[Tippytoes]

Even though not in the R configurator I have been assured by VW dealer that electric driver seat with memory function is available for FL version at £595. Agree that the R seats are more comfortable, the side bolsters hold you in more - great for those fast twisty B roads or doing very fast roundabouts.

[Real Thing]

Even though not in the R configurator I have been assured by VW dealer that electric driver seat with memory function is available for FL version at £595. Agree that the R seats are more comfortable, the side bolsters hold you in more - great for those fast twisty B roads or doing very fast roundabouts.

It's available with Memory on 5 Door (Only with Leather) but it's never been available on a 3 Door Model (Same with the Audi S3) might be something to do with the tilt forward mechanism (Although was available on the Scirocco)

[BillTheButcher]

I swapped my 8P RS3 for a PFL Golf R. Very capable all-rounder but IMO the engine is completely devoid of character with a soundtrack to match, no matter what exhaust you put on it. After ten months I'd had enough and swapped it for a B7 RS4.

[Wingnut_RS]

Maybe I'm being too pessimistic thinking that things will go wrong from reading some of the posts on this forum and the thought of having to put up with Audi to put things right is a daunting one. One thing though is that I've never been satisfied with the suspension - from day one it had to have rear top mounts replaced due to knocking noise and the ride quality on anything but smooth surfaces has been harsh and unforgiving. Even replacing the springs with the MSS ones hasn't improved things much and the recalibration of mag ride ( double checked by Audi) has not improved matters. Maybe I have something not right on my car which requires investigation, but by who, certainly no faith in Audi to do this? One of the first things that impressed me on the GR is how much better the suspension was than my 8v.

Moving forward for the next few years it is not necessarily outright performance that I'm after, I'm just aware that having driven RS3 for 6 years that anything less will be disappointing & may be difficult to live with. Which is what I was expecting from the GR but was surprised from my limited test drive at how close the performance appeared to be to the RS3. The remap thing for GR was me convincing myself that if I did end up missing the RS3 outright performance then there was a simple, cost effective and safe solution.

To be honest, on the test drive I did not notice the 4 pot noise as had it in race mode most of the time and the exhaust note dominated over any engine noise to the cabin. I think I will need another test drive which is a bit longer and involves more 70 mph dual carriageway type stuff.

Bottom line - I went on test drive expecting to be disappointed but came away surprised at how good the R is to the point that this could suit me and my requirements, particularly on reliability and running costs for the next 5 years or so.

If you’ve already got an RS3 then you’ll know that the 5 pot engine growl is actually the engine whereas the GR in sports mode is actually a speaker made to sound like an R32, if you want a fake growl then record the noise of your RS3 and buy yourself a corsa vxr and play your recording through the speakers.

I’ve just given up a 2016 pfl GR for an RS3 and the build quality is in a different league and you don’t have to put the RS3 into sports mode to listen to 5 angry screaming cylinders because all you do is plant your right foot and hold on for dear life, something you’ll miss in a standard .:R


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[StuRS3]

If you’ve already got an RS3 then you’ll know that the 5 pot engine growl is actually the engine whereas the GR in sports mode is actually a speaker made to sound like an R32, if you want a fake growl then record the noise of your RS3 and buy yourself a corsa vxr and play your recording through the speakers.
I’ve just given up a 2016 pfl GR for an RS3 and the build quality is in a different league and you don’t have to put the RS3 into sports mode to listen to 5 angry screaming cylinders because all you do is plant your right foot and hold on for dear life, something you’ll miss in a standard .:R
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Less of the slating a corsa VXR my wife has a very lovely Limited Edition Clubsport version running stage 3

Stu

PS: I’m going to record my RS3 when I get it lll and give it to her lol

[Wingnut_RS]

Less of the slating a corsa VXR my wife has a very lovely Limited Edition Clubsport version running stage 3

Stu

PS: I’m going to record my RS3 when I get it lll and give it to her lol

It’s better than a screaming mistress having a massive orgasm and giving the recording to the wife, that might be more upsetting lol


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[Tippytoes]

Well I finally went mad and got serious about the Golf R Mk 7.5 - had two test drives, went through several configurations and settled on one with price of £47,750! This included the titanium exhaust which seemed essential after finding out about the Soundaktor crap thing. So last weekend asked VW dealer what offer he could give me & how much for the 8V - £1,000 discount and only £29k for the 8V! That's a 'downgrade' net cost of £17,250 which is not very different to the net cost I was getting last year for the FL.

 

So I go back to Audi configurator and being careful about options get a FL SB price of £49,945 and the Audi dealer I dealt with last year gave me a projected value (March 2018) of my 8V of £33k, a net cost of £16,945. So I got back in touch with Audi dealer gave him the particulars and asked for an offer - he got back to me last night with a £2k discount on FL & £33k for the 8V, a net cost of £14,945.

 

The Golf R thing was a head & not a heart thing - it was result of wanting new car with up to date features to last me for the next 5 to 8 years which is my prediction when electric will take over and become part of the mainstream. It was also a small improvement on costs, less road tax, lower running costs and improved reliability. However, as it's now close to making a decision on Golf R the thought of no longer driving the 8V gave me second thoughts. I have in the past made sensible decisions with the head contrary to what the heart was saying and regretted it.

