Colin M Posted March 20, 2003 Report Share Posted March 20, 2003 Thanks for all the PM's and MSN messages everyone. I have just checked with the Audi factory and they have told me that there are no current plans for an S3 nor RS3. The only car in development is a sport Avant version of the new A3. This is not to say there won't be a new S3/RS3 later, but at this stage, everything you guys are hearing is just rumour. The Audi UK site comment? Someone having a laugh I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drillslinger Posted March 20, 2003 Report Share Posted March 20, 2003 Probably in the minority on this one, but if you get any info on the Sport Avant version, I'd like to hear it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted March 20, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2003 More information today. The new A3 will be available in Germany from May and RHD UK models available around the end of June, early July. They will include the 150 and 180bhp engines and a new 16 valve 2 litre 140bhp TDi. There will be no quattro versions yet. Audi plan the 2.0 litre 200bhp FSI engine in one of the A3's but the V6 3.2 litre engined version will not be available until at least June/July 2004 after TT demand for this new engine has stabilised. There is no current plan for an S3 or indeed "RS3", Audi have not even differentiated between the models yet. Earliest date for the new S3 will be 2005. My information is from a production manager at the Audi factory and should therefore be a lot more reliable than the stuff bandied around by UK dealers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brabus Posted March 20, 2003 Report Share Posted March 20, 2003 Bloody hell, thats a long time! But it makes sense in a way cause the RS models are usually the last model out before a major change...So at this rate an RS3 might not be out until 2006 if(!) its made. Wonder if Dansky gets any interest on the 500 quid he slapped down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted March 20, 2003 Report Share Posted March 20, 2003 I was right all along with my predictions of the S3 end of 2004 (earliest) and 2005 more likely And if they make a RS3 it will be around 8-12 months after the S3 has been released! hehe so this fits my plan just nicely. will almost have paid my loan off by then ready to order the RS3! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephencam Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 With the new possible S3 being so far away surely this is good news for current S3 owners now? WOuld it not make the current S3 more diserable and have even stronger residuals? I hope so cos me S3 is only 2 months old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted March 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 Exactly what I have been saying for the last 3 months and the reason I ordered my last S3, due to be one of the last off the production line in the next 2 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephencam Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 Colin, You say that Audi are to release a 200 bhp 2.0FSI A3. Will this be turbo charged? Just seems to be a lot of power from a 2.0 litre engine. Do you know what engines in the new A3's will be turbo charged if any pls? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 Ok maybe a stupid question but my S3 is now 7 months old (my baby is getting old ) so when does everyone think the best time to sell would be? I want to keep it for some years yet but I'm thinking if I leave it too close to when the new S3 comes out then the resale value will be negatively affected yet again...won't it?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted March 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 How will the value of a 3 year old S3 be affected by the arrival of the new model? Yours will be worth say £14k then, the new one £29k, more than double the cost. Your buyer will be looking for the best £14k S3 he can find or else he has to cough up another £15k to buy the new shape. No comparison is there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Wonder if Dansky gets any interest on the 500 quid he slapped down. [/ QUOTE ] The only interest I'll get is if my trouble and strife finds out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Colin, You say that Audi are to release a 200 bhp 2.0FSI A3. Will this be turbo charged? Just seems to be a lot of power from a 2.0 litre engine. [/ QUOTE ] I was curious about this. I didn't think they did a turbo FSI engine (although perhaps they're bringing one out? ) Would make a cracking company car prospect if so, FSI low emissions, under the two litre scale fuel charge and 200hp performance! Magic!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 IF THEY DO DECIDE TO BRING OUT A NEW S3 MODEL (WHICH I BET THEY DO), DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE THE CLOSEST RIVAL TO TEH R32, OR DO YOU THINK THE 3.2 LITRE A3 VERSION WILL BE. THE GOLF IS SET AT JUST OVER £22 GRAND, NO SPEC, THE 3.2 AUDI WILL PROBABLY BE SIMILAR, JUST NOT AS FAST OR AS TORQUEY. IT WILL PROBABLY JUST BE MORE OF A LUXURY MODEL. IN THIS CASE FOR A SPORTY CAR THE R32 WILL BE THE BEST CHOCE IN THAT PRICE RANGE. DO YOU THINK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brabus Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 No need to SHOUT. I doubt very much that the R32 will still be available by the time the S3 comes out. If you are looking for rivals to the R32 NOW it would be: The Alfa 147 GTA, Clio V6, the Ford Focus RS (maybe) and the Subaru Impreza STI. All these cars offer the same kind of performance for the same kind of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZURES3 Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 I hope Colin's information is wrong . I think that the S3 will be out early next year in Germany. The S3 fills a very specialist market for Audi