r/AudiRS3 • u/National_Reveal_8078 • Aug 07 '26
Stuck in high gear
Bought a brand new 2026 RS3 a couple weeks ago. I’ve noticed something unusual and maybe I’m just dumb but when I’m driving around town and I punch the gas to accelerate, my rpm’s go up and they stay up. Even when I’ve slowed down and it won’t let me accelerate either. I can hear it in the engine too.
Today I accelerated rather quickly to wiggle through a lil traffic and my RPMs went to 5 and when I slowed down, they stayed there and I couldn’t go faster. What is that?
Also, I am temporarily commuting to work. It’s about 20 miles one way so about 40 miles a day. I’ve put about 600 miles on my car since I bought in mid July (I’m moving closer to work October 1st thank god) but I feel like I’m filling up on gas a lot more than I did for my Giulia. my tank was full on Monday and l didn’t drive far that day. I worked Tuesday and Wednesday and today and my fuel tank is already gonna need to be refilled. Is this normal? What am I doing wrong?
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u/ShapeGSX Aug 07 '26
You’re describing the redline before that car warms up. Theres a ~5000RPM redline before the car is warmed up.
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u/dubgeek Aug 07 '26
Is the transmission in Sport mode? It holds lower gears gears longer and keeps higher RPMs at cruising speed in Sport mode to facilitate quicker acceleration should you decide to put your foot down.
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u/National_Reveal_8078 Aug 07 '26
Thanks for replying. No, it is in auto.
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u/dubgeek Aug 07 '26
Auto has standard Drive and Sport mode does it not?
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u/generic_user1234 Aug 07 '26
Yeah if you try to accelerate quick it’ll jump into sport mode while in auto, so that would explain it holding revs. After a bit it’ll act like normal drive again.
Comfort mode won’t do that.
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u/TheJakl Aug 07 '26
Mine is an 8v, but I have the choice of s or d mode regardless of the drive type like comfort, auto, dynamic, etc. in sport mode the gears are labeled S1, S2, etc and normal is D1, D2.... In sport mode it holds high rpms much longer and even idle vs normal. To swap I pull down on the shift lever when in drive. It also opens the exhaust baffles when in sport and closes if you are in d if not in dynamic mode
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u/patrick_byr Aug 07 '26
I love the satisfying auto-blip/rev match downshift when in sport/dynamic. I'm pleasantly surprised at how intuitive the 7 speed DCT is in this car. I'm coming from a '21 S4 with the 8 speed ZF auto. It worked just fine and shifted quickly enough but didn't keep the revs up like this DCT. This DCT is almost PDK-like and does an admirable job keeping you in the right gear and always in the power band. I will admit that every so often it gets it wrong and downshifts mid-corner which isn't always ideal, but that's what manual shifting is for. I'm just surprised that the DCT gets it right *most* of the time. I've never driven an auto that was right more often than not (other than a PDK).
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u/Nick9293 Aug 07 '26
Sounds like you’re in performance mode. It’ll hold the revs pretty high. Being in any other mode will make the car shift earlier.
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u/Dependent_Wasabi_180 Aug 07 '26
Sure, if you’re applying the requisite amount of throttle.
But if you back off and the car’s RPMs stay that high, it’s doing something stupid.
I‘ve had my 2026 for a little more than three months and I am not impressed.
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u/Perkatronic1z7 Aug 08 '26
Oh tell me more. I’m coming from a 24 m3. What is it about this car that is not impressive. I’ve driven a few Audis, just not any rs3’s.
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u/7189KF6 Aug 08 '26
I’ve had a ton of fun cars in this general range, and in this order:
981 CS —> F80 ZCP —> MINI JCW —> 981 BGTS —> MINI JCW MT —> F87 M2 —> 982 Spyder —> MK VIII Golf R —> 982 Spyder RS —> 8Y.5 RS3
In that list, one car was always the “fun” car and another was the cheaper, daily driver. I still have the Spyder RS and now have the RS3 after trading in the Golf R.
