I,m 78 yr old ex rally driver. I have an s3 and totally agree with this review. Nearest thing to a well balanced rally car that I,ve experienced. Well done guys,great review and well done Audi.👍
Just got my Audi S3 in Daytona Grey and its one hell of a car. I also did the Revo Stage 1 ecu software upgrade and now the car does 0 to 60 in 3.7 Seconds and has 365HP with a top speed of 192MPH which is insane for a 2.0L engine. This thing does not need any help on power also looks and comfort and its really the best everyday car you can have. Good Review
I tried (and failed) to watch a few other reviews of this car but there are too many hacks out there, too many kids going into dealerships with a GoPro saying "Hey, I'm a TH-cam sensation, I'll plug your lot..." and get tossed keys, but immediately ruin it as they speak (MotoManTV for instance) But this sold me on this car. Thanks for taking the time to make such quality content, you're like the USA's Clarkson, only not punching people in the face over steak.
honestly I think these One Takes are the best car reviews on youtube. Quick, to the point, tell me what I want to know - and very relatable too. Just proves you don't need the high production value for it to be really enjoyable.
Can't wait for the new RS3. I never understood why they didn't bring those outside Europe. That 2.5 liter 5 banger just sounds glorious, and it doesn't get any more "Audi" than 5 cylinders..
The $50k price tag is only for a Prestige S3. I bought my 2015 Premium plus S3 with navigation, magnetic ride/performance package, and B&O sound system and I got it for $45,100. At that price point this car kicks serious ass and this coming from a guy who traded in a 2012 STI to get the S3. Its got everything that I wish my STI had- , performance, luxury,and good tech, For me at least the S3 is hard to beat for a car in the mid 40s price range....
currently looking into buying a 2016 model for $31,000 with 19000 miles. Gonna take not even half that extra $14k+ you spent and put it into the engine, wheels, tires and other cosmetic upgrades. Unitronic stage 2 will have this car pushing close to 400hp. Should be able to get 0-60 in 3.5 seconds with good tires. Never will I buy a brand new car. You wait a year or two and let it depreciate then hop on low mileage ones for significantly less money
I’ve had my S3 for almost five years and I have loved it. It’s my daily driver and it’s perfect for that. If you have to commute, you might as well have a little fun. You can hit yourself daily triple with no effort at all.
Wesley D So far it has been good. It has 75,000 miles on it and no major problems. I had to have a brake job done around 60,000. It is starting to burn a little bit of oil and I am now getting the oil changed every 5,000 miles instead of every 10,000. I am about to have a major service done, but it is scheduled. The care and feeding of Audi’s is a little more intense than your typical Chevy, but that’s something you factor in when you buy the car.
THE RIGHT SIZE, yes, that aspect gets overlooked very often. Last gen E90 BMW was the right size, the new one is kinda on the edge, this Audi seems to be the right size, too. I like it a lot. And you really seemed to enjoy it, too, great vid again.
fe1138lix I was seeing consistent low 12s at ~112-115mph in a recent test vid. Pretty solid for a stock motor and turbo. I'm sure deep 11s will be possible with a larger snail and adequate supporting mods.
PKmode You should check APR's recent Facebook posts, some customers pulled some high 11s for example facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153252999131100&set=o.75900685355&type=1 with tune and intake
Jared Tate From the APR website: Stock 1/4= 12.81@105mph APR Stg1 93oct 1/4= 12.05@111.7mph. I recently did see a video of another tuner brand testing achieving very similar results too. fell38lix here says high 11s but I've only seen low 12s from straight stg1 so far.
just wait 2 a 3 years, then they are half the price on the used market :D. the s3 is a car that will loose its value very fast, becouse its not that popular. the rs3 however is different. thats the top sport version with everything on it
I prefer manual transmission but i would pick the S-Tronic over manual any day, but in Europe we have the option to choose between S-Tronic (DSG) OR Manual. But people complaining about the "automatic" gearbox don't have a clue about the DSG transmission, that's one of the fastest transmission ever (plus the DSG fart). And well, you still have paddles on the wheel...
