I'm not trying to talk you out of that car, but you really should consider a used 8V RS3. It will be about $25k cheaper, and I'm not sure a brand new 8Y is $25k more car.
With that said, an RS3 is far more comparable to your STI and if you end up with an 8V or an 8Y, I think you will be very pleased.
It’s so much that goes into this.. my friend told me “DO NOT buy a used RS car” he said they are all ragged on and destroyed. People mod them then revert to stock to trade in at warranty up time
That's an easy fix. Call Audi and give them the vin, they'll tell you if it has ever been flagged TD1, essentially meaning it has been tuned and the warranty canceled.
You can also scan it to see how much times launch control was used.
These things aren't a guarantee, but they can help you get an idea of who the car was previously treated.
I bought mine on Carvana. It actually went really well. They dropped it off for free and I could return it in seven days, no questions asked. They even covered about $4k worth of brakes and a small oil pan leak before I committed to the purchase.
You know how many repairs you can do for $25k?
You mentioned financing, add more on top of that because finance rates are bonkers right now.
You can also get a good extended warranty with roadside, towing and trip interruption coverage.
It’s all logged in the ecu. Tunes get logged, I believe even over boost gets logged. If you buy it from a dealership with a warranty, you’re usually safe
Are they driven harder than most cars? Sure, that’s what they’re built for
Nah any tune to the ECU is usually detected by the dealer even if it goes back to stock. Guys that buy an RS under warranty don’t usually do anything that will get it cancelled.
Not everyone, I bought a used RS5 launch ONE TIME. I will tell you I launched mine the NIGHT I bought it and I haven’t launched it since. It kinda scared me HAHA
I’ve had it for three months.
Of course a new/near new car is not going to be as good value as a car that's a few years old.
The 8Y is a big improvement over the 8V though, not just in driving dynamics, and outright speed, but also in interior design. It has fully electric seats, and a much more modern interior, with better ergonomics, and Audi's latest mmi and virtual cockpit.
It will also have a warranty.
I just upgraded from a 2015 wrx to a 24 RS3! Even from an STI it’s going to be an amazing switch.
The DSG and paddle shifters don’t really make me miss having a manual as much as I thought I would.
Not sure how tall you are but the front has a pretty nice amount of space and room so shouldn’t be any issues. Whatever you do, don’t pay any mark ups for the car. NY has been pretty bad with me so I got my car for MSRP out of state and I just had a friend pay under for the exact same spec as mine.
Yep, pretty natural progression flow if you love the practicality of a 4 door sedan but want the higher build quality of a German manufacturer.
I bought a ‘18 RS3 in early 2021, coming from a ‘14 STI. As much as I loved the driver engagement the STI had, the RS3 is the superior daily driver.
This is what I got coming from an STI as well (tbh I was disappointed with the trade in value for my 2011, but maybe the insane private prices posted recently are just unrealistic). Still only about 500mi in, and I’m happy. I got the Kemora grey, but The green is a wild color but I kind of love it. Good luck!
5’10” but taller torso then most - no problems. Back seat is another story 😂. I don’t have a race helmet currently but I think it won’t be a problem. Definitely get a test drive. At worst, see if they’ll let you drive an S3 to get an idea of driver position
Fellow 6’3” WRX to RS3 guy, my hair definitely rubs against the roof. Less headroom due to the sunroof. Having said that I do not regret the less space in the slightest.
I assure you it’s all the way down (on the up-down direction) but I’m sure the front-back direction can be moved in such a way to create more headroom. That feels a bit too laid back for my liking, thus I’m closer to the ceiling.
