[ilovewagons]

I test drove an RS3 sportback (hatchback version) with the 370hp (i think) motor. This was 2 weeks ago, when I went through a couple of days of trying to justify a less practical, more expensive car. These are my impressions.

0) It is faster than an M2 from a standing start. There's no doubt. It's batshit insane off the line.

1) The interior is completely superior to any 2 series. This has been the case for the last decade or so, so only an idiot would buy a BMW for the interior.

2) It sounds soooooo good. OMG. We get the sports exhaust as standard and it sobs and wails like Chewbacca being forced to watch Han being stabbed by Kylo Ren over and over before cracking on upshift and crackling and popping on overrun. It's just childishly amusing.

3) It is practical. Like all VAG hatches, it's a tardis on the inside. Room to spare in a compact package

4) The steering is dead. You turn the wheel and the car responds, but you get nothing back through the wheel, it kind of loads up, but it's just... missing.

5) Handling is neutral to understeer. Took it through a couple of roundabouts and off camber corners and neutral is the best you can hope for. It will not adjust with brake or throttle. Chopping the throttle mid-corner bizarrely leads to understeer.

6) No fender flares (why Audi? It's an RS car, have some fun FFS), no real chassis work, and a worse implementation of haldex than the Golf R really hurt the specialness/x-factor. You can't drive an M2 100m without feeling how special that car is, but other than that engine, which we should all thank Audi for keeping, you just don't get that.... tingly feeling that I got in an M2.

To summarise, an M2 is that person in your group of friends who's friends with everyone and you don't really know them that well. Then you go out for drinks one night and they're all like, 'Hey Dave, come on man, let's all go to this awesome place I know.' And you go and it's totally awesome and they end up being your best mate. Even though your name isn't Dave, you didn't care because they were a legit awesome person and you know every time you see them that awesomeness is going to happen.

The RS3 is that person who nurses one drink for hours, is always texting someone and doesn't really take part. But they will always take care of you if you have too much to drink and they're always the one who organises an Uber and makes sure you don't end up in an alley missing your kidneys. They might not be fun, but they are safe, sensible, pay extra into their retirement fund and are really fun at one thing, once you drag it out of them.

We have a B-180 that's going to be up for renewal in a year or two. I wouldn't hesitate to replace it with an RS3. As a compromise car, it takes some beating, but this time, I want something truly special and the M2 is that car. 5 weeks to go before I pick mine up.

[LBBDrew]

^ LOL this was great

[Seagull]

^ made my day this dreary Monday. Thank you. You need to write for top gear.

[Denk]

Not bad for a sedan. I'd like to test drive one if I can. What's up with those tiny exhaust tips?

[BEM-S4]

I believe the Haldex and a number of other factors will be improved for the sedan vs the current hatch, which has been around for quite some time. Keep in mind anyone, me included, who has test driven one has driven the old outgoing one.

[vladberca]

The price will be between M2 and M3.
Other than straight line performance, I don't see it more fun than the bimmers.
More of a rival for CLA AMG.

[CrashFL]

It's beautiful. And I'm a huge fan of the new Audi interiors. For entertainment value, I like driving RWD, and a manual transmission. AWD and DCT are fast as stink, but just not as playful.

Anyway, love the Audi.