S3 or golf gti cant decide??

[allblacks]

Basically ive just got rid of my trusty mk4 gt tdi and looking for either an S3 mk1 or gti mk5. I will be using it for my daily commute of 40 miles so comfort and economy come into the equation. Im willing to spend upto £6k on the S3 this should get me a 02/03 plate 70-90k miles FSH and i'll stick on a stage 1 remap, or should i go for the mk 5 golf gti which im willing to up my budget to £7.5 ish which should fetch me an 04/05 plate 70-90k miles FSH, also i'd stick a remap on it for a little extra oomph!!
I had thought about CTR's and 330ci's but im sticking with the 2 above as they seem to tick most of my boxes. So should i go with the S3 and have some cash in the bank or go with the GTI and have very little left over!

Thanks for any advice.

[daveco]

The 1.8 lump in the S3 is very reliable and can be fettled with relatively easily, without changing suspension/brakes so that's definitely a plus.
I'd go for the S3 as it is the quicker car, a rarer sight, cheaper to buy now, and still achieves about 25-30 mpg.

[The Walrus]

For me it would be the GTI, a more enjoyable car to drive cheaper to service thanks to no haldex etc better ride in the GTI compared to the firm S3 that is from my own experiences but try and see for yourself.

One thing that put me off the S3 and the R32 in its day was the boot in both and the interior in the S3 I could never put my finger on it but it just did not float my boat, obviously this is purely subjective but that's cars for you

[E30M3SE]

Golf V, without a doubt.

If your going to buy a MKI S3 you may as well kept your 'trusty' MKIV Golf.

Edited by E30M3SE on Tuesday 22 February 11:45

[DickSkruttock]

I have a mk1 S3 and would recommend it highly, easy 30mpg average and 35 on a motorway run. Plus it'll tune to 265bhp for a few hundred quid. Even for a 10 year old car it still doesn't look out of place against new metal, plus they're quite rare.

I'm also a big fan of the 2.0T GTI, also easily tuneable to 250bhp. I'm trying to pursuade my wife to swap her A4 2.0T to a DSG GTI.

I'd have both!

[allblacks]

daveco said:

The 1.8 lump in the S3 is very reliable and can be fettled with relatively easily, without changing suspension/brakes so that's definitely a plus.
I'd go for the S3 as it is the quicker car, a rarer sight, cheaper to buy now, and still achieves about 25-30 mpg.

Have you got one or ever had one?

[allblacks]

DickSkruttock said:

I have a mk1 S3 and would recommend it highly, easy 30mpg average and 35 on a motorway run. Plus it'll tune to 265bhp for a few hundred quid. Even for a 10 year old car it still doesn't look out of place against new metal, plus they're quite rare.

I'm also a big fan of the 2.0T GTI, also easily tuneable to 250bhp. I'm trying to pursuade my wife to swap her A4 2.0T to a DSG GTI.

I'd have both!

Wish i could but i dont think the misses, kids and dog would appreciate it! My A6 avant the family wagon, just want a bit of fun from time to time. Have you driven the gti....how does it compare?

[DickSkruttock]

E30M3SE said:

Golf V, without a doubt.

If your going to buy a MKI S3 you may as well kept your 'trusty' MKIV Golf.

Edited by E30M3SE on Tuesday 22 February 11:45

Mark IV Golf diesel drives totally different to an S3 - I've had both. Granted the interiors are similiar, but 4WD petrol 210 BHP v FWD diesel 130BHP lump are totally different.

Wouldn't disagree with picking the MKV GTi - especially if spending £7500.

[daveco]

allblacks said:

Have you got one or ever had one?

I've driven one and a friend of a friend went from a 330ci to an S3. He loves it, and it hasn't let him down once in nearly two years of ownership. I find it is more suited to our weather and our roads too. The Golf GTI is still a fantastic steer though, and feel a lot more 'direct' in spirited hoonage.
Both are great cars; reliable, cheap to run for what they are, and fun to drive. The question is if you think the GTI is worth the extra cash and that can only be answered by driving both. Reliability wise, I don't know much about the GTI, but I haven't heard any horror stories.

[FamilyDub]

E30M3SE said:

Golf V, without a doubt.

If your going to buy a MKI S3 you may as well kept your 'trusty' MKIV Golf.

^^ This.

[DickSkruttock]

allblacks said:

Wish i could but i dont think the misses, kids and dog would appreciate it! My A6 avant the family wagon, just want a bit of fun from time to time. Have you driven the gti....how does it compare?

Not driven the GTI, but my wife has an A4 Avant 2.0T Q Avant with the same engine albeit a tiptronic and quattro so heavier. I've been in a few mk5 GTis and they're far superior to the Mk4 and S3 for interior space. I'd have one tomorrow, but I'd be keeping my S3 as well - hence she needs to sell hers!