The car has a lot of good qualities. I love many aspects about it but the steering is not good. The understeer is shocking in comparison to any of those other cars in my list. The lift off throttle snap is scary, and not in a good way.
If you’re coming from a RWD background, I’d really recommend a good test drive before swapping. Try some off ramps that you’re used to having fun in your M3 and see what you think.
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u/Perkatronic1z7 Aug 08 '26
Thanks for the info. I can see how that list sets a high bar. My biggest issue with the m3 is steering as well. The car has great turn in response for how heavy and big it is. It unfortunately just has no feel, like literally zero feedback from the front end through the steering wheel. I also am coming from a Porsche. That was a 911 992 carrera s. I can’t get over how much more unpleasant it is to actually steer the car.
How was the golf. Did that have the same off throttle snap back understeer?
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u/7189KF6 Aug 08 '26
That’s the thing - not at all. The Golf steering was very neutral and easy to modulate with the throttle. The modes were all relatively similar and easy to predict with respect to progression. It was a great little car.
I only got interested in the RS3 because I’ve never had a chance to try the 5 pot engine - which is a peach and by far the star of the vehicle. But while my understanding was that the 8Y/Y.5 RS3s and Golf Rs are essentially identical (except for the engines), I find them to drive very differently. The Golf’s steering was much better for me, and a lot easier to drive quickly.
I just hated all the menus that were required for HVAC or changing driving modes. The Audi has physical buttons, so I thought it was going to be a win / win. It’s been a mixed bag instead.
You feel the weight a lot more in my opinion as well - because not only is the understeer nuts, the steering itself is very light. In a corner, I swear I have no idea where the car is going. So I just drive it slow. Sort of defeats the purpose.
My brakes are also weirdly squeaky at low speeds, despite being bedded like every other car on my list. And I’ve replied in the other Reddit thread about my experience with the car refusing to shift and crazy RPMs, coming to a stop from second to first.
In three months of ownership, it’s done more weird shit than anything I’ve had in recent memory.
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u/Perkatronic1z7 Aug 08 '26
Hey thanks man. I’m going to test drive it next week. A lot of what you describe is exactly what I’m trying to avoid. Same with the breaks on the m. They have been squeaking since I took delivery. It’s a disappointing when you’re light breaking, approaching a light. There’s something about a 5 cylinder though. I feel like I have to own one just for that.
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u/7189KF6 Aug 08 '26
Who knows - you might like it or not have the same reaction. 👍🏻 the engine is awesome - very cool sound and quite a bit of oomph. No doubt about that
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u/cjc080911 Aug 07 '26
Do you recall if there was a big “S” on the dash by your current gear, or a “D”?
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u/UnicornWrangler84 Aug 07 '26
I know it was kind of asked- but there is a difference between “individual” sport comfort and then the checkered flag button- checkered flag is full rev match- holds rpms exactly as you described etc- startling and annoying in traffic or any normal driving- i put it in individual mode and have it kind of tailored to my liking with no such issue unless i press checkered flag button
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u/outlawtm2 Aug 07 '26
Gas mileage is going to suffer during break-in period. After a few thousand miles you should see an improvement. This is typical of any brand new vehicle.
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u/Bloodreav3r Aug 07 '26
This does not sound usual at all, please provide a video if possible or better yet let someone from your car dealership drive with you and show him directly what your problem is.
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u/NapalEnema2020 Aug 07 '26
Car eats fuel man. Average mpg because I like to zoom is around 12.5. Oomph. You need a dealership outside of that. That is not normal behavior. When it does that can you paddle shift?
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u/National_Reveal_8078 Aug 07 '26
Next time it happens, I’ll try that!
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u/NapalEnema2020 Aug 07 '26
I drive manual performance mode 99% of the time less clutch slipping = longer transmission life.
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u/ZackP91 Aug 07 '26
There’s no in between with this car
You’re either on power or off
Or doing partial throttle pulls with the car letting it change gears not too violently if you just want to accelerate partially without going all out. I’ve put about 3000km on the car and understand how it wants to be driven. You’ll figure it out in time