Best car reviews on youtube, or anywhere for that matter, by far. Good mix of content, good diversity, and you do a really good job of keeping your own bias out of them for the most part... Seems like you have the ability to appreciate a car for what it is, be it $1000, or $100000, which is something that many many others lack. Keep it up Matt!
microphone inside , where those interested in the car would be mouth shut , to hear the engine from the right place , inside camera on the hood to enjoy the view ... POV is the future for Car Reviews keep doing videos like these matt
Damn, Matt. Your concept here is so simple and enjoyable. It's like eating hot dogs whilst being drunk. I mean that in the best possible way. It's just good clean fun :)
Really enjoyed this one take. I appreciated the quick walk around, as I haven't seen an S3 in person yet. I like that the video was sub 10 minutes as I normally stop watching around there. Looking forward to watching more!
Hey Matt great review..summed it up perfectly...and under 9 mins! Just turned over 6k miles on mine and I've had it for 6 weeks. I live on the central coast and driven to L.A (3 times), San Fran, Phoenix, this week in Sierra Nevada's. Cross shopped pretty much everything in this category. Really wanted a manual but after being stuck in LA and bay area rush hour don't regret the DSG at all : ) This thing is bank vault tight and easily fast enough for any public road. I test drove many cars and those who compare this car to a Jetta or Volkswagen Whatever don't have a clue....and I like Volkswagen. Also starting to get tired... too many challenges from other drivers...LOVE THIS CAR!
Bought one two weeks ago water failed in first day or two thank god for warranty. Great review made me feel like a kid at Christmas to get it back now 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Damn your brave driving and turning that fast on these small roads, you must be very confident, i sometimes hold my breath ahah. Gj with these man and yeah your audio is fine in this one :)
100vasiliy We think in terms of price, the Golf R is more of the STI competitor, which is why we're filming the Golf R and STI this afternoon together :)
Great review! Matt, whats your take on auto makers (Audi, Merc, even Mazda) putting the nav/info screen on top of the dash? It is a really minor point I know, but It seems like it is becoming a trend, at least Audi hides it away when its off it seems...
Andrew Cathcart It's not my favorite thing, but I know why they do it (I think). It's because dash boards were getting too high and claustrophobic for smaller drivers. So this way, they can have the screen higher with the dashboard lower. Another theory is that its significantly cheaper to sell base model cars now, because they can just not install the screen on top of the basic dash, rather than having to create two separate dash uppers for screen vs no screen. It's not my favorite look, frankly, and the Audi pulls it off best (MBZ looks cheesy as hell).
I never thought of it that way! If it is getting Nav into cheaper cars, than it is really a good thing. It's not the best look, but its livable. The Merc and the Mazda give the nav close to the same treatment, but its interesting that it seems its more acceptable in the Mazda. Maybe because we expect the best from Benz. Its an interest dichotomy!
Andrew Cathcart I can handle certain aspects of a Mazda's interior being cheap. As long as the things I touch feel nice and it gets us a better MMI system from them, I totally get it. But with a Benz, you don't want to see evidence of cost cutting.
Andrew Cathcart Its not that you expect the best from Benz... its that Benz literally put the cheapest, crappiest looking screen on the dash. While Mazda put in a midranger with smaller (yet still big) bezels.
Andrew Cathcart I believe they put the screens on top of the dash for safety. The higher the screen is, the less you have to take your eyes off the road. Think of how easy it is to look over at a GPS mounted on the windshield. It's kind of the same idea.
Currently live 5 minutes away from apr and get to see some of their cars at local meets. Those guys work wonders with Audi's and VW's can't wait to see what they do with the S3.
***** great people at APR, crazy facility. Auburn was the greatest bar scene I think I've ever seen. What's the name of that massive movie theater they turned into a club? That place was nuts.
After hating the A3 so much i was so hoping you would drive the S3 and see how great it is, so glad you agree with most of the features that made me buy one, over here in Aus the M135 is way more expensive too.
