Come on then?
Head or Heart purchase?
Head for me, it's actually quite a sensible choice as far as I'm concerned.
Head or Heart purchase?
Head for me, it's actually quite a sensible choice as far as I'm concerned.
Surely an S3 is always a heart purchase, who really needs 300bhp in something so small?
Surely an S3 is always a heart purchase, who really needs 300bhp in something so small?
Definitely head, this is the sensible option for me.
When my heart makes the decision it's more often than not to buy something with character, which I don't think the S3 has much in the way of.
It's a very capable, functional machine, and while I expect to enjoy owning it I fully expect that I won't love it, nor miss it when we part ways.
Bit of both I think:
Head: Practical, well built, class, comfort, not too expensive to run (fuel/insurance etc.), holds value well
Heart: Rapid, handles all year round no matter what the weather
I think the S3 is probably the perfect everyday car if you're not doing loads of miles. I'm a big fan of 'hot hatches' for that reason I'm on my 3rd S3 as they are as good as it gets (until the new RS3 comes out obviously!)
Definitely head, this is the sensible option for me.
When my heart makes the decision it's more often than not to buy something with character, which I don't think the S3 has much in the way of.
It's a very capable, functional machine, and while I expect to enjoy owning it I fully expect that I won't love it, nor miss it when we part ways.
I cant ever believe that an S3 or RS3 or similar can ever be a choice of the head.
It's not economical, it will have relatively high depreciation, its expensive compared to other A3's.
It's got to be an almost 100% decision of the heart, comapring it as the 'sensible option' to other heart cars doesnt fool any one. The "oh I bought an S3 because it was the sensible choice between that and a GTR" just doesnt cut it I'm afraid. Otherwise you would have had a diesel or 1.4 or similar.
Come on guys stop trying to fool youreselves! Admit it to us we wont tell your wives, partners, girlfirends.
I've been there, done that, trying to pursuade 'er indoors that a 300bhp car is a necessity, it's difficult. But it's the drive and perfomance youre after, nothing to be embarrassed about!
Head and heart. I was looking at an S5 sportback which would have been very little head by comparison. Coming from a 2.0tsi scirocco the S3 saloon I've just ordered is more economical, lower emissions and car tax, bigger boot, two extra doors and 4WD and yet has 100BHP under the bonnet and I haven't stopped thinking about it in 4 months!
it says it all about this car, does pretty much everything, what a Q car!
Think you mean 300bhp!!
Interesting.. views on the A5 range is variable. The 3 door Coupe is widely viewed as the one to have with the Sportback being less popular (rep mobile)and looking like a bit of an afterthought. I think the old 8p A3 looked better as a Sportback whereas both 3 and 5 door look great in the 8V new version. Just my opinion.. anyone else have a view?
Think you mean 300bhp!!
Interesting.. views on the A5 range is variable. The 3 door Coupe is widely viewed as the one to have with the Sportback being less popular (rep mobile)and looking like a bit of an afterthought. I think the old 8p A3 looked better as a Sportback whereas both 3 and 5 door look great in the 8V new version. Just my opinion.. anyone else have a view?
Thanks, I missed the 'more' in the post, now edited. I know what you mean on the A5 but personally thought the S5 Sportback was gorgeous, and the Supercharged V6 even better but the fuel consumption is pretty bad and because if the weight, slower than the S3!
If you want an A 5 the best version has to be the 3.0Tdi quattro or V8 proper S or RS 5
Have you driven them? Interested to hear what you thought was better on the V8 rather than the Supercharged V6 (noise apart)?
For the original question, the S5 is better looking, better specced and more comfortable than an S3.
However it's dull as dishwater, far too heavy, with limited agility and no driving sensation.
If you want a motorway cruiser and want to be driven (if you get what I mean) then the S5 is a great choice.
So far the S3 is more agile (not as agile as a RS Megane though) although somewhat lacking in feedback when you get it going it holds well and will keep me more entertained than the S5 could.
I have owned x2 A5 3.0Tdi quattros... cracking cars.. quiet economical and they do motor. Neighbour has had an S5 V8 for 5 years so I think I am well placed to comment on both. The S5 V6 is OK but a gas guzzler... The 3.0Tdi Quattro is almost as quick and has real world 35-40 mpg capability. The V8 earlier S5 is awesome... the noise and performance is superb.. but I had one for a weekend and got 14mpg!! Great fun but..
Different things for different people. It's all relative to your circumstances and criteria.
Personally for me, the S3 is the sensible choice, and one that only used my head, here's why;
Safety stats, AWD, 5 door, reasonable size boot, economic (lower cost, fuel, tax, insurance, depreciation and servicing compared to previous cars), plus still has the minimum level of performance I wanted.
Nothing about my choice for the S3 was made by the heart - it was largely a functional decision so we could expand our family and have two cars that we can use as a family, instead of just one. Yes I wanted minimum levels of performance, but had my heart led my decision I would have ended up in something far less family friendly.
And how did you find the 3.0 V6 supercharged?
There's no real life difference in performance and the V6 is much more economical and more tunable (if that's your thing).
I would advise if you want an S5 the V6 is the one to buy, but I'd never advise that anyone should buy either.
Anyway, back on topic, S3 better to drive than S5.
There is nothing that the S3 can do that say a 184hp A3 cannot do, unless you really 'need' quattro and manual. An S-Line 184hp A3 would cost between £4800 and £6200 less, would be cheaper to insure, use less fuel and get you there just as quick.
No if you had used your head you would have got everything you wanted from a 1.4. The performance is a desire not a need so it was a decision of the heart. Dont fool yourself.
What are your performance criteria based on? Heart...