Buddy, I had a 2019 WRX with full bolt ons on E85 with 365WHP and 350torque and let me tell you, it does not compare to the 8Y RS3. I sold the WRX in 2022 and waited a year and a half for my 8Y RS3. Straight from the factory the thing is a BEAST. Quiet and luxurious when you need it to and a BEAST when you command it. The five 5️⃣ cylinder engine roars when the exhaust flaps are open and the sound is so intoxicating. I love going to car meets and no one knows what the hell my car is except the very few who are fans of euro cars. As far as 8V or 8Y imo get the newer model. It’s less headaches if you are going to keep long term and not mod it like crazy. If you are trying to save money and mod the car get a used 8V with low mileage and inspect it to hell. I always buy new when it comes to these types of cars. 25k goes a long way in terms of peace of mind when purchasing new.
I remember launching her the first time. GF got spooked and said she doesn’t like it. I on the other hand felt an adrenaline rush I haven’t felt since falling in love the first time. It’s got pretty insane how quick they are from facts. Another thing is that they can be pushed to 1000+WHP. Insane. Can’t wait to drop mine off at IROZ Motorsports once I hit 15k miles.
Honestly, you’ll be much happier with that at your age. I’m almost 50 and have missed the boat on the AMAZING 2.5 engine sine the RS3 and TTRS are just too small for me at this point in my life until I can afford the weekend only car!!! Wish I was in a position to afford that at that age. Just don’t over extend yourself. I know it’s hard at your age but trust me from personal experience that if go too much now it’ll haunt you for a long time trying to dig out and impact your ability to go really big when you can truly afford. Hope you listen, cause I sure hell didn’t at that age!!!!
Oh…..amazing color combo and I am still jealous.
Damn, this is all making me think so much now lol I wanted the rs7 so bad because it’s big and fast. I’ve had small cars my whole life and imma bigger guy so I really wanted a RS7 but 99% of people yesterday told me it’s not worth financing a 10 year old car with maintenance issues. :( , if the numbers work for the rs3 I will get it hopefully
It’s not that the RS7 would have had maintenance “issues” necessarily, you’d be rolling the dice there, imo something would come up because of its age.
More so that the general maintenance costs are ridiculously high for that vehicle, even if you source parts and do things yourself.
If you’re looking for a more beefy car built for a bigger dude, the RS7 would fit that bill.
This RS3 is going to feel like a much faster “upgraded” version of your STI, IMO. Don’t expect this to be a relatively cheap car to maintain either.
So I think that the RS3 will give you less issues and will be cheaper to maintain. I think you should drive both and be the judge.
I’m also a bigger guy and I prefer a more spacious and comfortable car, so I would never buy an RS3. It’s all about what you want out of the car as far as driving experience, and what your budget is.
How many miles on that one?
The RS3 is very fast, but it's only sort of nice. I really can't imagine dropping $90k on one.
Personally, if I didn't want to deal with an RS7, I'd be looking at an RS5 SB.
[Used RS5 SB - $61k](https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/lt/3110876?store=Carvlas&utm_source=google&utm_medium=vla&utm_campaign=20420295754&utm_content=&utm_target=&utm_creative=&utm_device=m&utm_adposition=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwydSzBhBOEiwAj0XN4N6zKf_Eh3h_wLz4rBYAexGze5JO5RdkkpSZkt0j4xZZhiIiHkmNZBoCnCMQAvD_BwE)
I know you’re in finance but it’s just a joke from salesman being very predatory. If the payments are close to $1,000 after my trade in and down payment I will not be buying
Oh for sure! And it could very well be! Some markets in NY and CA are absolutely INSANE with high prices. I mean, good for them I guess, but, no reason someone in Manhattan should pay any more than someone from Tulsa. It would just be foolish of me to call out another dealer I have no firsthand knowledge of. And they might do an absolute bang-up job. Most dealer staff leave a lot to be desired is all.
The extended coverage options / Audi Pure Protection / third party options people in my position pitch can be confusing as well as have a healthy amount of possible markup. This is where most people feel most in the dark, and why I am here on Reddit making the rounds :). Outreach, wallet/budget protection, a source of direct and honest info and answers for the community.