For a spirited daily, would you prefer the S3 or the 2008 ISF you drove a few months ago? The sound of the ISF is hard to pass up, but the Audi has similar performance with much better fuel economy. Any thoughts?
I gained MUCHO GRANDE respect when you said B5 Matt! sIt the only reason why i have this car in mind. Audi finally understood that they fucked up when they stopped producing chassis like the B5
Awesome review. Seems like a couple of the gripes you had are shared by the S4. The shift on redline is especially annoying when you're trying to shift yourself and it happens at the same time. So it shifts twice when you're trying to drive spirited. And yes it's always been awkward parking at slow speeds because of it's touchy brake pedal. But I still love my S4!
You can get an S3 as a manual in Europe, its quite nice actually. A compromise if you dont want the full on hard no f*cking around STI, go for an S3 instead. Will probably not be just as fast on a track, but at least you dont want to commit suicide everytime you drive on a bad road, which happens when you're in the new sti
4.8 to 60 mpg is a great starting point. ARP will be able to knock sometime off that. APR did wonders for my 337 GTI, really upped the boost, Borla turbo back exhaust, AEM long pipe intake and HP shocks the first owner put on ( dropped 2in and stiff AF) had my 337 smoking Porsche's on scenic HWY 1 in northern Ca. I ended up wrapping my 337 around a tree and I still miss the thing. I'm excited to see this car and I think the blue looks great. Used Audi's are very affordable in area. I got rid of my A4 when our third baby was born. I'm looking forward to when my wife and I can get back into some pleasure cars when the kids get a little older. The budget is so tight I'm even looking at used Cobra's for a weekend fun car right now.
Flat bottom steering wheel: Having owned two cars with and without flat bottom, I think there is a need for the flat bottom when a car comes with launch control. Placing my left foot on the brake pedal before launch without flat bottom was awkward. The flat bottom wheel on my present car makes that so much easier.
Was this a weekday morning? Not a single car or cyclist on the Snake. Also I like how the nav screen pops up out of the dash, instead of Mercedes' "tablet stuck to the dash" look.
You know your stuff man. Really appreciate you mentioning the B5 audis. Loved the shape and size of those, and this new S3/A3 does come in as the successor of those. Too bad that there's no V6 available. Would have love them to come out with an improved V6 Biturbo setup.
Great review. Sold my 370Z for an Audi S3 and immediately regretted it after my first autocross. Going from RWD to "AWD" took some getting used to. The Audi, however, is much more livable and practical, along with providing a good dose of speed and fun.
Matt I find your reviews of the Audi S3 and the VW MK7 Golf R very interesting. You seemed more enthusiastic about the Golf R than the S3 when they both have the same powertrain. What do you think of the seats in the Golf R vs the S3, I haven't checked out the Golf R yet but I did checkout the S3 and was disappointed with the seats as they're not as good as those in my MK6 GTI with the Autobahn Pkg. Also what do you mean by the S3 not being as "understeery" as the S4?? I haven't found that to be true and I have driven both the S3 and S4 extensively. Please eloborate
I'd be sold if it was a manual. Its disappointing to see all these great cars coming out with only automatic. And I love when people try to give me the whole "it's basically a manual because you can shift it yourself" crap... if it's a sports car with less than three pedals, its not for me.
Good car, well balanced package, pretty quick BUT notice that Matt smiled only once while driving... It might get the job done but its ice cold, no emotions. Very german. Even the sound couldnt be more random
I,m 78 yr old ex rally driver. I have an s3 and totally agree with this review. Nearest thing to a well balanced rally car that I,ve experienced. Well done guys,great review and well done Audi.👍
What’s your name
@@isaiahjohnson6536Ian Johnston is his name
Just got my Audi S3 in Daytona Grey and its one hell of a car. I also did the Revo Stage 1 ecu software upgrade and now the car does 0 to 60 in 3.7 Seconds and has 365HP with a top speed of 192MPH which is insane for a 2.0L engine. This thing does not need any help on power also looks and comfort and its really the best everyday car you can have. Good Review
Issam Shalhoub no way 192
Really I've got one to if you could send me some info on your mods I'd be grateful
How has your car held up?
