The S3 is quick, but $4,000 still doesn't get you a firing order of 1-2-4-5-3 and the phenomenal sound that accompanies it. Glad I made the switch.

I told you a few days ago, You can't sit on launch control for too long or it bogs down. By the way I owned a tuned S3 before my current RS3. The S3 has immensely better midrange and response than the RS3 but the RS3 has much better top end. My S3 APR stage 1(12.5@110), stage 2 (12.2@114). my RS3 stock (11.703 with traps of 117-119 mph) with a Uni E-85 tune 11.1@127 mph. For daily driver in traffic or twists the S3 Stage 2 outshines the RS3(Stock), on straight line acceleration the RS3 is the winner.

By far one of the best drag races, the similarities build suspense.

In my opinion it would have made a lot more sense to spend the $1500 on an intercooler upgrade over the carbon Fiber intake. Modify the stalk box (as seen in many videos posted on KZfaq ), upgrade the silicone hose and add the inlet elbow for $200. It was definitely heat soaking . Not to mention adding an aftermarket exhaust which would increase top End Performance for the S3 . The S3 Unitronic stage 2 TCU and ECU should be much closer if not beaten the RS3.

That S3 runs really strong with minimal mods... Respect! 😎👍🏼

Good race and good comparison! Thanks for clearly going over the modifications on the S3, even if it's just an exhaust please inform us.

That tune was still impressive...this is another really good video!

Audi's 5 Cylinder engines are the best 5 cylinders I ever heard... Especially the Quattro rally car.

You should do the same comparison except with an Audi A3(tuned) and S3(stock)

Great video. I have an S3 but that RS3 sounds glorious!

Impressive S3!!! Only thing that really kills it is a stage 2 tune plus extra mods on the RS3 and it's in another league.

I have an S3 as well and I can tell the S3 in the video is heatsoaked after a few runs..we need that intercooler upgrade for our 4 bangers lol

This was interesting to watch since I don't know any thing about each car. Both look like fun little Germans! Thx for uploading

That 5 cylinder RS3 sounds oh so good!!!

I really like the intro sound/ specs/360 view. I wish you bring that back that segment in your 2022/23 vids. The talk time before the race in that video is good by the way.👍

I have a unitronic stage 2 E85 FBO and it's a beast. I've done roll races and it beats almost all cars I've run. Putting out 620hp/560 torque at the crank (560hp/520 torque to the wheels)

Anyone else suffering from drag race withdrawal today? 😂 Sam, you've been spoiling us.

On paper the S3 Stage 2 should be quicker than the RS3 stock as it gets a better 1/4 mile times. RS3 stock 1/4 mile is ~12.2s 400BHP S3 1/4 mile is ~11.6s (in mine at least so may depend on tune)

You should do 50km,60km and 80km rolls and see how it goes. I would also like to see a stage 2 mk7.5r vs Stock rs3

i was thinking of buying an s3 cuz the rs3’s are expensive but the rs3 stock is already faster than an s3 that has like 430 horsepower, that 5 cylinder kills, and the rs3 transmission is one of the best in the world, definitely buying the rs3 soon

Nice vids!! I have a 2018 Audi S3 with EQT 93 octane tune with all the goodies. My friend has a 2018 RS3 with unitronic stage 1+ (93 octane) and I can tell you it’s almost on par. So stock RS3 I think I could walk it easily. What is the tune on the S3 ? Does it have Intercooler inlet intake? Thanks !

I want it cause its so small and the 5 sounds amazing stock or modded. Plus gas ain't that bad for the power you get imo

Man that was a damn good race!

Who else wants to see Julia?

Imagine if you did the interview face-to-face instead of over the radio...

That RS3 sounds nice. I think Audi sandbagged the power numbers on it

Love all your videos

I have an 18' s3 APR stage 1 R600 intake and Rogue downpipe. Here in SA with hotter climate I can feel the car losing quite a bit of power after 1 or 2 pulls. I know of a few 7.5R with exactly same setup with an vwr intercooler fitted contantly pushing 310kw and more than 550nm run after run. The R with intercooler fitted would definitely walk the rs3.

