New Audi S3 - Safety and Eco mad
Discussion
Hi,
I bought the new Audi S3 a few months ago and it's getting on my nerves so badly that I'm going to get rid of it again. I owned the old S3 for 5 years and was very happy with it. All I'd have changed would be to soften the suspension and make the sport setting a bit more intelligent.
Well the new car not only has these same 2 issues, but has introduced several infuriatating new problems.
Automatic Coasting - This de-clutches the car when you take the foot off the accelerator and are on a level or downhill road. Not only does this lead to a feeling of not being in control of the car but instead of being able to lightly dab the throttle on and off to keep a smooth speed when cruising, this now means that the car is constantling doing mini surges as it puts the clutch back in. It seems you can't turn this off at all without being in sport mode which is too aggressive most of the time.
Audi Pre-sense - Big red warning and beep when the car thinks you're approaching a car too close. This is constantly annoying as it seems to sensitive, but the worst thing was when I tried to overtake someone and this system did an emergency brake literally as I was pulling out. It was a tight overtake so I had to get close to the car in front but the emergency brake this system did for me almost caused an accident on itself as I was completely confused and had to suddenly steer the car back inwards just to work out what was going on. This can be turned off but has to be done every time you drive.
Lane departure warning. This steers itself back into the lane, incredibly frustrating when you are simply on a dual carriageway and trying to overtake someone, you have to wrestle with the wheel to get it to go over the middle white lines. Again this can be turned off but is back on the next time you drive.
These last two things are extra annoying because instead of a button which the autostart/stop has, they have to be navigated to in the LCD screen which isn't a good idea when driving, and if you do do it it's too slow because the processor chip means it takes 2 secs for anything to happen.
Autostart stop is already an irritating thing because at most junctions you need to get out quickly and obviously this causes a momentary pause which could actually be lethal.
These dreadful nanny state/eco issues are now ruining modern cars, and add to that this new touch screen idea which is also madness and more dangerous than actual buttons it's starting to look like I may have to go to an older car just to actually be left alone without feeling constantly hassled or lectured by what the car thinks I should do!
If you have any good suggestions for alternative cars to this I'd be grateful!
Cheers, Alex
I bought the new Audi S3 a few months ago and it's getting on my nerves so badly that I'm going to get rid of it again. I owned the old S3 for 5 years and was very happy with it. All I'd have changed would be to soften the suspension and make the sport setting a bit more intelligent.
Well the new car not only has these same 2 issues, but has introduced several infuriatating new problems.
Automatic Coasting - This de-clutches the car when you take the foot off the accelerator and are on a level or downhill road. Not only does this lead to a feeling of not being in control of the car but instead of being able to lightly dab the throttle on and off to keep a smooth speed when cruising, this now means that the car is constantling doing mini surges as it puts the clutch back in. It seems you can't turn this off at all without being in sport mode which is too aggressive most of the time.
Audi Pre-sense - Big red warning and beep when the car thinks you're approaching a car too close. This is constantly annoying as it seems to sensitive, but the worst thing was when I tried to overtake someone and this system did an emergency brake literally as I was pulling out. It was a tight overtake so I had to get close to the car in front but the emergency brake this system did for me almost caused an accident on itself as I was completely confused and had to suddenly steer the car back inwards just to work out what was going on. This can be turned off but has to be done every time you drive.
Lane departure warning. This steers itself back into the lane, incredibly frustrating when you are simply on a dual carriageway and trying to overtake someone, you have to wrestle with the wheel to get it to go over the middle white lines. Again this can be turned off but is back on the next time you drive.
These last two things are extra annoying because instead of a button which the autostart/stop has, they have to be navigated to in the LCD screen which isn't a good idea when driving, and if you do do it it's too slow because the processor chip means it takes 2 secs for anything to happen.
Autostart stop is already an irritating thing because at most junctions you need to get out quickly and obviously this causes a momentary pause which could actually be lethal.
These dreadful nanny state/eco issues are now ruining modern cars, and add to that this new touch screen idea which is also madness and more dangerous than actual buttons it's starting to look like I may have to go to an older car just to actually be left alone without feeling constantly hassled or lectured by what the car thinks I should do!
