Well the search continues.....
I visited a Audi main dealer yesterday to view, to tyre kick and to test drive a RS3 (8P) and left an hour or so later less sure than when I arrived.
I found the interior dated, the steering wheel less comfortable (or maybe less tactile is a better term) than the Mk6 GTI wheel I had fitted in the Mistress plus the Headunit wasn't even up to Mk5 RNS standard but you don't buy a RS3 for the interior do you. IMHO is an OK car to look at, it's understated to the point of looking like any other A3 on the road.......and all this for £27k.
Test drive was great (salesmen was a petrolhead) and car is PROPER quick and the delivery of that power was a big BIG plus. The RS3 is down on power compared to my old Mistress but it certainly felt quicker and lot more sure footed thanks to the 4WD It handles really well, great around the twisty bits too. Stage 1 map will see approx 400bhp which would be awesome and great fun but yet to be convinced the RS3 is any better than a Mk6 R or Mk7 R with similar power so back to the search for now.
Mk6 R's are still holding their prices whereas ive been offerered 2 second hand Mk7 R's from main dealers for circa £24k in my desired spec minus a few options. Decisions decisions.
Interior - surprised re. the wheel (I've got the black edition one in my 8P3, not too disimilar to the new ones) and I love it tbh. I know what you mean re. the infotainment/media/MMI system. I hate that mine isn't touch screen (basically the same unit as the later Gallardo's/MK1 R8), although it's good in other ways - the nav is particularly good for example, as are the traffic updates.
Is it touch screen in the 8V RS3? Guessing not if you weren't too impressed.
Couldn't agree more re. the plain appearance (barring the wide dual pipes at the back). When you see one coming towards you, it could be a 1.6tdi S-Line.... or, oh no - it's an S3, oh no - actually it's an RS3
That said, most of the Audi range is like that now. From A1 right up to A8...
A Mk6 R will be lighter than the 8V RS3 and at least you know you'll like the feel and with some hardware notches and armour, it'll be properly quick just like the current mistress
Tricky one between 6R & 7R considering 7R's have dropped to 24.5k last time I checked...