The Audi S3 is produced by the German manufacturer, Audi. The Audi S3 is a hot hatch, or high performance version, of the Audi A3 hatchback. Although they are similar in appearance, the Audi S3 offers a lot more than the A3. Audi S3 versions of first and second generation A3 models have been manufactured. The Audi S3 has been manufactured since 1999, with the second generation having been produced since 2006.
The second generation of the Audi S3 offers better performance than the first generation. A number of updates were made to the S3, so that the newer version with its more powerful engine and four wheel drive can reach speeds of 62 miles per hour or 100 kilometers per hour in 5.5 seconds.
The S3 is not sold in North America, because Audi believe it would be in direct competition with the Golf R32 from Volkswagen and that it would also affect sales of Audi's own TT model.
The Audi S3 is designed for action. It performs well without any fuss, making it a good choice for drivers who demand a lot from their vehicles. Upgrading from the A3 to the S3 makes sense if you are going to drive your car hard and make use of this additional power and performance. The manual transmission version of the S3 allows the driver to shift through the gears quickly, and much more smoothly than in an A3.
The S3 performs particularly well for long distance driving, so it will be a good choice for people who regularly need to travel long distances by road. Driving the S3 is a comfortable experience. It makes driving long distances feel easy. The combination of excellent performance and ease of driving provided the Audi S3 could prove dangerous for careless drivers, however, since it does make it easy to drive too fast. Unless this car is driven by a responsible person, it could be easy to exceed the speed limit.
The S3 may have either a 6 speed manual or an S-Tronic transmission. The S3, as with all models in the Audi S line, comes with quattro four wheel drive. The Audi S3 features a switch that can be used to alter the suspension. The Sport setting will not be of much use to most drivers, however, since the ride will be more comfortable on the normal setting.
The S3 provides a similar amount of internal space for passengers and luggage as the Volkswagen Golf. It will fit five adults while leaving an acceptable amount of luggage space. The rear seats can be dropped in order to provide more storage space, if necessary. The S3 is available either as a three or five door car.
The Audi S3 is generally considered to be a relatively expensive vehicle. The S3 is not just a more powerful vehicle than the A3 upon which it is based, but a more expensive one too. As well as costing more than the Audi A3, the S3 is more expensive than many similar vehicles from other manufacturers. For the price of an S3, it would therefore be possible to choose a powerful saloon car such as the 330i SE from a prestigious manufacturer, BMW. Another option would be to save some money while getting a car with similar features to the S3, such as the Scirocco coupe from Volkswagen or even to stick with the A3 from Audi. Paying for the extra performance of the S3 may not be sensible for all buyers, since they will not need the additional power. However, drivers who need more performance will find that the S3 is more suited to their needs than the cheaper A3.
The S3 does offer a number of advantages over similar models from different manufacturers, which may make it a better choice for some drivers. Neither the Sciorocco nor the 3301 SE provide four wheel drive, for example. This could be an important feature for drivers who live in a hilly, remote area, although it is not a feature that would be missed by the many drivers who rarely leave the city. The four wheel drive feature does make it possible to accelerate more quickly from a stationary start, however, which may be an advantage for some drivers and m ay make driving the S3 a more pleasurable experience for high performance drivers.
Although the competition in the same price range is very tempting, the S3 will be the best choice for drivers who want a practical, uncomplicated car that will be easy to drive, but who need more than the Audi A3 is able to provide.