<![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3 - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3 - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]>
I'm with Bakafish and Al Navarro on this one.

wohho, enjoy your S4. The S4 is a fantastic machine. Let the rest of us enjoy our lighter, better balanced S3s.

Sure, i wish the S3 was $30k, but since it's more refined than any other car up to $45k, that's why Audi is charging top dollar.

MER: you can't be serious. go back to your SEMA/JC Whitney show.

Fans of the 3.2l VR6 engine (including me): sorry, the S3's 2.0T has more power, more torque, less weight, and smaller size. It's actually got quite a bit of updated internals compared to the 200hp 2.0T engine used by VW the A3. An updated 3.2 belongs in the S4 and upcoming A5, where the longitudinal engine layout won't cause as big of a handling drawback.

The S3 is more nimble than a Legacy GT or a heavier, less powerful A4. While it doesn't offer the power of the WRX sti or EVO, it has a superior interior, build quality, and balance.

The reason that the S-tronic transmission isn't yet available in the S3 is that Audi is busy improving it to handle more horsepower. I'd rather have the manual transmission anyway.

Call me crazy, but the S3 is a sleeper hatchback that will easily outrun any domestic "muscle car". I can't wait to place an order.

my favorite car is a motorcycle

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Yes wohho, but then you'd have the added dorkiness of the rear doors (and tailgate if you get the vagon).

Al Navarro

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> I think we all kind of missed the biggest nail in the coffin for this stinker. You can get an S4 with another 40 Hp, arguably better chassis dynamics, two more doors, AND a tiptronic transmission for another $4K.

game, set, match.

wohho

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> BTW, so brilliant that the Brabus post above gets no love. I guess we know Jalopniks demos from this alone. Who needs surveymonkey?

Al Navarro

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> How about a hpa motorsports variant? Of course, those transplants don't come cheap...they even have the balls to quote prices in USD and not Canadian!

Al Navarro

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Regardless of you apologists, I still fart in its general direction.

I'll take an RS4 without all the boy racer body work, thanks.

wohho

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Damn It! Where is the RS3 with the 350 Hp V6 Twin Turbo that they promised us last year?

Ouder

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> I think we should reserve judgement on what will/will not own this lil' pony until we get some weight measurements. Who knows this may end up being far lighter than most of us think? I'd expect the price to be cheaper when it comes stateside as well. If you recall the A3s (2.0s at least) were supposed to cost more than they did.

porovaara

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Hmm, I think that folks who think that a chipped S3 is likely to end up at or near 300 HP are being a little too optimistic. In many cases, as the OEM ups the power of a given power-plant, the amount of (cost-effective) head room for chip tuning get's reduced. It's quite probable that this 2.0 turbo FSI doesn't have a whole lot of head room for inexpensive tuning. That's without even begining to consider the "tricky" nature of tuning a turbo FSI engine.

Hodo

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Why do people keep comparing this to the STi and Evo? We all know that the S3 is not targeted at the same market, not to mention that either one of those contenders would have a couple of S3s for breakfast and go out hunting for a S4 for lunch. The S3 will have to compete against the likes of the 350z, G35, and its younger (less refined?) brother, the R32. The upcoming 335ci will have 305 HP and a price tag of around $42K. You do the math.

b33g33

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> LOL DocM...and the media keeps telling us there is no inflation.

Al Navarro

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> I'm just glad I can tell future generations that I was alive at a time when a hatchback cost a mere $45K. And gas was only $3 a gallon. And there wasn't a robot in the white house.

Docmarvy

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Hot Damn! Love that front fascia.

Audi's still don't hold their value, correct? So wait two years, and get one for 15k less.

Seth L

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> I just disagree with the overpriced moniker. You may not like what they allocated funds and engineering towards, but calling this over priced is just as misguided as the people who complain about STI's and EVO's being cheap and unpolished. This is designed to fill a product niche that has plenty of takers. Audi is not adding an additional 10% of margin to paint the calipers black and s/A3/S3/g, you are getting what you pay for.

Oh, and Bakafish are always blue, never black... your piscine friend.

Bakafish

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Vs. the 3.2...

I thikn the 3.2 is normally aspirated, right? Which mean that chip-tuning has less of an impact. However, with these blown variants, a little extra boost can add up to a lot more wheeeeee.

