new toy (M3 to S3)

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whp1983

Original Poster:

1,168 posts

138 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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As the title really I have swapped from M3 to S3






Having taken a reasonable amount of abuse for such a move from my mates. I must say I love the S3. Of course no amount of turbo-trickery and exhaust sound manipulation can replace the sound and urgency of the Ms V8, however, that is the only thing I miss.

The S3's speed (to 100 feels just as fast as the M3) the traction and grip is immense. This is my first Audi. I do not believe the cliche that all quick Audi's are dull in the steering, its just not true. I'm enjoying the S3 every bit of much as my former M if not more so.

The B&O stereo is superb, the interior is a higher league to the M3 (and new BMs for that matter). The crystal black paint only really works in the brightest of sunshine but nice none the less. The exhaust and turbo whine's, hisses and crackles are excellent (even if they are engineered in)

Its an expensive small car (I went a bit nuts with the options) and I know the Golf R could have been had cheaper but this little Audi really does it for me over anything else (Golf R, M235 even new M3)....loving the economy too (and the fact it doesn't need a service every week!)

djc206

12,241 posts

124 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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I do wonder how many of those who go on about S's and RS's having dull steering have actually driven one. I think for most it's just regurgitating the opinions of journalists and for many it's because being driven wheels the steering is not as skittish as in other cars, especially fwd cars and that's mistaken for lack of feedback. I'm not going to pretend that Audi offer the most engaging cars but they're not as bad as many try to make out.

Lovely car by the way

andrewparker

7,898 posts

186 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Commiserations.

Good that you're happy, but it's not a move I'd have made.

GrahamC230K

384 posts

243 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Well done. I doubt you'll look back.

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Owned one - dull.

whp1983

Original Poster:

1,168 posts

138 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
djc206 said:
I do wonder how many of those who go on about S's and RS's having dull steering have actually driven one. I think for most it's just regurgitating the opinions of journalists and for many it's because being driven wheels the steering is not as skittish as in other cars, especially fwd cars and that's mistaken for lack of feedback. I'm not going to pretend that Audi offer the most engaging cars but they're not as bad as many try to make out.

Lovely car by the way
Cheers,

Yes there are a lot of journalist quoters out there and indeed journalists spouting old stuff.

I loved the M3 but as a daily driver it just didn't make sense, yet I don't think it was special enough to be a weekend car only. I much prefer the S3 as an all rounder and intend to save for something truly special for a Sunday blast. That said I'm enjoying the S3 too much to bother about anything else at the moment!

EricE

1,945 posts

128 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Very nice! Congratulations.

I share that S3 + weekend car sentiment. I was pretty close to ordering the new M3 but the lack of traction concerned me. I reckon it will be pretty useless in winter even though winter tyres are mandatory here (austria - alps). Then I had a go in a Golf R and was surprised how much I liked it but the interior just doesn’t do it for me at all. The Audi seemed much better value as the price difference isn’t very significant unless you finance.
Of course I stepped into the M3 with very high expectations and expected nothing from the Golf but still.

Did you get the s sportseats with the quilted leather?

DoubleSix said:
Owned one - dull.
2007 rolleyes

whp1983

Original Poster:

1,168 posts

138 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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[quote=EricE]

Alps sounds far nicer scenery to enjoy the car in!


No sadly not, the quilted super sports seats was one of the only options I didn't pick. The test car I was in had them and I did love them but I drew the line on cost in the end! My test car was also painted in French Blue which was immense but apparently a £4k custom paint job (it was still tempting though!)


dododo

733 posts

126 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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DoubleSix said:
Owned one - dull.
Nonsense. It's an excellent car.

...Mole...

2,780 posts

190 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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I've done 9,000 miles in mine since getting it in March, It's a great daily driver.


djc206

12,241 posts

124 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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DoubleSix said:
Owned one - dull.
So you owned a 2007 model? Was it the pre facelift 8P? Not really relevant to a discussion about an 8V is it?

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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djc206 said:
DoubleSix said:
Owned one - dull.
So you owned a 2007 model? Was it the pre facelift 8P? Not really relevant to a discussion about an 8V is it?
I wouldn't say it's totally irrelevant. I get to drive a wide variety of vehicles including the 8V S3.

It's certainly improved. The old haldex was painful compared to the new set up but to me it still exhibited the classic audi traits of feeling a bit numb and tending towards understeer when pushed. Didn't excite. Each to the own and glad the OP is happy with his decision.

But it's a bit silly to dismiss peoples opinions as regurgitated journo speil.

Edited by DoubleSix on Sunday 31st August 09:36

djc206

12,241 posts

124 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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DoubleSix said:
I wouldn't say it's totally irrelevant. I get to drive a wide variety of vehicles including the 8V S3.

It's certainly improved. The old haldex was painful compared to the new set up but to me it still exhibited the classic audi traits of feeling a bit numb and tending towards understeer when pushed. Didn't excite. Each to the own and glad the OP is happy with his decision.

But it's a bit silly to dismiss peoples opinions as regurgitated journo speil.

Edited by DoubleSix on Sunday 31st August 09:36
A lot of people do, I didn't say everyone did.

The old and new cars share nothing but a badge so I'd say any experience of the 8P (I owned one too, it under steered quite a bit) is not really relevant.

