AUDI RS3 APPRECIATION - TAKE YOUR EYE OF THIS/YOUR RS3 AT YOUR PERIL!

[45bvtc]

So Motor magazine arrives today with the usual drivel; another new McLaren, yet another new Aston Martin that looks EXACTLY the same as it did 10-years ago, and Lotus are being funded yet again by the taxpayer and all that usual, predictable sh*t.

But hey, it's a nice day…

Memories drift back to that nice man at 10/10ths (to me anyway) in the S5 at Oulton Park, what did he say; "leave it in manual, let the electronics look after the downshifts, and you just play with the pedal and the (paddle) up shifts".

Yeah, looks like a really nice day. Wales, from my bedroom window (ok, the Wrekin at least) looks sunny and cold.

Lets go, a full tank of Shell V-power and Vredesteins need a-beddin' in, and it's 6ºC (max) out there.

This RS3 is seriously quick when following the advice! I've driven lots of fast cars before, and a few quick ones too, but I do love this animal. Days when I'd go through Llangollen in a Viper (or an Elan, even) you'd get the guys having sex stopping, ok pausing, to look through the window. But in the RS3 it's oh so calm, and de-badged Bluey is just another A3, right?

This machine is quick! Ok, fast too BUT there is a difference between quick and fast and I prefer QUICK!

The Vredestein's are good, loads of bite and low noise; why not use these year round? I'll not of course, back to my faithful Continental's in April.

And Bluey and me love the roads; the long sweeping stuff with sharp ups and downs and aggressive corners.

And the new McLaren - according to the magazine - will be, wow! Four-tenths faster to 60mph than an Audi RS3 (yawn) on a nice day with BOTH drivers concentrating really hard!!!!!! It'll not do the same on a cold wet day of course, neither will it carry 4-adults and luggage, or a spare set of 4-wheels and tyres as Bluey did recently, and not much shopping either; and for f**k sake don't take it out if there's a risk of snow in the next week, or two!

And there's ANOTHER new Aston Martin too. Really? Well hello!

And how many "£'s" has Aston Martin (owned by whoever with a bottomless pit because it's AN Aston Martin these days) lost this year and is that one, two, or three '0' £'s?

And Jaguar is going to build another E-type? Give me strength!!!

For those younger than me (most) the Jaguar E-type was a bag of sh#t in the 70's! A great engine, period. Brakes? Don't ask. Handling? Hmmm. Looks? WOW!!!

However, it wasn't so good in the 70's unless on a straight running motorway; no-way could it hang onto the back of a Lotus Europa Twin cam or Elan down the twisty stuff, and I do know that from experience! And as for the rust, lets not go there!

The RS3 is in my humble view one of, if not theeee BEST pieces of UK road going machinery you're likely to get your hand on, and don't you forget it!

Take your eye of this machine / your RS3 at your peril! A FABULOUS motor car for year round UK motoring!

 

[MBK]

Nice one John! I've had a similar run out to mid-Wales and back today and it's this time of year when the RS3 is at it's very best. Nothing I've owned covers the ground with the security and certainty of the RS3 on a cold and wet day. The overtaking punch makes cross country journeys a joy. Effortless pace is how I'd best describe it.

Just one great moment from today was turning left at a 90% junction behind a slow old cattle truck, Wales is full of vehicles like this. One of the only overtaking spots on this road is immediately after the junction up a steep hill, if it's clear at the top there is the chance to clear a truck or a few cars. A 63 plate Golf GTi had glued itself to my bumper for the last couple of miles so was right behind. The top of the hill was clear, select S and go. No fuss or drama, full power deployed at 10mph with absolute traction no fight through the wheel or wheelspin. The cattle truck is a memory in the first 1/3 of the hill, the GTi has followed my move and is still alongside the truck. By the top of the hill the GTi's headlights are fading in the distance and I didn't see them again. I'm still running the dry optimised Pilot Super Sports too, they are superb in these conditions. This is all still as addictive as the first time I drove the RS3, still by far the best car I've owned.

There are only 3 real world near rivals that run the RS3 close for me: A45 AMG - hooligan, Megane RS265 - track toy, Nissan GTR - weapons grade motoring and then the if only car the 911 (991) Turbo. (Plus any of the Audi siblings of course if a slightly different shape or engine floats your boat.)

