My New Car

[giant_mtb]

I could take off in the A4 with no gas input if I was on flat and did it slowly. Don't recall it seemingly applying throttle itself, but I could be wrong. I figured it just had the torque for it.

[SJ_GTI]

JB1

undetectable during inspection and good for another 50hp on 91

I would happily give away 50 HP for less (or no) turbo lag.

[MrH]

I drove the Chevy SS into work today if it makes you feel any better

[SJ_GTI]

No...no it doesn't.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I drove the Chevy SS into work today if it makes you feel any better

How do you like it?

[MrH]

It's kind of a strange car.  I've probably got almost 800 miles of seat time in it in total.  I'm less enamored with it than when I first drove it.

Pros:
- Sounds great.  In performance mode, it cracks and makes all the right noises.
- It's fast.
- In touring mode, the ride comfort is great.

Cons:
- Basically no lower lumbar support.  My lower back is shot after a few hours of driving.
- All the interior chrome is the worst.  Sun reflects off it all the time at weird angles.
- The inputs are all funky.  Clutch feel and uptake are terrible.  Shifter feel isn't great.  Steering isn't all that great.
- The limits are through the roof high + funky controls + dull feedback = kind of scary on the limit

I was driving last night and attacked some familiar back roads.  The thing is so fast, it's very easy to accidental come in 10 mph faster than intended and have to correct mid corner.  At 50+ mph high speed sweepers, it's great.  Technical, tight sections it's tough to get right.

[GoCougs]

The SS is a big girl.

But yeah, turbos I am not looking forward to. Such a shame those.

[MrH]

The SS is a big girl.

But yeah, turbos I am not looking forward to. Such a shame those.

Yes it is.  Great for road trips!  You can ride in comfort in the back all day.

Honestly though... I think I would like it better with an automatic   The clutch and shifter aren't particularly good and it doesn't seem to fit the car well.

[12,000 RPM]

Nissan showed me how much better a good auto is than a bad manual 3x over.

[CaminoRacer]

Yes it is.  Great for road trips!  You can ride in comfort in the back all day.

Honestly though... I think I would like it better with an automatic   The clutch and shifter aren't particularly good and it doesn't seem to fit the car well.

A muscle car with an automatic is perfectly acceptable to me.

[GoCougs]

GM 6sp AT isn't that good however.

If the SS had lived on with the LT1, 10 sp AT and downsized say 10-15%, now that really could have been something.

[12,000 RPM]

If they made that look good that would be the nail in Cadillac's coffin.

[MrH]

GM 6sp AT isn't that good however.

If the SS had lived on with the LT1, 10 sp AT and downsized say 10-15%, now that really could have been something.

True.  I have mixed feelings about the whole car.  I wouldn't kick it out of bed, but I also am not clamoring to sell all my vehicles to get one either.

[68_427]

No...no it doesn't.

It's blue too lol

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

A muscle car with an automatic is perfectly acceptable to me.

Yes it is.  Great for road trips!  You can ride in comfort in the back all day.

Honestly though... I think I would like it better with an automatic   The clutch and shifter aren't particularly good and it doesn't seem to fit the car well.

I never wished for a manual in my G8. And yes these cars have HUGE rear seats and trunks. I looked at my car as a big tourer that handled great and looked killer! (Not so much the SS)

[MrH]

Maybe I'll post a pic when I pick it up today to make Tony jealous

I dropped it off to get clear bra'ed today.  Larry takes it on a road trip, but when he comes back, it'll get opticoated on non-clear bra areas.

[giant_mtb]

Wait, you have an SS now?  I'm confus.

[CaminoRacer]

Maybe I'll post a pic when I pick it up today to make Tony jealous

I dropped it off to get clear bra'ed today.  Larry takes it on a road trip, but when he comes back, it'll get opticoated on non-clear bra areas.

We gotta clear bra the Camaro's rocker panels now that it has rock-slinging sticky tires.

Are you just doing the front bumper and hood?

[SJ_GTI]

Small update on this car.

Gas mileage has slowly continuously increased over time. My last two tanks I got ~25 MPG. I am curious to see how far back down it goes with the cooler weather coming up soon. Still it has been nice getting the better mileage (versus the ~20 MPG in the S4). I wish the Golf had a bigger tank as well but at least now I am getting ~300 miles between fill ups again.

I have been pleasantly surprised that there have been -0- mechanical issues and  -0- electrical issues so far (~14 months, knock on wood).

Having the hatchback has been so nice. I like having a small car on the outside but being able to stuff it full of stuff occasionally. I think technically the S4 had more cargo capacity but I find the Golf more useful. Unless there is some other huge advantage on a particular car I can't see myself ever going back to a sedan again.

I keep expecting to find some fault with the Haldex AWD system but it really does work seamlessly for how I drive. In concept I would prefer a "true" AWD system like the S4 had but for practically all driving situations I encounter this system seems to work just as well (so far, anyway).

Only gripe is really the big turbo on a little engine. Having a clutch that is so on/off doesn't help either, but I have gotten somewhat used to it over time I guess. Its a little irritating but not enough of a bother that I am planning to change cars any time soon. Every car is a compromise to some extent and for now this car still seems like the best set of compromises for me.

Anyway I plan to keep on keeping on with the Golf for the foreseeable future. The S4 last 6 years and hopefully the Golf will last that long too.

[MrH]

Wait, you have an SS now?  I'm confus.

Father in law has one.