Al Navarro

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> See that's just it Bakafish (no offense but that's a really weird tag (hey pot, you're black. signed, kettle)). Everyone by and large really likes the A3, it's a great package, but pretty well everything about it has a "yeah but" attached to it because it's overpriced and underspec'd.

The S3 had the opportunity to remedy those ills, for a cost of course, but there you have a great car now. Instead, it's somewhat underpowered for an 'S' car, and lacks a sequential gearbox.

On it's own, I am very impressed with this engine. The power and torque delivered at those engine rpm's is amazing. In a regular edition TT it would be spectacular, but for a sport model of a heavier car, it's just not that impressive.

wohho

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Anybody else notice that it's a 3-Door, not a 5-Door?

I saw a non-S version of this on the road a few days back, called Davey, and via voicemail the two of us scratched our heads.

Not quite as visually charming as the 5-Door

Jonny Lieberman

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> It's all about the weight. The 3.2 is a great engine, it is also a big lump of mass hung over the front end. This little 2.0 is going to out handle the 3.2 by a large order of magnitude. And to you guys who always complain about value and try to price compare it to the fine products of Subaru, Mitsubishi et. al. it isn't meant to compete with them. I know I'm wasting my breath here, but they will sell every one of these they build, if you don't understand what these cars represent, don't get one.

The thing I don't understand is how they could not offer it with the S-tronic transmission or in the sportback body?

Bakafish

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> What happened to the DSG? I thought Audi was supposed to be cramming that thing into everything it sells starting in 2007.

The correct question to be asking is what advantage this provides over the forthcoming MkV R32/36. If the power and dynamics are the same, and the Vee Dub is 8 grand cheaper, what would YOU do?

Ted Striker

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Not enough HP. Not enough LB/Ft. Too much $$.

b33g33

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> I dunno...I'd get it.

Here's why...the power will undoubtedly be easily upped thanks to the good folks at GIAC and/or MTM.

As for "you might as well get an STi or Evo", well perhaps some of us don't want to drive the same car as a enthusiast teen with wealthy parents. (And I was one of these teens!) Even in the "discreet" spec versions, I probably wouldn't own one. As for the Legacy GT...I likes everything but think that Subaru still hasn't figured out good brake pedal feel (still too mushy).

Al Navarro

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> To add insult to injury, why buy this over a 3.2? I mean, ok 15 more (peak) HP, two fewer cylinders, and probably less (day to day) torque. And for that priviledge, you get to pay $2.5k MORE than a loaded 3.2?

Audi is definitely heading the wrong direction with the S on this car. Perhaps I'm wrong, and a drive of the new S3 will erase all doubts. Maybe this is a wonderful car with superior dynamics (wouldn't be too hard the 3.2 is a cow to drive), but I doubt it. And even so, Audi will have their marketing cut out for them. Not many folks in the U.S. are going to buy the above (with our "more" or "bigger" is better taste, that is).

Hodo

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Cool and bad ass in a very Teutonic way, but fundamentally speaking, I agree with wohho. Forty-five grand is a lot of dough considering what other cars occupy the same area of performance, styling notwithstanding.

ThnderbltDoherty

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> As an Audi fanboy, I'm less than impressed. This "badass" model has only 70 more ponies than my 6 year old A4 2.8 along with added girth. Granted, the power numbers are very impressive for the engine size and the technology in use, but for 45k I can get a WHOLE LOT of car elsewhere. The Legacy GT would walk away from this thing for 15k less. We won't even go into EVO and STi territory.

I understand that this is slated on a lower rung than the S4, but maybe I was looking more for slating it under the RS4.

wohho

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> No, but perhaps they'll paint the calipers red and slap some willwood or brembo stickers on 'em.

This is a car that I may actually be able to afford once my TT lease is up. I love the A3s styling, but can't convince myself to pay the price for what's basically a 4WD golf (oh, I mean "Rabbit").

This however, is something different entirely. And amazingly, they did not resort to their "iconic models gone by" file to trot out a retromodern!

Al Navarro

]]> <![CDATA[Hearty Hatch: Audi Reveals 2007 S3]]> Audi needs to call Subaru and ask how to graft a FAT WING and GOLD WHEELS on this bitch.

MER

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