I only include the near rivals because John mentioned the latest magazines and evo features the new Nismo GTR and 991 Turbo this month, both cost around £120k. £120k for a GTR that started life in the UK costing £55k. The 991 Turbo gets just 4 stars in the review (+incredible pace whatever the weather, - more involvement wouldn't go amiss), the same rating as the RS3 and S3. I'll take that to mean the RS3 is just as good at 1/3 the price. An extra £80k for 0.6s faster to 60 (than a mapped RS3) and an extra 18mph on the top speed that you can use when exactly?

I use my RS3 for my cross country commutes on mostly wet twisty and sometimes narrow tarmac, the versatility of the RS3 really does highlight the compromise of any potential replacement. So I agree John a great all year rounder.

 

[ex911driver]

I got letter of the month in this latest issue of EVO !! (Sorry had to tell someone.)
Another great issue as well.I just don`t understand why they haven`t tested the RS3 properly.

 

[45bvtc]

I got letter of the month in this latest issue of EVO !! (Sorry had to tell someone.)
Another great issue as well.I just don`t understand why they haven`t tested the RS3 properly.

Well done you Gen (or Heinz)

And Mark too, can't fault the comments.

And I've just been informed that Bluey and me am in the forthcoming winter issue of the Audi magazine, hate the photo of me, as always, but hey that RS3 looks good.

PS: I'm the one in the green jumper and the tatty Campers

A small detail...

 

[MBK]

That is cool, good old Harry without him there would have been no evo. Like you I've been a subscriber from the start after the demise of Performance Car it's the only car magazine I read regularly.

The 991 Turbo rating is just another demonstration that evo have made their mind up on AWD cars, they always prefer the RWD stuff or cars like the R8 V10 that act more like RWD cars. The interesting thing is when you read the long term tests and the drivers end up saying things like "the beszt car for getting home quickly and safely" about cars like the RS4 and TTRS. Harry called the TTRS Plus a "junior Gallardo" recently and that is high praise indeed. In the short term the RWD stuff can feel more exciting but to own in our wet country AWD has it, even Chris Harris admits that. That said it's still far and away the best car magazine and set of journos.

 

[MBK]

Well done you Gen (or Heinz)

And Mark too, can't fault the comments.

And I've just been informed that Bluey and me am in the forthcoming winter issue of the Audi magazine, hate the photo of me, as always, but hey that RS3 looks good.

PS: I'm the one in the green jumper and the tatty Campers

A small detail...

Fab we'll look forward to the next Audi magazine then!

 

[Dave Hedgehog]

My friend had a play with an orange MP4 12C in the wet, normally RWD exotics are easy pray for a 4WD car in the wet but not this thing with its electrickery it was able to match the RS3 to 90 (just) but could not pull away and there was a few moments of serious back end wheel line tramp (the driver was probably trying different esp settings)

However be under no doubt in the dry over 70 an RS3 wouldnt see where the Mclaren went

In the snow last year with my winter tyres on I was driving past everyone as thou it was a dry road

 

[45bvtc]

Fab we'll look forward to the next Audi magazine then!

"Are you a member of the quattro club"

I have advanced copies Mark and yes Bluey is included - plus an old fella in a green jumper and mega comfort Camper shoes: however, I need to get the pdf file already received from the publisher converted into a jpeg (layered with text included - photshop won't do it...) and then I'll post.

Interestingly, in this weeks Autocar (page 32) is an advertisement with four of the 'others' (twelve in all) so maybe the advertisements will be ongoing but varying the pictures. In the Audi magazine it includes text, but not in Autocar.

I've prints being done and when completed I'll scan into a jpeg if necessary.

If anyone else out there can do the conversion then let me know, send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you a pdf file.

 

[Ghost]

Hi John, so does this mean you will post the article in this thread?

If you need any help converting text files, PM Sandra, she’s a wiz with all that.

Love the Avatar John, think that photo is stunning, did you take it?

 

[45bvtc]

Hi John, so does this mean you will post the article in this thread?

If you need any help converting text files, PM Sandra, she’s a wiz with all that.

Love the Avatar John, think that photo is stunning, did you take it?

No Ghost, that is only a portion of the whole...

