Chi_Nardo_RS3

Power seats or not, I just hate the fact that AOA or maybe even VW Group takes us for idiots. They try to market the car as a true sports car to rival Porsche, BMW M, Mercedes AMG, etc. but they add a heavy panoramic sunnroof as standard to where would be considered the worst place to add weight, which is the roof. Then they go and say that the reason the seats are manual is to save weight??? Anyone else see the irony and hypocrisy with this??? At least stick to one story and strategy. If it's truly a race/sports car, and you want to save money or whatever the reason, leave off the sunroof if you're offering the manual seats. But if you're going to make the sunroof standard then make the power seats as standard as well. At the least, IMO is to leave both off but give the buyers the option to add the sunroof and power seats.

This is the U.S. market by the way. I know our neighbors up north have the option to add power seats and I think in the UK and our mates down under, the sunroof and manual seats come on the car as standard.

Flying Scotsman

Nope...not even in Canada. The way Audi markets is something to behold for different markets and that includes Canada and the USA The list of options for the UK market to build a car is really good. North America we get two spec models and then options that can only be applied to one of the specs in many cases forcing you to an upgrade spec. As an example, if you want the B&O sound system you can only get in on the top spec model!!.

Timmay

Wow, that is odd indeed.

brothers savage

I believe I read it had to do with the weight savings of manual versus power. I personally prefer manual seats.

Timmay

As another person said, then why force a sunroof on us?

russbert

I find that very interesting as well since it adds weight in the worst possible spot (maybe Audi doesn't think we know this??) and raises the center of gravity and negated any weight savings of any manual seats. Porsche allowed the customer to exercise a sunroof delete option at no charge (probably since they got the cost savings ). I would have loved to have had that option especially since I don't particularly like the sunroof coming all the way to the front windshield anyway. Thought I'd throw that one out there since I've never seen anyone else express their opinion (yea or nay) on that topic.

Flying Scotsman

Again, that is Audi North America marketing. You can OPTION in the UK market to have a sunroof....no sunroof is standard on the RS3 and S3.

Timmay

Back in the day when I was a Bimmer fanboy and I bought my first M3 I deleted the sunroof and loved it. Interestingly I was one of the very few that even did that. The groups of fellow M3 owners I used to get together with ALL had their sunroofs. I kind've liked that fact as it made my car just a little bit unique.

russbert

And that's the way it should be (dang it)! I'm not sure why Audi thinks that the Canadians and Americans sports car enthusiasts aren't as savvy as UK drivers. Seriously, why work so hard to reduce weight in the engine (and minimize it over the front axle), use staggered wheels (optionally) to help with understeer, save weight with manual seats and then "burden" us with a sunroof which raises the center of gravity on the car and NO option to delete or better yet make that the option (to add it)??

RedlumF

I agree with giving U.S. customers the option of deleting or adding a sunroof. I'm sure more folks would've bought a U.S. spec Mk 7 Golf R if the option of adding a sunroof is available.