Audi S3 - does it get any better?

[Colonial]

I'm in the process of getting an S3 for much the same reasons actually. Seems to fill my criteria the best.

Looked at an Alfa GTV v6 as well. 3 of them. 2 of them had electrics that went on the testdrive. The other wouldn't start.

[Pooh]

Colonial said:

Looked at an Alfa GTV v6 as well. 3 of them. 2 of them had electrics that went on the testdrive. The other wouldn't start.

You must have been very unlucky, what do you mean by the electics went?

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Alfa electrics are made by Bosch, which is a German company ; )

For the record, I have had no problems with my 147 GTA in nearly 3 years of ownership - you must have been unlucky with the German electrics on those particular cars.

[Fidgits]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Alfa electrics are made by Bosch, which is a German company ; )

For the record, I have had no problems with my 147 GTA in nearly 3 years of ownership - you must have been unlucky with the German electrics on those particular cars.

Spot the person fed up with being told had unreliable italian cars are

[Colonial]

Pooh said:

Colonial said:

Looked at an Alfa GTV v6 as well. 3 of them. 2 of them had electrics that went on the testdrive. The other wouldn't start.

You must have been very unlucky, what do you mean by the electics went?

Car 1 - power windows decided to stop working halfway through a test drive.
Car 2, power windows plus dash lights coming on then flickering off an on. Turned on headlights and they just gradually went out to the point of non-existence. And the sunroof didn't work.

The thing is I'm about to go and testdirve a 147 GTA so I still have a semi-open mind.

[AlSharpton]

Focus RS

[Pooh]

AlSharpton said:

Focus RS

Unless you spend most of your time on the track, the Alfa is the better car in almost every way. (not just my view but the view of most car mags too)

On the reliability thing, I have had 5 Alfas and have never been left standing at the side of the road by any of them but you do have to be prepared to put up with the odd minor niggle. The airbag warning light on the GTV is a good example, there is a sensor under the passenger seat and moving the seat can cause the warning light to come on (does not effect the operation of the airbag), the fix is easy and any decent specialist will be aware of it but if you don't know it could be rather annoying.

Going by his previous post steebo888 has had more trouble with his Audi than I have had with any of my Alfas, and I know someone who has been through 3 gearboxes on his BMW Mini so you can have problems with most cars.

Edited by Pooh on Wednesday 16th January 07:09

[Pooh]

Colonial said:

Car 1 - power windows decided to stop working halfway through a test drive.
Car 2, power windows plus dash lights coming on then flickering off an on. Turned on headlights and they just gradually went out to the point of non-existence. And the sunroof didn't work.

I am surprised by that, where they very old/neglected cars or had they been sitting on a forecourt for ages? They do need regular use, when I got mine the central locking was a bit part time, I think it had been on the dealers lot for some time but now that it is used regularly it is fine.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Here is Evo's road test of the 147 GTA vs the Focus RS.

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/3175...

[JonRB]

marctwo said:

I just have to say that I love my car. I am really struggling to think of anything else that delivers such a complete package.

• Well buit - 6 years old and still feels solid and smells new!

• Comfortable - leather and alcantara recaros, nice.

• Understated - doesn't shout but has presence.

• Good looking - well proportioned and enough to make it different to A3s but without looking bling.

• Practical - Ikea trips no problem.

• Easy to drive - MrsTwo has no issues.

• Safe - I think 10 airbags should be enough combined with stability control and four wheel drive.

• Fast(ish) - remapped to 270bhp / 280lbft 0-60 in about 6s.

• Economical - DIS reads 33.7mpg (long term) and managed over 400 miles on my last tank.

• Reliable - the only time in 4 years of ownership it has let me down was a flat battery.

I challange anyone to think of another car around the same price that delivers a better all round package.

Corrado VR6 ticks all those boxes apart from the airbags / 4WD line.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 16th January 09:05

[LeoSayer]

JonRB said:

Corrado VR6 ticks all those boxes apart from the airbags.

Corrado = tardis.

Room for 4 people, massive leg room in the front, massive engine up front, decent boot, yet only 4m long and around 1250kg weight. It puts the Audi TT to shame.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Trouble is, Corrado VR6s worth buying are very few and far between now. Plenty of thrashed and nasty examples about though, but despite that, the Corrado has something the S3 has none of - Charisma.

