Unitronic S3 to an RS3
Hi Everyone,
A little while ago I did a write up on the RS3 vs S4 on a few forums to share my thoughts, one of the commenters had a good idea on doing a write up on how the S3 stacks up to the RS3. I liked the idea, and I owned a Unitronic tuned S3 for 3 years so why not do a comparison? Details: 2015 Audi S3 Premium Plus- Dynamic package (for MRC and 19 inch wheels, believe this changed the year after to the sport package or something), B&O sound system, MMI Tech package, LED light package, Unitronic Stage 1+ ECU tune and Unitronic Stage 1 DSG tune. 2018 Audi RS3: Loaded minus the RS design package, and the Dynamic Plus Package. Interior/Exterior The RS3 wins hands down for the exterior battle. The exterior is more aggressive looking thanks to the different grill, diffusers, and massive dual exhaust outlets. I also greatly enjoy the "Audi Sport" hologram that shines down from the side mirrors onto the pavement as a tasteful touch to the RS3. Interior wise things are mostly identical. The main differences here are that the RS3 gets RS3 illuminated RS kick panels, RS badging throughout the interior, and Alcantara inserts. To me this is enough to over come the lack of a home link and give the RS3 the win for the interior over. Driving/livability Around town the S3 in stock trim loses pretty handedly in my book. I find my RS3 in comfort to be softer than my 15 S3 was in comfort mode, in fact virtually every mode in the RS3 is just better suited to the cause than my 15 S3. Not only is it better chassis wise, but it is better when driving away from a dead stop. My S3 always had hesitation and lag when moving from a dead stop, and this made around town driving a little annoying at times. Not only this, but the S3 was just nowhere near as fun. My RS3 around town shows its loveable personality and tries to goad me into doing things I shouldn’t do on public roads while I hear the turbo 5 burble with the baffles open. It is just another level of fun factor all while being the better daily driver. Using “fun factor” as a segue into spirited driving, how do the RS3 and S3 differ? Truthfully they share some similarities. You can feel the eagerness and agility that was built upon in the RS3 from the S3. In a corner the S3 was always eager, and pretty nimble on its feet. You feel this in the RS3 just on a whole new level. The RS3 has greater levels of grip and the Quattro system does a much better job of transferring power to keep you rocketing through a corner. This combination makes the RS3 feel like it is on rail, and always ready to carve up any twisties you want to through at it. The corner carving pro’s don’t stop here as there is still one more crucial pro the RS3 has going for it over the S3, the steering. While I found the S3 to be weighted well, it didn’t really communicate with me at all. The RS3 does suffer Audi’s famous numb steering, but it isn’t totally numb. The RS3’s steering does communicate with you some to let you know what is going on so you aren’t solely relying on the chassis for clues. Not only this, but I find the steering weight to be better on the RS3 in each of the driving modes when my S3 was set to the same mode. Onto the other half of the performance battle, straight line thrills. The S3 has the ability to humble a large amount of cars in stock trim when using launch control. It is fast and pushes you into the seat. Still by comparison the RS3 feels about a full second quicker than my S3 did stock. It does not matter whether the pull is from a dead stop, a rolling start, or highway the RS3 is on a different level in power. It isn’t just the fact that the RS3 feels quicker, it is more fun. This thing slames you into the seat with great authority as the turbo 5 adds a hair raising exhaust note while the RS3. Add in the Unitronic Stage 1+ ECU and Stage 1 DSG tune to the S3, what does this change? Well it changes some things in favor of the S3. Around town the tune combination helped my S3’s lag from a dead stop, to the point that it leaves more smoothly than my RS3 does in stock trim. The DSG tune provides better shift points, and the enhanced drive modes that give the transmission the edge in responsiveness from a dead stop. As noticeable as these improvements were with the tunes over my stock S3, I still give the win to my RS3. In comfort mode the RS3 is still softer. Perhaps there are improvements in MRC from my 15 S3’s MRC