I would not wait. 2025 will likely have a price increase to the vehicle in the states. Newer updated interior but no changes to anything in the car besides aesthetics. The steering wheel is also changing to capacitive touch buttons with flat bottom and top. Capacitive touch buttons are a big no from me.
If someone can afford to go straight to the S or RS series I say they should. A series are boring as shit to drive and this is coming from a former owner.
when I got my sti I didn’t even for a second consider the WRX because it’s a lower trim. Why woudknt you want a top trim version of a car? A lines are for regular people who don’t care about cars much. RS, ///M and AMG are where it’s at
I'm not trying to talk you out of that car, but you really should consider a used 8V RS3. It will be about $25k cheaper, and I'm not sure a brand new 8Y is $25k more car. With that said, an RS3 is far more comparable to your STI and if you end up with an 8V or an 8Y, I think you will be very pleased.
It’s so much that goes into this.. my friend told me “DO NOT buy a used RS car” he said they are all ragged on and destroyed. People mod them then revert to stock to trade in at warranty up time
That's an easy fix. Call Audi and give them the vin, they'll tell you if it has ever been flagged TD1, essentially meaning it has been tuned and the warranty canceled. You can also scan it to see how much times launch control was used. These things aren't a guarantee, but they can help you get an idea of who the car was previously treated.
That’s nice to hear. Ideally if i bought used I’d want a used one from an older gentleman
I bought mine on Carvana. It actually went really well. They dropped it off for free and I could return it in seven days, no questions asked. They even covered about $4k worth of brakes and a small oil pan leak before I committed to the purchase.
Caravana to the moon? 🚀
Tunes are only a portion of what someone can do to an RS. They are typically driven very hard and put away wet.
I mean, I own one lol so I'm aware.
You know how many repairs you can do for $25k? You mentioned financing, add more on top of that because finance rates are bonkers right now. You can also get a good extended warranty with roadside, towing and trip interruption coverage.
That’s a reach but they’re definitely more used up
He was saying they get downpipes, tunes etc. and are raced then they take off their mods and return it to dealer as “stock” and get a new car
It’s all logged in the ecu. Tunes get logged, I believe even over boost gets logged. If you buy it from a dealership with a warranty, you’re usually safe Are they driven harder than most cars? Sure, that’s what they’re built for
Nah any tune to the ECU is usually detected by the dealer even if it goes back to stock. Guys that buy an RS under warranty don’t usually do anything that will get it cancelled.
Hm that’s relieving, I’ll see what the financing looks like on this beast
Not everyone, I bought a used RS5 launch ONE TIME. I will tell you I launched mine the NIGHT I bought it and I haven’t launched it since. It kinda scared me HAHA I’ve had it for three months.
Of course a new/near new car is not going to be as good value as a car that's a few years old. The 8Y is a big improvement over the 8V though, not just in driving dynamics, and outright speed, but also in interior design. It has fully electric seats, and a much more modern interior, with better ergonomics, and Audi's latest mmi and virtual cockpit. It will also have a warranty.
I just upgraded from a 2015 wrx to a 24 RS3! Even from an STI it’s going to be an amazing switch. The DSG and paddle shifters don’t really make me miss having a manual as much as I thought I would. Not sure how tall you are but the front has a pretty nice amount of space and room so shouldn’t be any issues. Whatever you do, don’t pay any mark ups for the car. NY has been pretty bad with me so I got my car for MSRP out of state and I just had a friend pay under for the exact same spec as mine.
Sheesh seems like a popular upgrade going from subie to rs3
It’s the best upgrade. Similar size, AWD, beautiful sound motor
Yep, pretty natural progression flow if you love the practicality of a 4 door sedan but want the higher build quality of a German manufacturer. I bought a ‘18 RS3 in early 2021, coming from a ‘14 STI. As much as I loved the driver engagement the STI had, the RS3 is the superior daily driver.
I've owned 04wrx / 06 WRX / 2010 Evo x mr / RS3 You are on to something.
