Topic: First Drive: 2015 Audi S3

[Autos_Editor]

Rifle-bolt S Tronic and zero body roll makes the 2015 Audi S3 a joy to drive.

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[quadzilla]

I could care less if they don't bring over the manual but would have liked to seen a hatch version. Although I do like the looks of the sedan as its a smaller S4. Would like to see both cars side by side.

here is a long wait though. Europe won’t get theirs until February 2014; expect Canada to be a little later. Pricing for that market has been announced at 40,000 Euros which converts to CDN$56,535.

Considering the S4 starts at $53K this will have to come in cheaper.

[hemusbull]

The smallest Audi here is actually the most expensive front wheeler with ordinary transverse engine installation! At least it's now a normal sedan as well.

[mixmanmash]

Sounds like they took a trick out of Toyota's hat by having both direct and port fuel injection.  Besides the benefits listed in the article, it should solve any concerns people may have in regards to carbon buildup in DI engines.

[redman]

Nice care.
Impressive fuel economy for a hypo engine, guess the Toyota/Subaru indirect & direct F.I. similar setup works well.
"Audi says that is achieved via added indirect injection for low-load driving, with FSI direct injection kicking in when loads get higher"
Nice change to the vast BMW around town.

[whaddaiknow]

For some reason, I don't find the interior particularly attractive, it looks pretty spartan. It doesn't jive with the definition of luxury or the price tag attached to the car. At least in my books. I would much sooner look at the CLA45, 335, IS 350, or even the S4 than the S3.

As Nothern once put it comparing the current E-class with the C-class, it's a free fall in interior feel and quality from the A4(S4) (which already is a sorta compact luxury) to A3(S3). And for not much less money.

0-100 in under 5.0 sec is becoming pretty common these days, and I don't see why I need to put up with less for more.

Strictly my opinion though.

[JRM]

I find that the dasboard is not much to look at.  I don't like the big circular vents in contrast to the huge dashtop screen.  It just doesn't flow well.  On the other hand, it's a great looking go fast car.

[dirtyjeffer]

Sounds like they took a trick out of Toyota's hat by having both direct and port fuel injection.  Besides the benefits listed in the article, it should solve any concerns people may have in regards to carbon buildup in DI engines.

interesting (carbon build-up)...this morning on the way into work, i had to "give-er" to get ahead and into the other lane so some enthusiastic acceleration was called on...there was a new Accord riding my tail too, so when i kept an eye on it in my rear-view mirror, i noticed what appeared to be some black smoke coming from my tail pipe...now, it could have been some dusty stuff from the road i suppose, but my gut feeling was my car belched out some carbon when i floored it...is that bad, or is it just cleaning out the combustion chamber (so, perhaps it is good to do that once in a while)??...the RPMs got up to about 6k, so the VTEC was kickin in yo (sorry, had to add that last part  ).

[Solstice2006]

I could care less if they don't bring over the manual but would have liked to seen a hatch version. Although I do like the looks of the sedan as its a smaller S4. Would like to see both cars side by side.

here is a long wait though. Europe won’t get theirs until February 2014; expect Canada to be a little later. Pricing for that market has been announced at 40,000 Euros which converts to CDN$56,535.

Considering the S4 starts at $53K this will have to come in cheaper.

Was just thinking that, I brought up the S4 test drive, says the base price is $53k and the premium is $57,800.  So again, we will have to see what Audi does.  I can't see them making it more expensive than the MB CLA 45 AMG, which starts at $49,800. 

Euros to Canadian conversion hardly ever works, cars are often more expensive there. 

[Fobroader]

The smallest Audi here is actually the most expensive front wheeler with ordinary transverse engine installation! At least it's now a normal sedan as well.

The engine is pointing the wrong way, Audi of old did it right with the longitudinal engine placement.

[hemusbull]

The smallest Audi here is actually the most expensive front wheeler with ordinary transverse engine installation! At least it's now a normal sedan as well.

The engine is pointing the wrong way, Audi of old did it right with the longitudinal engine placement.

Exactly! There were years when VW/Audi claimed longitude installation as a trade mark for Passat and all Audi models. Instead, opposite on Subaru, they choose transversal with most of cars without Quattro. Just like Mercedes with the new CLA and expected small BMW they is going to kill their traditional roots in the name of...making money. Of course, the vital business model is what sustainable money making needs!

[mixmanmash]

The smallest Audi here is actually the most expensive front wheeler with ordinary transverse engine installation! At least it's now a normal sedan as well.

The engine is pointing the wrong way, Audi of old did it right with the longitudinal engine placement.

Somewhat true.  It's too bad that in the longitudinal engine placement, most of the engine is ahead of the front wheels to accommodate the AWD gear.

[Fobroader]

The smallest Audi here is actually the most expensive front wheeler with ordinary transverse engine installation! At least it's now a normal sedan as well.

The engine is pointing the wrong way, Audi of old did it right with the longitudinal engine placement.

Somewhat true.  It's too bad that in the longitudinal engine placement, most of the engine is ahead of the front wheels to accommodate the AWD gear.

But a longitudinal drivetrain is more efficient and easier to work on.....plus, it worked ok for their rally cars.

[Northernridge]

Small, affordable, stylish, legit Euro sporting sedans…an emerging segment? Seems so.

Could the segment be the spiritual successor of the 3 Series?

[Black Hatch]

in the states the rumour is this car will start at 39k. so i would expect 43-45 here?  you can't translate euros to dollars.

But someone posted it was only going to be $3k more than a loaded mazda3!

[garytam]

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

[greengs]

in the states the rumour is this car will start at 39k. so i would expect 43-45 here?  you can't translate euros to dollars.

But someone posted it was only going to be $3k more than a loaded mazda3!

The A3 starts at $31,000 CAD and is virtually fully loaded at that price so yes that's going to be a killer deal and you'll see a ton of A3s on the roads.

We are discussing S3 here which will start around 44-46K is my guess. 

[whaddaiknow]

Small, affordable, stylish, legit Euro sporting sedans…an emerging segment? Seems so.

Could the segment be the spiritual successor of the 3 Series?

^^
It can't be a spiritual successor to the 3 Series with front-wheel biased AWD and without a manual (however good the auto and AWD may be). Making it small and spartan and racking up the price is a good recipe for me to look elsewhere.
GTi R sounds like a bargain with much better interior.

[Black Hatch]

in the states the rumour is this car will start at 39k. so i would expect 43-45 here?  you can't translate euros to dollars.

But someone posted it was only going to be $3k more than a loaded mazda3!

The A3 starts at $31,000 CAD and is virtually fully loaded at that price so yes that's going to be a killer deal and you'll see a ton of A3s on the roads.

We are discussing S3 here which will start around 44-46K is my guess.

Oh. Oops.

[JohnM]

"is it just cleaning out the combustion chamber (so, perhaps it is good to do that once in a while)??"

Italian tuneup works on even modern engines apparently!  Did you notice any roughness as the carbon flakes worked their way out of the cylinders?

When I'd give my Alfa this treatment it took about 10 seconds for the process to start and last for maybe another 20 seconds.  Hazy memory here.

My suggestion is take the car out onto the highway and run it at about 4500rpm in 3rd (110-120k??) for ten or twenty seconds and see what you feel and what comes out of the tailpipe.  Hopefully no metal bits will be ejected.

Cheers,
John M.