My money is on the RS3. If S3 is only stage 2, it will not outrun the RS3.

Jeez those seats in that rs3 🔥🔥🔥

Can you please find a tuned s4 vs rs5 or rs3 race, I have a apr stage 1 b9 s4 and would love to see it

Nice race really enjoyed it I'd love to see this RS3 against the Supra mk5 3.0L or the RS3 against the M340I

Never saw an Audi DCT that wasn't lightening fast in manual mode. I think the better deal would be the Standard S3 with the $4K in mods. That was obviously mod money well spent.

That 5th cylinder made the difference

Keep doing the new car vs the old car. And a older lesser model tuned/modified car vs a new higher spec sport model. I love these!

200hp per liter with a tune is damn impressive

Two amazing vehicles

Tuned G30 M550 Xdrive vs M5.. Would love to see that one

I know the four cylinder has had issues. I wonder how reliable the five cylinder is in comparison? I would imagine the five is running far less boost.

Completely dependent on the tuner and supporting mods.

I would love to see a drag race with the all new 2022 S3/RS3 vs 2020 S3/RS3

The S3 has the license plate sticking out the front right side…that must be creating some drag.

Audi RS7 vs RS6 please and great race btw

I said this in the chat but I'm sure it was lost. Going forward, please don't try to brake boost on VW/Audi cars in anything other than Sport/Dynamic mode. When you're in the correct mode, you have to jab the throttle really quickly, otherwise the ECU gets confused (stock and otherwise). In short, please stop doing brake boost in comfort/normal and you have to add throttle like you mean it. This isn't intuitive but that's how VW/Audi does it. The only times RS3 lost is when it didn't build boost properly. It's a quick car (11.8-12.2) typically depending on weather conditions.

Nice runs, personally I don't really get all the different drive and transmission modes, if you're keen on racing and running the car flat out, shouldn't you always be in the sportiest settings?

OMG, you've got to use LAUNCH MODE when racing. You hold the brake, stand on the throttle to get the revs and boost up, then release the brake when it's GO time.

I bet Andre was far less impressed with his car after he saw this video and the injustices performed behind the wheel of the rs3 😢.... I was yelling at my screen at the first race when I heard his foot finally find the accelerator pedal after waking up at the line. Then explaining the roll race, "any questions?" "no" then explaining it AGAIN. Lol. THEN being DESTROYED in the "manual shifting" race... Like wow. 🤣

tuck the thinkware dashcam wires on the RS3 pls

It would also be nice to have an Avalon touring or TRD on here cuz we haven’t seen that yet

I'd want to see an EQT tuned s3 like mine vs that s3

Don't waste time on comfort mode

This makes my next purchase difficult. You need a drone for better camera angles and overhead views. Great job

Now put 4K into the RS3… no brainer

Basically it’s all about the mode

Kind of a case no replacement for displacement…..

4k seems like a lot for downpipes, cai, unlocked pcm and a tune.

Yeah S3’s tuned are no joke I was going to get one instead of my S5 cab.

It boggles my mind why anyone would film these races in anything other than the sportiest settings.

Stumbled across this vid bc was looking to trade in for something new; tested a new + used M3 today. Whilst waiting for the dealer to get hold of their inbound RS3, also gave an S3 & S4 a chance too. Was not... impressed, which merely puts me back to square one. They were "nicer" and certainly better-equipped... probably faster too, in certain environs. But the "feeling" was off, if that makes any sense. Numb, even vs. my routine commute efforts. Edit: I'm a QV owner. It's got plenty of ownership faults (to be sure), but it's drivability is so far ahead of anything I took the fam in today. Maybe I should stop comparing the next car to how the AR runs. Because it's not even the same language. 🙄

does the rs3 have a non leather option?

Both cars are very cool, though my preference would be the RS3 because 5 cylinder engine is always better than a 4 cylinder engine IMO. I drive a 5 cylinder Volvo. 🙂

be good to compare the bhp nd torque curves of both of them..

For those that aren’t familiar with Unitronic tuning, its the most reserve of all the options on the market for the MQB platform.

