S3 vs R32 vs 130i

[alfaspiderman2]

Discuss

Considering one of these to replace my company 335i and wondered if anyone had any views?

Like the looks of the S3 but think I'll miss the lovely 6 cylinder engine note.

[brisel]

R32 it is then!

Seriously though you have picked 3 very good hot hatches.

Top Gear R32 v 130M review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUlMNB8aqb8&fea...

I have never driven or been in the 130 but I have a R32 & have test driven an S3.

The 3.2 V6 Mk 5 R32 is more of a cruiser and thirstier than the 2.0 TFSI S3 when driven normally (whatever "normally" is).

The S3 is pricier but better inside & far more nimble since it has a smaller but more powerful 4 cylinder plus better brakes and suspension. I didn't like the turbo lag of the S3 after the bottom end torque of my V6 & to be honest, I'd buy another R32 rather than a S3.

I'm not a great fan of the 1 Series look at all but I suspect that it would be the most fun to drive. It would also be the only one you could get properly sideways

Just my humble opinion of course

[alfaspiderman2]

cheers

on my company scheme, the R32 is actually dearer than than the S3 which is a surprise and puts a (slightly) different spin on things......130i is cheapest by a margin though

[dibbly_dobbler]

alfaspiderman2 said:

cheers

on my company scheme, the R32 is actually dearer than than the S3 which is a surprise and puts a (slightly) different spin on things......130i is cheapest by a margin though

Hi - my tuppence worth ! I've a 130i - here's my thoughts :

+ side
engine is a peach - flexible, torquey low down, but fab top end also
surprisingly good fuel economy
reliable
cheap to buy and run (relatively of course)

- side
let's face it, it's not a looker
people will think you couldn't afford a 'real' BMW

I've had an S3 in the past (old model) and loved it. Not that fussed for the Golf to be honest.

Probably hard to make a mistake here though - they're all good !

[DMH@VWG]

Can't comment on 130i as my only experience has been a passenger ride whilst a mate took a test drive (he eventually went for a Focus ST instead)...

I was left with a mixed impression - beautiful engine and great performance, but the package let it down for me: it seemed pretty basic spec and poor space/practicality?

I've lived with an R32 and borrowed a couple of S3's...

S3 is a class act - looks nice, goes well (although engine seems a bit bland in comparison - albeit makes a nice noise) and a nice place to be (although options can make them v expensive)

R32 is a fantastic looking car, and another lovely engine. However, its very thirsty and feels a bit cumbersome/heavy to really "drive". I'd have another one for the fun factor!

In terms of driving enjoyment I still prefer the Golf GTi edition 30 to both the R32 and S3, feels much much sharper, and even well specced will be much cheaper than the S3.

In terms of company car/lease costs however, the R32 will be the most expensive as its a relatively high depreciator compared to the other two. All "in-demand" Audis have good residuals therefore the total cost of ownership (including write-down) is lower

[alfaspiderman2]

that's useful

thought about the Editon 30 as it's almost £200/cheaper than the S3/R32 but to be honest, I don't like the look of it....I prefer the look of the ordinary GTI

[steebo888]

dont like the bmw 130 and it got a bad review on top gear.

the r32 is very good looking but expensive to run.
i had a 225 s3 which i choose over the mk4 r32 as it was just as fast and alot cheaper to run.

I would go for the golf GTI as its a great all rounder, cheaper to run and because its FWD theres no extra weight from the 4WD system which slows it down(i found this out on my s3 )
also it looks the best out of the lot

[Thorny]

I would go for the S3 - had a couple of the old shape ones and loved them. We currently have a Mk5 GTI which is great but would rather have the S3 if they were the same price.

Pretty sure Autocar did a group test of all three a while back...

