Evening people, i'm new here so please bear with me!
Picked up my new s3 2 weeks ago from leeds audi, excellent handover experience and felt like a VIP, really top marks for the people at leeds audi.
I must add i'd test drove a couple of s3's previously (30 min test drives) and i loved the experience, mainly blown away by the sound!
Now the bad news, i'm not liking my s3 at all, i traded in a 65 plate 330d (rear drive not x drive) and i appreciate the 3 series is a higher class car but i was expecting more from the s3.
My issues:
The biggest issue is the unacceptable lag from either the gearbox or engine when pulling away at junctions/roundabouts unless its in sport mode... it feels almost like the ecu has to take 2 seconds off and decide what gear to be in. I didnt notice this on the test drives, maybe cause i only had these in sports mode. Is this normal for s3's? it makes me scared to drive in comfort mode for fear of not being able to pull out if needed, it really is dangerous. audi tested the car and said no fault found.
The handling is extremely disappointing, it doesnt feel nimble round country lanes like i was expecting, it feels extremely nose heavy and definitely does not have the balance or poise of my old 330d. Some bmw owners replace the springs on their x drive models to improve handling, can anything be replaced on the s3 to improve the handling?
The interior is beautiful and feels classy, but i'm struggling to get on with the mmi despite paying extra for the tech pack, it feels a bit clunky and theres to many sub menus compared to idrive, maybe i will get used to this.
Final concern - it doesnt actually feel any quicker than the 330d, it should do!? I think its the gearbox, it just doesnt respond anything like the beemers, even though the audi sales man told me it was infact the same zf gearbox, is this correct?
Overall really disappointed and if i could turn back 2 weeks i would probably do so, i should have tried to arrange a 24 hour test drive or something as its a completely different ball game actually having time with the car on your drive than being sat with a dealer talking all the time.
Maybe i will grow to like the car but i dont think i'll ever love it, i'm left feeling like i should have got the cheaper golf r which is by all accounts a better drive.
Appreciate i may have been spoilt by the bmws handling, and this car does have it plus points (the sound, interior, buildquality, looks) but it feels dead as a car.
Any tips for me on the engine lag issue and handling? If i could make it a *bit* better it would be a start to making me feel like i have some value in my purchase!
I'm left feeling like i've bought the badge and not a car.
Thanks in advance.
Picked up my new s3 2 weeks ago from leeds audi, excellent handover experience and felt like a VIP, really top marks for the people at leeds audi.
I must add i'd test drove a couple of s3's previously (30 min test drives) and i loved the experience, mainly blown away by the sound!
Now the bad news, i'm not liking my s3 at all, i traded in a 65 plate 330d (rear drive not x drive) and i appreciate the 3 series is a higher class car but i was expecting more from the s3.
My issues:
The biggest issue is the unacceptable lag from either the gearbox or engine when pulling away at junctions/roundabouts unless its in sport mode... it feels almost like the ecu has to take 2 seconds off and decide what gear to be in. I didnt notice this on the test drives, maybe cause i only had these in sports mode. Is this normal for s3's? it makes me scared to drive in comfort mode for fear of not being able to pull out if needed, it really is dangerous. audi tested the car and said no fault found.
The handling is extremely disappointing, it doesnt feel nimble round country lanes like i was expecting, it feels extremely nose heavy and definitely does not have the balance or poise of my old 330d. Some bmw owners replace the springs on their x drive models to improve handling, can anything be replaced on the s3 to improve the handling?
The interior is beautiful and feels classy, but i'm struggling to get on with the mmi despite paying extra for the tech pack, it feels a bit clunky and theres to many sub menus compared to idrive, maybe i will get used to this.
Final concern - it doesnt actually feel any quicker than the 330d, it should do!? I think its the gearbox, it just doesnt respond anything like the beemers, even though the audi sales man told me it was infact the same zf gearbox, is this correct?
Overall really disappointed and if i could turn back 2 weeks i would probably do so, i should have tried to arrange a 24 hour test drive or something as its a completely different ball game actually having time with the car on your drive than being sat with a dealer talking all the time.
Maybe i will grow to like the car but i dont think i'll ever love it, i'm left feeling like i should have got the cheaper golf r which is by all accounts a better drive.
Appreciate i may have been spoilt by the bmws handling, and this car does have it plus points (the sound, interior, buildquality, looks) but it feels dead as a car.
Any tips for me on the engine lag issue and handling? If i could make it a *bit* better it would be a start to making me feel like i have some value in my purchase!
I'm left feeling like i've bought the badge and not a car.
Thanks in advance.