Audi S3 - Next car, maybe, possibly? Help.
Discussion
Hello All!
I am considering an S3 for my next car. What does everyone think of them as a daily driver. Currently drive to Manchester 4 out of 5 days a week so I am not expecting fuel bills to be cheap but I'm throwing caution to the wind because..well....f
k it.
I currently drive an A6 2.0 TDI. It ticks all the boxes but its pretty boring. I am probably making a mistake going with another dull Audi (Although I struggle to see how 261BHP will be dull)
I heard someone describe the new S3 like having a girlfriend who looks like a porn star but has the morals of a nun, is the previous model somewhat the same?
I've heard there are certain tweaks to the set up you can have done to make them handle better or adjust the front/rear power distribution.
Many thanks for your help!
p.s. Could also consider an M135i
I am considering an S3 for my next car. What does everyone think of them as a daily driver. Currently drive to Manchester 4 out of 5 days a week so I am not expecting fuel bills to be cheap but I'm throwing caution to the wind because..well....f
k it. I currently drive an A6 2.0 TDI. It ticks all the boxes but its pretty boring. I am probably making a mistake going with another dull Audi (Although I struggle to see how 261BHP will be dull)
I heard someone describe the new S3 like having a girlfriend who looks like a porn star but has the morals of a nun, is the previous model somewhat the same?
I've heard there are certain tweaks to the set up you can have done to make them handle better or adjust the front/rear power distribution.
Many thanks for your help!
p.s. Could also consider an M135i
Edited by WokkaWokka on Thursday 23 January 16:09
I drove the wife's S3 for the first time in months last weekend, it is quick but I couldn't live with it full time. The ride is too firm and the revs are too high at motorway cruising speed. I filled it up and it had averaged 22 mpg on the last tank.
Have a test drive on the motorway, each to their own and all that!
Have a test drive on the motorway, each to their own and all that!
Brother has a 2009 s3 and I like it, may not be as fun as the 135i but its a nice place to be inside and the engine is great. Get a sport back if you want a less boy racer look.
Golf edition 30 has the same engine,normal gti is a detuned version.
TTs are coming down in price to. Not sure how they drive though if more fun or not
Golf edition 30 has the same engine,normal gti is a detuned version.
TTs are coming down in price to. Not sure how they drive though if more fun or not
Had a 2007 plate from 2008 - 2009.
Loved it. The acceleration was impressive coming from a 2.5 Z4.
Ride was a lot better than the Z4 along with great boot space.
Averaged about 29 mpg on the motorway but you could get that down to 12 if you try hard enough.
Would buy another in a minute.
Once had a Transit van try and overtake me while going onto the motorway locally. The look on the guys face when the turbo kicked in was priceless. Could see the guy looking at his mate in the van saying, "what the fk was that" as the S3 disappeared into the distance.
Only issue I'd have is the drug dealer image the S3 seems to attract locally.
Loved it. The acceleration was impressive coming from a 2.5 Z4.
Ride was a lot better than the Z4 along with great boot space.
Averaged about 29 mpg on the motorway but you could get that down to 12 if you try hard enough.
Would buy another in a minute.
Once had a Transit van try and overtake me while going onto the motorway locally. The look on the guys face when the turbo kicked in was priceless. Could see the guy looking at his mate in the van saying, "what the f
k was that" as the S3 disappeared into the distance.Only issue I'd have is the drug dealer image the S3 seems to attract locally.
skelters said:
Had a 2007 plate from 2008 - 2009.
Loved it. The acceleration was impressive coming from a 2.5 Z4.
Ride was a lot better than the Z4 along with great boot space.
Averaged about 29 mpg on the motorway but you could get that down to 12 if you try hard enough.
Would buy another in a minute.
Once had a Transit van try and overtake me while going onto the motorway locally. The look on the guys face when the turbo kicked in was priceless. Could see the guy looking at his mate in the van saying, "what the fk was that" as the S3 disappeared into the distance.
Only issue I'd have is the drug dealer image the S3 seems to attract locally.
Sounds like a hoot. I know what you mean about the drug dealer image. There's a bloke around the corner from me. 11 plate S3 in grey. Pretty sure he's a drug dealer. Can't be sure but I'm pretty sure! Loved it. The acceleration was impressive coming from a 2.5 Z4.
Ride was a lot better than the Z4 along with great boot space.
Averaged about 29 mpg on the motorway but you could get that down to 12 if you try hard enough.
Would buy another in a minute.
Once had a Transit van try and overtake me while going onto the motorway locally. The look on the guys face when the turbo kicked in was priceless. Could see the guy looking at his mate in the van saying, "what the f
k was that" as the S3 disappeared into the distance.Only issue I'd have is the drug dealer image the S3 seems to attract locally.
I've got the new S3.
As a daily it's a good all rounder.
Fast, good looking, good seating position and interior.
Grips well 95% of the time, then you'll hit understeer if giving it some. Steering a little vague. Sounds okay for a 4 pot.
A little crashy, but no worse than any other hot hatch.
Done 1200 miles in mine and averaging 24.8mpg, so not exactly economical, but if that's a concern get a diesel, not a hot hatch.
