week for different reasons. I think the two biggest cons are:
- since most are selling at MSRP, expect to take a bath during resale time as they are pumping lots of these out right now
- from some angles, it just looked too little/toy like...and just too conservative
Incredible thing is that a simple stage 1 tune is adding over 100 ft lbs of torque...and testing with this tune is yielding 3.2s in 0-60 time...holy crap

[Arcades]

I actually posted about how I thought of the 2018 S3 in the general non-BMW forums since I been looking at my 328i replacement.

RS3 is extremely pricy for a car like that. MSRP is 54k but easily adds up beyond 65k easy. Most RS3s are selling at MSRP or above sticker price. Now consider that you are getting only a RS3, is this worth the price? Remember, a stock M3 w/o ZCP or a M4 is more of a car compared to a RS3.

That is not saying the RS3 isn't a good car but the price of one is actually silly when you look at it in detail. The RS3 interior wise isn't that much better than a S3 and I have trouble convincing even myself to do go through with the car if I do want to get it as my daily. I wasn't behind the wheel of a RS3 so I cannot comment on how it drives but the 18' S3 felt alright, albeit front heavy, least I noticed it.

The I-5 of the RS3 does sound amazing though. Personally, I have trouble with the price but that is me on more of a personal level. Interior of the car isn't as cramped as some people make it out to be. I don't have trouble with it but I'm very thin and only 5'6" 1/2 so.

Cars though are mainly a personal preference really. If I am able to get a RS3 at a reasonable price I would do it, but that is extremely hard to come by and I'm unsure on the resale value of one as Audi RS3 are more common than a Benz CLA45 AMG.

[clutchdj]

Looks like an a3 w/a body kit inside & out.
No fenders
DSG is more of an auto compared to DCT. DCT needs a commander depending on settings.
No manual option.
Hard to dial in a seat position (tall ppl).
Other than that, it’s a nice piece of kit.

[Vectors2final]

Super cool car, I just can't get past the round AC vents.

I wish VW made something similar... I have a Golf R, but that's on the chopping block.

[quattr0]

Originally Posted by Arcades

I actually posted about how I thought of the 2018 S3 in the general non-BMW forums since I been looking at my 328i replacement.

RS3 is extremely pricy for a car like that. MSRP is 54k but easily adds up beyond 65k easy. Most RS3s are selling at MSRP or above sticker price. Now consider that you are getting only a RS3, is this worth the price? Remember, a stock M3 w/o ZCP or a M4 is more of a car compared to a RS3.

That is not saying the RS3 isn't a good car but the price of one is actually silly when you look at it in detail. The RS3 interior wise isn't that much better than a S3 and I have trouble convincing even myself to do go through with the car if I do want to get it as my daily. I wasn't behind the wheel of a RS3 so I cannot comment on how it drives but the 18' S3 felt alright, albeit front heavy, least I noticed it.

The I-5 of the RS3 does sound amazing though. Personally, I have trouble with the price but that is me on more of a personal level. Interior of the car isn't as cramped as some people make it out to be. I don't have trouble with it but I'm very thin and only 5'6" 1/2 so.

Cars though are mainly a personal preference really. If I am able to get a RS3 at a reasonable price I would do it, but that is extremely hard to come by and I'm unsure on the resale value of one as Audi RS3 are more common than a Benz CLA45 AMG.

A $54k base car w a simple stage 1 mod that will do 10.55 in quarter mile and you think thats expensive? Most folks now could get $3k off msrp btw. Check the other forum. I built one w dynamic and technology package which come out to $61450.

I dont think it will beat the M car at the track and its obviously not as spacious but for a daily fun/performance car, you r looking at the gt-r level for $40k cheaper!!!

[milk242]

If you are getting an RS in this size range, get the TTRS. From a practicality standpoint, there is none, but it looks better and is faster and probably handles better than the RS3. If you need practicality, I don’t think you can really beat the M3 for that unless you need AWD.

I don’t think you’ll have reliability issues like past Audi’s. They are on par with the other Germans.

[mrfox]

You should not buy it because Haldex. It's a fwd car.

Call me a purist, but if it doesn't have a longitudinally mounted engine (and it isn't a Muria) then it just isn't going to feel right.

That's a lot of wood for a Golf with lipstick.

[Nikolas]

Originally Posted by mrfox

You should not buy it because Haldex. It's a fwd car.

Call me a purist, but if it doesn't have a longitudinally mounted engine (and it isn't a Muria) then it just isn't going to feel right.