Not a chance 192... 172 tops
192 ? 🤭
"It's very roomy in the front..."
*tires squealing in the background*
Gotta love his way of reviewing cars and the One Takes!
I tried (and failed) to watch a few other reviews of this car but there are too many hacks out there, too many kids going into dealerships with a GoPro saying "Hey, I'm a TH-cam sensation, I'll plug your lot..." and get tossed keys, but immediately ruin it as they speak (MotoManTV for instance) But this sold me on this car.
Thanks for taking the time to make such quality content, you're like the USA's Clarkson, only not punching people in the face over steak.
Why do I relate to Matt so much more than other car reviewers?
MrNuggetface Cause he's a guy driving a car, talking while doing it.:P It's not scripted stuff, he isn't putting on a voice, so you can relate.
Because he has sound judgement, few limitations, and loads of logic. Thanks Matt.
MrNuggetface because Matt is still the common guy
Same here lol.
Because you are fat
honestly I think these One Takes are the best car reviews on youtube. Quick, to the point, tell me what I want to know - and very relatable too. Just proves you don't need the high production value for it to be really enjoyable.
Can't wait for the new RS3. I never understood why they didn't bring those outside Europe. That 2.5 liter 5 banger just sounds glorious, and it doesn't get any more "Audi" than 5 cylinders..
The $50k price tag is only for a Prestige S3. I bought my 2015 Premium plus S3 with navigation, magnetic ride/performance package, and B&O sound system and I got it for $45,100. At that price point this car kicks serious ass and this coming from a guy who traded in a 2012 STI to get the S3. Its got everything that I wish my STI had- , performance, luxury,and good tech, For me at least the S3 is hard to beat for a car in the mid 40s price range....
just wait 2 a 3 years, and its half the price :D
Like most other cars, no?
Im a reporting from 2018 this car goes for as low as $26k to 36k now. 11k miles to 58k ive seen. Now its in the proper price range.
currently looking into buying a 2016 model for $31,000 with 19000 miles. Gonna take not even half that extra $14k+ you spent and put it into the engine, wheels, tires and other cosmetic upgrades. Unitronic stage 2 will have this car pushing close to 400hp. Should be able to get 0-60 in 3.5 seconds with good tires. Never will I buy a brand new car. You wait a year or two and let it depreciate then hop on low mileage ones for significantly less money
@@lexburen5932 Crazy how your prediction was so accurate lol! 3 years later, literally half the price.
I’ve had my S3 for almost five years and I have loved it. It’s my daily driver and it’s perfect for that. If you have to commute, you might as well have a little fun. You can hit yourself daily triple with no effort at all.
How has it been so far in reliability
Wesley D So far it has been good. It has 75,000 miles on it and no major problems. I had to have a brake job done around 60,000. It is starting to burn a little bit of oil and I am now getting the oil changed every 5,000 miles instead of every 10,000. I am about to have a major service done, but it is scheduled. The care and feeding of Audi’s is a little more intense than your typical Chevy, but that’s something you factor in when you buy the car.
Thank you. Because of this review I'm buying an S3 with 18k miles for 30k which is a steal. Much appreciated
Enjoy it man, my only pet peeve with this model is that it doesn’t have a 6 speed manual.
S3 is an awesome car! Small and nimble with good power
THE RIGHT SIZE, yes, that aspect gets overlooked very often. Last gen E90 BMW was the right size, the new one is kinda on the edge, this Audi seems to be the right size, too. I like it a lot. And you really seemed to enjoy it, too, great vid again.
APR's Stage 1 Golf R did high 11's to low 12's in the 1/4 mile, so the engine seems very responsive to a tune
fe1138lix I was seeing consistent low 12s at ~112-115mph in a recent test vid. Pretty solid for a stock motor and turbo. I'm sure deep 11s will be possible with a larger snail and adequate supporting mods.
