Topic: First Drive: 2015 Audi S3

[Snowman]

I have driven a PDK and I can understand why, its awesome. I have been driving manual cars for +30 years and love it but I can fully understand the desire to own the latest technology and advantage to PDK offers over an manual. I bet my next new car won't have a manual and I will get over it.

the Euro spec TT-RS is available with a DCT (only manual is here)...despite giving up a little power (i think about 30HP), the DCT model is quicker, likely due to launch control.

Yep, I might have gone for one it it was available here. They also have the TT-RS Plus that has the 360 hp and the DCT...that must be nuts.

How does that DCT do with the launch control though?? The first gen Skyline was all fine and good till you used the launch control a few times and burnt the crap out of the clutch.

Things have advanced somewhat in the past twenty years. I'm sure the ECU's we have today are capable of managing better than a human can.

[Fobroader]

I have driven a PDK and I can understand why, its awesome. I have been driving manual cars for +30 years and love it but I can fully understand the desire to own the latest technology and advantage to PDK offers over an manual. I bet my next new car won't have a manual and I will get over it.

the Euro spec TT-RS is available with a DCT (only manual is here)...despite giving up a little power (i think about 30HP), the DCT model is quicker, likely due to launch control.

Yep, I might have gone for one it it was available here. They also have the TT-RS Plus that has the 360 hp and the DCT...that must be nuts.

How does that DCT do with the launch control though?? The first gen Skyline was all fine and good till you used the launch control a few times and burnt the crap out of the clutch.

Things have advanced somewhat in the past twenty years. I'm sure the ECU's we have today are capable of managing better than a human can.

Yeah, thats all fine and good, but can the actual clutch take it??

[Northernridge]

The 6 speed VW DSG does ok with launch control.  Two reasons I expect. 1) with only 200 bhp it can manage
2) with wet clutches they probably don't overheat. The 7 speed DSG does have problems with its dry clutches and from a couple of posts in here so does the Ford gearbox similarly.

As for the M3 DCT and the Porche PDK  I am sure that those manufacturers did some serious torture testing on those clutches.    I wonder about the DCT in my M-B.   I have no idea if it is wet or dry clutches and there is no launch control...although I'd bet a $$ that the CLA AMG does.

Well unless they are wet clutches, a dry clutch would be a hurting unit after launching a ~4000Lb car with 300+ horses, thats a lot of slippage. I have never looked into these DCT/PDK type of trannies, are they usually reliable?? I heard something about VW having an SB/TB on them and I know the Ford ones have a pile of consumer headaches.

The other day the nice Porsche lady was coocoo for PDK launch control in the 911, to use it I think you need to be at a standstill in Sport Plus, left foot hard on the brake, jam the gas to the floor with right, release brake, keep gas pinned. The pedal actions can't be tentative or it will cut out/fail to engage. She went on about how robust the system is…then said I wasn't allowed to use it on the test drive. 

[Fobroader]

Launch control is fantastic, it can take a care to a level no human can hope to reach....saying that, its gotta be super bad on all the driveline components. Kind of like sidestepping the clutch at 3 or 4K rpm. 

[Snowman]

Launch control is fantastic, it can take a care to a level no human can hope to reach....saying that, its gotta be super bad on all the driveline components. Kind of like sidestepping the clutch at 3 or 4K rpm.

Had one in my STi, used it many times.

[Fobroader]

Launch control is fantastic, it can take a care to a level no human can hope to reach....saying that, its gotta be super bad on all the driveline components. Kind of like sidestepping the clutch at 3 or 4K rpm.

Had one in my STi, used it many times.

Had a what?? Launch control??

[Snowman]

Launch control is fantastic, it can take a care to a level no human can hope to reach....saying that, its gotta be super bad on all the driveline components. Kind of like sidestepping the clutch at 3 or 4K rpm.

Had one in my STi, used it many times.

Had a what?? Launch control??

No, a bush guard. Are you drinking at work 

[greengs]

Big points for GreenGs! Audi confirmed this morning to us by email, that pricing will begin at $44,000. The article has been updated.

Also, we'll get it Q3/Q4.

 

That's an awsome deal!  So just email and no official press release?

[Cognashene]

OMFG. Sign me up!

[ChaosphereIX]

No Manual Trans = NO BUSINESS FROM ME ..... Looks like I am going after the TL SHAWD 6MT....

or you wait one more year for the 2 series gran coupe.

BMW is losing it. 2 series gran coupe...come on. They are getting too niche for their own good.

OTOH, this new S3 looks good, but would be better with some more aggression. Dont love the headlights, too round at the face - would be better with 2009-ish design language. But that is just me.

Finally VW is getting the 300hp that their 2.0T was always capable of...

[mixmanmash]

yah i think the names bmw is coming up with are a little ridiculous but i think the 2 series gran coupe will be basically a 3 series before it grew too much.  this is what this a3/s3 is.  an original a4 in dimensions.  i'm surprised it's taking bmw so long to come up with a smaller sedan.  the number of suv variants is mind boggling.     

No.  It will be a 4 door 1 series.

[sailor723]

yah i think the names bmw is coming up with are a little ridiculous but i think the 2 series gran coupe will be basically a 3 series before it grew too much.  this is what this a3/s3 is.  an original a4 in dimensions.  i'm surprised it's taking bmw so long to come up with a smaller sedan.  the number of suv variants is mind boggling.     

No.  It will be a 4 door 1 series.

In other words....like kevlar said.....a 3 series before it grew to much. 

[mixmanmash]

yah i think the names bmw is coming up with are a little ridiculous but i think the 2 series gran coupe will be basically a 3 series before it grew too much.  this is what this a3/s3 is.  an original a4 in dimensions.  i'm surprised it's taking bmw so long to come up with a smaller sedan.  the number of suv variants is mind boggling.     

No.  It will be a 4 door 1 series.

In other words....like kevlar said.....a 3 series before it grew to much. 

Yeah, but the new 1 will be FWD based and the 2 will likely be as well since it will be based on the 1.  Last I checked, the 3 is RWD based.

[Zorro]

Have a deposit down for an S3...not too much information on the release though (3rd quarter?) 

If someone else has any other info, please do share!

[OliverD]

BMW is losing it. 2 series gran coupe...come on. They are getting too niche for their own good.

The 2-series Gran Coupe will compete with the CLA and A3/S3. It would be silly for BMW not to offer a car in that segment.

[SKYMTL]

S3 Avant?  Pretty please? 

*crickets*