"Are you a member of the quattro club"

Here you go; I guess it was created on a Mac and text layered. I have a mega pdf file with both image and text (as well as the image on it's own - same as those in Autocar) but can't convert the image and text (as is in the Audi magazine) to a complete jpeg - I only get the image as here:

So glad I wore that jumper and the 'tat' but 'comfy' shoes, that I love so much...

 

[Moschops]

Man and machine in perfect harmony...

 

[Moschops]

"Are you a member of the quattro club"

I have advanced copies Mark and yes Bluey is included - plus an old fella in a green jumper and mega comfort Camper shoes: however, I need to get the pdf file already received from the publisher converted into a jpeg (layered with text included - photshop won't do it...) and then I'll post.

Interestingly, in this weeks Autocar (page 32) is an advertisement with four of the 'others' (twelve in all) so maybe the advertisements will be ongoing but varying the pictures. In the Audi magazine it includes text, but not in Autocar.

I've prints being done and when completed I'll scan into a jpeg if necessary.

If anyone else out there can do the conversion then let me know, send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you a pdf file.

So have I read this right? Is something going into the Audi Driver magazine?

 

[Ghost]

That's just a perfect photo john…. Get it framed and on the wall.

Don’t want you to be having a J.R.Hartley moment in a few years time!!

 

[45bvtc]

So have I read this right? Is something going into the Audi Driver magazine?

Yes Mr. M, it is indeed in the winter 2013 edition of the Audi magazine, however, my fear 'today' is that this is not just an Audi magazine thing as I already have a copy of the magazine in which there are 12-owner drivers listed i.e.: the mountain rescuer/Q5; the red arrow/RS4 Avant; the business woman/Q5; the racing vet/A4 Avant; the Michelin man/Q5; the world champion/R18; the engineering enthusiast/RS3 Sportback; the sports woman/Q3; the canoeing champion/Q7, and the potato king/R8 V10

And four of those, I now realise having received my advance copy of the Audi magazine are shown in the current issue Autocar like so:

So who knows where I'll be seen next…

 

[Moschops]

How cool. Look out for my copy then. Well done John

 

[45bvtc]

How cool. Look out for my copy then. Well done John

But, but, but, Wayne: I have to say that when these guys arrived at my door (all I'd had was a telecon from Stafford Audi asking if I'd "be prepared to talk to someone from the Audi magazine") I had no idea as to what they wanted and before I knew anything there was mega new photographic stuff all around the garage floor - it was lights, camera, action. Now I'm a camera shy person, like taking 'em but not in 'em, so it was one hell of an experience.

 

[Moschops]

But, but, but, Wayne: I have to say that when these guys arrived at my door (all I'd had was a telecon from Stafford Audi asking if I'd "be prepared to talk to someone from the Audi magazine") I had no idea as to what they wanted and before I knew anything there was mega new photographic stuff all around the garage floor - it was lights, camera, action. Now I'm a camera shy person, like taking 'em but not in 'em, so it was one hell of an experience.

Ah your 15 minutes of fame...

Nice to have been recommended by Stafford Audi John, that in itself is a big pat on the back, plus another one from me and hopefully other forum members for all your hard work and kind assistance you have shown us along the way.

 

[45bvtc]

Ah your 15 minutes of fame...

Nice to have been recommended by Stafford Audi John, that in itself is a big pat on the back, plus another one from me and hopefully other forum members for all your hard work and kind assistance you have shown us along the way.

That's a 'thank you' not a 'like' Wayne...

PS: your question "will it be in the Audi Driver magazine"; I doubt that as it was the publishers of the official Audi magazine that were involved and that's why it, or some part of it, has appeared in this weeks Autocar: apologies for my error

 

[45bvtc]

And now (by special request, Ben) with text as per Audi magazine entry:

What bothers me is that ALL of those registration numbers on the back wall are still live and currently on cars no longer belonging to me so someone out there has 'em...

 

[tee-bee]

Awesome! will need to keep an eye out for it in the stores!

 

[Moschops]

Awesome! will need to keep an eye out for it in the stores!

This magazine is not available in the shops Tee Bee.

 

[MBK]

Great stuff John, I'm glad they chose you, you've given so much help to freely others.

