WarwickL
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New S3, New Focus ST or M135i
- Thread starter Andy White
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Best basketball player ever.
I had no idea who he is but was afraid to ask lol !!
I’ve owned my S3 for 3 months now before that I had an M135i. As already mentioned the engine in the BM is sublime, the sound and performance matted to that fantastic ZF 8 speed box was very addictive and driving around in sport mode was enjoyable.
What let it down for me was the suspension and build quality. Mine had the dynamic suspension and in comfort mode the car would sway and rock over bumps like a Cadillac and going over speed bumps I would switch it to sport to stiffen the suspension so I didn't get sea sick. Another concern I had which ultimately made up my mind to move it on, was the pogo stick like suspension which has been said of the S3. I took the BM for a spirited run over the moors and the car just felt unstable, way too much bounce and the effect seemed to get progressively worse, at one point it felt as though I had gone airborne and heading for the edge!
Quality wise the plastic around the knee area was very cheap, it had that many rattles it was embarrassing, misted up rear lights, a drive train rattle and when it rained water would drip from the driver’s door seal. For my next car I wanted similar performance and 4 wheel drive.
I'm loving the S3 at the moment, it’s a good looking car, I can use the power throughout the year without the fear of the back stepping out, build quality is certainly a step up, performance is not far behind the BM, and I'm finding any excuse to drive it which is a good sign. The standard suspension could be a touch stiffer but I'm fine with that as it stops the wife and kids complaining and makes for an excellent cruiser, the steering initially felt a little vague but I've got used to that. My only real grip with the S3 is the DSG box, great on up shifts when pressing on, but around town the box can be slow to react and downshifts can take a while, and in Dynamic mode the box hangs onto the gears way too long.
What let it down for me was the suspension and build quality. Mine had the dynamic suspension and in comfort mode the car would sway and rock over bumps like a Cadillac and going over speed bumps I would switch it to sport to stiffen the suspension so I didn't get sea sick. Another concern I had which ultimately made up my mind to move it on, was the pogo stick like suspension which has been said of the S3. I took the BM for a spirited run over the moors and the car just felt unstable, way too much bounce and the effect seemed to get progressively worse, at one point it felt as though I had gone airborne and heading for the edge!
Quality wise the plastic around the knee area was very cheap, it had that many rattles it was embarrassing, misted up rear lights, a drive train rattle and when it rained water would drip from the driver’s door seal. For my next car I wanted similar performance and 4 wheel drive.
I'm loving the S3 at the moment, it’s a good looking car, I can use the power throughout the year without the fear of the back stepping out, build quality is certainly a step up, performance is not far behind the BM, and I'm finding any excuse to drive it which is a good sign. The standard suspension could be a touch stiffer but I'm fine with that as it stops the wife and kids complaining and makes for an excellent cruiser, the steering initially felt a little vague but I've got used to that. My only real grip with the S3 is the DSG box, great on up shifts when pressing on, but around town the box can be slow to react and downshifts can take a while, and in Dynamic mode the box hangs onto the gears way too long.
OP.. Wait it out and spend a little more and get this!!!
I can't wait for a shot in one, I think it is probably one of the nicer looking cars around at the minute. Much like an M4 that has been put through the wash, which I guess is not a bad thing..
Good luck with whatever you decide though!!
I can't wait for a shot in one, I think it is probably one of the nicer looking cars around at the minute. Much like an M4 that has been put through the wash, which I guess is not a bad thing..
Good luck with whatever you decide though!!
The new M2 might give a drive close to the legendary E46 M3 CSL !
Hopefully
evo are pretty excited about it:
http://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/2-series/16801/bmw-m2-revealed-why-buy-an-m4
But all this makes the new Focus RS a relative bargain, especially if it truly provides a great driving experience.
Hopefully
evo are pretty excited about it:
http://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/2-series/16801/bmw-m2-revealed-why-buy-an-m4
But all this makes the new Focus RS a relative bargain, especially if it truly provides a great driving experience.
WarwickL
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The M2 - another rear tyre shredder with the same oil leaks and cheap interior
Aslong as it doesn't develop an engine rattle. Have a crackling 'upgraded' music system and have as many interior rattles as my s3 then it should be fine 
WarwickL
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Aslong as it doesn't develop an engine rattle. Have a crackling 'upgraded' music system and have as many interior rattles as my s3 then it should be fine
For an extra $AU 40k here for the BMW, I'd take the S3 warts over the BMW warts
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OP.. Wait it out and spend a little more and get this!!!
