Hope this video brings some entertainment to an otherwise grey and stormy weekend (UK viewers anyways 😂). Genuine thanks for all the support in 2020, my channel success is down to all of you 🙌❤️
I'd give up the rear torque diff of the MK8 Golf R, spend more for slightly less power too, and choose this over it simply because it LOOKS good inside and out. And has real buttons and a proper climate section. Daily comfort matters to me.
Always enjoy the reviews. You're very knowledgeable and come across genuine and enthusiastic and most importantly humble and grateful. Keep up the great content.
Not sure it does sound great in the cabin. I have the Golf R and it sounded good for all of about 30 minutes. Got an OBD11 and coded it way down to 15%, as 100% sounded way over the top.
Sounds pants from outside. People blame the regs, but Hyundai have fitted an OPF to their i30N and that still sounds pretty good for a turbocharged four pot.
@@Saif0412 Stay calm, you're out of the EU in 1 month... Then you can do what ever you want and the uk will be on top in no time aswell. Not even speaking about the car industry ... oh well sorry
Really enjoy your videos, Joe (M2 owner here). And well done for being so transparent about the YT income situation: I’m sure everyone who enjoys your plain speaking and nicely filmed videos will wish you the best for the channel in 2021.
Lovely introduction! First generation was also the car we lusted for when it came out, possibly the first premium hot hatch. Would be cool to see your review of the first and second generation S3
I’m placing an order on this S3 today based on your superb review Joe. I was worried about the passive suspension but after test driving one last week and your comments I worry no more ! It’s Daytona grey for me with the 19” wheels…. Unfortunately a 5 month build wait but I’ve my Golf R to keep me amused until then. Cheers buddy.
@@MrjavoiThe it’s starting to loosen up after gentle start and now with 700 miles on the clock I’ve been letting it go a bit. It’s a very precise drive and maybe too clinical. It lacks the enhanced booming engine noise of the R which I’m missing a little even in Dynamic mode. The 19” wheels also ride better than I expected on the passive set up. The gear changes are seamless and almost continuous power and pull through the sequence. It’s a an effortless and polished drive …maybe too much so.
I think its pretty well known at this point that the Audi S3 and Golf R are at their best with a simple stage 1 tune and become exactly what they should have been from factory.
@@da_great_mogul wrong, engines are hamstrung by various things like emissions controls and state of tunes for different markets. The EA888 has less power in "hot weather" markets such as Australia as an example when compared to Europe, despite the actual weather being similar in temperature during summer Additionally engines are downtuned to ensure they don't sit too close to other more expensive models in the manufacturers line up.
@@gureno19 You've answered my concern: a more expensive model such as the SQ5 vs. standard Q5 with the same engine (i.e., 3.0 TFSI) will have different componentry to support that extra power in PS terms. For example, the discs and pads will be different, the the suspension parts will be different and the air intake and air filter may also be different. So in upgrading your standard Q5 into an SQ5 with regards to PS output is only valid if you do the rest of the upgrades as per the SQ5 spec too. However, in most cases people will not. They will want the extra power but not worry about the other upgrades required to achieve balance. Tens of millions of pounds of R&D from qualified automotive engineers is lost the minute you think you know better than them. Another example: upgrade the size of your rims and you should also recalibrate your speedo. No one does though do they?
@@da_great_mogul You didn't read my example correctly, I was referring to an S3 with the exact same engine and drivetrain, but down tuned based on region.
Congrats Joe on all the subscriptions and views man, definitely well deserved and I love how much content you are bringing out too! Awesome channel keep up the hard work 👊
Great to hear the channel is doing well for you Joe. The intro on this video alone confirms why. Your vids are superb; every day bloke real, but with great production values. Keep up the great work. Cheers from warm and sunny NZ.
Great video as always, Joe, and really good to see how (deservedly) well this is going for you. Be interesting to watch a 'behind the scenes' video showing what camera equipment, software etc etc you're using these days
Joe, I've just ordered the s3 in vorsprung trim, no audi garage could get me one to test drive so I've ordered it based on YOUR review... let's hope you were on the ball for this mate!!!
Glad to see you’re enjoying the roads around Great Chishill! Glad that RUclips is actually paying for the hard work that you’ve put in over the years! 👍🏻
Love the videos, just in the process of trying to decide between getting an M135i or S3! Driven both over the last 2-3 weeks over different roads etc and both have good points. Love the heads up on the BMW but not available on the normal spec S3. Seats and steering wheel I think are better in BMW but like the S3 looks more.
