RE: BMW M135i vs Audi S3

[pilchardthecat]

Wolands Advocate said:

I always think that's a curious argument. It's so very British to be worrying about what other people think about your status in life based on your choice of car. I should think it would be exhausting to be that insecure!

I knew someone would pick up on that, i did it deliberately

It does look completely gash though

[andrewparker]

red_slr said:

The main problem in the S3 is the turbo lag.
People say they dont notice it - but my 8P was like an on/off switch.
Made worse when Audi did an update to the map at service time - made it much worse.

I cant imagine the new S3 is any better, its got more power, but similar turbo technology.
I guess it rums a bit more boost... great.

The BMW on the other hand is such a nice smooth motor in NA tune that they can run pretty low boost on the FI motor.
Thats how its done. Audi know how to make a good turbo motor too - just not in 4 cyl.

Out of interest did you ever try a different VAG 2.0T car? I've never heard turbo lag criticism levelled at any car using that engine, and I've owned a few, albeit in the Golf GTI. I know the K03 was a bit better than the K04 in that respect but I'd have never said it had noticeable turbo lag.

I'm not a big Audi fan (far from it in fact), but I find it hard to disagree that their cars offer a nice package, at a price of course.

The BMW just makes me angry. I want to drive a car that looks good, and as much as I have tried to love it, I just can't. Fulfils on every other level.

[FamilyDub]

article said:

And lacks the M135i's 'OMG' punch.

^ Come on, Dan, what sort of sentence is that?!

Are you even bored of all these M135 articles now?!




M135i over an S3, everytime. M135 over an RS3, for that matter

Edited by FamilyDub on Thursday 19th September 16:40

[jamespink]

New Scot said:

dukebox9reg said:

What the ell is an advanced key for 425 quid?

For the price of half a shed (source Audi's UK website):

---

The Audi S3 comes with a choice of two keys: the remote control key (standard) or the advanced key (optional).

The remote control key – convenient and practical
Locks and unlocks the doors, windows, luggage compartment and tank filler flap at the press of a button
Locks and unlocks the boot separately
The advanced key – the key you can keep in your pocket

The optional Audi S3 advanced key allows you to keep the key in your pocket all the time. The doors unlock automatically when you approach the car and you can start the engine simply by pressing the start/stop button in the centre console.

---

Value???

Sign me up, I've always wished I could spend the thick end of £500 to save me using a key... Are they bonkers?

[CYMR0]

jamespink said:

Sign me up, I've always wished I could spend the thick end of £500 to save me using a key... Are they bonkers?

To be fair, the BMW has something similar. It's incredibly annoying because you find yourself wishing that there was a convenient place, perhaps near the steering column, to hang the remote key while driving so it doesn't stab you in your pocket. Perhaps if you always drive with a briefcase or handbag, it might be mildly more convenient than a traditional remote key.

[Bilen]

Test drove the M135, and liked it. 8 speed was fab, handling was good (with the adaptive dampers) wasn't overly keen on the interior or exterior looks.

I had at the time an S3 sportback. Overall preferred the BMW handing and engine, but missed the 4wd as the S3 was a great winter car (esp w winter tyres). Couldn't quite live with the looks or interior, but great value car. ended up with a lightly used RS3 instead.

Like the interior of the new S3, but not overly sure on the looks

[Roma101]

Surely everyone on PHs who doesn't like the BMW's looks has said so already!? It's getting a bit boring now! Let's change the track. Although I acknowledge that it doesn't help PH themselves writing about it every day seemingly.

[Ian_C]

CYMR0 said:

....It's incredibly annoying because you find yourself wishing that there was a convenient place, perhaps near the steering column, to hang the remote key while driving so it doesn't stab you in your pocket.....

Hahaha. Never seen the point in keyless myself, nowt wrong with pressing a button to unlock the car, or sticking a key in an ignition.

[pilchardthecat]

Ian_C said:

.... Never seen the point in keyless myself, nowt wrong with pressing a button to unlock the car, or sticking a key in an ignition.

For the Melvin Udalls of the population, who have to triple check that they locked the car, then go back and unlock it and lock it again..... then go back and try the door handle just to make sure - keyless entry is an OCD nightmare. How would you ever even know???!!!

[Wolands Advocate]

pilchardthecat said:

Wolands Advocate said:

I always think that's a curious argument. It's so very British to be worrying about what other people think about your status in life based on your choice of car. I should think it would be exhausting to be that insecure!

I knew someone would pick up on that, i did it deliberately

It does look completely gash though

Yes....sign me up for the high altitude pass overhead.... That only occurred to me afterwards.

