Dear All,

Hello to all members and contributors. By means of introduction, I thought I would share my views as a brand new Audi owner. For context, for the past 12 years or so I have owned new Ford Focuses (Foci?!), 2x top Spec Focuses, and 2x Focus STs with Sport Pack. The recent demise of the Focus/Focus ST has prompted migration to the Audi S3 to extend my mid-life crisis!

I don't want this to turn into a list of complaints about my new car, so don't get me wrong, the new Audi S3 drives like a dream and the ride and quality are great. However, as a motorist that has gone from a "non-prestige" Ford to a "prestige" Audi, I would really appreciate views and opinions on some things I have noticed. These are:

1. The Speed Limiter does not permit you to limit the speed automatically to the Speed Limit. For the past 12 years, the focuses all did this as standard. It seems an obvious option for the SPEED LIMITer to restrict speed to the SPEED LIMIT by default. The car has all of the pre-requisite technology (traffic sign recognition, automatic braking and acceleration and adaptive cruise assist). I know that Adaptive Cruise Assist can be used to match the car to the speed limit, but the Speed Limiter is a different function that is very useful in unfamiliar surroundings where the next speed camera is just around the corner!

2. There is no Valet mode - the Fords all had this option.

3. There is no heated steering wheel. I know we are having a heat wave, but the STs both had this as standard for the winter months! I would much rather Audi focused on functional items such as this rather than flashy matrix headlights and interior lighting.

4. There is no front windscreen de-frost. I understand this is a proprietary Ford function, but I would have thought that Audi might have addressed this in the 12 years plus that Ford have offered it.

5. I was surprised by the standard tyre pressures of 42/39 F/R PSI. The ST had the same tyres and were 35/35 F/R PSI. Does anyone know the reason for the difference please?

I would be really interested to hear the views of experienced Audi enthusiasts. I am really enjoying my new Audi, but some "closure" on the above points would enhance my driving experience even more! It would be even better if any Audi Technicians/Engineers are around to offer their views!

Many thanks all, and I look forward to hearing for you.

With Best Wishes,

Mark.

Mark.

Sorry to disappoint you but the days of Audi being a prestige brand have gone. It is now just another run of the mill manufacturer cutting costs at every opportunity to retain market share in a world where Chinese manufacturers are making huge inroads as a result of their better specifications and lower prices.

Regarding tyre pressures, they are dictated by car weight, suspension resilience, power output, and top speed, not size, so it isn't surprising they differ from the Ford.

59 minutes ago, cliffcoggin said:

Mark.

Sorry to disappoint you but the days of Audi being a prestige brand have gone. It is now just another run of the mill manufacturer cutting costs at every opportunity to retain market share in a world where Chinese manufacturers are making huge inroads as a result of their better specifications and lower prices.

Regarding tyre pressures, they are dictated by car weight, suspension resilience, power output, and top speed, not size, so it isn't surprising they differ from the Ford.

Thanks Cliff