and with other cars on the seen now I dont see them waiting that long. baring in mind that the A3 3.2Q will be out the S3 is not going to take too much engineering. I am not so sure about the RS3 but it would be nice. AZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4dreamer Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 [ QUOTE ] I doubt very much that the R32 will still be available by the time the S3 comes out. [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, this is interesting. My VW dealer seems to think they'll have allocation of R32s for 2004, yet production of the new Golf is due to start either late this year or early next year, in which case the old Golf production line will presumably be replaced. Therefore, no more R32's. The only things I can think of which might make the dealer right are: a) they over-produce R32's now and stockpile b) new Golfs will be produced on an entirely different production line rather than retooling the existing one c) An R32 version of the new Golf will be available from day 1 (- ish). Alternatively, the dealer could be talking out of his @rse, and production of the R32 will stop when it stops for all the other MkIV models. Most puzzling Mr Holmes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabster Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 The current A3 came out in 97 and the S3 in 99 so expect any s model about 18 months to two years from this summer. The new A4 has been out about 18 months and we are just seeing the new S4. I think summer 2005 for the S3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonU Posted March 21, 2003 Report Share Posted March 21, 2003 Hi Everybody. Newbie here. [ QUOTE ] You say that Audi are to release a 200 bhp 2.0FSI A3. Will this be turbo charged? Just seems to be a lot of power from a 2.0 litre engine. [/ QUOTE ] 100 b.h.p/litre isn't unusual for the germans. The BMW M3 achieves it with a normally aspirated engine. Sorry to barge into your conversation... Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted March 22, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2003 I think the R32 is destined to be a short lived model. VW are happy to build a relative handful of special editions (eg the 25 year anniversary GTi for example). My bet is the R32 will stop when the current Golf shape finishes end of this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted March 22, 2003 Report Share Posted March 22, 2003 Yep i agree with Colin on this matter, but i think when the new A3 3.2 V6 that other manufacturer`s will also up their models and the Golf R32 will be overshadowed! But most of the car manufacturer`s use front wheel drive which had reached its preak. the Alfa 146GTA with 250bhp!!! that things got that much power that you can floor it whilest moving and the wheels will spin! Audi and VW have the upper hand in the 3dr hatchback market because of the utilisation of 4wd. hope it stays like that, if it does they will produce a significant lead of there competitors 2wd = 250bhp is about the max 4wd = unproven, so far 241bhp and the new TT at 250bhp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonU Posted March 22, 2003 Report Share Posted March 22, 2003 I'll go along with that Riz S3. I've got a Seat Leon Cupra and it wheelspins in 3rd in the wet at 30mph. It's absolute pants, but that's down to cr*p TC, which is why I've now put a deposit down on what I'm told is the last Imola Yellow S3 in the country - it better be good! I shan't be sorry to see the Seat go when the lease runs out at the end of August. Simon U Happy in about 7 days time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted March 22, 2003 Report Share Posted March 22, 2003 Trust me the S3 is one hell of a motorcar Ok maybe its not got the most bhp anymore but when it comes to a all round package nothing comes close to the S3. quality, performance, looks etc I`ve had mine for over a year now and still cant think of a car which fills my requirements Enjoy when it arrives! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonU Posted March 22, 2003 Report Share Posted March 22, 2003 Thanks. I intend to. The Seat is fast, but its handling ain't to hot. Legally you can't enjoy the speed in this country but I could enjoy the handling. Hopefully the S3 will have both. Round this neck of the woods there are plenty of roads that just beg to be driven in cars that handle well and go and stop well. There's always loads of Sevens around (not that I've ever covetted one of them!). Simon U Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephencam Posted March 22, 2003 Report Share Posted March 22, 2003 The S3's are fantastic cars. I am on my second one now I used to have a Yellow S3 (chipped and Milltek) which went like stink! Now I have a 2 month old silver S3 with RSTT's etc... I know u havent got the S3 yet but I would get it chipped for sure, worth every penny. I have just had mine MTM'd by Quattrosports and boy is it quick! You will enjoy the S3 I guarantee it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted March 22, 2003 Report Share Posted March 22, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Hi Everybody. Newbie here. [ QUOTE ] You say that Audi are to release a 200 bhp 2.0FSI A3. Will this be turbo charged? Just seems to be a lot of power from a 2.0 litre engine. [/ QUOTE ] 100 b.h.p/litre isn't unusual for the germans. The BMW M3 achieves it with a normally aspirated engine. Sorry to barge into your conversation... Simon [/ QUOTE ] Agree the M3 is 100hp+/litre, so is the MacLaren F1, and I think the ferrari F355/360 Modena. And thats about it. As far as Audi's go, the do a 125hp 1.8, the 150hp is turbo. They also do a 2.0FSI with 150hp. I reckon 200hp without turbo will be quite a stretch for them. Not impossible, but unlikely... Just my 2p worth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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