I don't like the S3 saloon either. But then, I can't say the 235i does that much for me.
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I don't like the S3 saloon either. But then, I can't say the 235i does that much for me.
No, it won't. If you are in 2nd gear and wanting to leave roundabouts with full throttle then you should expect to end up in a spin. Even then, the traction control does such a great job, the most you normally get is a slight wiggle, followed by a childish giggle. It isn't a Zonda R where it might spin and kill you at any moment - it's a modern BMW.
The RWD makes the whole car feel alive and gives it character. When I was looking at a replacement car, I was eyeing up the Audi S3 and all I heard from people was that it was great...but pretty dull and boring. Even a friend who has one and who loves VAG cars said the exact same.
For me, a regular 4cyl turbo and AWD simply won't create an exciting drive. It'll be very fuel efficient, excellent in all weather conditions and be able to slingshot from the lights - but ultimately dull.
That can be very dependent on chassis setup, tyre and way the power comes in.
For example, my M3, far from standard but is RWD but I can drive it pretty much full chat in heavy rain on MPSS. Car is front engine, RWD.
My Mustang on the other hand, also a front engine, RWD with same MPSS could be lethal in the wet, namely due to not quite as sorted chassis, more weight and of course a far more higher torque engine which could break traction. Similar could be said of a car like a C63 AMG or BMW M4 for example.
A car like an M240i is softer and more setup as a road car and less track car, as such they tend to be a lot more sure footed in wet conditions, of course if your a muppet with no clue then crashing a RWD is easier.
In short RWD can be as quick as AWD in the wet, but it takes less skill to extract that ability from an AWD car than a RWD car.
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All those points are valid in some ways but dont detract from RWD being pants in the wet compared to AWD. Nothing to do with character or skill.
I think "pants" is a bit harsh, especially for a modern car with decent stability systems.
I can corner almost as hard in my MX5 on semi-slicks (AD08R) in the wet as I can in my S3...
Exactly this. I definitely don't drive like miss daisy, so I know full well that the car isn't pants in the wet.
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Gonna agree to disagree, not great in the wet with 300bhp+
My M3 is freaking amazing in the wet, absolutely crazily fast, I also have a Golf R which is AWD. I'd say the only time the AWD Golf has an upper hand is from a standing start, you can still go full throttle and it puts power down, whereas in the M3 in the wet 1st gear is pretty much useless, but handling wise, corner speed wise the M3 is as quick, it is on the limit handling, going beyond levels of grips where an AWD is less likely to bite you in the ass which really comes back to skill level.
RWD, AWD, FWD has no impact on mechanical grip at the 4 corners, that is down to chassis and rubber mainly, where an AWD is easier as you can drive it beyond grip and is easier to control, whereas a RWD will oversteer typically which is harder to control.
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I daily drive a Cayman GT4 on Cup 2 tires in Florida where it rains every day (and by rain, I don't mean tiny little rain storms like in the UK), and I manage just fine. Was my GT-R a little easier to plant the throttle in any conditions without thought? Yes, but I drive the GT4 hard, and I've not even had a single occasion where I felt it was "not great in the wet".
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Its not about "managing just fine" its the fact you do have to moderate yourself significantly more in the wet in a RWD car.
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How do you drive in the wet for this to pose any issue to you?
It's hardly ever a problem if you don't go around in the pouring rain dumping 300bhp on the tarmac off every roundabout.
I'd imagine for it to become an issue you need to be driving in a fashion that isn't really suitable for the dodgy conditions anyway.
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Doesn't pose any issue to me, I manage just fine but that's not the point.
Sounds like he treats the throttle as an on/off switch...
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Seems like I need one of these cars that defies the laws of physics next time. 
More like it just breaks free randomly when it really shouldn't then wobbles about a bit like a super flabby lady belly.
Then a short while later when the TC has made you wait, you can then unleash the lovely engine again.
Good little car, but clearly needs mods to get the most out of it.
Just stick with the FRS, or sell it, get a cheap runaround then a fun plaything like an MX5
If you’ve got crap tyres / ability and especially both then absolutely yes, otherwise I disagree strongly.
I tend to have the traction control off on my 735i (V8, RWD,nigh 2ton kerb weight) especially in the snow as I find it cuts in making slow progress especially difficult and in the wet I find if it engages in a situation where I’ve already allowed for a bit of slip, it engaging makes the situation far worse, not better.
I don’t - generally- hoon it around, it’s got decent tyres on it (Continental Sport Contact 5’s) and I’d like to think I’m a reasonable driver.
I’ve driven my M135i for about 70,000 miles and in all sorts of weather (and always on MPSS) and I haven’t died, not even once.
Of course it’s easy to provoke the back end (which you cannot do in an S3...just understeer city) if you drive it like a hooligan but if you do that regularly enough for it to be an issue then you are, in fact, a massive gentleman’s sausage and you shouldn’t be on the road.
Of course it’s easy to provoke the back end (which you cannot do in an S3...just understeer city) if you drive it like a hooligan but if you do that regularly enough for it to be an issue then you are, in fact, a massive gentleman’s sausage and you shouldn’t be on the road.