Waited for this vlog... was definitely worth the wait for sure! I'd be interested to see what my generation S3 ( 8v ) is like compared to the newer S3 🏁🏁
Fair review - I own an S3 ( 8v ) after my M135i and M140i - absolutely love the car just the same, but in a different way. Plays the averages but is anything but average - 300 bhp, AWD and DSG, covered ground really rather swiftly. Blended in nicely and was good at just being a normal hatch. I prefer the looks of the new S3 to the M135i and it also has more identity at being a AWD 4 pot turbo. S3 please
@@comeonman7423 if I had to choose between my old m135i and my current S3 ....I would choose the Audi. Just makes so much sense for the U.K. damp cold roads - 300bhp, straight on the tarmac and you’re gone, looks decent and find it better riding. Miss that 6 cylinder engine though. Better MPG too
@@lewisratford2908 thanks mate was looking at the f20 M135i and the 8V S3. Makes more sense to have an S3 with UK weather. Plus I’m sure it feels more safer at speed
@@comeonman7423 Both great cars - need more talent to keep the BMW pointing in the right direction when it’s damp/cold. The Audi is more of a weapon lol just fast everywhere all the time. I also can’t see how anyone can call them boring.
Great review as always, looks like a nice car. I kind of like the tiny gear shift, don’t think anyone ever uses the stick to shift backwards and forwards. For me the fact that the manual mode isn’t proper manual would be annoying. I personally still don’t get the perception that just because a plastic is hard, it’s cheap or not a good fit or finish. We’re obsessed with soft touch materials for some reason but they aren’t as hard wearing.
Great review Joe. I'm a great lover of Audi's "sleeper" S cars....this and the S8 definitely fall into that category - apart from that dreadful Turbo Blue paint, which I hate with a passion. If you want to be shouty about the performance of your car, buy a Focus RS or a Civic Type R......but having to drive around with a brown paper bag on your head is no fun😉
It's like car enthousiasts are never satistfied... When nothing changes and car companies stick to their style there is "lack of innovation" and when car companies change stuff like with the new BMW 1 series everyone goes nuts because they ditched the traditional BMW style!
As you say, a real shame that there's no HUD. After driving an M135i with one for a few hours, HUDs went right to the top of the wishlist for my next car. Great review buddy.
Loved the review. Thank you. Getting my new S3 saloon in Daytona Grey in a couple of weeks!!!!!! Literally counting the days. Will be sad to see my S1 go, but need something a little bigger (and quicker) with a growing family.......
Dont have an issue with sound be piped into the cabin. You go to a concert and you hear the singer through speakers. Some software also helps their voice through the speakers. No different with a car now. Enjoy the noise inside the car and not annoy people when you drive by with exhaust pops and bangs.
Enjoying your videos having randomly found them. I think you're a local boy as I'm certain I recognise a few of the roads you drive in this video. Anyway all the best and keep it up.
Fantastic viewing as always Joe. Current owner of the 8v S3 & really was in 2 minds about this one. However I think you’ve swayed me slightly. Golf R will be an interesting watch
Don't like the amount of chrome trim manufacturers seem to favour, gloss black is so much more appealing. At least it keeps wrapping companies going deleting all that trim.
@Joe Achilles you are wrong. You can have Head up display in Audi S3 as an option. And if you don't like virtual cockpit, you can order Audi S3 with analogue dials .
yea i'll think i'll stay happy with my m135i order no fake front vents or an oversized grille (yes i know the new 1 series grille is bigger than previous gen but its nothing compared to this)
Great video. I bought a rs3 sport edition following watching one of your reviews, thinking about part ex for a rs4 sport edition. Would you recommend for a bit more fun and sound as the 2020 rs3 is pretty quiet
Having watched this, I'm not really sure the title question has actually been answered... Other than the price comparison, which is fairly moot as all these cars are horrifically overpriced (thanks to pcp popularity) - so Joe - is this car any better than a M135i or A35?
@@frenchie3167 and all these cars have that haldex system, personally I wouldn't get either of them. either make it a rwd bias awd system or just fwd or rwd.