to my an 18 S3 MRC, but the RS3 is certainly smoother than my S3 was over bumps in comfort mode. Plus the RS3 still provided smooth shifts around town, and it still has fun factor in spades over the S3 thanks to its personality. For performance the Unitronic tune pairing with my S3 made a noticeable difference. The tunes felt OEM, but under WOT the extra power gave my S3 a welcomed level of violence. The S3 would now push you into the seat with authority regardless of the type of pull you were making. The shifts also felt quicker than my S3 did stock. This definitely brings things closer to the RS3 in terms of power. Still, the RS3 does feel quicker in stock trim than my Unitronic tuned S3, and I found the RS3 more thrilling. I found it more thrilling thanks to the RS3’s glorious engine, and again the RS3’s personality. Straight line power is only half the battle though. In a corner the Unitronic tunes did help my S3 better itself as the added power is welcome, and shift points are great. As much as the tunes helped my S3, it isn't enough to make things close between the two cars. The engine, suspension, brakes, steering, confidence, and fun factor are all noticeably in the RS3's favor. Conclusion: So is the RS3 worth the price gap? For me, without a doubt. So far there is not a day that has gone buy where I miss my S3 over the RS3. The Unitronic tunes gives the S3 some edges in certain areas, but it isn’t enough to say that the price gap isn’t worth it for me. The RS3 is just a better car, and it should be. It is a substantial amount more, and Audi did their homework to make sure the RS3 was worth it for those who have the extra money to play with. The RS3 does the majority of driving aspects noticeably better than my S3, and it has key components that the S3 will never have in this body style. Not only this, but the RS3 is just flat out more fun to drive regardless of your driving situation. |
I traded in my 2017 S3 for a 2018 RS3. The 2017 S3 was much improved over the 2015, so I’ve read. To me, my S3 had a lighter more sharp turn in regarding steering. It felt like it handled better than my RS3. It also stayed in first gear longer than the RS3 at partial throttle. Just driving mellow around town I feel like the RS3 just shifts into 2nd gear too quick. I drive it in dynamic, and sport. I feel like I need to completely mash the throttle in the RS3 to appreciate how much power it has, vs 1/2 throttle in the S3 felt very strong. I can’t tell a whole lot of difference between the 2 cars at up to 1/2 throttle. But push the RS3 and it is noticeably stronger. Exterior and interior are superior to me in the RS3. And call me strange, but I happen to like the RS3 rims. That differentiates it from the S3 and A3 for that matter. When guys are putting aftermarket rims on their RS3’s, to me their car now looks like a common A3. And I also own a 2018 A3 Quattro, so not bashing the A3, as I obviously love that car. Anyhow, my 2 cents, and thanks for your review. |
Nice write-up. I will jump into RS once done with S :)
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Originally Posted by Rans09vert
(Post 25178047)
I traded in my 2017 S3 for a 2018 RS3. The 2017 S3 was much improved over the 2015, so I’ve read. To me, my S3 had a lighter more sharp turn in regarding steering. It felt like it handled better than my RS3. It also stayed in first gear longer than the RS3 at partial throttle. Just driving mellow around town I feel like the RS3 just shifts into 2nd gear too quick. I drive it in dynamic, and sport. I feel like I need to completely mash the throttle in the RS3 to appreciate how much power it has, vs 1/2 throttle in the S3 felt very strong. I can’t tell a whole lot of difference between the 2 cars at up to 1/2 throttle. But push the RS3 and it is noticeably stronger. Exterior and interior are superior to me in the RS3. And call me strange, but I happen to like the RS3 rims. That differentiates it from the S3 and A3 for that matter. When guys are putting aftermarket rims on their RS3’s, to me their car now looks like a common A3. And I also own a 2018 A3 Quattro, so not bashing the A3, as I obviously love that car. Anyhow, my 2 cents, and thanks for your review. |
I was torn when buying a S3 vs RS3. I just could not justify the price jump. Coming from a M3 the RS3 just did not feel special. It is rumored the new M3 will be awd. I might spring for it in a few years.