[Wolands Advocate]

pilchardthecat said:

Ian_C said:

.... Never seen the point in keyless myself, nowt wrong with pressing a button to unlock the car, or sticking a key in an ignition.

For the Melvin Udalls of the population, who have to triple check that they locked the car, then go back and unlock it and lock it again..... then go back and try the door handle just to make sure - keyless entry is an OCD nightmare. How would you ever even know???!!!

Oh that's eeeeeeeeeaasy! Hold the lock button and the mirrors fold in. Because they are silver-ish, they stand out and therefore you can easily see even from a distance whether you locked the car. Most useful!

That is, assuming that keyless access allows you to lock the car yourself...

[soulfood9]

No, that would be me. :-)

Rudeboy350Z said:

OK, possible contender for Lurker Award 2013 - not been around for a bit, but it's not that busy at work and I wanted to throw my two penny's worth in on the above post.

Edited by Rudeboy350Z on Thursday 19th September 15:35

[Selrak]

I have watched the various M135i threads for some months now on the Forum with some fascination. I have been a recent buyer of an ex-demo model and it has completely lived up to expectations. I don't care about its looks - it looks fine to me and the more anonymous the better. If it looks like a bog-standard 114i then all the better. I don't care that its 5-door and paddle shift and not manual. It goes just fine in auto and there is always the manual and sports mode for the 'B' roads. The interior is refined and comfortable to me and I love it and look forward to a long and happy association.

Oh and for the record I am the wrong side of three score and ten and in my fifty years of motoring I have driven almost everything that mattered. I also have a 172 Cup for track use...

[russy01]

Ive a M135i but considered the S3 as I love the looks of the last gen.

However this new one looks massive plain all round, until you see the stupid quad pipes at the back!!!!!!

It would look so much better with 2 nice oval pipes and leaving the quad pipes for the RS3 and its more lairy design.

Im not disappointed with my decision, the BMW is earning its keep and has blown the socks off anybody who has been out in it.

[anonymous-user]

Really dislike the way the new A3, and this S3 look. The grille and lower vents are too large/look cheap, and the body sits awkwardly on its wheels as if the wheel base is just too short.

This is still such a handsome car from better days

[Axionknight]

Ian_C said:

Hahaha. Never seen the point in keyless myself, nowt wrong with pressing a button to unlock the car, or sticking a key in an ignition.

Agreed, my missus has a Suzuki Swift with key-less entry/start and I totally hate it, I'd never spec it on a car and would likely be displeased if it came with it as standard, it's just a faff.

As for the article. I hate the M135i, I'm sure it's a lovely steer but it's so ugly and so "everywhere", then again, I don't really like the Audi S3 either, but if I HAD to buy one of the two it'd have to be the BMW, but since no one is pointing a gun at me to force the issue, I never, ever will.

[b0rk]

red_slr said:

The main problem in the S3 is the turbo lag.
People say they dont notice it - but my 8P was like an on/off switch.
Made worse when Audi did an update to the map at service time - made it much worse.

Sure wasn't a split DV which is/was known problem which dealers are generally pretty bad at diagnosing, s-tronic should have kept the engine on the boil.

Ali_T said:

I have a feeling the Golf R will be potentially less vanilla than the S3. VW have the benefit of the luke warm reception the Audi has had and more time to make it a more interesting steer.

Not sure if it will the pair will basically have been developed together so can't see VW offering anything significantly different. Haldex maps, spring rates could I suppose be slightly revised but the short 6 month lag between S3 launch and Golf R launch doesn't really offer much extra time for further development. Considering GTI performance pack pricing I'm struggling to see where the R will slot in vs S3.
The lack of steering feel is common across the range of new VAG products so can't see that being addressed.

[General Zod]

Top 3 reasons for disliking M135i seem to be:

Looks not to the majority's taste
Worries about people's perception of the driver
Does not look "quick" enough

All seem to be very... shallow (for want of a better word)

[Bezza1969]

These pesky M135i's get in everywhere don't they! Yip, on paper and on dry roads, the Beemer seems to walk this one. Would be interesting however to revisit this test in a few months time when the roads are slippery. I've seen a few articles, particularly in EVO which weren't that flattering about the M135i's wet weather ability. The S3 on the other hand...

[Shambler]

If you live in an area like the north west coast of Scotland the choice is very easy. The audi will be quicker 80 % of the time due to poor weather. In the snow or ice the BMW will have problems getting off the drive. I admire the 135 but it would not be an option. I like most German cars but can't get over this silly juvenile Audi hating and pointless posting by what seems like 16 year olds with a teenage crush on Clarkson.