When you put your foot down, the S3 has an extra button like pedal on the floor. Thats what makes the gearbox drop down by 2 gears. So you can floor it without the drop down. As for the upshift, its there to protect the engine for noobs driving manual mode lol...Stage 2 with DSG map will remove the auto upshift!
Which one of the premium hot hatches would you buy? I’ve been looking to keep under 40k (not giving hmrc more than I have to). Audi seems more expensive to buy cheaper to insure and vice versa for the m135i . Haven’t had the chance to look at the A45
The Golf 8R has yet to be released for order in the UK,released in Europe on 5th November with the UK expected to follow soon after but still not happened yet.
Maybe its the colour, but to my eyes the front end doesn't seem cohesive with the rest of the car, just feels like its unfinished. I guess they've left room for some add-ons or the RS3. Have you done an A35 review? I've not driven this S3 but the A35 was significantly better than the last one for driver enjoyment.
The fake grills under the headlights look horrible,would it have killed them to have a little air curtain in them (for brakes,or airflow,or just as a chuffing hole?)
Only the right hand side grill is fake the front left hand side is real and has the inter cooler behind it. I’m guessing they matched the right hand side for design symmetry
The interior of the new A3 is unbelievable 👏 looking at change my wives seat Ibiza to the new A3 Edition 1 spec, may look at the new S3 as an upgrade on my Q3 later next year.
Surprised they didn’t option the rear camera on the press car. I’ve really enjoyed my 15 s3 sedan. With the bolt ons and tune+traction control turned all off on a backroad=fun times.
When the video started playing, I hadn't read the title and I thought to myself: that must be the new RS3. It does sound like a 5 pot from the cabin. Weird. If you are about to artificially enhance the engine sound... at least don't cheat. What would be next... a diesel A1 with a V8 sound? an e-Tron with a V10 sound. Come on #audi.
Why are you complaining? You have a lot of different options on the screen. If you dont like it then turn it off on the individual settings. Somebody likes it
Completely agree, audi and VW are getting more and more obnoxious with this. Even with speakers on the outside (they call them "sound actuators") they produce fake engine sounds. For example a 2.0 TDI 4 cylinder (so, a diesel) sounding like an enormous V8 Petrol in the VW Golf GTD if you spec for the option. It's horrible really.
@@moosmatroos as I said, you can turn it off. What is wrong with that? Opinions are different. Somebody likes it, somebody hates it. I personally like it on the V8 TDI Audis like the SQ7 and the SQ8, because they sound very natural. In my country 90% of the popullation dont even know what sound generators are.
I can see comments about it being a matter of personal taste, to which I would answer: It is still fake! Just like fake vents, fake exhausts, fake boobs or fake watches. Fake engine sounds are for wannabes.
Was thinking of changing my old 8V S3 for the new one, decided on the M2 comp instead. With the current discounts of the M2 you can get them for around the same monthlies. Audi only knocking off 9%ish whereas you can get the M2 at 20% + discount. Obviously won't be for everyone though
@Jack njones Yes I have. And that is why I put 'It's better dynamically than the old one' . What you wrote about more balanced, is exactly what I said myself 'better dynamically' the same thing. The new M135i handles better, has more grip, and seemed to have a higher quality interior, those were my thoughts when I drove one. Does that make it 'better' than the older M140i though ? For me, no it doesn't. The reason I love my remapped M140i, is because it is FUN, and the new car lacks the same fun factor. I can drive with the rear end hanging out around every roundabout if I want to, I can't do that in the new model. There is also a certain 'charm' with the M140i, maybe you're too young to appreciate it. The M140i is the last time you will ever be able to buy a 6 cylinder turbocharged engine, in a small Rear Wheel Drive hatchback, it's unique, and it's never going to happen ever again. That makes it special. The new M135i is just another copycat 4 cylinder FWD biased AWD hatch the same as all the others. Now can you understand ?
@@ssMain-pm4td I'd love an M2, but they are in a completely different league and price bracket. The M140i is not the sharpest handling hatch, but it neither claims to be, or is designed to be. Mine is an auto, which you may want to try, the ZF8 is quite brilliant. It is not a full-fat M car. Are you seriously saying that the M140i is noticeably worse than an S3 or A35 ? Because those are it's competitors, and having driven both, I think the M140i does a great job, and is in fact, a lot more fun than both, even in stock form. It's very comfortable for 95% of the time daily driver duties, quiet, practical, and fairly decent mpg too. For the 5% of the time when I want to drive like a nob, it's fine, great fun sliding the back end out at roundabouts. It isn't, and was never meant to be the ultimate trackday car.
