Hi All,

Have about 200 miles in my RS3 that I picked up on Friday, which feels like enough to share some initial impressions. For context, I'm coming from a 2015 S3, and also have a 2015 SQ5 sharing the garage.

My order:

• 2018 RS3
• Mythos Black
• Black Interior/Rock Gray Stitch
• RS Carbon Inlays
• Technology Package
• Dynamic Package
• Extended Leatherette Package (knee pads & door armrests)

Impressions:

When I first test drove it, it felt very similar to my S3 performance-wise. Lots of folks online said to give it time and the gap would widen. They were right. It has a lot of power just waiting to be had, and doesn't top out like my S3 did. If you stomp on it, the turbo lag is virtually undetectable. If you try to accelerate more modestly from a stop sign or after a turn, it's very noticeable. It feels like one of those things that I will get used to, knowing it's there, and will be more firm with the accelerator without thinking about it in due time.

My absolute favorite part of the upgrade is the magride. It is light years better than my S3 which was extremely floaty/bouncy, especially in comfort mode. This is so so SO much better. The car is generally flatter than my S3 was, and yet bumps like railroad tracks aren't nearly as jarring as they were on the S3, even in Dynamic. The car feels more refined without giving up anything in the handling department. Under hard cornering, there is some limited roll, but again, far less than my S3. I've ordered the MSS Sport kit for it, and am still happy to have done so for it's lowering aspects, but the new magride needs much less help than the previous model. I suspect they will just eliminate the roll entirely, and let me adjust the rake a bit, which is fine. I will say that I still get the "clunk" over speed bumps, so we'll see if the spring rates of the MSS kit do anything for this.

Secondly, the car sounds fantastic. The downshift is really fun. I wish there was a way to get it to pop and crackle more. It doesn't seem to do it as much as the previous RS from what I've heard. I think this is true. The other thing I'll say is that it's very quiet inside. Less road/wind noise intrusion (yay!) but less exhaust/engine sound (boo!). You get hints of the exhaust occasionally inside during a good downshift, but it sounds very distant and not right behind you. Kinda hard to explain. Outside the car is another story--sounds loud and throaty--so it really is just better fit and finish inside, plus the elimination of the interior engine speaker at play here.

The whole car/package seems more refined. Better ride, better sound management, better, more user-friendly tech, etc.

Speaking of tech, the new MMI is taking me a little bit to get used to... instead of the 4 quadrants, there are now only two buttons, so the available options/settings in each mode aren't as immediately apparent as they were before. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but there's a little bit of a learning curve. The virtual cockpit is great. I think once you get it into the view you want (for me it's the special RS mode, of course) then I don't see much reason to fiddle with the rest of the views, but it's nice to be able to have options. The most noticeable part for me is the resolution... it's way better resolution than it looks in the videos when you're staring right at it. There are certain features that are so crisp they appear to be part of the hard surface and it's disconcerting when they disappear as you change views. It's impressive, even though the screen is smaller than other platforms like the Q7.

Lastly, I'll just say that I'm a big fan of the S Sport seats. The manual adjustability feels a little cheap, but the range of adjustability is WAY better than the power seats in the S3. I'm 6'3", but was able to dial in GREAT thigh support, something I could never get high enough in my S3. The seats are softer, better bolstered, and of course the Nappa just feels better than that "other" stuff.

So, much more to come, but those are my standout items. Here's just a few stock pics I took before the mods start. Going in for tint, PPF and Ceramic this week, MSS next week, then will finish figuring out the right wheel/tire setup once it gets lowered.

Happy to answer questions if I can.

 

wow looks great! can you confirm that the window trim is also the same aluminum? would be weird if they put chrome around the window and everything else is aluminum

 

Beautiful car and nice upgrade! Congrats

 

Yep. Only chrome on the car is the rings. Everything else is matte alu-optic and it looks way better than the chrome I had on my S3.

 

Beautiful car. Great review of initial impressions. Thank you for sharing.

 

Fanatic, I really appreciate the the comparo - thanks for taking the time.

Do you like the wheels? Not diss'ing your taste, but curious if you like them - seems they would be more unique given the cost of the car. (?)

 

Nobody likes the stock wheels. I have yet to meet somebody that isn't planning to change them.

 

BlackAce, thanks for the review! The comparison to the S3 is very helpful. I (not surprisingly) have not been able to, nor do I expect to, test drive an RS3, but I have driven an S3 a number of times, so your feedback on the differences it really great. I'm glad to hear about the suspension as I thought the S3's ride was a tad on the bouncy side depending on road conditions.

Can you talk a bit more about the differences between S3 and RS3, as far as interior noise? I hate to say it, because I know it's really just a speaker, but I liked the noise inside the S3 when on the throttle. Is the RS3 altogether quieter inside than the S3? Or just different? The videos I've seen are all over the place when it comes to trying to pick up interior noise. And how does interior noise change based on the exhaust flap settings? I'm betting outside it sounds different; can you tell a big difference inside the car, too?

Thanks again and congrats! Your car looks great.

 

BlackAce, thanks for the review! The comparison to the S3 is very helpful. I (not surprisingly) have not been able to, nor do I expect to, test drive an RS3, but I have driven an S3 a number of times, so your feedback on the differences it really great. I'm glad to hear about the suspension as I thought the S3's ride was a tad on the bouncy side depending on road conditions.

Can you talk a bit more about the differences between S3 and RS3, as far as interior noise? I hate to say it, because I know it's really just a speaker, but I liked the noise inside the S3 when on the throttle. Is the RS3 altogether quieter inside than the S3? Or just different? The videos I've seen are all over the place when it comes to trying to pick up interior noise. And how does interior noise change based on the exhaust flap settings? I'm betting outside it sounds different; can you tell a big difference inside the car, too?

Thanks again and congrats! Your car looks great.

 

haha thats so cool! are the fenders wider at all? honestly it seems the same- or at least i can't tell?

the black and aluminum is a sick combo.
white with aluminum might look great too