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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 S3, so we've included reviews for other years of the S3 since its last redesign.
Awesome car... with one minor flaw
QuattroFan, 10/20/2015
2015 Audi S3 2.0T Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I bought a '15 Sepang Blue Premium Plus S3 end of June 2015. Seeing as this was my personal 'to and from the office' car, I didn't go crazy with options, opting for just a handful: performance package (primarily for the shocks and sweet looking wheels), the driver comfort package (Homelink being the big one there) and the Driver Assistance package (camera/back-up sensors etc.) First off... the car's a hoot to drive. Setting the exhaust to dynamic makes the most of the engine, and makes it sound considerably sportier. The engine is responsive and the engine doesn't lack for power. I do suspect that my car is an underachiever in terms of horses - I'm not getting close to sub-5 second sprints to 60. This could also be because my engine only has 3K on it. The car handles extremely well - feels as well planted as anything I've ever owned - including my e92 335i coupe. The largest disappointment for me is the gearbox. I find that there's .5 seconds of lag between input and response - this isn't turbo lag per se, this is the gearbox being slow in response to the input. This happens across the rev range. (even in launch control mode) Audi really needs to look at the software and possibly tweak it. I know that other aftermarket parts suppliers have also noticed this and addressed it through add-ons. I also think that Audi should give this thing more than 6 forward speeds. I think that a 7 or 8 speed DSG would further help with performance and also improve highway mileage. Interior-wise, the cabin is stylish. I like the two tone seats in mine. I went for the black/grey leather combination - I find the black/red a little too garish for my taste. On the whole, I like the interior - although, a little more storage space would be welcome. The plastics on certain areas feel a little cheap. Back seat leg space is sufficient for my kids - think adults could be a little cramped over long distances. As a whole, I'm very happy with my car - and look forward to driving it. I just hope that they can address the minor items I've called out above (in particular, the transmission lag)
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2016 Audi S3 - Low Coolant Warnings
S3 Owner, 05/14/2016
updated 08/05/2024
2016 Audi S3 2.0T Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
30 of 35 people found this review helpful
6 months and 7100 miles. Have had a low coolant warning appear twice. Audi Bulletin advises that air gets into the system during production or when refilled during previous repairs. * Update. Problem has not reoccurred. At 17k and car is performing well. * Update. Nearing the 30k mark and have not had any additional issues. The S3 is still a fun to drive car that performs well. * Update. Approach 40k. The car has been solid. Lots of power and fun to drive. The B&O sound system makes the commute so much better as well. *Update. 48k+. No issues. Car is running great. *Update. 67k. Started smelling antifreeze around the 49k mark and the dealer found no ‘leaks’. At 55k dealer dismissed my concerns again. At 58k got a low coolant alert. Dealer found the water pump housing to be ‘cracked’. 1600.00 to replace it and the water pump. Update: 78k miles new APR plugs & Coils. New rear shocks and struts installed just to increase the handling. Last update: 95K Sold in 2021. No issues since the water housing issue at 55k. So my honest opinion. I would never buy an Audi again. Sure it is fun to drive for awhile. B&O system sounds great and the car is peppy and still handles great. But the car eats tires and the maintenance is just stupid. Dealers are always hours behind no matter when you show up or schedule an appointment. Like they say hindsight is 20/20. Looking back probably the most regrettable purchase I have ever made. *Update. When sold I was able to get about 40% of its original purchase price.