Had an original S3 (facelift) mapped up to 260bhp. Only car I really regret ever selling! New mk4 on the way for the wife to replace current A6. I suspect she may be "misplacing the keys" and stuck with my Q8 quite often.... Based on the reviews, neither of us will be disappointed.
![2021 AUDI S3 8Y REVIEW on AUTOBAHN [NO SPEED LIMIT] by AutoTopNL](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6kLMEnP-AiM/mqdefault.jpg)
Hope this video brings some entertainment to an otherwise grey and stormy weekend (UK viewers anyways 😂). Genuine thanks for all the support in 2020, my channel success is down to all of you 🙌❤️
Nice. Well stated buddy 👌
Going from strength to strength Joe. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
When are you driving the new golf R joe?
Joe This or the M135i? Also doesnt this just remind you of a big version of the A1 especially the backend?
@@dipeshpatel8974 not a bad thing. Looks classy. Great engine too
I'd give up the rear torque diff of the MK8 Golf R, spend more for slightly less power too, and choose this over it simply because it LOOKS good inside and out. And has real buttons and a proper climate section. Daily comfort matters to me.
Always enjoy the reviews. You're very knowledgeable and come across genuine and enthusiastic and most importantly humble and grateful. Keep up the great content.
So pleased for you Joe with the income you are receiving. I’m sure it will get better as well 😃
Aww bless, arnt you kind :D
If ever a car had such obvious sound enhancement in the cabin, it's this! Completely silent from the outside, but sounds great from the cabin.
The thing is can we blame Audi? with those EU muppets killing sound and eventually going to kill the ICE altogether.
Not sure it does sound great in the cabin. I have the Golf R and it sounded good for all of about 30 minutes. Got an OBD11 and coded it way down to 15%, as 100% sounded way over the top.
Sounds pants from outside.
People blame the regs, but Hyundai have fitted an OPF to their i30N and that still sounds pretty good for a turbocharged four pot.
@@samcourt6228 yeah it's this EA888 engine, it just doesn't sound good. It sounds like it's not happy to be revved.
@@Saif0412 Stay calm, you're out of the EU in 1 month...
Then you can do what ever you want and the uk will be on top in no time aswell.
Not even speaking about the car industry ...
oh well sorry
Good for you, Joe. Nice to hear your channel is now providing you with a sustainable income. One of the nicest, most genuine guys on here
Thank you bro ❤️
Really enjoy your videos, Joe (M2 owner here). And well done for being so transparent about the YT income situation: I’m sure everyone who enjoys your plain speaking and nicely filmed videos will wish you the best for the channel in 2021.
Glad things are improving financially. Being in a similar industry to you it's really tough out there at the moment.
Love how you covered the history/chronology of the A3 mate!
Lovely introduction! First generation was also the car we lusted for when it came out, possibly the first premium hot hatch.
Would be cool to see your review of the first and second generation S3
So relieved he is honest and isn’t lying to us throughout this video. Very informative thank you.
I always watch both ads to just over 30 seconds and click on the link to give you the ad sense. Support and love the videos Joe.
I’m placing an order on this S3 today based on your superb review Joe.
I was worried about the passive suspension but after test driving one last week and your comments I worry no more ! It’s Daytona grey for me with the 19” wheels…. Unfortunately a 5 month build wait but I’ve my Golf R to keep me amused until then.
Cheers buddy.
How is going with your S3 so far?
@@MrjavoiThe it’s starting to loosen up after gentle start and now with 700 miles on the clock I’ve been letting it go a bit. It’s a very precise drive and maybe too clinical. It lacks the enhanced booming engine noise of the R which I’m missing a little even in Dynamic mode. The 19” wheels also ride better than I expected on the passive set up.
The gear changes are seamless and almost continuous power and pull through the sequence. It’s a an effortless and polished drive …maybe too much so.
Audi designer: How many fake vents do you want?
VW CEO: Yes!!
Golf R now has more HP also 👀
Love the intro... you took us back to the first gen in 1999 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
I think its pretty well known at this point that the Audi S3 and Golf R are at their best with a simple stage 1 tune and become exactly what they should have been from factory.
completely agree!
