Discussion
Ladies and Gents,
I'm coming out of a BMW E92 M3 as it's mega expensive to run and I just don't gel with it.
On my replacement list is:
Audi S1 / Audi S3 / Golf R / Focus RS
I've driven them all and the S1 is the one I enjoyed the most, I just wondered if any owners could share their experiences. Positives / negatives?
My opinion for what it's worth.
Audi S1 - £20k, proper thump in the back power delivery, a good giggle, sounded good. The small size appealed to me.
Audi S3 - £24k, found it a little dull, was quick enough, nice interior but no sparkle for me.
Golf R - I liked this including the DSG box but £25k for the spec I want (Pretorias / Leather), not so keen on the dashboard. Sounded good.
Focus RS - A little underwhelmed and I probably can't justify the £35k based on the drive I had.
I'm coming out of a BMW E92 M3 as it's mega expensive to run and I just don't gel with it.
On my replacement list is:
Audi S1 / Audi S3 / Golf R / Focus RS
I've driven them all and the S1 is the one I enjoyed the most, I just wondered if any owners could share their experiences. Positives / negatives?
My opinion for what it's worth.
Audi S1 - £20k, proper thump in the back power delivery, a good giggle, sounded good. The small size appealed to me.
Audi S3 - £24k, found it a little dull, was quick enough, nice interior but no sparkle for me.
Golf R - I liked this including the DSG box but £25k for the spec I want (Pretorias / Leather), not so keen on the dashboard. Sounded good.
Focus RS - A little underwhelmed and I probably can't justify the £35k based on the drive I had.
Ive had a 2016 S1 for about 6 months now, I had a 2014 Fiesta Ecoboost 125 before so it was quite a step up in performance.
Positives:
Makes me smile on every drive.
Reasonably rare - I don't see many others on the road compared to S3's etc...
Quick - really surprises people, its quick enough for now in all weathers and the Quattro really does keep it solid on the road.
Great standard spec - mine is standard apart from the 18's and sport gear knob - only thing I really fancy is the supersport seats.
Negatives:
Drinks a bit of fuel - Ive never looked at the MPG but I get around 260 miles to a tank. But its an S1 so I don't really care, if I did I would have bought a TDI.
Small boot if you use it a lot but mine only ever has gym bag in there and my dog sits on passenger seat.
I don't know what I would replace it with, nothing else ticks the boxes for me at the moment apart from a S3 saloon, but they are £15k more at least.
Im hoping to get mine mapped this year, they go to 325 PS with just a stage 1 map. Its just the clutch that would worry me at that power!
Positives:
Makes me smile on every drive.
Reasonably rare - I don't see many others on the road compared to S3's etc...
Quick - really surprises people, its quick enough for now in all weathers and the Quattro really does keep it solid on the road.
Great standard spec - mine is standard apart from the 18's and sport gear knob - only thing I really fancy is the supersport seats.
Negatives:
Drinks a bit of fuel - Ive never looked at the MPG but I get around 260 miles to a tank. But its an S1 so I don't really care, if I did I would have bought a TDI.
Small boot if you use it a lot but mine only ever has gym bag in there and my dog sits on passenger seat.
I don't know what I would replace it with, nothing else ticks the boxes for me at the moment apart from a S3 saloon, but they are £15k more at least.
Im hoping to get mine mapped this year, they go to 325 PS with just a stage 1 map. Its just the clutch that would worry me at that power!
Adz The Rat said:
Ive had a 2016 S1 for about 6 months now, I had a 2014 Fiesta Ecoboost 125 before so it was quite a step up in performance.
Positives:
Makes me smile on every drive.
Reasonably rare - I don't see many others on the road compared to S3's etc...
Quick - really surprises people, its quick enough for now in all weathers and the Quattro really does keep it solid on the road.
Great standard spec - mine is standard apart from the 18's and sport gear knob - only thing I really fancy is the supersport seats.
Negatives:
Drinks a bit of fuel - Ive never looked at the MPG but I get around 260 miles to a tank. But its an S1 so I don't really care, if I did I would have bought a TDI.
Small boot if you use it a lot but mine only ever has gym bag in there and my dog sits on passenger seat.
I don't know what I would replace it with, nothing else ticks the boxes for me at the moment apart from a S3 saloon, but they are £15k more at least.
Im hoping to get mine mapped this year, they go to 325 PS with just a stage 1 map. Its just the clutch that would worry me at that power!
260 miles and 45L tank suggests 26mpg, not as good as I would hope. What kind of driving is this?Positives:
Makes me smile on every drive.
Reasonably rare - I don't see many others on the road compared to S3's etc...