We gotta clear bra the Camaro's rocker panels now that it has rock-slinging sticky tires.

Are you just doing the front bumper and hood?

We did the whole hood, front bumper, fenders, leading edge of the roof, mirrors, rocker panels.

Small update on this car.

Gas mileage has slowly continuously increased over time. My last two tanks I got ~25 MPG. I am curious to see how far back down it goes with the cooler weather coming up soon. Still it has been nice getting the better mileage (versus the ~20 MPG in the S4). I wish the Golf had a bigger tank as well but at least now I am getting ~300 miles between fill ups again.

I have been pleasantly surprised that there have been -0- mechanical issues and  -0- electrical issues so far (~14 months, knock on wood).

Having the hatchback has been so nice. I like having a small car on the outside but being able to stuff it stuff occasionally. I think technically the S4 had more cargo capacity but I find the Golf more useful. Unless there is some other huge advantage on a particular car I can't see myself ever going back to a sedan again.

I keep expecting to find some fault with the Haldex AWD system but it really does work seamlessly for how I drive. In concept I would prefer a "true" AWD system like the S4 had but for practically all driving situations I encounter this system seems to work just as well (so far, anyway).

Only gripe is really the big turbo on a little engine. Having a clutch that is so on/off doesn't help either, but I have gotten somewhat used to it over time I guess. Its a little irritating but not enough of a bother that I am planning to change cars any time soon. Every car is a compromise to some extent and for now this car still seems like the best set of compromises for me.

Anyway I plan to keep on keeping on with the Golf for the foreseeable future. The S4 last 6 years and hopefully the Golf will last that long too.

So the itch for an SS is finally gone?

[SJ_GTI]

So the itch for an SS is finally gone?

Yeah, I like having a small hatchback too much.

[MexicoCityM3]

Yeah, I like having a small hatchback too much.

Is this available in the US?

http://www.audi.com.mx/mx/web/es/models/q3/rsq3.html

[SJ_GTI]

Is this available in the US?

http://www.audi.com.mx/mx/web/es/models/q3/rsq3.html

No idea, but the S3 and RS3 are both auto only so I would assume that their CUV equivalent would be too. I liked the S3 when I drove it but looking back the Golf was the obviously better choice for me (smaller footprint, manual, and less expensive). An RSQ3 would likely be auto, larger outside (without necessarily being larger inside), and much, much more expensive.

[MX793]

No idea, but the S3 and RS3 are both auto only so I would assume that their CUV equivalent would be too. I liked the S3 when I drove it but looking back the Golf was the obviously better choice for me (smaller footprint, manual, and less expensive). An RSQ3 would likely be auto, larger outside (without necessarily being larger inside), and much, much more expensive.

Last I checked, you can no longer get an AWD Audi with a stick shift.  I think the base, FWD A3 is the only MT Audi available in the US, assuming that's even still available.

[MrH]

You can get a new A4 with a stick.

[12,000 RPM]

Does the front seat fold down flat? Wifey's Rabbit was such a beast with its cargo management

[SJ_GTI]

Does the front seat fold down flat? Wifey's Rabbit was such a beast with its cargo management

I don't believe so, but have never tried.

FWIW these are not the same seats as in a normal Golf. These are specific to the GTI and R from what i can tell.

[GoCougs]

This is still sorta relevant to my interests. I'm coming up on ~6 years and ~130k miles in the G, and most new cars remain terrible.

The MY2018 R gets a 7 sp DSG, full LED lights F&R, virtual dash and new wheels. The latter two I'm not a fan of, plus, turbo engines do better with a (good) DSG or slushie.

I can get 350-450 miles/tank on the G (20 gallon tank), and it matters, as I hate with a passion going to the gas station, and I drive a lot.

[SJ_GTI]

This is still sorta relevant to my interests. I'm coming up on ~6 years and ~130k miles in the G, and most new cars remain terrible.

The MY2018 R gets a 7 sp DSG, full LED lights F&R, virtual dash and new wheels. The latter two I'm not a fan of, plus, turbo engines do better with a (good) DSG or slushie.

I can get 350-450 miles/tank on the G (20 gallon tank), and it matters, as I hate with a passion going to the gas station, and I drive a lot.

I think the Golf R Tank is 14 gallons? Something like that...definitely smaller than the S4 and definitely not 20 gallons. Like you I would love a bigger gas tank. For me right now the main benefit of better MPG's is less stops at the gas station. I couldn't even tell you what it means in $$$'s (although intellectually it is nice to know I am spending less).

I think the engine type probably does work better with a DSG (possibly even a torque converter auto), but I still enjoy rowing my own gears enough that the trade off is still worth it.

[FoMoJo]

I think the Golf R Tank is 14 gallons? Something like that...definitely smaller than the S4 and definitely not 20 gallons. Like you I would love a bigger gas tank. For me right now the main benefit of better MPG's is less stops at the gas station. I couldn't even tell you what it means in $$$'s (although intellectually it is nice to know I am spending less).

I think the engine type probably does work better with a DSG (possibly even a torque converter auto), but I still enjoy rowing my own gears enough that the trade off is still worth it.

With a small turbo engine, the more gears the better.  The 9 or 10 speed autos work just fine at keeping the revs low and just slightly dipping into the boost in most general driving conditions.  The best mileage I've gotten with the Discovery Sport (9 spd auto) on a highway trip is 37+ mpg.  It's a 2.0 EcoBoost.