[JunkStory]

So for the past 3 months, I was totally set on the upcoming facelift 2017 Audi S3. Had my money ready to be deposited as soon as the dealer called me to let me know that their system is ready to order it.

I was looking foward to the updated 310hp mated to the 7-speed s tronic, Rotary Grey interior, and Daytona Grey exterior.

Fast forward to today, I was informed that....

1.) No 310hp engine. North America gets the old 292hp engine. That's ok.
2.) No 7-speed s tronic. North America gets the same outdated 6-speed s tronic only. Oh... fine I guess..
3.) No Rotary Grey interior for North America. In fact, no color other than black. What...
4.) No Daytona Grey for North America. F*** Audi. I'm outta here.

The final lack of Daytona Grey is the most important for me. End of rant. I'll probably end up with a F30 or F32.

[mrmoua2u]

As performance wise, F30 over the S3 anytime.

[FC4]

S3? Eww.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by JunkStory

The final lack of Daytona Grey is the most important for me. End of rant. I'll probably end up with a F30 or F32.

All valid points as you know exactly what you want.

I'll be "captain obvious" and advise you drive them both back to back and only then decide. If it's still F30/F32 that you prefer, nothing wrong with that. Who knows, maybe you will be ready to ignore all of the perceived shortcomings of Audi after you give it a fair shot.

[pikkagtr]

Fwd biased haldex high strung laggy 2.0 turbo 4 vs. sweet b58 inline 6 rwd M performance 340i
No contest

[John Tanglewood]

My friend has whatever Gray S3 Audi offers, and it looks stunning.

I think it's shitty that Audi isn't brining all the new stuff to NA, but the RS3 is right around the corner for us...

The S3 is one of the best looking cars Audi makes in my opinion, so I think you'd still be justified in going with it! Tuned they are beasts also!

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

Fwd biased haldex high strung laggy 2.0 turbo 4 vs. sweet b58 inline 6 rwd M performance 340i
No contest

Now, now... apples to apples please.

340 is fairly more expensive than S3. If you're comparing fairly, you should look at 320 Vs. A3, or something like 228 (which I personally like quite a bit). Or 340i/330 Vs. S4 3.0 engine, price and performance match better in those cars.

Look I prefer BMW myself, but comparing 2.0 FWD Audi to 340 RWD, not fair.

[R3dliner]

My friend just bought one. Exterior looks nice. Better than the 3 imo. Interior is real cramped. The 2.0T is slow and trans is laggy.

[VRG_135]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

Now, now... apples to apples please.

340 would be better compared to anything "S" from Audi. If you're comparing fairly, you should look at 320 Vs. A3, or something like 228 (which I personally like quite a bit). Oh, and not to mention price mismatch between 340 and anything A3.

Look I prefer BMW myself, but comparing 2.0 FWD Audi to 340 RWD, not fair.

Actually, in think it would be 328 to A3, both have turbo 4's, though the A3 may be closer in size to a 228, though with the 4 doors.

I was very impressed with the S3 I looked at in Beaver Creek.

[oolas3]

Isn't this just a dressed up Golf R that cost 10k more?

[JohnnyCanuck]

I did shop the S3 before buying my M235i just a few months ago. I think that's a pretty fair comparison given relatively close price points (at least in Canada) and advertised power and torque.

I test drove the 2016 S3 and although I didn't find it laggy, the word I would use to describe the performance is "mild". It's not the best iteration of that 2.0L motor by VW (in fact, my wife's old 6gen GTi seemed more on edge than the S3).

Notwithstanding that it's a DCT, it wasn't superior to the ZF in the M235i. I'm a long standing manual driver (every previous car I've owned except for my very first one) who was buying his first autobox in decades and how closely the transmission came to a manual feel was important. The DCT in the S3 has nothing on the ZF.

The biggest criticism I have of this car though is the AWD. If the S3 had a true Audi quattro system, I would have liked it a lot more. The Haldex FWD bias was noticeable. It is possible to have a great AWD system with FWD bias (my old Mazdaspeed 6 did a really good job of this) but the S3 comes up really short. It feels like I was driving my wife's 2010 FWD A3 and that's not a compliment to a car in this class (we do like the A3 for what it is just fine).

The last thing I found maddening is that a car in this price range and this class has to come with certain conveniences. No memory seats is inexcusable cheapskating. If my wife drives my car, I'd like to put it back to where it belongs ...

Before I test drove it, I really thought it was the car I'd buy. Afterwards, I am so glad I impulse stopped at my BMW dealership and wound up driving the M235i.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by VRG_135

Actually, in think it would be 328 to A3, both have turbo 4's, though the A3 may be closer in size to a 228, though with the 4 doors.

I was very impressed with the S3 I looked at in Beaver Creek.

You're correct (but I'm not wrong either ) , A3 would be somewhere between 228 and 328, I thought 328 would better compare to A4 to be honest, but, doesn't really matter, 340i competitor it isn't for sure. If they were the same price, yeah I'd take 340i no question, but I would also take RS4 over 320, as long as we're making unfair comparisons, well not you, but poster I was replying originally. Though now when I'm reading he did refer to S3 where I read "A3".