The m135 is probably more fun and handles better in the dry, but in every other situation the S3 is the superior car IMO.
As I said, good daily runner.
As a daily it's a good all rounder.
Fast, good looking, good seating position and interior.
Grips well 95% of the time, then you'll hit understeer if giving it some. Steering a little vague. Sounds okay for a 4 pot.
A little crashy, but no worse than any other hot hatch.
Done 1200 miles in mine and averaging 24.8mpg, so not exactly economical, but if that's a concern get a diesel, not a hot hatch.
The m135 is probably more fun and handles better in the dry, but in every other situation the S3 is the superior car IMO.
As I said, good daily runner.
Slight grumble with this post, and see these a lot on PH:
WokkaWokka said:
Hello All!
Currently drive to Manchester 4 out of 5 days a week so I am not expecting fuel bills to be cheap
This would make more sense to us if we knew where you were driving FROM, rather than just to? If you're driving from the outskirts of Manchester to Manchester, then the fuel bill doesn't really matter.. I even checked your profile to see your location and it's not on there, so that doesn't help.Currently drive to Manchester 4 out of 5 days a week so I am not expecting fuel bills to be cheap
WokkaWokka said:
I heard someone describe the new S3 like having a girlfriend who looks like a porn star but has the morals of a nun, is the previous model somewhat the same?
This metaphor doesn't make sense to me I'm afraid!
Test drove this yesterday, very nice cars, not too harse ride , very nippy loved it...........But as I came home ready to pop a deposit down today. I had a call From Merc regarding the infamous A45. They gave me discount which is rare on the A45 in my experience, anyway I test drive in about 45mins, and if they throw some paint protection in I,ll buy it.
Cost wise you get much more with the S3,
I did test the M135 but although it goes like stink, it just doesn't cut it in looks or the Insides. I tested both cars for over an hour thrashing their tits off, but also motorway driving as this is like you what I mainly do.
If I was in your shoes, as Craig said S3 for me, 4wd just does it for me, I hate RWD its crap.
My own view was, none of the M135 or the S3 really makes me excited in the looks dept, unsure what it is but they didn't have the Xfactor, but the S3 for a daily driver is a good bet. Unless you can stretch to the A45, which in my personal View is the holy grail for pocket rockets.. I,ll report back in 2 hrs of what its like.. Please feel free to PM me ive spoken to every BMW AUDI dealer in the UK I can give you the best dealers
Cost wise you get much more with the S3,
I did test the M135 but although it goes like stink, it just doesn't cut it in looks or the Insides. I tested both cars for over an hour thrashing their tits off, but also motorway driving as this is like you what I mainly do.
If I was in your shoes, as Craig said S3 for me, 4wd just does it for me, I hate RWD its crap.
My own view was, none of the M135 or the S3 really makes me excited in the looks dept, unsure what it is but they didn't have the Xfactor, but the S3 for a daily driver is a good bet. Unless you can stretch to the A45, which in my personal View is the holy grail for pocket rockets.. I,ll report back in 2 hrs of what its like.. Please feel free to PM me ive spoken to every BMW AUDI dealer in the UK I can give you the best dealers
Edited by Tobamory on Friday 24th January 09:44
well back from the A45 drive..... Was so impressed at her ive ordered one.
Especially when you gun it in sport the pops and bangs it does very nice....Lots of nice touches to it, but god is it fast, it pulls from 2500 like a train then when it hits 5000 it pulls even harder right round to 7k, if your lucky enough to have a gear changed it bangs, the S3 does the fart sound this is just the next level, must be some kind of tinkering in the exhaust to achieve that.
Ok its 5k more than the S3 but you get standard
Auto Lights/Wipers
Front and rear sensors
Usb audio and Bluetooth streaming, as well as Phone prep
Hold assist is standard,
So with them its about 4k more expensive, take into account 355HP vs 300 if you have the cash go test it at least
Recaros standard are great, much better than the S3 in my personal View, But ive have driven the Subaru STI saloon for 3 years which had these, I find the seats support my poor back, I didn't get that in the M135 or S3 felt sloppy, recaros tuck the fat in LOL....
Room in the back was on par with S3 5 door, s3 3 door is too squashed in, I straddled the seats in that
Especially when you gun it in sport the pops and bangs it does very nice....Lots of nice touches to it, but god is it fast, it pulls from 2500 like a train then when it hits 5000 it pulls even harder right round to 7k, if your lucky enough to have a gear changed it bangs, the S3 does the fart sound this is just the next level, must be some kind of tinkering in the exhaust to achieve that.
Ok its 5k more than the S3 but you get standard
Auto Lights/Wipers
Front and rear sensors
Usb audio and Bluetooth streaming, as well as Phone prep
Hold assist is standard,
So with them its about 4k more expensive, take into account 355HP vs 300 if you have the cash go test it at least
Recaros standard are great, much better than the S3 in my personal View, But ive have driven the Subaru STI saloon for 3 years which had these, I find the seats support my poor back, I didn't get that in the M135 or S3 felt sloppy, recaros tuck the fat in LOL....
Room in the back was on par with S3 5 door, s3 3 door is too squashed in, I straddled the seats in that
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