Never mess with an engine. It was designed to be how it is by learned engineers for a reason.
@@da_great_mogul wrong, engines are hamstrung by various things like emissions controls and state of tunes for different markets.
The EA888 has less power in "hot weather" markets such as Australia as an example when compared to Europe, despite the actual weather being similar in temperature during summer
Additionally engines are downtuned to ensure they don't sit too close to other more expensive models in the manufacturers line up.
@@gureno19 You've answered my concern: a more expensive model such as the SQ5 vs. standard Q5 with the same engine (i.e., 3.0 TFSI) will have different componentry to support that extra power in PS terms. For example, the discs and pads will be different, the the suspension parts will be different and the air intake and air filter may also be different. So in upgrading your standard Q5 into an SQ5 with regards to PS output is only valid if you do the rest of the upgrades as per the SQ5 spec too. However, in most cases people will not. They will want the extra power but not worry about the other upgrades required to achieve balance. Tens of millions of pounds of R&D from qualified automotive engineers is lost the minute you think you know better than them. Another example: upgrade the size of your rims and you should also recalibrate your speedo. No one does though do they?
@@da_great_mogul
You didn't read my example correctly, I was referring to an S3 with the exact same engine and drivetrain, but down tuned based on region.
Glad you’re now making a living doing your dream! Have loved watching your stuff so far 👍😊
Congrats Joe on all the subscriptions and views man, definitely well deserved and I love how much content you are bringing out too! Awesome channel keep up the hard work 👊
Great to hear the channel is doing well for you Joe. The intro on this video alone confirms why. Your vids are superb; every day bloke real, but with great production values. Keep up the great work. Cheers from warm and sunny NZ.
Grear video buddy! This is a brilliant car. Had a lot of fun driving it today. Clinical in the wet. So much grip
You CAN get an head up display, and the digital driver display is also option you can get bigger than the one you have
Mate, please try to get hold of the new GR YARIS. we need a review of it ASAP🙏🙏
Joe is too tall for the GR Yaris. He'd have to drive with his head out the window like Ace Ventura.
@@1210mk5g How tall is he.....
@@CoopersSpecC 6,4
Watch Mat Watsons review on Carwow
Exactly what I was thinking. Saw Matts review but tbh would prefer Joe's opinion on it.
So pleased the channel is financially supporting you Joe, well deserved and best car content on RUclips
Great video as always, Joe, and really good to see how (deservedly) well this is going for you. Be interesting to watch a 'behind the scenes' video showing what camera equipment, software etc etc you're using these days
Love the videos Joe! How's the choice of M3 choice coming on??
Great vid Joe! brought a big of sunshine to this dreary day in the UK!!!
Love the channel, please continue. Happy to hear it makes a living for you ! Try saying „foreshproong“, when referring to Vorsprung, if you want..
Joe’s smashing it these days...such a likeable bloke👍
looks nice, but heard that the steering has no feedback, or rather numb? can it have park assist allowing the car to park in a narrow garage?
Joe, I've just ordered the s3 in vorsprung trim, no audi garage could get me one to test drive so I've ordered it based on YOUR review... let's hope you were on the ball for this mate!!!
I have the new S3 and you will not be disappointed, I absolutely adore it 👍
@@coops111s nice one Steve, only got another 6 months for delivery…
Top vid...its the quietness is the thing that takes getting use to.. the pumped in sound is nice....
Your reviews are very very good Joe, very thorough, very informative. Keep up the good job
Man I love seeing your channel grow and grow. Those subscription numbers are really exploding and you deserve it.
Glad you're making it Joe. You're enjoyable to watch
Excellent review, everything is seamlessly delivered
Glad to see you’re enjoying the roads around Great Chishill! Glad that RUclips is actually paying for the hard work that you’ve put in over the years! 👍🏻
Love the videos, just in the process of trying to decide between getting an M135i or S3! Driven both over the last 2-3 weeks over different roads etc and both have good points. Love the heads up on the BMW but not available on the normal spec S3. Seats and steering wheel I think are better in BMW but like the S3 looks more.
Great review Joe - beautiful looking car
great to hear youre making a living of your vids!
Waited for this vlog... was definitely worth the wait for sure! I'd be interested to see what my generation S3 ( 8v ) is like compared to the newer S3 🏁🏁
Top review mate! keep up the awesome work!
