RS3 saloon vs Giulia QV vs. F80 M3 vs. C63 AMG
Discussion
I think for those bored of hot hatches but still needing a practical, comfortable but fast and relatively compact car, these four currently represent the "next level" of performance. Arguably, the contender from Audi here should be the RS4 but as that only comes as an Avant, I think that the type of person buying a small sports saloon would more likely cross-shop the RS3 saloon with a lightly used M3/Giulia QV/C63 saloon and the RS3 is similar in size to a B7 RS4 saloon anyway. The M2 is out of the running, as it only comes as a 2 door coupe, so is a bit more limited on practicality. Unlike the hot hatch or bigger sports saloon classes, I quite like that you have some diversity here. RWD or AWD (RS3), auto or manual (M3), I5, I6, V6 or V8.
So for a nominal 50k budget, which of these would you buy?
A) if it was your only car;
B) if it was your "practical" car but you also owned a more focussed sports car.
So for a nominal 50k budget, which of these would you buy?
A) if it was your only car;
B) if it was your "practical" car but you also owned a more focussed sports car.
I'm faced with a similar proposition at the minute. currently have an S3 saloon and want to 'upgrade', will be my (and wifes) only car, although my son has a hatch if I need slightly more practicality, Id like the RS4 but don't want or need an avant, but I don't mind 2 door coupes, the new M2 Competition id love but again 50k plus as they are so new, the 'old' M2 is too close to a M235i for me, engine, seats, brakes etc etc
Would happily take a nardo grey RS3 saloon with black pack, my spec new £52.5k very few used examples but roughly 46-48k 1 year old.
Comparing this to a 18month old M3/M4 competition in good spec, in the 42-45k range its a no brainer, i'm going for the M3/M4.
Discounted the C63 as id like a C63s and your pushing mid 50's for a good one of those.
Would happily take a nardo grey RS3 saloon with black pack, my spec new £52.5k very few used examples but roughly 46-48k 1 year old.
Comparing this to a 18month old M3/M4 competition in good spec, in the 42-45k range its a no brainer, i'm going for the M3/M4.
Discounted the C63 as id like a C63s and your pushing mid 50's for a good one of those.
Edited by NWMark on Friday 21st September 19:49
NWMark said:
I'm faced with a similar proposition at the minute. currently have an S3 saloon and want to 'upgrade', will be my (and wifes) only car, although my son has a hatch if I need slightly more practicality, Id like the RS4 but don't want or need an avant, but I don't mind 2 door coupes, the new M2 Competition id love but again 50k plus as they are so new, the 'old' M2 is too close to a M235i for me, engine, seats, brakes etc etc
Would happily take a nardo grey RS3 saloon with black pack, my spec new £52.5k very few used examples but roughly 46-48k 1 year old.
Comparing this to a 18month old M3/M4 competition in good spec, in the 42-45k range its a no brainer, i'm going for the M3/M4.
Discounted the C63 as id like a C63s and your pushing mid 50's for a good one of those.
Always loved the M3 and still do...because well, it's an M3 but reading/watching the reviews, I question whether it's as good as the Alfa/Mercedes. M2 looks great but like you, I wonder if there isn't enough daylight between it and an M240i and the M3 would probably make a comfier and more practical day-to-day car. I'm kind of in between the RS3 and Giulia myself (not sure which would work best for each scenario) but understand why the RS3 might feel a bit familiar for you after the S3. Not driven any of them though to be honest, only lesser models of the A3/C-Class/3-Series.Would happily take a nardo grey RS3 saloon with black pack, my spec new £52.5k very few used examples but roughly 46-48k 1 year old.
Comparing this to a 18month old M3/M4 competition in good spec, in the 42-45k range its a no brainer, i'm going for the M3/M4.
Discounted the C63 as id like a C63s and your pushing mid 50's for a good one of those.
Edited by NWMark on Friday 21st September 19:49
Was the Alfa ever in the running?
steve-5snwi said:
For me, Alfa, Merc, BMW, Audi would not even be on the list.
I'm surprised by the lack of love for the Audi. M3 and Alfa win for looks and probably the Merc for noise (V8) but the RS3 probably sounds better than the M3 and I strongly suspect that the M3 would struggle to leave it behind on the road and it seems that the "Competition Package" on the M3 is a must have if you want it how it should have left the factory. The RS3 saloon reminds me of the Impreza WRX back in its heyday, in that it easily outperforms the hot hatches from the class below and also gives the more expensive M3s and C63 AMGs a run for their money whilst offering similar performance and awesome all-weather ability. It's supposedly one of the best driver's Audis for years and even looks quite subtle and handsome in saloon guise (I still find the lumpy Sportback a bit gopping).So is the prejudice that the Audi seems to be receiving:
A) Because it's an Audi;
B) Because AWD<RWD (which doesn't seem to be the case in the class above);
C) Because technically, the A3 is from a class below the M3/C63 etc.
D) It's not "proper" AWD/quattro i.e. Haldex.
I've never owned an Audi and by no means am an Audi fanboy but looking past that it's a 50k A3 and judging it from the perspective of its performance and what it can do, it seems like a pretty compelling package as a road car to me (no doubt, the RWD cars would be faster and more fun on a dry track).
ZX10R NIN said:
The RS3 is a very good drive & makes a decent noise but it doesn't feel as special a drive as the others listed, if you put it up against an A45/Golf R/Focus RS etc then it would feature more but as it is the other 3 are just more special.
Fair enough, I haven't driven any of them, so will take your word for it. 
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