That's a lot of wood for a Golf with lipstick.

Well to be fair, it has fake boobs too!

[Vectors2final]

Ehh, the Gen V Haldex is pretty good.

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by quattr0

A $54k base car w a simple stage 1 mod that will do 10.55 in quarter mile and you think thats expensive? Most folks now could get $3k off msrp btw. Check the other forum. I built one w dynamic and technology package which come out to $61450.

I dont think it will beat the M car at the track and its obviously not as spacious but for a daily fun/performance car, you r looking at the gt-r level for $40k cheaper!!!

You have to look at how the car is packaged.

Most RS3s will not be at base MSRP w/o any sort of package. I highly doubt it. Would you want to go w/o B&O? (It isn't in a RS3 but it is in a S3 Prestige.) It also doesn't have Virtual Cockpit as standard either. If this is going to be a DD car, can you go without either?

On a personal preference I don't talk about ECU tuning. Not to mention look at RS3 competition, RS3 is more expensive. Both the CLA45 and RS3 can add into 65k easy with options, M2 can be sub 60k pretty easily as it is very simple, the way BMW aimed it to be. I been looking at these three cars as my possible 328i replacement so I know about roughly the options. It could be that my contacts for Audi didn't give me a good number so that is why I think it's just too pricey for the type of car it's being compared to.

18' M2 is 52k base MSRP
18' CLA 45 AMG is 50k base MSRP
18' RS3? 54k base MSRP

In that case I'd take the M2 even though I prefer not having two doors after having it on my M4. The RS3 has a heads up on the AWD factor and the exhaust + engine sound. That is the biggest thing I would say the reason I would buy a RS3, but price wise? Ehh

Again though, personal preference.

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by mrfox

You should not buy it because Haldex. It's a fwd car.

Call me a purist, but if it doesn't have a longitudinally mounted engine (and it isn't a Muria) then it just isn't going to feel right.

That's a lot of wood for a Golf with lipstick.

Yup. Was thinking the same thing. Expensive Golf. No dice. Only Audi that peaks my interest is the TTRS. I drove my buddies last generation and it was a blast. I still wouldn't buy it over an ///M car though.

OP why not just get a 340 xDrive with a tune?

More room
xDrive if needed(wanted)
Manual if desired
It's a BMW
Most likely cheaper
Not a VW

Did I miss something?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Arcades

I actually posted about how I thought of the 2018 S3 in the general non-BMW forums since I been looking at my 328i replacement.

RS3 is extremely pricy for a car like that. MSRP is 54k but easily adds up beyond 65k easy. Most RS3s are selling at MSRP or above sticker price. Now consider that you are getting only a RS3, is this worth the price? Remember, a stock M3 w/o ZCP or a M4 is more of a car compared to a RS3.

That is not saying the RS3 isn't a good car but the price of one is actually silly when you look at it in detail. The RS3 interior wise isn't that much better than a S3 and I have trouble convincing even myself to do go through with the car if I do want to get it as my daily. I wasn't behind the wheel of a RS3 so I cannot comment on how it drives but the 18' S3 felt alright, albeit front heavy, least I noticed it.

The I-5 of the RS3 does sound amazing though. Personally, I have trouble with the price but that is me on more of a personal level. Interior of the car isn't as cramped as some people make it out to be. I don't have trouble with it but I'm very thin and only 5'6" 1/2 so.

Cars though are mainly a personal preference really. If I am able to get a RS3 at a reasonable price I would do it, but that is extremely hard to come by and I'm unsure on the resale value of one as Audi RS3 are more common than a Benz CLA45 AMG.

For us Canadians, they priced the RS3 rather attractively. It starts off at $62,900 CAD MSRP base fairly well equipped with the leather RS sports seats, MMI navigation plus, B&O sound, virtual cockpit, full LED head/tail lights, magnetic shocks, Apple car play all standard. Speccing it to our liking by adding metalic paint, staggered performance wheels/tires, red calipers, CF interior trim and sport exhaust brought up the total to $66,250 CAD MSRP. Which is almost $12k less than a base M3 at MSRP. The main options we skipped is the technology package (collision avoidance, blind spot monitoring, distronic cruise control) for $1400, the performance package (speed limit increase, fixed suspension, CF engine cover) for $1750, CCB for $5800 and black optics package for $850. The dealer offered a 3% discount and threw about $1000 of items for free (winter floor mats, trunk mat, void paperwork fees, etc...). While not cheap, we found the RS3 to offer a rather compelling package for the price.