RE: Audi S1: UK Review
Discussion
Sounds like its probably a comparison between an optioned out A1 at list price against a discounted base M135i. In reality the difference in list is £6.5k (£24,905 vs £ 31,375). Not really rivals by any measurement anyway. Both offer good value compared to the Golf GTI which looks a little slow and expensive in comparison.
British Beef said:
Abso-f##ka-lutely ghastly this car.... where too start !
- looks cack (at least the basic A1 is not trying to be anything other than a premium shopping trolley)
- how much for this shopping trolley?
- too few cylinders for that price
- too many exhausts for that engine
- the list of preferable alternatives new or second hand for this price point!
This post sums up my thoughts about this car perfectly. Audi has just never done it for me. I disagree with the author's notion that "Audi's are spin-offs of VW group platforms" applies more to the Audi A4 than this car. http://www.cariseasy.com/audi-a4.html- looks cack (at least the basic A1 is not trying to be anything other than a premium shopping trolley)
- how much for this shopping trolley?
- too few cylinders for that price
- too many exhausts for that engine
- the list of preferable alternatives new or second hand for this price point!
daydotz said:
Nice find, 'approved used' 
Wouldn't buy one for the price, but the size plus AWD plus 370 Nm of torque make it quite fun to drive if it wasn't for the unbelievable amount of turbo lag.
It's inexplicable to me because the car should have full torque above 1500 rpm, but whenever I stepped on the pedal it took a second and a half until the power arrived at the wheels.
Maybe it's also the manual that exposes the throttle response because a DSG would have simply shifted down instantly? The whole experience felt no different from driving a strong modern day diesel, sound and power delivery included. I have no experience with the VAG 2.0 TFSI engines so maybe that's just how these engines work.
My test car was yellow just like the one pictured above. A bit embarrassing I must admit. Looks ok to me in grey with the spoiler delete.
It's inexplicable to me because the car should have full torque above 1500 rpm, but whenever I stepped on the pedal it took a second and a half until the power arrived at the wheels.
Maybe it's also the manual that exposes the throttle response because a DSG would have simply shifted down instantly? The whole experience felt no different from driving a strong modern day diesel, sound and power delivery included. I have no experience with the VAG 2.0 TFSI engines so maybe that's just how these engines work.
My test car was yellow just like the one pictured above. A bit embarrassing I must admit. Looks ok to me in grey with the spoiler delete.
tomsugden said:
I picked mine up on Monday, it's epic.
I was looking for a car that can be 2 different things, to replace my Audi S4 4.2 V8, and company Audi A4 2.0 Tdi. The S1 is as quick as the S4, but driving to Bury St Edmunds for business yesterday it returned 42mpg.
Is that a pic of yours?I was looking for a car that can be 2 different things, to replace my Audi S4 4.2 V8, and company Audi A4 2.0 Tdi. The S1 is as quick as the S4, but driving to Bury St Edmunds for business yesterday it returned 42mpg.
Looks a bit Autumnal in season to me..?
a beauty of an everyday car. Did I read in Evo though the long termer calved on the first sight of snow?? Quattro hmmmmm. E65Ross said:
PHMatt said:
Leggy said:
Why moan about the price though? It's an Audi- a premium brand what do you expect?
It's dangerously close in price to an M135i - and that's why, at 100bhp less, it's overpriced.Edited by nickfrog on Thursday 11th June 23:05
mainaman said:
The only hot hatches that tend to retain their value are the most extrovert ones,with USP as well.So i am sure that a 33k S1 would be worth more than a 33k S3 in three years time.Couple that with the lower running costs(it lacks DSG and cylinder deactivation,but still) and the price doesnt seem so steep for a supermini.The Fiesta ST is much cheaper,but its for a reason-slower,smaller engine,FWD,torsion beam,passive dampers,less bespoke suspension components,cheap interior and exterior,less kit,no premium image,less rare,etc.
No, You will lose a a hell of a lot more cash in 3 years with an S1 at £33K over an S3. At that price the S1 has a lot of optional extras where the S3 won't and that 'value' of the extras erodes pretty quickly over the first few years.You are deluded if you think £33K isn't steep for a super mini. You can get a Leon Cupra 280, a class above, which in my mind is the better car in every way for less.
In regard to the Fiesta ST comparison: the Fiesta is cheaper by £15K. Yes, the ST3 fiesta WITH a factory warrentied Mountune stage 1 upgrade is FIFTEEN GRAND less than this £33K S1. If you can read my last sentence again and still think the Audi is good value then you really need to get your head checked. I'd put money on there being not much in it performance wise, the Fiesta is around 150KG lighter and with the MP215 upgrade it is only a few horses and lbs ft of torque behind the Audi. The fact it has a smaller engine and delivers nearly the same figures is a positive, the FWD for me is a positive, AWD is a preference, it doesn't make it automatically better. The torsion beam, dampers and 'less bespoke suspension components' is irrelevant, the Fiesta is probably the better handling car. Cheaper interior is granted but you would expect the Audi to be a lot better at almost double the price. Cheaper exterior?? You lost me there. Less kit? For the prices I have compared I can imagine it is the same.
You summed it up in the end though, 'premium image'. That is all the Audi S1 is, an over priced hot hatch that has a certain image which is tagged as premium because of the insane price. I haven't driven an S1 but I imagine it is a brilliant car but not £15K better than an ST3 Fiesta.
As an ST3 owner I can understand the cheap interior comment, mine has a couple of rattles, the ride is also....rough shall we say. However, cheap exterior? What does that even mean. The equipment, heated recaro seats, Sony stereo unit, SAT-NAV, bluetooth etc etc. are all good.
As far as value for money, it is very difficult to find better than an ST for a new car, roughly £16-£17k new on drive the deal.
As far as value for money, it is very difficult to find better than an ST for a new car, roughly £16-£17k new on drive the deal.
lord trumpton said:
tomsugden said:
I picked mine up on Monday, it's epic.
I was looking for a car that can be 2 different things, to replace my Audi S4 4.2 V8, and company Audi A4 2.0 Tdi. The S1 is as quick as the S4, but driving to Bury St Edmunds for business yesterday it returned 42mpg.
Is that a pic of yours?I was looking for a car that can be 2 different things, to replace my Audi S4 4.2 V8, and company Audi A4 2.0 Tdi. The S1 is as quick as the S4, but driving to Bury St Edmunds for business yesterday it returned 42mpg.
Looks a bit Autumnal in season to me..?
- Photo for illustrative purposes only.
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