If you have any good suggestions for alternative cars to this I'd be grateful!
Cheers, Alex
I remember thinking that my old Golf R32 was probably my last chance for something with a big naturally aspirated engine in a normal-ish car.
I get a similar feeling that something like my current 2018 8V S3 - pre-OPF / WLTP, no adaptive cruise, no auto brake, none of the above issues - may be my last low-tech car (despite ironically having the "Tech" package). Everything since mid-2018 has had at least one of those things listed.
I looked pretty hard at the new 8Y S3, but the plusher interior and relative simplicity of the older model drew me towards that instead.
I get a similar feeling that something like my current 2018 8V S3 - pre-OPF / WLTP, no adaptive cruise, no auto brake, none of the above issues - may be my last low-tech car (despite ironically having the "Tech" package). Everything since mid-2018 has had at least one of those things listed.
I looked pretty hard at the new 8Y S3, but the plusher interior and relative simplicity of the older model drew me towards that instead.
The forward alert and lane departure warning are the same on my Golf. Though for extra frustration the stop start button is also hidden in a touchscreen. I have no option other than to spend a minute at the start of every journey battling with the slow touchscreen to turn it all off.
Worked out I’ll waste 12 hours of my life every year.
For good measure VW have thrown in some dangerous faults with the cruise control that they can’t fix.
Some BMWs have a button in the dash that turns off all the driver assist nonsense so that’s where I’ll be looking for my next car. Though some of the most recent BMWs seem to have got rid of it.
Worked out I’ll waste 12 hours of my life every year.
For good measure VW have thrown in some dangerous faults with the cruise control that they can’t fix.
Some BMWs have a button in the dash that turns off all the driver assist nonsense so that’s where I’ll be looking for my next car. Though some of the most recent BMWs seem to have got rid of it.
As above, it's very likely possible to twiddle some settings here.
It can be a slightly grey area with warranty, insurance etc. but if you go into it knowing the risks things can probably be bettered.
Give it time and the tuners will probably also be able to offer you different box software too. You are of course then into bye bye warranty territory.
It can be a slightly grey area with warranty, insurance etc. but if you go into it knowing the risks things can probably be bettered.
Give it time and the tuners will probably also be able to offer you different box software too. You are of course then into bye bye warranty territory.
gt3driver73 said:
Hmm I don't want to mess up the warranty. If its the case that all other cars are doing this same thing I'll have to buy a 3 year old car. Its fine to have all these options but I just can't understand why I can't just turn them on only when I want them.
Because of safety regs.To the OP - humans are too stupid / dangerous to be on the road, the car is simply protecting you from your own stupidity. Once autonomous comes along the world will be a much better place 
In all seriousness it is incredible how "dumb" all these systems are so much so that I agree they seem dangerous in almost any situation. If a car is new I will always spec them out although at some point they will probably become standard features!
TX.
In all seriousness it is incredible how "dumb" all these systems are so much so that I agree they seem dangerous in almost any situation. If a car is new I will always spec them out although at some point they will probably become standard features!
TX.
gt3driver73 said:
Hmm I don't want to mess up the warranty. If its the case that all other cars are doing this same thing I'll have to buy a 3 year old car. Its fine to have all these options but I just can't understand why I can't just turn them on only when I want them.
Turn it back on when you sell it or go back for anything at a dealer?
Discombobulate said:
essayer said:
does lane departure still fight you if you indicate? Every car I’ve had with it fitted doesn’t interfere on a DC if you’re signalling at the time
This. If you indicate when you overtake it won’t do it. 
You can set the pre-sense to high, medium or low, it’s not as intrusive when it’s on low.
What’s the problem with coasting, it’s saving fuel? Will the car get better when you get used to it?
I haven’t tested it that thoroughly either but I don’t believe AEB kicks in if you are accelerating at the time, I.e. the accelerate-swing out-overtake type manoeuvre
It’s more for non-braking or insufficient braking when the gap in front suddenly disappears (or you confuse it on a sharp corner etc..)
It’s more for non-braking or insufficient braking when the gap in front suddenly disappears (or you confuse it on a sharp corner etc..)
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