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2017 Audi S3 for sale near you
3 of 22 listings
- 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro SedanMSRP: $21,637304 mi away
- 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro SedanMSRP: $23,998305 mi away
- 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro SedanMSRP: $21,990479 mi away
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Could be a bit happier with it
Jeff, 05/20/2016
updated 03/16/2020
2016 Audi S3 2.0T Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
Update: 3/14/20 I could be happier at this point, though not because anything's "wrong" with the car per se; it's merely overdue for a refresher, and as a regular Audi renter via Silvercar when I travel, I've seen how outdated my S3's displays & controls in particular are. Also, considering emergency braking & lane-hold tech are now standard equipment even on run-of-the-mill Hondas, I'm wishing my car had these features as well. The fully redesigned A3 was recently introduced at the Geneva auto show, and although I haven't seen the sedan version yet (only the fastback was show), I may just go ahead and wait for the new S3 to make it to the U.S. If I had to buy a new car today, I'd probably suggest the new-ish A5 or S5 sedan: it's a great-looking car priced much lower than its A7 counterpart. Updated review: 3/12/17 Still couldn't be happier with it! It's still quite literally in a class of its own: it's better than the CLA 45 despite being $15K cheaper, and BMW's smallest sedan is a size up from the A3/S3 (comparable to an A4). Yes, it has most of the same underpinnings as the VW Golf R (minus the magnetic suspension, which is absolutely a must-have item), but VW still has the lingering question of how badly Dieselgate will ultimately impact resale values. I also wanted to comment on remarks made in a few reviews posted since I wrote my original one. I've also had some curious issues with its Bluetooth system and my phone, but much different ones than "Barmoley" apparently had. Rather than streaming music getting automatically muted, I've found that the car's Bluetooth system automatically activates the last music app I used even if I DON'T want to listen to music. Finally, I wanted to correct one error in Jim Glass's otherwise-excellent review: the S3 does include HomeLink, and I'm pretty sure it's standard equipment. It's located in a slightly odd spot – to the right of the driver-side visor, facing the left *window* – but it's definitely there and has three programmable buttons. Original review: 5/20/16 As a longtime BMW aficionado, I had some doubts at first about switching my allegiance over to Audi, but after owning my S3 for a while, I have ZERO regrets. While BMW seems to have lost its way in recent years -- at least in terms of offering vehicles that truly *connect* with the road -- Audi has gone the opposite route, upping its game with its S-series of cars as BMWs have gotten increasingly bloated (in terms of price *and* literal bloat, as in curb weight). The S3 is a pocket rocket in the truest sense of the term, with razor-sharp handling and incredibly quick acceleration for a four-cylinder vehicle. BMW doesn't even *make* a comparable vehicle; its closest competitor is the M2, which is only available as a (fairly impractical) coupe. The Benz CLA 45 is the S3's only direct competition, and I found it to be subpar in nearly every way, most of all in terms of price: while I managed to negotiate a final purchase price of under $40K for my vehicle -- and that's *with* a number of options, notably the Black Optic performance package -- most of the CLAs I saw had sticker prices north of $60K! (Much like BMW, Benz goes way overboard with its options pricing.) Even a Benz C450 AMG is difficult to procure for much under $50K (and a C63 obviously costs far more.) Furthermore, the S3 is the only one of the bunch that offers a measure of practicality to go with its sportiness. Good luck trying to fit anyone over 5'10" or so in the back seat of a CLA; its roofline severely constricts rear head room. It has a surprisingly commodious trunk, with seats that fold down *far* more easily than those in any BMW I've ever owned. To be fair, rear leg room isn't great, but it's certainly better than that in a BMW 2-series (and only slightly less than that in a 3-series).
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S3NSATIONAL!
Quattro Driver, 10/13/2017
2017 Audi S3 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Previously had the 2015 Audi A3. This car is in another league, it’s a supercar in a sedan. The performance is powerful, tech package is very well done and interior is best in class. Car can be wide open without compromising comfort. All wheel fun allows year round excitement with 5 Star safety.
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Imagine a roadster... with four doors
Geoff Arnold, 10/02/2017
2017 Audi S3 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I moved from California, and didn't want to try driving my two seater RWD sports car in New Jersey winters. Test drove pretty much every AWD car between $30K and $60K. (Fewer than you'd think.) The S3 is simply an insane amount of fun. Handles better than a Miata, . Virtual cockpit is awesome. I really only have one complaint: the engine auto-stop/auto-start is a big hesitant, and although it's trivial to disable it, you can't change the default setting. Otherwise it's pretty much perfect. I've done several long runs on rough/choppy pavement, and it handles it well. One of the proximity sensors needed resetting after driving through torrential (post-hurricane) rain; no big deal.
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