This did also make me chuckle because I have a feeling there might be a couple of owners on another forum that will be as green as your jumper with envy when they see this. I'd have thought with all their 'contacts' at Audi they'd have been first in line...

As for other magazines where the 'Are you a member of the quattro club?' advert and your picture appears a friend (ahem) tells me you made Playboy this month. Appropriately given the engineering link your picture is next to some lubricants and specialist tools. I (oops I mean my friend) has already written to the editor to tell them they spelled the make of your favourite tools wrong, I mean come on everyone knows it's Snap-on not Strap On. Mind you I did think she looked a bit chilly in just a tool belt.

 

[45bvtc]

Thanks Mark, clever AND funny as usual.

The maddening thing during the 'shoot' was that they kept getting Lotus Twin Cam tools out of the drawers to lay on the floor of the garage and I kept on saying "not those, they're not Audi tools". Typically the answer came "no-one will notice" to which I replied "if they're anything like me they bl**dy will".

Finally they had me operating a torque-wrench on the wheel bolts from the wrong side of the wheel and I couldn't stop laughing, eventually they gave in saying "ok, do it your way" and all they then had was a back-end shot, but at least the torque-wrench was being applied correctly.

A good few hours mind, enjoyable and informative; nice people from Northstar, see: audi � Northstar

At least the RS3 has a well deserved mention... :thumbsup:

 

[MBK]

It's a great mention for the RS3 and you John. I can imagine the PR people, anything will do. You're right car people will notice, look how much effort people put in to pulling apart car films when they notice the slightest mistake. Then there is Chris 'RS3 understeer' Harris who pressed the S button on the RS3 and made the suspension so firm he could hardly stand the ride, quite the miracle that. You were right to stick to your guns on accuracy.

The rest was only tongue in cheek, at a minimum it gives you an excuse to pop out and but the latest edition of gentleman's literature, just to be sure the advert is accurate!

 

[Brodster]

Just read the Quattro Club article......Nicky Cunningham of the Red Arrows used to work for me on the mighty XV(R)Sqn @ Lossiemouth. I bet no-one knows that hes popped up in that mag as he would of been seriously crated for it. I will do a little digging.

 

[45bvtc]

I got letter of the month in this latest issue of EVO !! (Sorry had to tell someone.)
Another great issue as well.I just don`t understand why they haven`t tested the RS3 properly.

Waited long enough Dan, not everyone purchases EVO:

 

[DAYTONA 500]

And now (by special request, Ben) with text as per Audi magazine entry:

What bothers me is that ALL of those registration numbers on the back wall are still live and currently on cars no longer belonging to me so someone out there has 'em...

What nice surprise i had this morning when the postman delivered my very own copy of the Audi magazine complete with the above article i must be back on their mailing list after purchasing my RS3 back in July, great result as it saves me the price of a phone call to my local Audi dealer to ask if they could get me a copy of the magazine.Its nice to see someone i know personally in a magazine and that someone who is always willing to help others and has become a good friend to myself congratulations John .

 

[Mr_Freeze]

Congratulations John, there has been a lot of back slapping going on here and quite rightly so, you deserve it.However, I have to pull you on something I read in the article............. Chief Technical Engineer for Reliant."Gentlemen I just don't understand it, you go round a corner too fast and the ****** thing tips over....... What can we do?"

 

[45bvtc]

OH so TRUE Neil But much of that was down to driver ability. I did once do a 100-miles from the Tamworth gate in a 3-wheeler van in one-hour 20-minutes, and wasn't overtaken once!

The SAD part is that EVERY 3-wheeler Reliant made a good profit: paid mortgages and groceries for all involved; it was the parent company(s) that screwed up, FACT!

Every 'sports' car Reliant made lost money, how sad is that!

And current motorcar manufacturers, like Aston Martin, posted a £24.6 MILLION "LOSS" for last year alone! BUT it's an Aston Martin, so that'll be ok...

BUT I enjoyed Reliant Motors Tamworth, great people and a facinating product/challenge that I/we still remember: how cool is that.

AND, we even supplied 3-wheeler chassis to the US and Canada with electric motors Neil, bet you've seen some of those on your travels and never knew that; and regular orders for LEFT-hand drive 3-wheelers to Germany, Austria and the Netherlands - NO, I would not have believed that either.