 

So I am about to place an order for a FL SB, seeing dealer on Thursday, but require some advice in respect of problems/faults. Is there still a brake issue, should I re-fit the OEM front discs & pads and save the Alcon discs & Ferodo DS pads for the FL? Same with the H&R ARB as still got the OEM one? I see that the cold start noise has not been resolved and T-800 replacement rear box is not due till 10 Feb so not sure if this issue has been dealt with by Audi yet. Are there any other common faults/issues with the FL?

 

I may have been mad thinking about 'downgrading' to the Golf R, but could I be equally mad for exchanging the 8V for the FL?

[JayRS3]

First of all you only live once.

Do what you want, not because of figures. If you can afford the car YOU want then buy it. That way there will be no regrets.

I’d return your bits to standard as no doubt they may all fit the FL or worse case sell them on and that’ll help fund perhaps a new set for the FL or something else if the brake issue is resolved.

That 5 pot will be missed and probably deep down you know it.

[T-800]

Firstly i wouldn't say you are downgrading if going for the Golf R FL........far too many people are sniffy about it and i don't understand why.

 

Golf R FL is a fabulous motor car there is no doubt 

 

2015 RS3 is a fabulous motor car with added 5 cylinder noise 

 

2017 RS3 FL is a fabulous (sound like yer man Craig Revel whatsit) motor car with added 5 cylinder noise and yes no pops on manual downshifts  but pops and bangs like a good un in auto Dynamic/individual modes, but as ever there are some that see this as rubbish       seems daft to me to form an opinion on whether a car is great or not based upon how much it pops

 

You have to look at the FL RS3 as a 'full' package because that is what it now represents.......newer engine, more power, better handling, better tech in the virtual cockpit (i personally love it and wouldn't be without it) tuners already saying extracting bigger power is easier.

 

Anti-roll bar for me it doesn't need it at all

 

Brakes are fine, i had a tiny amount of squeal at the start but nothing of note since, yes there are Ferodo DS pads on their way and yes i'll be fitting them to the car (front and rear) but I view them as a 100 times better pad than the Audi OEM pads, that's it, nothing else to say on brakes except they are great an I've no issues with them.

 

Exhaust issue will be sorted soon...........nothing else really to report.

 

 

[Tippytoes]

Thanks T8 - I agree with what you say about Golf R FL, I was really surprised and impressed how close it is in performance to RS3 which is why I was serious about buying, but and its a big one, I didn't feel as comfortable in the cabin - the RS3 has an ambience of restrained quality in comparison and one which I really like. This coupled with the exhaust & engine sounds are just too difficult for me to give up.

Your opinion/experience on the RS3 FL is very reassuring and convinces me to go ahead with placing order. I assume Audi have now got proper handed front discs leaving the weak item as OEM pads. Looking forward to your report on replaced exhaust back box and hoping it solves the cold start noise as assume all later models will have this fix. It seems there are no suspension issues as there were on 8V so may not take the MSS springs off for the FL.

[Roy]

Well I finally went mad and got serious about the Golf R Mk 7.5 - had two test drives, went through several configurations and settled on one with price of £47,750! This included the titanium exhaust which seemed essential after finding out about the Soundaktor crap thing. So last weekend asked VW dealer what offer he could give me & how much for the 8V - £1,000 discount and only £29k for the 8V! That's a 'downgrade' net cost of £17,250 which is not very different to the net cost I was getting last year for the FL.

 

So I go back to Audi configurator and being careful about options get a FL SB price of £49,945 and the Audi dealer I dealt with last year gave me a projected value (March 2018) of my 8V of £33k, a net cost of £16,945. So I got back in touch with Audi dealer gave him the particulars and asked for an offer - he got back to me last night with a £2k discount on FL & £33k for the 8V, a net cost of £14,945.

 

The Golf R thing was a head & not a heart thing - it was result of wanting new car with up to date features to last me for the next 5 to 8 years which is my prediction when electric will take over and become part of the mainstream. It was also a small improvement on costs, less road tax, lower running costs and improved reliability. However, as it's now close to making a decision on Golf R the thought of no longer driving the 8V gave me second thoughts. I have in the past made sensible decisions with the head contrary to what the heart was saying and regretted it.

 

So I am about to place an order for a FL SB, seeing dealer on Thursday, but require some advice in respect of problems/faults. Is there still a brake issue, should I re-fit the OEM front discs & pads and save the Alcon discs & Ferodo DS pads for the FL? Same with the H&R ARB as still got the OEM one? I see that the cold start noise has not been resolved and T-800 replacement rear box is not due till 10 Feb so not sure if this issue has been dealt with by Audi yet. Are there any other common faults/issues with the FL?

 

I may have been mad thinking about 'downgrading' to the Golf R, but could I be equally mad for exchanging the 8V for the FL?

I used to be indecisive but now im not so sure !!

 

Tip go with your heart,,, or better still join the Barge club !