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03-24-2026LAST POST
I see RS3s here relatively often... about as often as I see an M340i. Which is to say not often, but definitely not never.
The new generation seems to have bumped up the exterior aggressiveness a notch and comes with a nice updated interior. I'll be shopping a LCI in a few years. Something about compact 4 door sports sedans really attract me especially with a good powertrain.
wtwo3 wroteMust be a weird part of England where OP lives because I see RS 3s very frequently further up norff.I take it RS3s are not common there?
strohw wroteCongrats on the Blackwing. Did you get it at MSRP?I do agree that the interior didn't come close to the price they charged for the car. You build one online and it comes out to 63-65k. But then you sit in one and it's a bit uhhhh. I just signed the papers on a CT4 Blackwing manual for 65k. The RS3 just feels overpriced.
wtwo3 wroteEven my wife can tell the difference when she sees an RS3 (wider fenders, large RS grille, more aggressive stance). Not much difference from what everyone else is doing (with the exception (unfortunately) of the G80 M3 vs your standard 3 Series).That's surprising. Could it be you've seen them but they're practically indistinguishable from an S3/A3 so you were unaware (which can be said for a lot of Audi's lineup - it gets real bad when you mistake an A4 for a Jetta or vice versa)
I see RS3s here relatively often... about as often as I see an M340i. Which is to say not often, but definitely not never.
wtwo3 wroteI did actually. I inquired and they had no adjustment on it so they gave me the numbers. I thought about it that night and decided to pull the trigger so I called back the next day. I talked to a different salesmen and they told me the car now had a 5k adjustment. I told them they just ran me numbers yesterday with no adjustment. He put me on hold, talked to the sales manager and came back saying though would do MSRP.Congrats on the Blackwing. Did you get it at MSRP?
Burrcold wroteI suppose that's true. Not a ton of immediate visual difference between a C63 and C43 or an f80 M3 and an f30 340i. Although I've usually found Audis relatively a little harder to tell the difference if I'm seeing one driving in the distance (as opposed to just parked somewhere).Not much difference from what everyone else is doing (with the exception (unfortunately) of the G80 M3 vs your standard 3 Series).
wtwo3 wroteLots of A/S3's I've seen and I ''may'' have seen an RS3 here and there but didn't recognise it as one on the road before they're gone b/c they're indistinguishable from an A3/S3 at first so it was a boon seeing one parked up where I could have a closer look at itI take it RS3s are not common there?
strohw wroteNice! Lease or purchase? I'm guessing these Blackwings are better off purchased.I did actually. I inquired and they had no adjustment on it so they gave me the numbers. I thought about it that night and decided to pull the trigger so I called back the next day. I talked to a different salesmen and they told me the car now had a 5k adjustment. I told them they just ran me numbers yesterday with no adjustment. He put me on hold, talked to the sales manager and came back saying though would do MSRP.
strohw wroteThat's kind of surprising in a North American city. I don't see a lot of them but I see them. That said the average person wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an RS3 and an S3 unless they are familiar with the RS oval tailpipes as the styling changes are very subtle.I've never seen an RS3 actually driving on the road or parked either. I've seen them at the track but that's it.
wtwo3 wrotePurchase. For a 36/10 Lease a M3 is 57% residual and .001 MF. The Blackwing is 51% residual and .002 MF. I'm pretty sure a RS3 would lease with similar numbers to a Blackwing though. I may be wrong but their RS numbers usually aren't great.Nice! Lease or purchase? I'm guessing these Blackwings are better off purchased.
heavyD^2 wroteI live in an area where MB/BMW is a 1 hour drive to the dealership and the other euro brands are 1.5 hours. I practically never see M vehicles, RS or AMG models anywhere near where I live. This entire year I've seen 1 M5 2 hours west of me, 1 f80 M3, 1 e63 and that's it.That's kind of surprising in a North American city. I don't see a lot of them but I see them. That said the average person wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an RS3 and an S3 unless they are familiar with the RS oval tailpipes as the styling changes are very subtle.
idk i just didn't really gel with it. suspension is very firm. the dct is a bit clunky on the 1-2 shift. powerband is laggy. once on boost it scoots pretty good and at low speeds it would beat the m3 thanks to awd. the 5 cylinder sounds alot better than the S55 too.
the interior is a bit bare but the digital gauge screen was nice on vacation since you can get all your info/navi right there