My friend has an RS3 and it's tuned to almost 1,000HP - it's a red one and featured on 1320 video! A monster!

So no intercooler on the S3? Normally you need that for stage 2.

Wait until you require boost when in efficient mode, only just bought a 8V S3 310, and was going down the motorway, wanted to put the hammer down and it didn’t feel any different to my Ibiza FR 😂

I have a s3 2017 with a tune stage 2 and tcu also and no muffleurs delete but a cold air intake new spark plug a down pipe all the brand name is induct performance canada speedshop and tune to 27 pound of boost almost 28 psi 94 pump gaz no dyno tested but around 400 hp and maybe 375 ppund feet of torque but it quick and fast to a 100km/h to 150 it is in no time so verry happy of mine for now but no more mods in the future a got 5 k on it with gauge AEM wideband it enough for me

Kick ass video. 👍👍👍

that's why you dont get unitronic tunes lmao that was brutal.

7:08 that head jerk wasn't timed properly with the upshift.

"Can't say it's an absolute win" you've got 3 car lengths on him xD

RS3 vs 3.0 Supra annnnnnd go

I actually think that If I get the RS3 over the S3 is just because of sound, because the price difference is very significant, and they are basically the same car, almost same design, same transmission, same AWD, if you like the power of the RS3 just tune your S3 and that’s it 😅

*_Julia is the real MVP...!_* She deserves some airtime on the channel... I'm sure all the guys agree...?

if you want better angles, the best idea is to put both gopros facing forward instead of gambling on who will be in front and not getting the shot.

Let's be honest the rs3 makes 380-400whp stock from most dyno sheets

Can we start getting some times from you that would make it even more interesting. Also, please use launch control as most would do.

You need some more cameras to cover those dead angles

Should’ve been done with the A3 and the s3 since they both share a ea888.. most people like me spring for the A3 and build it up to 290hp for 4k as well

I hope y’all see this, but it’s the gearing difference in the transmission, NOT THE power. this is done on purpose to further distinguish the RS3 from a S3. If you look at the gearing difference you’ll easily see.

If the S3 had a stock intercooler it was heat soaked the whole time

Is the S3 on stock intercooler? I didnt hear intercooler as part of the mod list. Stock intercooler is going the hurt the S3 because data logs prove that they get heat soaked even in stock form. I haven't watched the video yet but I'll guess that the S3 loses performance with each run due to IATs increasing

IE stage 2 with Full E85 Flextune may paint a different picture IMO

S3 all day long i have a full bolt on audi s3 stage 2 and im mirror to mirror with my buddies stock 2018 ttrs

Going out on a twig here and saying the tuned S3 is going to be a real sleeper and beat the RS3.

I like these models the best love the way they look

The son has the old RS3 (360hp) tuned to 415hp and that thing is properly fast. Seriously doubt a 2020 RS3 won’t stand a chance despite having an extra gear.

5 cylinders and a dct... really can't beat that value, I'm just imaging if they ever put a manual back in

I have a tuned s3 and have never tried the launch control

Do an infiniti G37 plz

5:53 they guy changes into another guy...magic

RS3’s don’t dyno at 400HP stock, closer to 425-430 in fact Unitronic shows their stock pull on Stage 1 was 438 HP lol…

Really need to sort out the camera situation

S3 have haldex awd not quattro. I belive the rs3 are geared differently too.

I wish these car reviewers would stop saying/talking about Quattro as though it's only one system. Quattro is Audi's branded AWD, well full-time 4WD system. There are different versions, esp. depending on transversely-mounted versus longitudinally-mounted engines. So please say which Quattro system the car has and include the rear diff. too, since they aren't all the same.

Doesn’t the S3 have the haldex system like a golf R?

The guy in red: "Urggghhh common Audi!" The camera: "You're both driving Audi" 😒

Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.

Next time. Chat about the specs like real persons instead of the annoying 2 kids on 2 way radios.

When they big guy got in the rs3 he was so shook that the s3 was beating him wtffff 😂😂 he looked worried ass fuckk😂😂😂😂😂