Quick - really surprises people, its quick enough for now in all weathers and the Quattro really does keep it solid on the road.
Great standard spec - mine is standard apart from the 18's and sport gear knob - only thing I really fancy is the supersport seats.
Negatives:
Drinks a bit of fuel - Ive never looked at the MPG but I get around 260 miles to a tank. But its an S1 so I don't really care, if I did I would have bought a TDI.
Small boot if you use it a lot but mine only ever has gym bag in there and my dog sits on passenger seat.
I don't know what I would replace it with, nothing else ticks the boxes for me at the moment apart from a S3 saloon, but they are £15k more at least.
Im hoping to get mine mapped this year, they go to 325 PS with just a stage 1 map. Its just the clutch that would worry me at that power!
A roads to work and back, commute of around 18 miles.
To be fair, whenever there is a clear bit of road, I batter it.
There is a few nice B roads on the way to pick my dog up and it gets thrown about down those.
I have no doubt you could get the MPG up quite a bit with a softer right foot and using the efficiency mode.
To be fair, whenever there is a clear bit of road, I batter it.
There is a few nice B roads on the way to pick my dog up and it gets thrown about down those.
I have no doubt you could get the MPG up quite a bit with a softer right foot and using the efficiency mode.
Adz The Rat said:
A roads to work and back, commute of around 18 miles.
To be fair, whenever there is a clear bit of road, I batter it.
There is a few nice B roads on the way to pick my dog up and it gets thrown about down those.
I have no doubt you could get the MPG up quite a bit with a softer right foot and using the efficiency mode.
If you get 26mog doing runs like that then that seems fair enough to me .... ideally I'd like it to cruise at 70mph on a long run and return 40mpg. Do you think that's achievable? To be fair anything that's better than my M3s 23mpg would be good!!To be fair, whenever there is a clear bit of road, I batter it.
There is a few nice B roads on the way to pick my dog up and it gets thrown about down those.
I have no doubt you could get the MPG up quite a bit with a softer right foot and using the efficiency mode.
DibblyDobbler said:
Sorry for the boring questions Adam but what are the build quality and the ride comfort like?
I'm in a Golf R which has a lot going for it but both of the aforementioned are disappointing...
Don't worry, they aren't boring questions if you are going to part with your hard earned for one.I'm in a Golf R which has a lot going for it but both of the aforementioned are disappointing...
Build quality is typical Audi, sturdy and everything feels solid. The only niggle I have is sometimes the Bluetooth drops out and I have to switch my phone off and on to get it back, my friends S3 does the same though.
Ride quality is good! As mentioned, mine has the optional 18's but I don't find it crashy or too hard, just feels like a sorted hot hatch.
Have you driven one yet? I work at an Audi branch and last year we had an Audi Sport day with all the RS and R8 models to drive, plus an S1.
The S1 was the surprise of the day, so many people brought it back and wanted to take it out again.
It feels like the car you wanted at 18 but properly built.
John Laverick said:
If you get 26mog doing runs like that then that seems fair enough to me .... ideally I'd like it to cruise at 70mph on a long run and return 40mpg. Do you think that's achievable? To be fair anything that's better than my M3s 23mpg would be good!!
I would have though close to 40mpg would be achievable, Ive never tried it though so don't hold me to that.Its not a heavy car and 6th gear seems pretty long, it can take you from 40mph right up to 155mph.
Adz The Rat said:
Don't worry, they aren't boring questions if you are going to part with your hard earned for one.
Build quality is typical Audi, sturdy and everything feels solid. The only niggle I have is sometimes the Bluetooth drops out and I have to switch my phone off and on to get it back, my friends S3 does the same though.
Ride quality is good! As mentioned, mine has the optional 18's but I don't find it crashy or too hard, just feels like a sorted hot hatch.
Have you driven one yet? I work at an Audi branch and last year we had an Audi Sport day with all the RS and R8 models to drive, plus an S1.
The S1 was the surprise of the day, so many people brought it back and wanted to take it out again.
It feels like the car you wanted at 18 but properly built.
Thanks - sounds promising! Haven't driven one yet but it sounds like it's in the running for when I get fed up with the Golf Build quality is typical Audi, sturdy and everything feels solid. The only niggle I have is sometimes the Bluetooth drops out and I have to switch my phone off and on to get it back, my friends S3 does the same though.
Ride quality is good! As mentioned, mine has the optional 18's but I don't find it crashy or too hard, just feels like a sorted hot hatch.
Have you driven one yet? I work at an Audi branch and last year we had an Audi Sport day with all the RS and R8 models to drive, plus an S1.
The S1 was the surprise of the day, so many people brought it back and wanted to take it out again.
It feels like the car you wanted at 18 but properly built.
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