What I don't get, people have already formed opinion about certain model, simply based on their brand preference before giving them a fair chance. As I said, I prefer BMW myself, but if I'm honest would be just as happy in comparable Audi. Those two came to the top of my list, and it was few minor details that made me decide to go with BMW this time around.

Model for model, Audi compares pretty well to BMW and Mercedes too. The differences aren't as great as some of you guys make it sound. Now, if one has an attitude BMW first by default, then everything else, no point cross shopping anyway.

[ShocknAwe]

RS3 is right around the corner, just wait for that. Might actually be interesting.

[Spinnetti]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

RS3 is right around the corner, just wait for that. Might actually be interesting.

Did you see the spy shots from the dealer meeting? Looked waaay too tame. Love the motor, and if they shipped the "clubsport concept" it would be amazing, but looks like a warmed over S3... Hope I'm wrong, but confident enough to order the M2 instead in a couple months (I've had 4 Audi's and love em, but no manual and too tame exterior has me straying here).

[pikkagtr]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

Now, now... apples to apples please.

340 is fairly more expensive than S3. If you're comparing fairly, you should look at 320 Vs. A3, or something like 228 (which I personally like quite a bit). Or 340i/330 Vs. S4 3.0 engine, price and performance match better in those cars.

Look I prefer BMW myself, but comparing 2.0 FWD Audi to 340 RWD, not fair.

S3 is $42900-----M240i $44450
Close enough in price point and interior size.
The S3 is a $10K marked up Golf R

[Z K]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

S3 is $42900-----M240i $44450
Close enough in price point and interior size.
The S3 is a $10K marked up Golf R

+1

On the track, the Golf R has been shown to be faster than the S3 as well. The S3 is more tuned for comfort vs the harder core Golf R.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Spinnetti

Did you see the spy shots from the dealer meeting? Looked waaay too tame. Love the motor, and if they shipped the "clubsport concept" it would be amazing, but looks like a warmed over S3... Hope I'm wrong, but confident enough to order the M2 instead in a couple months (I've had 4 Audi's and love em, but no manual and too tame exterior has me straying here).

I have not. Sorry to hear they toned it down so much. I loved the clubsport concept.

[JunkStory]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

All valid points as you know exactly what you want.

I'll be "captain obvious" and advise you drive them both back to back and only then decide. If it's still F30/F32 that you prefer, nothing wrong with that. Who knows, maybe you will be ready to ignore all of the perceived shortcomings of Audi after you give it a fair shot.

I've driven them both (The F32 on a track) and the 2016 S3 at the dealer. I would say the S3 is more fun, and you feel more like you're one with the car.. because the cabin is tight and the car more nimble. FWD layout or not, it's a fun car with a lot of practicality and styling.

Currently driving the E92, which I love, the F32 should have been the more obvious choice and a default upgrade. However, I really love the styling of the facelifted S3.. I find that it looks even better than the new S4 and the new S5 - both of them are too bloated.

At the end of the day though, I'm really pissed off at the lack of my preferred color, especially since EVERY marketing material of the new S3 is using the Daytona Grey. I'm going to set my sight on something else, probably a BMW. I work a lot with professional designers at my job, and so I've become extremely particular about colors. The mineral grey and the silverstone metallic (if going M4) are my preferred choices.

[imserious]

S3 is a good looking car inside and out. Better looking than the BMW F series.

[kgroschi]

Originally Posted by JunkStory

So for the past 3 months, I was totally set on the upcoming facelift 2017 Audi S3. Had my money ready to be deposited as soon as the dealer called me to let me know that their system is ready to order it.

I was looking foward to the updated 310hp mated to the 7-speed s tronic, Rotary Grey interior, and Daytona Grey exterior.

Fast forward to today, I was informed that....

1.) No 310hp engine. North America gets the old 292hp engine. That's ok.
2.) No 7-speed s tronic. North America gets the same outdated 6-speed s tronic only. Oh... fine I guess..
3.) No Rotary Grey interior for North America. In fact, no color other than black. What...
4.) No Daytona Grey for North America. F*** Audi. I'm outta here.

The final lack of Daytona Grey is the most important for me. End of rant. I'll probably end up with a F30 or F32.

That's very ridiculous... have you thought about waiting for the S4? We just got a new A4 and it is such a phenomenal car!

[eluded]

It's a nice car, just wish they had a manual transmission

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by eluded

It's a nice car, just wish they had a manual transmission

Much better reason to walk away from the purchase than the color , though, I must admit that "Daytona Gray" looks fantastic.

Originally Posted by JunkStory

I've driven them both (The F32 on a track) and the 2016 S3 at the dealer. I would say the S3 is more fun, and you feel more like you're one with the car.. because the cabin is tight and the car more nimble. FWD layout or not, it's a fun car with a lot of practicality and styling.....
At the end of the day though, I'm really pissed off at the lack of my preferred color, especially since EVERY marketing material of the new S3 is using the Daytona Grey. I'm going to set my sight on something else, probably a BMW. I work a lot with professional designers at my job, and so I've become extremely particular about colors. The mineral grey and the silverstone metallic (if going M4) are my preferred choices.

I get it, you know exactly what you want , but if it's me, and I liked it more than F3* (like you say you did), I'd compromise on the color.