PKmode You should check APR's recent Facebook posts, some customers pulled some high 11s for example facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153252999131100&set=o.75900685355&type=1 with tune and intake
fe1138lix That's the reason why I love VW GTI
PKmode so it runs what 13s stock? and just a tune no hard ware you can run low 12s ???
Jared Tate From the APR website: Stock 1/4= 12.81@105mph APR Stg1 93oct 1/4= 12.05@111.7mph. I recently did see a video of another tuner brand testing achieving very similar results too. fell38lix here says high 11s but I've only seen low 12s from straight stg1 so far.
or just go buy a b5 and dump 20k into it and have a monster.
I mean a stock monster, cuz that's 20k of maintenence lol
just wait 2 a 3 years, then they are half the price on the used market :D. the s3 is a car that will loose its value very fast, becouse its not that popular. the rs3 however is different. thats the top sport version with everything on it
if you brought your S4 to a shop for coil packs .. then you never belonged in that car in the 1st place!
@@lexburen5932 the s3 is hugely popular in the UK, probably one of the most stolen cars also.
Awesome review dude, I love your work.
nutnfancy love seeing my gear channels mixing in with my car channels
How many other TNPers are here? lol
Nutnfancy taking a break from tabletop reviews for this....even though it was 3 yrs ago. Love your reviews Nutnfancy. Oh and i just bought an s3
ahhhhh nice to see so many fellow TNPers that are in to da Audis :)....about to upgrade from my A3 to an S3.
Had a 2016 A3 and honestly, it was a riot! I can imagine the S3 would be awesome to go burning around in.
I prefer manual transmission but i would pick the S-Tronic over manual any day, but in Europe we have the option to choose between S-Tronic (DSG) OR Manual. But people complaining about the "automatic" gearbox don't have a clue about the DSG transmission, that's one of the fastest transmission ever (plus the DSG fart). And well, you still have paddles on the wheel...
+henrike22 Nothing beats rowing through gears and rev matching
45 degrees is chilly? I am living in the wrong place.
That’s us West Coast people for ya. I live in Phoenix and anything below 60 is “chilly” lol
Farenheit not Celsius
Me: laughs in swedish
xd
Best car reviews on youtube, or anywhere for that matter, by far. Good mix of content, good diversity, and you do a really good job of keeping your own bias out of them for the most part... Seems like you have the ability to appreciate a car for what it is, be it $1000, or $100000, which is something that many many others lack. Keep it up Matt!
2:08 that road though... Dayum, I wish we had nice non busy, windy roads like that
microphone inside , where those interested in the car would be
mouth shut , to hear the engine from the right place , inside
camera on the hood to enjoy the view
...
POV is the future for Car Reviews
keep doing videos like these matt
Damn, Matt. Your concept here is so simple and enjoyable. It's like eating hot dogs whilst being drunk. I mean that in the best possible way. It's just good clean fun :)
This car is a lot of fun. A tune and a few bolt ons really bring it to life with not a lot of money. A lot of potential from this little 4 banger.
Iron block = High Power potential
Great review and I agree it is a fun car to drive. I traded in my 13 S4 and picked up a 15 S3 with the mag ride and could not be happier.
5 years later any major problems with the s3?
@@Noahskaterat123 probably not. My S3 has been 400whp for a year now with no issues
Who would thought that 6y later after seeing this video for the first time now i'm looking one of these to make it my new track toy :D
Love this car! I've had for a daily for 8months with 12k miles. Not a single problem with the car
How has the car held up?
a proper review.....subscribed!
I like how this video is 6 years old today. And I love it.
Thanks to you , i just bought a 2016 S3 .
Look at my instagram , TheErdeKaiser .
Why not? Because people who watch TH-cam videos can't afford cars?
That's my car! Glad you like it as much as I do. Especially with the APR tune and a few other light mods its the perfect car for me.