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Originally Posted by M0J0
(Post 25178336)
I was torn when buying a S3 vs RS3. I just could not justify the price jump. Coming from a M3 the RS3 just did not feel special. It is rumored the new M3 will be awd. I might spring for it in a few years.
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Good points as far as comparing a facelifted S3 to an RS3. At what price delta does the RS3 not make sense? I just closed a rediculous deal on a well equipped S3. $49K sticker for $36,600. Is the RS3 worth $30K more than an S3? |
Originally Posted by Kurac
(Post 25178430)
Good points as far as comparing a facelifted S3 to an RS3. At what price delta does the RS3 not make sense? I just closed a rediculous deal on a well equipped S3. $49K sticker for $36,600. Is the RS3 worth $30K more than an S3? |
Originally Posted by Nachos Libres
(Post 25178374)
Haha, this is why I love opinions and just shows that no one car is going to be the best for every single person. I drove my friends 2018 M3 on a trip a couple of weeks ago and honestly felt underwhelmed - especially seeing as how it is a $90k car. Maybe it was because it was a 6 speed manual - which I honestly didn't care for - but it didn't feel any faster than my S3 and I actually preferred the interior of my S3 to the BMW (aside from the heads up display and the much bigger infotainment screen).
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Originally Posted by M0J0
(Post 25178464)
I had the old E92. The newer M3s were not as good. I miss having a standard. The interior of the Audi's is leaps and a ton better than BMW. Well for now. The S3 and the RS3 felt slow and souless compared to my E92. Though I know the RS3 is faster. I can't really drive fast in Summit County anyways. It is lined with cops. Everyone has an opinion!
Originally Posted by Kurac
(Post 25178430)
Good points as far as comparing a facelifted S3 to an RS3. At what price delta does the RS3 not make sense? I just closed a rediculous deal on a well equipped S3. $49K sticker for $36,600. Is the RS3 worth $30K more than an S3?
Originally Posted by uniqueMR
(Post 25178165)
Nice write-up. I will jump into RS once done with S :)
Originally Posted by Nachos Libres
(Post 25178328)
Thanks. I think the issue we see with most people saying the RS3 is so much better in handling and suspension is because they are coming from 2015/2016 models where this seems to be greatly improved in the 2017/2018 models. I have mag-ride on my 2017 S3 and I have to say it feels pretty comfortable, especially compared to the STI I had before. Unlike many people - I prefer the looks of the S3 over the RS3 (at least the front fascia - I will say the RS3 dual exhaust looks much better than the quad tips we get) and I like the more muted interior of the S3 compared to the RS3 (again, just my opinion). I will disagree with you and agree with the majority that I do believe the stock RS3 wheels are ugly, although I don't love my black optic wheels either, and would like to eventually get my hands on they S3 regular dynamic package wheels.
Originally Posted by Rans09vert
(Post 25178047)
I traded in my 2017 S3 for a 2018 RS3. The 2017 S3 was much improved over the 2015, so I’ve read. To me, my S3 had a lighter more sharp turn in regarding steering. It felt like it handled better than my RS3. It also stayed in first gear longer than the RS3 at partial throttle. Just driving mellow around town I feel like the RS3 just shifts into 2nd gear too quick. I drive it in dynamic, and sport. I feel like I need to completely mash the throttle in the RS3 to appreciate how much power it has, vs 1/2 throttle in the S3 felt very strong. I can’t tell a whole lot of difference between the 2 cars at up to 1/2 throttle. But push the RS3 and it is noticeably stronger. Exterior and interior are superior to me in the RS3. And call me strange, but I happen to like the RS3 rims. That differentiates it from the S3 and A3 for that matter. When guys are putting aftermarket rims on their RS3’s, to me their car now looks like a common A3. And I also own a 2018 A3 Quattro, so not bashing the A3, as I obviously love that car. Anyhow, my 2 cents, and thanks for your review. |
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