My Daily and HPDE setup for 2016 S3
Posting this in the hope it helps others. It's been a long good 10 year journey to get to where I'm really satisfied with my S3 and I wanted to share this setup with others who might be starting out. I kept mine stock until 50K miles. Then...
APR Stage 1 engine tune and transmission tune just woke it up and made it drive like I wish it had from day one. I can't recommend this enough.
I read, and was told by an Audi tech, that my brakes would be fine for HPDE. That was nowhere close to right, at least for me. First HPDE, brakes were gone part way through the first day. I ended up in stainless steel brake lines, high temp brake fluid, and a number of different pad combinations. The HP Plus street/track pads from Hawk work well for my car. I usually put them on for the summer, then go back to factory for the rest of the year. I've had no issues since.
I bought a set of 18" TSW NURBURGRING 18x9.5 Wheel Rim 5X112 GREY 18" Inch 40mm for track use. Those will need 72.0 / 57.1 Aluminum Hub Centric Spigot Rings. I tried Cup 2s. I didn't like them and they wore out very quickly. I know people love them but they didn't work for me. I tried others but have settled into Hankook RS4s. 265/35ZR-18 Hankook Ventus R-S4 XL to be exact. I actually had a set heat cycle out with plenty of treat left. My current plan is front to back rotation throughout the HPDE season, then remount to get left to right "rotation". The track I go to is hard on right and right fronts. Still, I really like this setup. Tires and wheels is definitely the most costly part of my journey.
I had never really had issues with understeer but I also couldn't get any rotation out of the car on track. I was noticing some signs of flexing in the car (squeaks) and I'm not a big fan of NVH. I installed an utlraracing subframe brace. It works well but there was zero support for installation. I had to use 034 motorsports information to get it in. In retrospect, I with I had of bought something from them instead. I did buy 034 sway bars for the front and back. I think I could have gotten away with just one, but I don't regret it. These were a pain to install but 034 does a great job with instructions, torques, etc. I have a brace on the rear shock mounts and a brace on the front shock mounts. At 100K miles I replaced the mag ride shocks. I stayed with the mag ride rather than coil overs. I like them for the mix of track and daily. Between these mods, I really like the handling of the car. With a little trail braking, you can get the car to rotate. Again, understeer was never an issue for me particularly after I found tires and wheels.
That is really it. I put the RS3 brake ducts on (that zip tie to the lower control arm. I put a K&N air filter on when I needed a new filter. No intake. No downpipe. No exhaust work. I feel like when I'm a 8/10 the car is at 7/10 which makes for an enjoyable experience. That margin lets me work on my driving rather than fighting the car. With the exception of noisy pads in the summer, it is very livable. I put my factory 19" wheels with Continental DWS 06 Plus and factory pads in for the winter and I'm good to go.
If you really need to stay with one car that can do anything, from snow and ice to track days, the S3 is a good candidate. Definitely a sleeper. I think Audi did a good job on this one.