Volkswagen Arteon shooting brake is cooler
What a way to wake up in the morning.... Thumbs UP!
This guy knows how to do a review period
Really enjoyed this one take. I appreciated the quick walk around, as I haven't seen an S3 in person yet. I like that the video was sub 10 minutes as I normally stop watching around there. Looking forward to watching more!
great review. makes me feel even better about my choice of the s3 over the CLA AMG
Beautiful car and superb review as always!
Hey Matt great review..summed it up perfectly...and under 9 mins!
Just turned over 6k miles on mine and I've had it for 6 weeks. I live on the central coast and driven to L.A (3 times), San Fran, Phoenix, this week in Sierra Nevada's.
Cross shopped pretty much everything in this category. Really wanted a manual but after being stuck in LA and bay area rush hour don't regret the DSG at all : )
This thing is bank vault tight and easily fast enough for any public road. I test drove many cars and those who compare this car to a Jetta or Volkswagen Whatever don't have a clue....and I like Volkswagen. Also starting to get tired... too many challenges from other drivers...LOVE THIS CAR!
just got mine 2 months ago and love it!
i like these videos before watching because it is something i can't wait to see every time :)
This thing is pretty much the same size as a B5 A4. Just shows you how big cars have gotten in the past 15 or so years.
Antwon Jenkins Wow didnt watch the vid all the way through before commenting lol Matt just said the same thing
It's a little bigger
I bought this car. "It is a nice place to be" SOLD.
Bought one two weeks ago water failed in first day or two thank god for warranty. Great review made me feel like a kid at Christmas to get it back now 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Drove an A3 quattro with a sport package through the twisties in Yellowstone national park.... The car felt plenty quick, I bet the S3 is a riot
Thanks for your great review Matt. I just bought a 2016 S3 which I get on Monday. This will replace my 2013 S4 which was a great car.
Thanks Matt!! I have been an Audi driver and I love it, but this will be a game changer for this price point.
Wish I could have listened to your review, step-father kept talking about the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Lovin the One Take's!
+TheSmokingTire Porsche's PDK is actually a derivative of VW's DSG, which is what S-Tronic is in the S3.
Damn your brave driving and turning that fast on these small roads, you must be very confident, i sometimes hold my breath ahah. Gj with these man and yeah your audio is fine in this one :)
top notch video, as always. well done Matt and team
Great review. Meaningful input. More apprechiated than TopGear. Authentic. Honest.
Would be fun if Alex stopped by, great duo.
Don't apologize for the sound. You got it this time.
i want a Versus between this and an STI
100vasiliy We think in terms of price, the Golf R is more of the STI competitor, which is why we're filming the Golf R and STI this afternoon together :)
I got rid of my 2015 sti for the S3, S3 by far the better car
TheSmokingTire Can't wait to see that!
Frank Nero I knew you would be on this video!
100vasiliy And the EVO X since it sounds like they are setup similar. 300HP 3,4,5RPM boost peaks..
love you Matt
***** gay
Sayeed Abu Bakr al Baghdadi yeh i hate to break it to you but thats your moms profession
+adam khan after nearly a year I return to this comment to say, yes, I am indeed a shit stabber
Great review! Matt, whats your take on auto makers (Audi, Merc, even Mazda) putting the nav/info screen on top of the dash? It is a really minor point I know, but It seems like it is becoming a trend, at least Audi hides it away when its off it seems...
Andrew Cathcart It's not my favorite thing, but I know why they do it (I think). It's because dash boards were getting too high and claustrophobic for smaller drivers. So this way, they can have the screen higher with the dashboard lower. Another theory is that its significantly cheaper to sell base model cars now, because they can just not install the screen on top of the basic dash, rather than having to create two separate dash uppers for screen vs no screen. It's not my favorite look, frankly, and the Audi pulls it off best (MBZ looks cheesy as hell).
