No worries pal.
Iâm absolutely loving stage 2+ and thoroughly recommend it!
I kept my S3 stock for 2 years, and then took the plunge in the middle of last year and upgraded straight from stock to Revo 2+.
Itâs ideal for me, as it still feels pretty standard when driven conservatively, but feels like a completely different car when you put your foot down.
The additional torque is very noticeable, as is the increase in acceleration when you put your foot down and the needle starts flying through the rev range.
When driven hard, using higher revs, it feels MUCH quicker than a standard S3 â it also sounds fantastic as well, thanks to the combination of the Milltek Exhaust System and ITG Maxogen Cold Air Intake.
I have the Revo SPS switch for when I put the car in for servicing â and this is great, because you can flick between stock settings and 2+ in a matter of seconds.
I have since driven my car with its standard power settings a couple of times, and the difference is pretty dramatic.
The S3âs a smooth and fast car with a very linear power delivery, but if feels very tame and under-powered when comparing the stock driving experience with the Revo 2+ remap.
With regards to reliability, itâs been absolutely fine *touches wood*.
I havenât had any issues with the stock Clutch either â but Iâve taken it relatively easy, and have been quite sensible in the 6 or 7 months Iâve been running 2+.
I donât race other cars from a standstill at the lights very much, and I donât tend to floor the accelerator in 6[SUP]th[/SUP] gear from low revs either â two driving traits that will shorten the life of the stock Clutch significantly.
That said, I do intend to get an uprated Clutch at some point this year â I just donât think itâs something that necessarily needs to be done straight away if youâre sensible, and possibly never at all if your driving style is fairly conservative and not so aggressive.
For pointers on which Clutch setup to go with, Iâll be scouring the forum and seeking advice just like you.
I know some people have had problems with reliability and rattle from some Sachs/Loba setups, butâs the uprated Clutch options are going to be heavy duty replacements, so Iâd expect them to be a little tougher and noisier than the stock option.
Plenty of people on here have upgraded Clutches fitted to their S3âs, and I remember bookmarking this thread a while back for when Iâm ready to upgrade:
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/169826-s3-8p-clutch.html
As Alex says, a Sachs Clutch with the stock DMF may be a good option.
Good luck!