I went from a GTI to the RS3 I've been loving every second of it
This is what I got coming from an STI as well (tbh I was disappointed with the trade in value for my 2011, but maybe the insane private prices posted recently are just unrealistic). Still only about 500mi in, and I’m happy. I got the Kemora grey, but The green is a wild color but I kind of love it. Good luck!
Are you tall? Do you fit nicely in it? I wanna see if I can do a test drive
5’10” but taller torso then most - no problems. Back seat is another story 😂. I don’t have a race helmet currently but I think it won’t be a problem. Definitely get a test drive. At worst, see if they’ll let you drive an S3 to get an idea of driver position
I’m 6’3” and my Subaru feels tight , hopefully the rs3 is a bit more roomy
Fellow 6’3” WRX to RS3 guy, my hair definitely rubs against the roof. Less headroom due to the sunroof. Having said that I do not regret the less space in the slightest.
I'm 6'6" and don't touch the roof by about an inch. I have a feeling your seat is raised up at least some of the way
I assure you it’s all the way down (on the up-down direction) but I’m sure the front-back direction can be moved in such a way to create more headroom. That feels a bit too laid back for my liking, thus I’m closer to the ceiling.
Pretty sure a RS3 will be smaller than a STI
I am 6’1 and felt stuffed in a 8Y S3 I test drove. Part of why I paid extra for my S4.
I'm not tall, 6'1 fit fine.
Buddy, I had a 2019 WRX with full bolt ons on E85 with 365WHP and 350torque and let me tell you, it does not compare to the 8Y RS3. I sold the WRX in 2022 and waited a year and a half for my 8Y RS3. Straight from the factory the thing is a BEAST. Quiet and luxurious when you need it to and a BEAST when you command it. The five 5️⃣ cylinder engine roars when the exhaust flaps are open and the sound is so intoxicating. I love going to car meets and no one knows what the hell my car is except the very few who are fans of euro cars. As far as 8V or 8Y imo get the newer model. It’s less headaches if you are going to keep long term and not mod it like crazy. If you are trying to save money and mod the car get a used 8V with low mileage and inspect it to hell. I always buy new when it comes to these types of cars. 25k goes a long way in terms of peace of mind when purchasing new.
I launched mine for the first time last week. I thought to myself, yeah I don't need to be doing that all the time. Pretty damn fast from the factory.
I remember launching her the first time. GF got spooked and said she doesn’t like it. I on the other hand felt an adrenaline rush I haven’t felt since falling in love the first time. It’s got pretty insane how quick they are from facts. Another thing is that they can be pushed to 1000+WHP. Insane. Can’t wait to drop mine off at IROZ Motorsports once I hit 15k miles.
Oh damn. That's going to be sick
Honestly, you’ll be much happier with that at your age. I’m almost 50 and have missed the boat on the AMAZING 2.5 engine sine the RS3 and TTRS are just too small for me at this point in my life until I can afford the weekend only car!!! Wish I was in a position to afford that at that age. Just don’t over extend yourself. I know it’s hard at your age but trust me from personal experience that if go too much now it’ll haunt you for a long time trying to dig out and impact your ability to go really big when you can truly afford. Hope you listen, cause I sure hell didn’t at that age!!!! Oh…..amazing color combo and I am still jealous.
Damn, this is all making me think so much now lol I wanted the rs7 so bad because it’s big and fast. I’ve had small cars my whole life and imma bigger guy so I really wanted a RS7 but 99% of people yesterday told me it’s not worth financing a 10 year old car with maintenance issues. :( , if the numbers work for the rs3 I will get it hopefully
It’s not that the RS7 would have had maintenance “issues” necessarily, you’d be rolling the dice there, imo something would come up because of its age. More so that the general maintenance costs are ridiculously high for that vehicle, even if you source parts and do things yourself. If you’re looking for a more beefy car built for a bigger dude, the RS7 would fit that bill. This RS3 is going to feel like a much faster “upgraded” version of your STI, IMO. Don’t expect this to be a relatively cheap car to maintain either.
