2017 Audi RS3 Sportback: MOTOR's Reader's Rides

The Reader: Nathan Bee
The Car: 2017 Audi RS3 Sportback
The Mileage: 38,700km
The Ownership period: 15 months

This feature was originally published in MOTOR’s August 2018 issue

What came before this?
When I moved to Western Australia I had to get a tray – a ute. I thought, why not get a Maloo and supercharge it and all that... big cam, etc. Coming back to Melbourne I’d turn into the car park for a customer’s appointment and the whole office would shake. It was awesome in a straight line, but whenever I hooked up with old friends and we went into the mountains, I could easily keep up, but I didn’t trust myself.

Why didn't you wait for the alloy five-cylinder?
I didn’t know that it had a larger turbo, but as soon as I found it was an aluminium block, the structural integrity and tensile strength, I knew it’s not going to work with my plans. I always wanted to upgrade the turbo and be a bit different. Sort of like the Maloo and the supercharger. The turbo’s been high flowed and there’s still a standard manifold there because I still want driveability. The wife drives it now and doesn’t know it has any modifications. It actually spools 200rpm quicker than stock, it’s about 220kW at the wheels stock and this is 360 (awkW).

Must be a monster in a straight line
I got five 11 flats in a row, but it was at 219km/h. A guy in the States did a 10.3 at 216km/h. He was running slicks and the 60 foot was 1.5sec. I got my 60 foot down from a 1.9 to a 1.7, so there’s still a bit more to go. All the V8 boys come over and can’t believe it. I tell everyone it’s stock. It’s got launch control and is idiot proof.

You've got track plans for Winton, right?
I was doing 1min 38sec laps in my Golf R, that’s just with coilovers and stage II type of things. I’ve done it a dozen times. We have a private track day coming up. The other guy who’s organising it has bought the facelift RS3, his is completely stock. There’s a bit of competing and he wants a four-second head start, and I’m like ‘nah’, there’s not that in it. Winton’s all about technique and handling!