Great video as always, been looking forward to this one. Hoping to put an order in for one soon so good to get a ‘real world’ review.
Fair review - I own an S3 ( 8v ) after my M135i and M140i - absolutely love the car just the same, but in a different way. Plays the averages but is anything but average - 300 bhp, AWD and DSG, covered ground really rather swiftly. Blended in nicely and was good at just being a normal hatch. I prefer the looks of the new S3 to the M135i and it also has more identity at being a AWD 4 pot turbo. S3 please
You prefer the S3 over the M135i?
@@comeonman7423 yes - the looks of the new 1 series just don’t do it for me. I forgave the last one, because the beauty was the 6pot engine and RWD.
@@comeonman7423 if I had to choose between my old m135i and my current S3 ....I would choose the Audi. Just makes so much sense for the U.K. damp cold roads - 300bhp, straight on the tarmac and you’re gone, looks decent and find it better riding. Miss that 6 cylinder engine though. Better MPG too
@@lewisratford2908 thanks mate was looking at the f20 M135i and the 8V S3. Makes more sense to have an S3 with UK weather. Plus I’m sure it feels more safer at speed
@@comeonman7423 Both great cars - need more talent to keep the BMW pointing in the right direction when it’s damp/cold. The Audi is more of a weapon lol just fast everywhere all the time. I also can’t see how anyone can call them boring.
Great information and test drive! I have ordered the saloon model would that experience be the same handling
Great review as always, looks like a nice car. I kind of like the tiny gear shift, don’t think anyone ever uses the stick to shift backwards and forwards. For me the fact that the manual mode isn’t proper manual would be annoying. I personally still don’t get the perception that just because a plastic is hard, it’s cheap or not a good fit or finish. We’re obsessed with soft touch materials for some reason but they aren’t as hard wearing.
you should try staying on the left hand side of the road, squeezed that white golf didn't you!!!
Ohh John 😥 I hope you have an exciting and happy rest of your weekend 😘
Great review Joe. I'm a great lover of Audi's "sleeper" S cars....this and the S8 definitely fall into that category - apart from that dreadful Turbo Blue paint, which I hate with a passion. If you want to be shouty about the performance of your car, buy a Focus RS or a Civic Type R......but having to drive around with a brown paper bag on your head is no fun😉
Paint looks amazing???
Nice review Joe!
Joe which would you buy then S3 or M135i
Looks like a enlarged 2019 2020 A1 no innovation went into this shape in my opinion.
When I saw the first I genuinely thought it was an A1 coming towards me.
Yes very A1 ish from the rear
It's like car enthousiasts are never satistfied... When nothing changes and car companies stick to their style there is "lack of innovation" and when car companies change stuff like with the new BMW 1 series everyone goes nuts because they ditched the traditional BMW style!
@@Cwookie_ Lol. These people are crazy. The Audi A3 looks great, but the BMW is a bit of a let down.
I love all of your videos Joe !!! congratulations from Argentina for your great job !!!
As you say, a real shame that there's no HUD. After driving an M135i with one for a few hours, HUDs went right to the top of the wishlist for my next car. Great review buddy.
The s3 comes with a HUD idk why he says it doesnt, my dads vorsprung modell has it
14:52 abs kicks in and i'm like let me do my thing 😂
Loved the review. Thank you. Getting my new S3 saloon in Daytona Grey in a couple of weeks!!!!!! Literally counting the days. Will be sad to see my S1 go, but need something a little bigger (and quicker) with a growing family.......
Dont have an issue with sound be piped into the cabin. You go to a concert and you hear the singer through speakers. Some software also helps their voice through the speakers. No different with a car now. Enjoy the noise inside the car and not annoy people when you drive by with exhaust pops and bangs.
Agree to a point, but pumping a 5 cylinder sound through the cabin is very odd
Enjoying your videos having randomly found them. I think you're a local boy as I'm certain I recognise a few of the roads you drive in this video. Anyway all the best and keep it up.
Fantastic viewing as always Joe. Current owner of the 8v S3 & really was in 2 minds about this one. However I think you’ve swayed me slightly. Golf R will be an interesting watch
Don't like the amount of chrome trim manufacturers seem to favour, gloss black is so much more appealing. At least it keeps wrapping companies going deleting all that trim.