View attachment 71053
I can't wait for a shot in one, I think it is probably one of the nicer looking cars around at the minute. Much like an M4 that has been put through the wash, which I guess is not a bad thing..
Good luck with whatever you decide though!!
Yeah, can't deny that is one of the better looking beemers around
The rear seats look like they might be for toddlers/midgets only and RWD not for me either.
Blackwhite
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The new M2 might give a drive close to the legendary E46 M3 CSL !
Hopefully
evo are pretty excited about it:
http://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/2-series/16801/bmw-m2-revealed-why-buy-an-m4
But all this makes the new Focus RS a relative bargain, especially if it truly provides a great driving experience.
Nice! Possibility for the list veeeight?
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Really what gave you that idea......lol
Did consider a used z4 hard top coupe a few years ago, nice looking car but inside no likey....l see them constantly as l live near a large BMW dealership familiarity breeds contempt
The only BMW that I'd have is a 1M.
Other than that the only other one that was remotely interesting was the Z4M Coupe.
The rest are a bit meh IMO.
Other than that the only other one that was remotely interesting was the Z4M Coupe.
The rest are a bit meh IMO.
This is how you style a "performance" car, Audi. You just look dull and dowdy in comparison.
Just like a family hatch
(as for those wheels...... ugh.)
(Pic from the RS3 section)
Just like a family hatch
(as for those wheels...... ugh.)
(Pic from the RS3 section)
WarwickL
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Cant say the bmw looks particulary nice but the other car looks like the next big thing from korea.
WarwickL
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This is how you style a "performance" car, Audi. You just look dull and dowdy in comparison.
Just like a family hatch
(as for those wheels...... ugh.)
(Pic from the RS3 section)
OK V8 you got me!
On looks alone I'd take the BM from those two
AudiBoy1976
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The M2 is definitely one of the Best looking current BMW's, but they still need to Sack their whole Styling Team!
It just looks too sharp edged & way over-Bodied to me & no doubt it'll still have the same boring plastic looking Interior, like the basic models!
I would agree, the RS3 is no Looker either though..............they need to Remove a couple of doors or Add a Boot to make it a Saloon - would look great then!
It just looks too sharp edged & way over-Bodied to me & no doubt it'll still have the same boring plastic looking Interior, like the basic models!
I would agree, the RS3 is no Looker either though..............they need to Remove a couple of doors or Add a Boot to make it a Saloon - would look great then!
It would have been interesting if Mercedes were also
mentioned in this thread.
Yes, whilst the A45 AMG isn't named in the thread title, to me it appears the best option of all.
Expensive yes, but then you can't quantify everything in life purely in terms of currency.
I read many threads on here in which the proponents advocate avoiding options when buying and just going for the basic car on the basis that one will never recoup the outlay on the options. Total folly to my mind. If it's affordable and desirable spend the money. Whist it's true you'll never fully recover the options cost my experience shows you partially recover the costs and in the meantime you've been driving around in a car tailor made to your complete requirements and not feeling you're driving the poverty model..
Getting back to the subject in hand, it's worth checking out the Merc. Add a few options to it.. Apart from the screen, which looks bolted on, the FL is a very rapid and pleasant car to drive.
If you can afford it forget the money. Enjoy yourself. You're only here once.
G-S3
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I went in a friend 2012 M3 coup the other day. Seats were better than the S3 but everything else internally wasn't in the same league. The cup holder was just a god damn awful piece of design, (I'm a qualified Product Designer!)
For me a cars interior is equally, if not more important than the exterior. Cant see much of the exterior when driving.
To top it off the S3 seemed the quicker car.
For me a cars interior is equally, if not more important than the exterior. Cant see much of the exterior when driving.
To top it off the S3 seemed the quicker car.
I've got no quibbles with the bm interiors. On the other hand i did try the cla45 amg shooting brake. The interior in that was a bit shocking.
The audi dealership i went to for the s3 tried to fob me of with an a4 avant as i was looking for a reasonably decent boot on the car. The discount got to about 9k (new built in group stock) but the dash in that was plastic city. I'm quite partial to the new one though. I gather the fixed screen isn't to everyones taste, but i guess its here to stay. Not that i fold my screen down anyway.