I never thought of it that way! If it is getting Nav into cheaper cars, than it is really a good thing. It's not the best look, but its livable. The Merc and the Mazda give the nav close to the same treatment, but its interesting that it seems its more acceptable in the Mazda. Maybe because we expect the best from Benz. Its an interest dichotomy!
Andrew Cathcart I can handle certain aspects of a Mazda's interior being cheap. As long as the things I touch feel nice and it gets us a better MMI system from them, I totally get it. But with a Benz, you don't want to see evidence of cost cutting.
Andrew Cathcart Its not that you expect the best from Benz... its that Benz literally put the cheapest, crappiest looking screen on the dash. While Mazda put in a midranger with smaller (yet still big) bezels.
Andrew Cathcart I believe they put the screens on top of the dash for safety. The higher the screen is, the less you have to take your eyes off the road. Think of how easy it is to look over at a GPS mounted on the windshield. It's kind of the same idea.
Man, if only we had roads and places like this over here :)
Here in Europe you can get the S3 as a hatchback and with a manual transmission, but the Sedan with the S-tronic gearbox is a really nice package.
Currently live 5 minutes away from apr and get to see some of their cars at local meets. Those guys work wonders with Audi's and VW's can't wait to see what they do with the S3.
***** great people at APR, crazy facility. Auburn was the greatest bar scene I think I've ever seen. What's the name of that massive movie theater they turned into a club? That place was nuts.
TheSmokingTire I think your're talking about sky bar lol right in downtown auburn it's definitely the biggest bar here haha
Why are they not giving the option to get a manual transmission here in the U.S.? I would like to still be able to make that decision.
After hating the A3 so much i was so hoping you would drive the S3 and see how great it is, so glad you agree with most of the features that made me buy one, over here in Aus the M135 is way more expensive too.
I love your reviews man, always informative and entertaining.
Thanks
god I love the way that screen pops up on the dash.
The way some of these vloggers drive and vlog is quite unbelievable.
Great road, filmed the entire distance without getting stuck behind a slow poke.
Cool video! Now i really want to make a test drive, always thought that this S3 looks unbelievably good.
Great review!! Thanks for your hard work!
patiently waiting for an audi b5 s4 one take
I wish it had a manual transmission. The low price makes it interesting, but I'm not sure if I can get past the lack of a clutch pedal.
For a spirited daily, would you prefer the S3 or the 2008 ISF you drove a few months ago? The sound of the ISF is hard to pass up, but the Audi has similar performance with much better fuel economy. Any thoughts?
What an amazing car. Daily driver and track car...plus winter car. Wish Subaru could put out a 2.5GT legacy again
If the s3 avant was available here in the states, id buy one
got my 2018 S3 a year ago, best car i have ever owned. fastest too with a few mods. my best 0-60 is 3.66s, stage 1 E30.
I sooo have my fingers crossed that in June my wife choses this as her new car... I can't wait..
I gained MUCHO GRANDE respect when you said B5 Matt! sIt the only reason why i have this car in mind. Audi finally understood that they fucked up when they stopped producing chassis like the B5
Awesome review. Seems like a couple of the gripes you had are shared by the S4. The shift on redline is especially annoying when you're trying to shift yourself and it happens at the same time. So it shifts twice when you're trying to drive spirited. And yes it's always been awkward parking at slow speeds because of it's touchy brake pedal. But I still love my S4!
You can get an S3 as a manual in Europe, its quite nice actually. A compromise if you dont want the full on hard no f*cking around STI, go for an S3 instead. Will probably not be just as fast on a track, but at least you dont want to commit suicide everytime you drive on a bad road, which happens when you're in the new sti
Nice review, I have the s3 with prestige package. Love the digital dash
Awesome as always! Keep them coming
Great review Matt keep em coming and these "one takes" are really good. I think it had a little bit of understeer at the limit lol
4.8 to 60 mpg is a great starting point. ARP will be able to knock sometime off that. APR did wonders for my 337 GTI, really upped the boost, Borla turbo back exhaust, AEM long pipe intake and HP shocks the first owner put on ( dropped 2in and stiff AF) had my 337 smoking Porsche's on scenic HWY 1 in northern Ca. I ended up wrapping my 337 around a tree and I still miss the thing. I'm excited to see this car and I think the blue looks great. Used Audi's are very affordable in area. I got rid of my A4 when our third baby was born. I'm looking forward to when my wife and I can get back into some pleasure cars when the kids get a little older. The budget is so tight I'm even looking at used Cobra's for a weekend fun car right now.