I've never seen what the fuss was about with S3s. It's simply a MK4 golf for badge snobs. It's FWD 90% of the time to 90% of their owners, so therefore carries a lot of dead weight around. And if that's the case, why not just get a Golf V6 4Motion?! At least whilst carrying all that unwanted ballast around, you'll be enjoying the sound of a charismatic (and MUCH smoother) engine.

S3s 'can' be good with the right engine mapping and suspension mods, but one thing that can never be fixed is the horrid, vague steering. I've felt better feedback from a dual shock Playstation controller.

Over rated cars imo.

A car for S3 money that is a proper weapon would be an E39 M5. Far, far superior machine in every way.... imo.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Or there is another VAG car, that costs around the same, that is IMHO slightly better than the S3:

[AlSharpton]

Pooh said:

AlSharpton said:

Focus RS

Unless you spend most of your time on the track, the Alfa is the better car in almost every way. (not just my view but the view of most car mags too)

On the reliability thing, I have had 5 Alfas and have never been left standing at the side of the road by any of them but you do have to be prepared to put up with the odd minor niggle. The airbag warning light on the GTV is a good example, there is a sensor under the passenger seat and moving the seat can cause the warning light to come on (does not effect the operation of the airbag), the fix is easy and any decent specialist will be aware of it but if you don't know it could be rather annoying.

Going by his previous post steebo888 has had more trouble with his Audi than I have had with any of my Alfas, and I know someone who has been through 3 gearboxes on his BMW Mini so you can have problems with most cars.

Edited by Pooh on Wednesday 16th January 07:09

I thought the original question was what can deliver better than the s3?

In this case both do I suppose.

[agent006]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

is IMHO slightly better than the S3

IMHO the RS2 is far far better than the S3.

[Pooh]

AlSharpton said:

Pooh said:

AlSharpton said:

Focus RS

Unless you spend most of your time on the track, the Alfa is the better car in almost every way. (not just my view but the view of most car mags too)

On the reliability thing, I have had 5 Alfas and have never been left standing at the side of the road by any of them but you do have to be prepared to put up with the odd minor niggle. The airbag warning light on the GTV is a good example, there is a sensor under the passenger seat and moving the seat can cause the warning light to come on (does not effect the operation of the airbag), the fix is easy and any decent specialist will be aware of it but if you don't know it could be rather annoying.

Going by his previous post steebo888 has had more trouble with his Audi than I have had with any of my Alfas, and I know someone who has been through 3 gearboxes on his BMW Mini so you can have problems with most cars.

Edited by Pooh on Wednesday 16th January 07:09

I thought the original question was what can deliver better than the s3?

In this case both do I suppose.

I slightly missenterprited your post.

[Welshbeef]

agent006 said:

Ecurie Ecosse said:

is IMHO slightly better than the S3

IMHO the RS2 is far far better than the S3.

I would 2nd that, with the only exception being the cabin as it will be dated & the rear of the RS2 does look dated but not much - tha said I can honestly say that I have never seen an RS2 on the road in all my 200k+ miles only having seen it in motorshow displays/classic car etc & at silverstone in the car park.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Welshbeef said:

agent006 said:

Ecurie Ecosse said:

is IMHO slightly better than the S3

IMHO the RS2 is far far better than the S3.

I would 2nd that, with the only exception being the cabin as it will be dated & the rear of the RS2 does look dated but not much - tha said I can honestly say that I have never seen an RS2 on the road in all my 200k+ miles only having seen it in motorshow displays/classic car etc & at silverstone in the car park.

I was trying to be reserved - the RS2 is a bona fide legend and I love them. I have seen a few on the road and will have one one day.

I think "timeless" is a better word than "dated" ; )

[marctwo]

The RS2 is an amazing machine and I was very temped to get one myself but they do look rather dated inside now and the fuel consumption is rather horrific.

[NP100]

agent006 said:

Ecurie Ecosse said:

is IMHO slightly better than the S3

IMHO the RS2 is far far better than the S3.

Definatly is, but have you seen the price increase