I'd say theres a 3 way split exterior/interior/ and driving dynamics. My s3 saloon
Excels at the first, is a bit iffy on the second point and is out classed on the third.
The audi dealership i went to for the s3 tried to fob me of with an a4 avant as i was looking for a reasonably decent boot on the car. The discount got to about 9k (new built in group stock) but the dash in that was plastic city. I'm quite partial to the new one though. I gather the fixed screen isn't to everyones taste, but i guess its here to stay. Not that i fold my screen down anyway.
I'd say theres a 3 way split exterior/interior/ and driving dynamics. My s3 saloon
Excels at the first, is a bit iffy on the second point and is out classed on the third.
I'm glad someone mentioned the A45 AMG in this thread.
It will almost certainly be my next car, now that the R400 is in doubt. Will still test drive the Focus RS, of course.
As things stand, in terms of involvement, engagement, fun, sheer driveability, the A45 is streets ahead of the RS3.
You get so much kit as standard, it makes a mockery of the RS3 pricing and options.
Watch from 2'11"
It will almost certainly be my next car, now that the R400 is in doubt. Will still test drive the Focus RS, of course.
As things stand, in terms of involvement, engagement, fun, sheer driveability, the A45 is streets ahead of the RS3.
You get so much kit as standard, it makes a mockery of the RS3 pricing and options.
Watch from 2'11"
Blackwhite
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veeeight, You said this will probably be your
next car. One stipulation:
I get the first ride!
DangerS3
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For the record, I don't even think an 18 year old me could live with the dire boot space of an A45. As much as I like them, the noise they make and being in the driving seat, they are just far too tiny inside. I think a mk6 Fiesta has more internal space.
When I was looking for a new car, this was the reason I ruled out the Merc very early on. Nice car, and looked good (apart from the that screen!) but the boot was tiny. It made some great noises, but I wasn't sure if I would get fed up with living with that every day...
That left me with the M135i or the S3. The BMW was a nice car the motor sounded fantastic, but to my eye the interior was messy and the outside is just plain ugly. I had two test drives in the BMW, because it was drizzling on the first one it was a pig to get the power down...so they got me back to try it in the dry.
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Yeah don't want to be looking out the window every morning to make make sure its safe to drive with Rwd
Guess my future options are Focus RS, maybe that new A4 Avant or maybe something else, hell a SQ5 even. decisions decisions
I always end up with a diverse selection to make things harder.
Guess my future options are Focus RS, maybe that new A4 Avant or maybe something else, hell a SQ5 even. decisions decisions
I always end up with a diverse selection to make things harder.
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Couldn't agree more mate, not sure what it says at the top of everyone else's web page but I'm sure mine says 'Audi Sport Net' lol
Where's the friggin' loyalty here?
lol I'm sure there's some good things to say about the Audi's, mine looks better than anything outside.
seriously, on here most other makes are usually shot down within one post or two of a mention.
I guess there's a superiority complex with some Audi owners (Undeserved as far as I can tell)
Usual suspect is the, 'Better interior defence' Is that what Audi have become. Sometimes the failings of certain Audis need pointing out to keep the balance
We all seem to compare cars that are completely different, be it purpose or price etc. Each to there own.
I like some BM's I like some Fords I like some Audis
seriously, on here most other makes are usually shot down within one post or two of a mention.
I guess there's a superiority complex with some Audi owners (Undeserved as far as I can tell)
Usual suspect is the, 'Better interior defence' Is that what Audi have become. Sometimes the failings of certain Audis need pointing out to keep the balance
We all seem to compare cars that are completely different, be it purpose or price etc. Each to there own.
I like some BM's I like some Fords I like some Audis
G-S3
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I had a diesel A45 for a week, piece of crap. The lag in the auto box was nothing but dangerous when pulling out of a junction. Interior is like something a 10yr old would design and the MMI or whatever they call it was a joke. Looks nice from the outside though.
Well other marques may not look so good perhaps, but they are a damn sight more reliable than S3's with their turbo, high pressure fuel pump, injector, water pump issues, rattles, bland handling, etc to mention but a few.......................nice interior though, and the radio works well when you are sitting on the hard shoulder of the M25 awaiting Audi Assist. Again.