Flat bottom steering wheel: Having owned two cars with and without flat bottom, I think there is a need for the flat bottom when a car comes with launch control. Placing my left foot on the brake pedal before launch without flat bottom was awkward. The flat bottom wheel on my present car makes that so much easier.
can't wait to see you test drive the up coming RS5
Great video Matt, when should we expect Golf R vs STi video? can't wait
zadjaliz a week or two. probably two.
Just bought one... lol totally agree at 6:15 speed bumps are the real worst enemy of this car, just turns into a bouncy castle when you go over one.
Nice car but what the difference with golf type r?
Matt - it was good to meet you that day at Deus, after you tested the car. Hope to cross paths with you again sometime.
Best,
Pietro
Was this a weekday morning? Not a single car or cyclist on the Snake.
Also I like how the nav screen pops up out of the dash, instead of Mercedes' "tablet stuck to the dash" look.
Sam Stoner It was like 6 AM on a tuesday.
You know your stuff man. Really appreciate you mentioning the B5 audis. Loved the shape and size of those, and this new S3/A3 does come in as the successor of those. Too bad that there's no V6 available. Would have love them to come out with an improved V6 Biturbo setup.
Small little tune would get this to atleast 360hp.
stoopidvideo Should have been stock 360HP.... 50K seems a bit much.
Ultimatemxcn True, 290hp is probably more reliable. Assuming people will tune the 360hp. Probably the rs3 will have around that much
***** Yea, but US version
APR's ECU tune for Golf R adds 80hp and 80 ft-lbs. so yeah that's worth it.
There is surely a way to import the RS3
fantastic drive. great review. great looking car. love your stuff
Love these videos Matt, what cars do you have coming up?
Its impossible to dislike a Matt Farah/Smokingtire video. Fact.
Great review. Sold my 370Z for an Audi S3 and immediately regretted it after my first autocross. Going from RWD to "AWD" took some getting used to. The Audi, however, is much more livable and practical, along with providing a good dose of speed and fun.
can you share your thoughts with the S3 and Golf R(when u drive the Golf R) which is better for daily/track? Also throwability/handling/acceleration
Matt I find your reviews of the Audi S3 and the VW MK7 Golf R very interesting. You seemed more enthusiastic about the Golf R than the S3 when they both have the same powertrain. What do you think of the seats in the Golf R vs the S3, I haven't checked out the Golf R yet but I did checkout the S3 and was disappointed with the seats as they're not as good as those in my MK6 GTI with the Autobahn Pkg. Also what do you mean by the S3 not being as "understeery" as the S4?? I haven't found that to be true and I have driven both the S3 and S4 extensively. Please eloborate
Matt how do you compare the S3 with the bmw M235i? What do you preefer?
Great stuff, Matt! 👍 I really dig this car. Audi got it right with this one.
Europe has manual transmission
Erik Russo lucky fuckers
@@seansmile Needs a clutch for just a piggyback tune though. Pretty weak out of the box
Too slow
Yes, but nobody wants it
I'd be sold if it was a manual. Its disappointing to see all these great cars coming out with only automatic. And I love when people try to give me the whole "it's basically a manual because you can shift it yourself" crap... if it's a sports car with less than three pedals, its not for me.
Good car, well balanced package, pretty quick BUT notice that Matt smiled only once while driving... It might get the job done but its ice cold, no emotions. Very german. Even the sound couldnt be more random
Great review, thanks for the work
Don't think I've ever heard a factory VW/Audi 4 that sounded so good. Is it as good in-person as it sounds in the video?