@Joe Achilles you are wrong. You can have Head up display in Audi S3 as an option. And if you don't like virtual cockpit, you can order Audi S3 with analogue dials .
yea i'll think i'll stay happy with my m135i order no fake front vents or an oversized grille (yes i know the new 1 series grille is bigger than previous gen but its nothing compared to this)
Great video. I bought a rs3 sport edition following watching one of your reviews, thinking about part ex for a rs4 sport edition. Would you recommend for a bit more fun and sound as the 2020 rs3 is pretty quiet
Having watched this, I'm not really sure the title question has actually been answered... Other than the price comparison, which is fairly moot as all these cars are horrifically overpriced (thanks to pcp popularity) - so Joe - is this car any better than a M135i or A35?
And it is a glorified golf r for audi wankers!
@@tomtheeagle1 corrected - thanks :)
😂😂😂
@@frenchie3167 and all these cars have that haldex system, personally I wouldn't get either of them. either make it a rwd bias awd system or just fwd or rwd.
I was thinking the same
When you put your foot down, the S3 has an extra button like pedal on the floor. Thats what makes the gearbox drop down by 2 gears. So you can floor it without the drop down. As for the upshift, its there to protect the engine for noobs driving manual mode lol...Stage 2 with DSG map will remove the auto upshift!
Picked up my brand new S3 sportback in Turbo Blue last week, loving it so far. MPG is garbage but everything else is amazing
My fiancé has had hers for 18 months now and 15k miles, we can confirm mpg thankfully gets better 👌
Which one of the premium hot hatches would you buy? I’ve been looking to keep under 40k (not giving hmrc more than I have to). Audi seems more expensive to buy cheaper to insure and vice versa for the m135i . Haven’t had the chance to look at the A45
Awesome been waiting to see your review since you put up the photos on Insta.
The Golf 8R has yet to be released for order in the UK,released in Europe on 5th November with the UK expected to follow soon after but still not happened yet.
"Fly under the radar" a polite way of saying it looks as dull as dishwater
sounds like one too
Clear, informative review. Think you’ve identified a number of pretty significant issues - a polite no thanks is the message I’m getting...
Me too.
Thanks for this video Joe, it kept me going whilst I was waiting for the exact same spec car to arrive. Picked it up last Friday and love it!
Congratulations to you Joe 👊🏽👊🏽
Audi has been killing it since the facelift 8v.2...best looking hatch since
Maybe its the colour, but to my eyes the front end doesn't seem cohesive with the rest of the car, just feels like its unfinished. I guess they've left room for some add-ons or the RS3.
Have you done an A35 review? I've not driven this S3 but the A35 was significantly better than the last one for driver enjoyment.
The fake grills under the headlights look horrible,would it have killed them to have a little air curtain in them (for brakes,or airflow,or just as a chuffing hole?)
Only the right hand side grill is fake the front left hand side is real and has the inter cooler behind it.
I’m guessing they matched the right hand side for design symmetry
Great review joe thanks 👍🏻
The interior of the new A3 is unbelievable 👏 looking at change my wives seat Ibiza to the new A3 Edition 1 spec, may look at the new S3 as an upgrade on my Q3 later next year.
Surprised they didn’t option the rear camera on the press car. I’ve really enjoyed my 15 s3 sedan. With the bolt ons and tune+traction control turned all off on a backroad=fun times.
The best angle for me is certainly the back of it with the twin dual exhausts finishing it off nicely
Just seems a little underwhelming tbh and expensive I’d rather have a nearly new m140i for £25k then again I don’t buy on pcp .
Pcp for these cars are better imo. Something like the new yaris I'd buy outright
When the video started playing, I hadn't read the title and I thought to myself: that must be the new RS3.
It does sound like a 5 pot from the cabin. Weird.
If you are about to artificially enhance the engine sound... at least don't cheat.
What would be next... a diesel A1 with a V8 sound? an e-Tron with a V10 sound. Come on #audi.
Why are you complaining? You have a lot of different options on the screen. If you dont like it then turn it off on the individual settings. Somebody likes it
Agreed,but fake sounds being pumped through the speaker is the way forward smh.You should hear how horrible the gla45s sounds smh.Absolute wank
Completely agree, audi and VW are getting more and more obnoxious with this. Even with speakers on the outside (they call them "sound actuators") they produce fake engine sounds. For example a 2.0 TDI 4 cylinder (so, a diesel) sounding like an enormous V8 Petrol in the VW Golf GTD if you spec for the option. It's horrible really.
