Nuanda

I got my MY01 S3 late last year and have finally put 2000 mile on it.

S3 ownership continues to be a very enjoyable experience for me. I love the feel and comfort of the car. I love the passing performance. I love the feeling of solidness and quality, without feeling heavy or sluggish. I love the symphony stereo. I like the fact that I can put 2 guitars and a amp in the back with no problem.

Pleasant supprises:
1) Stuffing 4 adults into the car only minimally degrades performance. Quite a supprise for such a small car.
2) In 6+ inches of fresh snow my wifes MX-5 got stuck at the bottom of our hill. The S3 was able to push her car up the hill w/o lossing traction even once.

Disappointments:
1) I can't help but feel like the electric window controlls are a kind of IQ test.
2) When you raise the front seats up they tilt forward. So if you raise your seat to provide foot room to someone in the back, you end up sliding forward off your seat.
3) For a 2-door, its supprisingly difficult to tilt the front seats forward for rear entry.

Other Comments:
Initially I was disappoited with the cars performance from a dead stop and the delay in throttle response. Much of my dissapointment has dissappeared with time. Partially because I've gotten used to it. But also because I've of the following:
1) Once the car is warmed up, the first gear acceleration at low RPM is much better.
2) After a couple months, you just automatically step on the accelerator a fraction of a second early.
3) You also get used to spinning up the engine before before pulling out onto a busy street.