[E30M3SE]

DickSkruttock said:

E30M3SE said:

Golf V, without a doubt.

If your going to buy a MKI S3 you may as well kept your 'trusty' MKIV Golf.

Edited by E30M3SE on Tuesday 22 February 11:45

Mark IV Golf diesel drives totally different to an S3 - I've had both. Granted the interiors are similiar, but 4WD petrol 210 BHP v FWD diesel 130BHP lump are totally different.

Wouldn't disagree with picking the MKV GTi - especially if spending £7500.

Of course, they will drive differently.

Correct me if I am wrong, but are they not built on the same floor pan?

The MKV Golf being built on a newer, better floorpan?

[DickSkruttock]

E30M3SE said:

Of course, they will drive differently.

Correct me if I am wrong, but are they not built on the same floor pan?

The MKV Golf being built on a newer, better floorpan?

Same floor plans for the S3 and Golf MK4 as you say.

If I had £7.5k to spend I'd be buying the Golf mk5. More modern, more space and a good car - S3 is a good car though;)

[The Walrus]

E30M3SE said:

Of course, they will drive differently.

Correct me if I am wrong, but are they not built on the same floor pan?

The MKV Golf being built on a newer, better floorpan?

Not really relevant to the S3 or R32 etc as it has a 4WD platform and fully independent rear as opposed to the FWD older A3 and Golfs which had fixed bearmrear axles, the GTI MKV has a wider and longer foot print to the older car so has some benefits from that it also has a more driver orientated suspension geometry compared to the VAG cars of old

The S3 is a good car but drive one and you will find it has the handling characteristics that you come to expect of them, under steer, woolly feedback and firm ride, this can be improved pretty easily by some tweeks such as a upgraded haldex control unit and adjustable suspension top mounts and R32 sub frame.

[The_Edge]

Has the S3 new off the shelf around 2002, so the one you're looking at now.

Had Golf GTi, but Mk IV (1.8T).

From an ownership perspective, had no end of trouble with Audi in terms of service, across almost every dealership I went to. Plus, lots of silly, but ultimately expensive things on the Audi seemed to keep creeping in...

The Golf ran exactly as expected, with problems occuring in reasonable timeframes - brakes, clutches etc. all as expected.

Always the random factor with cars - you get good and bad ones in all cases, but from my personal experience with ownership, I'd struggle to come to terms with buying another Audi I'm afraid.

[uncinquesei]

DickSkruttock said:

Not driven the GTI, but my wife has an A4 Avant 2.0T Q Avant with the same engine albeit a tiptronic and quattro so heavier. I've been in a few mk5 GTis and they're far superior to the Mk4 and S3 for interior space. I'd have one tomorrow, but I'd be keeping my S3 as well - hence she needs to sell hers!

That isn't really much of a comparison...
different transmission, quattro system, different car, different layout....

[DickSkruttock]

uncinquesei said:

That isn't really much of a comparison...
different transmission, quattro system, different car, different layout....

As I said.... 'albeit a tiptronic and quattro so heavier'.

[allblacks]

The Walrus said:

Not really relevant to the S3 or R32 etc as it has a 4WD platform and fully independent rear as opposed to the FWD older A3 and Golfs which had fixed bearmrear axles, the GTI MKV has a wider and longer foot print to the older car so has some benefits from that it also has a more driver orientated suspension geometry compared to the VAG cars of old

The S3 is a good car but drive one and you will find it has the handling characteristics that you come to expect of them, under steer, woolly feedback and firm ride, this can be improved pretty easily by some tweeks such as a upgraded haldex control unit and adjustable suspension top mounts and R32 sub frame.

Bloody hell how much will all that set me back, just to have a decent ride. Might aswell go for the golf as the ride is supposedly good in standard form.

[danneth]

allblacks said:

Basically ive just got rid of my trusty mk4 gt tdi and looking for either an S3 mk1 or gti mk5. I will be using it for my daily commute of 40 miles so comfort and economy come into the equation. Im willing to spend upto £6k on the S3 this should get me a 02/03 plate 70-90k miles FSH and i'll stick on a stage 1 remap, or should i go for the mk 5 golf gti which im willing to up my budget to £7.5 ish which should fetch me an 04/05 plate 70-90k miles FSH, also i'd stick a remap on it for a little extra oomph!!
I had thought about CTR's and 330ci's but im sticking with the 2 above as they seem to tick most of my boxes. So should i go with the S3 and have some cash in the bank or go with the GTI and have very little left over!

Thanks for any advice.

have you thought about one of these http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2508921.htm

similar to what your looking at prob a better spec and newer to not to mention quicker

[allblacks]

danneth said:

have you thought about one of these http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2508921.htm

similar to what your looking at prob a better spec and newer to not to mention quicker

Nice car but think i'll stick to VAG.