My S3 Sedan
- Thread starter Mr. Mercedes
- Start date
lukeswiss
Subscriber
I'm interested to hear how it compares to the A45 !As an all rounder it has the A45 licked!
Beemer B773ER
Tire Trailblazer
Looks absolutely HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Mercedes
Premium
@lukeswiss and @martinbo, the ride is actually very good. My car has the adaptive magnetic drive and there is a discernible difference between the modes. I haven't really tried dynamic much yet, but in comfort it is quite soft and exhibits more roll than the A45. The tradeoff is a ride that is perhaps 15-20% more comfortable than the A45. I need more familiarity and time to play around with the different modes of the drive select system to really get to know the car. The same can be said for the steering. In comfort it is noticeably looser than the A45 and more synthetic in its feel.
A few random notes so far:
1. Interior feels bullet proof, tactile and is a pleasure to sit in. Not like the A45 which exhibited minor flaws within the first 1000km.
2. The turning circle seem poor compared to the A45.
3. The engine is more refined, but less vocal. I'm not sure about kick down and elasticity yet because I haven't really driven the car hard.
4. Mercedes Australia's navigation software is far superior to Audi Australia. She is rather daft in fact and can't even pick up words spelt letter by letter.
5. Fuel consumption on the Audi has already proven better than the A45 even with under 1000km on the clock.
6. There is slightly more wind noise around the front door frames in the Audi. Both the Benz and Audi suffer from road noise over course chip roads which I believe is due to the 19inch tyres fitted to both.
7. The MMI knob turns counterintuitively and the touch pad seems a bit of a gimmick since I am right handed and this is a right hand side market.
8. The integration of the car's settings into the MMI system, and the adjustability of so many features is great.
9. The adaptive LED headlights are brilliant.
A few random notes so far:
1. Interior feels bullet proof, tactile and is a pleasure to sit in. Not like the A45 which exhibited minor flaws within the first 1000km.
2. The turning circle seem poor compared to the A45.
3. The engine is more refined, but less vocal. I'm not sure about kick down and elasticity yet because I haven't really driven the car hard.
4. Mercedes Australia's navigation software is far superior to Audi Australia. She is rather daft in fact and can't even pick up words spelt letter by letter.
5. Fuel consumption on the Audi has already proven better than the A45 even with under 1000km on the clock.
6. There is slightly more wind noise around the front door frames in the Audi. Both the Benz and Audi suffer from road noise over course chip roads which I believe is due to the 19inch tyres fitted to both.
7. The MMI knob turns counterintuitively and the touch pad seems a bit of a gimmick since I am right handed and this is a right hand side market.
8. The integration of the car's settings into the MMI system, and the adjustability of so many features is great.
9. The adaptive LED headlights are brilliant.
Mr. Mercedes
Premium
Oh one more:
10. There is the most bizarre pogo stick sensation in the S3 when you go over speed bumps. The car bobs up and down. I've never experienced this in any other car.
10. There is the most bizarre pogo stick sensation in the S3 when you go over speed bumps. The car bobs up and down. I've never experienced this in any other car.
Beemer B773ER
Tire Trailblazer
Hahaha, I never thought of that!
Mr. Mercedes
Premium
Hahaha, I never thought of that!
Maybe it's Audi's way of exercising the drivers brain. I may end up ambidextrous after driving this car for a while.
Beemer B773ER
Tire Trailblazer
Maybe it's Audi's way of exercising the drivers brain. I may end up ambidextrous after driving this car for a while.
Maybe the wife will have to reach over more often!
gun16
Tarmac Traveler
1. Agree Mick's S3 is better finished inside, more restrained and feels more grown up.
2. What's the difference in wheel base length?
3. The pops and cracks of the A45 were epic and made it sound like a rally car, the S3 has a really nice DSG crack in dynamic mode though
4. Agreed, though I think they all suck compared to the apple interface or tomtom
5. Yeah chatting to Mick he can get better figures than myself.
6. Interesting indeed
7. Initially I thought the dial in the Mercedes would be a pain to use, but it really is great and a lot safer than a touch screen like in the VW
8. Yep, very jealous of the ability to fiddle with all those settings. I do like in the Merc though how the handling is the handling though and its always ready for a corner.
9. Dying to see these in action
10. Is this worst than breaking ribs in the A over speed bumps regardless of speed?
Mr. Mercedes
Premium
1. A number of family who have seen the car say they preferred the A-class's flamboyant interior style. The Recaro seats in particular looked spectacular. I like the design of both the A-class and A3, but for the stuff you only notice when you spend some time in the cars and poke around, the Audi is better finished.
2. 2699 for the A vs. 2636 for the A3. I just checked the turning circles and it's actually in the Audi's favour 10.9m Vs. 11.3m for the Mercedes. So the extra length and the boot must be throwing me off when 3 point turning. I'm paranoid about kerning the rear bumper.
3. The pops and cracks in the A45 were epic. But they're always there, even when you don't want them. The S3 is like Jekyll and Hyde at the touch of a button.
10. The A45 was actually quite decent over speed bumps. I think you're just a little soft D.
But in all seriousness you have to experience the pogo stick sensation in the Audi. I wonder if it's a common thing amongst Audi's.
Mr. Mercedes
Premium
11. While the Audi with the Super Sport seats misses out on electrical adjustments and memory, it's far easier to find a comfortable driving position compared to the Recaros in the A45. The Audi could do with more lumbar though.
12.I feel that I still need to drop the seats another inch or so in the Audi, but they won't go down any further. I think it's probably more a matter of perception with the low set dash and door panels, whereas with the A45 you felt cocooned.
13. The adaptive headlights seems very active switching between highs and lows compared to the Mercedes which was more reluctant to switch to high beams.
14. The Harmon Kardon sound system in the A45 is better balanced than the B&O in the Audi, which seems too bright.
15. The lack of digital radio in the Audi is very poor. It's 2014!
I had a quick 5 minute drive in Dynamic mode yesterday, and it certainly is nowhere as raw as the A45. Despite the extra weight that comes to the steering the feel does not get any better, and the A45 does a better job of letting you know what's going on down below. But call me weird, I actually like that slight remoteness of the Audi's steering system. I've always liked Audis steering. It adds to the sense of refinement for me.
The Audi's engine is superior when it comes to NVH. The A45 is all about theatre and while the Audi is quick enough for me, it feels like the A45 does have more get up and go as the performance figures would suggest.
-=Hot|Ice=-
High-Rev Hero
Congratulations! Enjoy it good health! I really, really like the S3!!!
Mr. Mercedes
Premium
tristatez28lt1
Tire Trailblazer
About the MMI knob: I've talked to Audi technicians about this because i also felt that it was counterintuitive. They stated that they developed the system with the thumb in mind. So the thumb goes up you scroll up. Knowing this makes it easier but still you have to get used to it.
Mick Briesgau
Tire Trailblazer
looking swell! Audi proves, that a modern hatchback-based compact sedan doesn't need to be ugly. Quite on the contrary. Always safe drive!
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