BUT I'd be lying if I said I'd never had an offside rear wheel in the air , Neil.

 

[45bvtc]

OK, ok, it MUST be the green jumper or the 'hippy' Camper shoes: So they've used that Alan McNish fella again in this weeks Autocar, but with the mega size underpants he must have to drive that Audi R8 e-tron quattro down the Mulsanne at 200mph+ for lap after lap then he's welcome to have 'MY' spot in this weeks Autocar and for a few more weeks too; GO ALAN

 

[Mr_Freeze]

OH so TRUE Neil But much of that was down to driver ability. I did once do a 100-miles from the Tamworth gate in a 3-wheeler van in one-hour 20-minutes, and wasn't overtaken once! The SAD part is that EVERY 3-wheeler Reliant made a good profit: paid mortgages and groceries for all involved; it was the parent company(s) that screwed up, FACT! Every 'sports' car Reliant made lost money, how sad is that!And current motorcar manufacturers, like Aston Martin, posted a £24.6 MILLION "LOSS" for last year alone! BUT it's an Aston Martin, so that'll be ok...BUT I enjoyed Reliant Motors Tamworth, great people and a facinating product/challenge that I/we still remember: how cool is that.AND, we even supplied 3-wheeler chassis to the US and Canada with electric motors Neil, bet you've seen some of those on your travels and never knew that; and regular orders for LEFT-hand drive 3-wheelers to Germany, Austria and the Netherlands - NO, I would not have believed that either.BUT I'd be lying if I said I'd never had an offside rear wheel in the air , Neil.

I thought your comeback would have been, "that's why I invented the Scimitar" !Seems I wasn't too far out.

 

[MBK]

Congratulations John, there has been a lot of back slapping going on here and quite rightly so, you deserve it.However, I have to pull you on something I read in the article............. Chief Technical Engineer for Reliant."Gentlemen I just don't understand it, you go round a corner too fast and the ****** thing tips over....... What can we do?"

Hi Neil, as you started the banter...





The next RS3 meet ought to be a Reliant Robin/Kitten track day in John's honour. We all buy or borrow a Robin and race them round a track for the day. That would be my idea of fun!

Oh and I have see 2 Reliant Kitten's on track at Pembrey, here at 11 seconds:



I was driving another car John had a hand in the engineering of that day and this one went round corners rather better - when it was working rather than being repaired, which sadly wasn't often enough. For all the reasons John stated in an earlier post I so want to love Westfield (local, UK factory, employment, economy and so on) but sadly they just break too often. Incredible fun when they are going though.

 

[Mr_Freeze]

Hi Mark,Yes the first video is in fact the one i was alluring to.Jezza is a huge knob, but he cracks me up all the same and i couldn't watch it without laughing again. Too funny.One thing i would like to clear up from the interview, not all miners had 3 wheelers!!

 

[45bvtc]

GENTLEMEN! AS you may well suspect the words that come to mind are not for writing here but I assure you that you have my respect and kindness of thought for your contribution(s). To say that I will not be forthcoming with gesticulations in any future meet would be foolish in the extreme, but for now my respect overflows...

You go tell RS3copolt her 'Kitten' (fully prep'd by yours truly) was anything other than superb...

 

[Mr_Freeze]

Wow, she's a beauty....................... and "Oh look, the 3 wheeler has 4 wheels............... how funny"

 

[ex911driver]

Waited long enough Dan, not everyone purchases EVO:

Ha ha thanks John!

 

[MBK]

Cheers John you know we love you, it's only light hearted banter. Anyway I was serious lets have us a Robin/Kitten track day. Can you imagine how much fun that would be? We could invite McNish to see if he can handle the pressure.

 

[DAYTONA 500]

Cheers John you know we love you, it's only light hearted banter. Anyway I was serious lets have us a Robin/Kitten track day. Can you imagine how much fun that would be? We could invite McNish to see if he can handle the pressure.

Great idea mark it would be mega if we could get hold of some of these RS versions LOL. Reliant Kitten Bike Engine - YouTube

 

[Mr_Freeze]

Are they serious? RELIANT ROBIN LX 3DR Estate for sale in Newbury | Auto Trader

 

[T-800]

Just read this on the iPad version john