I have a 2007 RS3 tC (automatic) with about 25k miles on it and recently I've noticed two things that are different from when I got the car.

The first problem is that I noticed an RPM difference in speeds. For example, when the car was still new to about 6 months, going 80mph would be around 2900-3000 RPMs and now I noticed that when I go 80mph my RPM meter is reading around 3200-3300 RPMs. I know it can't be weight be issues since I usually drive alone and I don't have anything in the trunk.

The second problem is that I'm hearing a weird rattling engine noise when I'm going around 30-40-mph and sometimes when I let go of my gas pedal. It kind of sounds like a rig truck on idle. It sounds fine on idle and I don't hear anything when I accelerate below or pass the 30-40mph margin but its between those speeds is when I notice that sound. I never heard it before. I only started hearing it about 2-3 months ago.

Any information about this matter is greatly appreciated.

 

have you kept up on maintenance?

 

Yeah, I kept up with maintenance every 3 months or 3,000 miles and all that stuff. I also have the platinum warranty 100,000 miles or 7 years thing too. If there is anything wrong with it, it should cover right?

 

any significant change in weather or driving habits lately?
any mods?

 

It's completely stock, the only mods I have are the RS3 ones if you want to consider those mods haha. But yeah, completely stock, its automatic, my driving habits are still the same (not driving fast or anything but I keep at low RPMs and let the transmission switch gears around 2500-3000 RPMs) but I'm not gonna lie, I do floor it sometimes or drive harder but thats very rare. To be honest probably once every 500 miles or so haha.