[mel]

I went shopping about a year ago and had the same 3 on the list, the 130i got the chop very early on because I found everything about it just bland and if I'm honest a little bit of snobbery crept in about it being the "baby" BM it just wasn't right somehow and I struggle to put my finger on exactly why. I actually got as far as ordering the R32 and it only went belly up at the fianl stage when I had the mother of all rows with the dealer and stomped off next door to Audi, at the time the S3 was an order off of a spec sheet and they hadn't got the first dealer demo's in at that time so it would have been speculative and a bit of a chance so I actually got a 2 year old S4 avant which I'm actually very pleased with. However I have had the S3 for a day since then and was very impressed it fealt lovely and very planted, I actually preferred the way the turbo engine pulls to the V6 (in manual versions) but I would say that if it was my money again I'd get the S4, oops no sorry I'd get a 3.2 V6 DSG S3 oh no sorry again that's not an option, infact I haven't a clue which one as they've both got + and - points but I would narrow it down to a DSG R32 or a manual S3 and ignore the 130i.............(not helping much am I )

[Marki]

I would go R32 , if only for that engine and exhaust note

[TeaVR]

Marki said:

I would go R32 , if only for that engine and exhaust note

"

I agree with comments such as "Get a GTi, it's almost as quick and cheaper to run". However, I think of the R32 as a modern day VR6 - a nice car to drive if pottering or thrashing.

130 - Never driven - but I think sadly the looks would put me off.
S3 - Sure on a blat it would win, but doesn't have V6 noise / exhaust note of the R32.

[DMH@VWG]

alfaspiderman2 said:

thought about the Editon 30 as it's almost £200/cheaper than the S3/R32 but to be honest, I don't like the look of it....I prefer the look of the ordinary GTI

I really enjoyed the GTi Ed 30 - I had a fully specced up one in Tornado Red (which looks great against the anthacite alloys). The only thing that would've improved it would have been proper wing-back bucket seats...which are an expensive option on the R32

[Marki]

DMH@VWG" Target="_blank">class="forumQuoter">DMH@VWG said:

alfaspiderman2 said:

thought about the Editon 30 as it's almost £200/cheaper than the S3/R32 but to be honest, I don't like the look of it....I prefer the look of the ordinary GTI

I really enjoyed the GTi Ed 30 - I had a fully specced up one in Tornado Red (which looks great against the anthacite alloys). The only thing that would've improved it would have been proper wing-back bucket seats...which are an expensive option on the R32

I thought the Konig seats were standard ..

[DMH@VWG]

Standard seats in an R32 are the same design as in a GTi - and cloth-covered too, albeit in a different pattern...

Nearly all are upgraded to leather (I think all stock cars are ordered with it as resale values without leather makes them difficult to shift). The wing-back bucket seats are an expensive option - and again are available in cloth or leather. I seem to recall that full leather bucket seats cost something like £1,800 as an option!

[alfaspiderman2]

leather is a very expensive option on the GTI and R32.....£40/month just to have the standard leather on either with my lease company

will have another look at the edition30....didn't notice that the alloys were anthracite.....that does appeal

[jimmyb]

What about a 130 or 135 coupe. Def better looking than the hatch and i think kinda cool.

[Dr G]

If you can stretch to one, the new S3 is a real class act and very, very rapid in the real world.

Better on fuel and punchier than any of the V6 cars also. Responds so, so well to a simple remap too.

[alfaspiderman2]

thanks

I can certainly stretch to an S3 or 135i Coupe....it's just I wonder a) whether the R32 noise is preferable and b) whether the cost premium is worth it over a GTI or Megane R26

re-map not an option as it's a company car

[Marki]

alfaspiderman2 said:

thanks

I can certainly stretch to an S3 or 135i Coupe....it's just I wonder a) whether the R32 noise is preferable and b) whether the cost premium is worth it over a GTI or Megane R26

re-map not an option as it's a company car

Then its a no brainer , 135Coupe

[alfaspiderman2]

is it a no brainer?

it's ugly as sin, the most expensive of the options under consideration and the least practical

even though I've got a 335i now and can vouch for it being a magnificent engine, I'm still not so sure that the 135i isn't rather expensive for what it is

Edited by alfaspiderman2 on Wednesday 9th January 10:31