31 Aug 06
It does, however, make more sense as an everyday tool for someone more concerned with looking good than enjoying traditional driving pleasures. The cabin is no less impressive than the outside. To my eyes, the quality of the interior is quite beyond that of any other car in the class, and the S3 modifications - the aluminium-effect pedals, vent surrounds and gear lever, combined with the S3 badging on the dials, leather wheel and kickplates - strike the perfect balance between natural good taste and sporting purpose. But the ride quality is a worry as it felt fairly stiff even on smooth German back roads, while at a constant cruise you can always hear the engine, which would be less of a problem if it were something worth listening to. It's not.
In the end, while I admire the look of the S3 and its raw performance, the car as a whole feels like an A3 that's been pushed harder than it cares to go. Most of its problems would be solved by a less raucous engine with a gentler delivery and a wider powerband, and I still struggle to understand why Audi, with just such an engine already in an A3 in the form of its 250bhp 3.2-litre V6 motor, elected to use a 2.0-litre four instead. Audi says it keeps the car light and it's what old S3 owners wanted, but to me the problems it brings far outweigh any potential benefit.
So despite its great looks, I'm going to pass. Were I in this market not only would the S3 fail to get my business but so too would what Audi claims are its most immediate rivals, the BMW 130i and Mercedes-Benz C350 Sports Coupe. Instead I'd walk straight past their doors and into the local VW dealer where I'd buy a car with not only the same chassis, with the same four-wheel drive system as the S3, but also what recent experience suggests is a better blend of ride and handling. And it has the very same 3.2-litre V6 that the S3 is crying out for. It would be a little slower for sure, but I'd enjoy driving it fast much more. It's called the Golf R32 and, best of all, it costs £2755 less than the S3 and is available with a DSG gearbox. In this class and for this money, its case looks unanswerable.