That you've driven the 8V is relevant so I apologise for jumping in a bit too quickly

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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No worries. I can see the appeal as a daily drive but I struggle to see how folk can walk past an M135 to get in this.

Personal choice I guess.

djc206

12,241 posts

124 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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DoubleSix said:
No worries. I can see the appeal as a daily drive but I struggle to see how folk can walk past an M135 to get in this.

Personal choice I guess.
I think you know the answer and it begins with a q smile

I bought my S3 at 24 coming from a 75hp Mazda 2. I knew that my first foray into performance cars needed to be something forgiving hence the Audi. Within a year I'd bought an RS5 for the same reason. I swear if I'd bought the C63 which was the other option I'd be dead about a dozen times over! Now I've done the whole safe performance thing I'll likely move on from Audi given that here in the south we don't get ice or snow very often so having 4 driven wheels is rarely necessary.

The M135i is quite ugly no?

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
djc206 said:
I think you know the answer and it begins with a q smile

I bought my S3 at 24 coming from a 75hp Mazda 2. I knew that my first foray into performance cars needed to be something forgiving hence the Audi. Within a year I'd bought an RS5 for the same reason. I swear if I'd bought the C63 which was the other option I'd be dead about a dozen times over! Now I've done the whole safe performance thing I'll likely move on from Audi given that here in the south we don't get ice or snow very often so having 4 driven wheels is rarely necessary.

The M135i is quite ugly no?
Not too dissimilar from myself.

My S3 was my first powerful car and I felt the dogs driving it off the forecourt brand spankers in my mid-twenties. After a year or so I remapped it 310bhp.

Went from there to a Cayman S that really showed the S3 up for what it was; a point and squirt machine. Funnily though I think I did stupider stuff in the Audi as the (false) perception of safety from quattro and the lack of feed back doesnt tell you how close to the limit you are. If it had let go I think I'd of been in real trouble.

A car that 'talks' to you through the steering and traction is safer imho as you know when you are pushing it and where the limits are. The Cayman made me a much better driver in that regard, the S3 just made me feel like one.

You're right though the M135i is no looker! smile

cerb4.5lee

30,180 posts

179 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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whp1983 said:
I loved the M3 but as a daily driver it just didn't make sense, yet I don't think it was special enough to be a weekend car only. I much prefer the S3 as an all rounder and intend to save for something truly special for a Sunday blast.
This was pretty much exactly how I felt about my E92 M3 and I didn't like it as a daily and it isn't really special enough just as a weekender and I enjoyed driving my Mrs's TTS more because of its usability and more accessible performance so I totally get where you are coming from.

If I am honest neither me or the mrs liked the TTS much at first being used to BMW`s but after just over two years and 60k miles we cant say enough good things about it now, I am positive you wont miss the M3 much(if) at all because they are one of the most frustrating daily drivers I think you can buy and I wish you all the best with the S3. thumbup

cerb4.5lee

30,180 posts

179 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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andrewparker said:
Commiserations.

Good that you're happy, but it's not a move I'd have made.
I think you would be surprised if you ran a V8 M3(unless you actually do)how frustrating they are on a daily basis as they have very little low end urge, feel very ordinary inside and come with very weak brakes as standard and really feel heavy at low speeds.

Don't get me wrong on the right road at the right time 8400rpm in the M3 is very rewarding and it does a good job of hiding its weight as the speed piles on but these situations seemed to be few and far between from my experience.

whp1983

Original Poster:

1,168 posts

138 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
This was pretty much exactly how I felt about my E92 M3 and I didn't like it as a daily and it isn't really special enough just as a weekender and I enjoyed driving my Mrs's TTS more because of its usability and more accessible performance so I totally get where you are coming from.

If I am honest neither me or the mrs liked the TTS much at first being used to BMW`s but after just over two years and 60k miles we cant say enough good things about it now, I am positive you wont miss the M3 much(if) at all because they are one of the most frustrating daily drivers I think you can buy and I wish you all the best with the S3. thumbup
Cheers!

You are so right, you have to own an M3 to really know them (as obvious as that sounds!) my mates think I'm nuts as all they've done is have the odd passenger ride in my M3 which always felt just immense to them. Like its a cut price supercar.

On a track I'm under no illusion I would miss the M3, however, contrary to what most manufacturers think I don't spend my Monday to Friday caning around the nurburgring. Mostly, disappointingly I'm sat on the A1 and doing at most 80mph in commuter traffic. Therefore I appreciate other stuff too (good interior, stereo etc). On the odd occasion I am on a country road or get a drive on a Sunday the S3 is equally as good as the M3 and I find just as enjoyable.

I would love a weekend special but they key word there is special (Ferrari, Aston etc) I don't think the M3 is that. I had my M3 for two years, it warmed to me, then I loved it, then I grew to resent it. It didn't give me enough enjoyment to warrant its costs.

The S3 feels even bit as fast on normal everyday roads and just as special but with a nicer interior and stereo! It just doesn't have the V8 noise, but then you can't have everything!

FTBM

2 posts

115 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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Hi whp1983,

Did you go for the magnetic ride option? I've pretty much specced my car now but can't decide whether to add this option. My test drive was with the standard setup which seemed like a good compromise, especially for the pot holed roads around here.

Would be slightly peeved to order then realise I should have added the option. Likewise, don't want a white elephant option either!

Thanks