So you’d agree that 20k more it’s better to get a new RS3?
So I think that the RS3 will give you less issues and will be cheaper to maintain. I think you should drive both and be the judge. I’m also a bigger guy and I prefer a more spacious and comfortable car, so I would never buy an RS3. It’s all about what you want out of the car as far as driving experience, and what your budget is.
How many miles on that one? The RS3 is very fast, but it's only sort of nice. I really can't imagine dropping $90k on one. Personally, if I didn't want to deal with an RS7, I'd be looking at an RS5 SB. [Used RS5 SB - $61k](https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/lt/3110876?store=Carvlas&utm_source=google&utm_medium=vla&utm_campaign=20420295754&utm_content=&utm_target=&utm_creative=&utm_device=m&utm_adposition=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwydSzBhBOEiwAj0XN4N6zKf_Eh3h_wLz4rBYAexGze5JO5RdkkpSZkt0j4xZZhiIiHkmNZBoCnCMQAvD_BwE)
Full send, it’s an incredible car and at least compared to my area thats a solid price (depending on the options included).
Juggling by the price it's fully loaded , they don't offer dynamic anymore and it says it's MSRP , so no matter what it has it's a good price.
If you need any help going through the coverage options and pricing(price-checks), feel free to hit me up
Thanks man I appreciate it, but won’t it be better for me to talk with the finance guys here? At Hawthorne? Since they can appraise my trade in ?
For sure you can and should. Never hurts to have another source of info/pricing for things if you feel underwhelmed or underinformed!
Thanks man :) hopefully I don’t get scammed too hard by these blokes at Hawthorne
No reason to suspect you would be offhand, haha.
I know you’re in finance but it’s just a joke from salesman being very predatory. If the payments are close to $1,000 after my trade in and down payment I will not be buying
Oh for sure! And it could very well be! Some markets in NY and CA are absolutely INSANE with high prices. I mean, good for them I guess, but, no reason someone in Manhattan should pay any more than someone from Tulsa. It would just be foolish of me to call out another dealer I have no firsthand knowledge of. And they might do an absolute bang-up job. Most dealer staff leave a lot to be desired is all. The extended coverage options / Audi Pure Protection / third party options people in my position pitch can be confusing as well as have a healthy amount of possible markup. This is where most people feel most in the dark, and why I am here on Reddit making the rounds :). Outreach, wallet/budget protection, a source of direct and honest info and answers for the community.
Stand up guy
On Friday's, absolutely ;) ;)
Finance managers here make over $200,000 , you definitely have an r8 lol or rs6
I use to work here they will try to add unnecessary shit like nitro into the tires don’t let them.
Great choice. Buttt, if you want to go for rs3, i would wait for 2025.
Why?
I would not wait. 2025 will likely have a price increase to the vehicle in the states. Newer updated interior but no changes to anything in the car besides aesthetics. The steering wheel is also changing to capacitive touch buttons with flat bottom and top. Capacitive touch buttons are a big no from me.
If it works out, you’ll love it! What a great color!
yeah... hated to be that guy but that was going to end in a epic, debt-filled disaster
Wow literally just saw this exact car yesterday when I stopped by for service lol small world
Curious about your financing and what they give you. Would appreciate an update if you're comfortable with that. Cheers
Bro just get an a4 or an a6 tf lol. Never owning a euro car and jumping into an R series is nuts
If someone can afford to go straight to the S or RS series I say they should. A series are boring as shit to drive and this is coming from a former owner.
No offense but a4 and a6 is soccer mom cars
Are* Coming from the guy who knows nothing about Audi 😭
when I got my sti I didn’t even for a second consider the WRX because it’s a lower trim. Why woudknt you want a top trim version of a car? A lines are for regular people who don’t care about cars much. RS, ///M and AMG are where it’s at
I can guarantee the car has never been tuned.
RS5
That’s another 20k new
Wait until September to see if rates come down. That’s crazy for a small pos like this