@@moosmatroos as I said, you can turn it off. What is wrong with that? Opinions are different. Somebody likes it, somebody hates it. I personally like it on the V8 TDI Audis like the SQ7 and the SQ8, because they sound very natural. In my country 90% of the popullation dont even know what sound generators are.
I can see comments about it being a matter of personal taste, to which I would answer: It is still fake!
Just like fake vents, fake exhausts, fake boobs or fake watches. Fake engine sounds are for wannabes.
Joe massive congratulations at passing over to full time youtuber! What an achievement 🥂 Looking forward to the content to come. Watch Raz Mr AMG.
What's that weird whistle sound form the outside on some of the shots?
It sounds like a turbo that's about to give up.
@Jack njones ok, boomer. You being such an expert, you tell us what the noise is. Good man.
@Jack njones it sounds like you couldn't explain your way out of a wet paper bag.
@Jack njones nice little ghey kiss there. Thanks anyway. I'm straight.
Have you driven the new golf R to compare?
Was thinking of changing my old 8V S3 for the new one, decided on the M2 comp instead. With the current discounts of the M2 you can get them for around the same monthlies. Audi only knocking off 9%ish whereas you can get the M2 at 20% + discount. Obviously won't be for everyone though
BMW over inflate their RRPs
Have a q3 with audi currently, very tempted to get myself a new s3, this video may have tempted me to commit!
Another great video Joe. Thanks for sharing.
Great video,one wee question is there room for a space saver wheel in the boot well
It's better dynamically than the old one due to lighter engine.
Doesn't tempt me from my M140i yet though !
@Jack njones Yes I have.
And that is why I put 'It's better dynamically than the old one' .
What you wrote about more balanced, is exactly what I said myself 'better dynamically' the same thing.
The new M135i handles better, has more grip, and seemed to have a higher quality interior, those were my thoughts when I drove one.
Does that make it 'better' than the older M140i though ?
For me, no it doesn't.
The reason I love my remapped M140i, is because it is FUN, and the new car lacks the same fun factor. I can drive with the rear end hanging out around every roundabout if I want to, I can't do that in the new model.
There is also a certain 'charm' with the M140i, maybe you're too young to appreciate it. The M140i is the last time you will ever be able to buy a 6 cylinder turbocharged engine, in a small Rear Wheel Drive hatchback, it's unique, and it's never going to happen ever again.
That makes it special. The new M135i is just another copycat 4 cylinder FWD biased AWD hatch the same as all the others.
Now can you understand ?
@@ssMain-pm4td I'd love an M2, but they are in a completely different league and price bracket.
The M140i is not the sharpest handling hatch, but it neither claims to be, or is designed to be.
Mine is an auto, which you may want to try, the ZF8 is quite brilliant.
It is not a full-fat M car.
Are you seriously saying that the M140i is noticeably worse than an S3 or A35 ? Because those are it's competitors, and having driven both, I think the M140i does a great job, and is in fact, a lot more fun than both, even in stock form.
It's very comfortable for 95% of the time daily driver duties, quiet, practical, and fairly decent mpg too. For the 5% of the time when I want to drive like a nob, it's fine, great fun sliding the back end out at roundabouts. It isn't, and was never meant to be the ultimate trackday car.
I own a 3 door M140 and will be buying a 4/5 door car next year. Which would you choose between the S3 and the BMW 135. Cheers
A35 :-)
From some angles for me looks like the evolution off Lancia Delta Integrale... Like it a lot...
Great review joe. I still think u preferred that cupra R st 🤗
Joe, the shifters from the Golf 8
Love this Sound in a S3.
The standard 18” look so poor for a flagship top of the range model.
Its not a flagship model and 19s are available.
It’s the flagship until the RS3 comes out! Just because 19” wheels are available that’s no excuse to fit an ugly 18” set “as standard”
Had an original S3 (facelift) mapped up to 260bhp. Only car I really regret ever selling! New mk4 on the way for the wife to replace current A6. I suspect she may be "misplacing the keys" and stuck with my Q8 quite often.... Based on the reviews, neither of us will be disappointed.
Joes refined, well spoken, with just enough crazy to get a good review
Thanks for the quality review Joe👍
Great video as always joe 👍🏻
0:55 Music to my ears 💯
I'm with the flies - I love that paintwork!