RE: New Audi S3 starts at £47k in UK

[CG2020UK]

The price is unfortunately what it is and all cars are silly money now.

Being realistic the S3 is a smashing do it all car that looks well in the flesh. I’m really glad Audi have decided to invest a bit more in making it even better to drive.

[sege]

I think the Audi S3 is one of the stupidest cars around. Why would any enthusiastic driver have one of these over an old second hand WRX or Evo? If you're not an enthusiastic driver, why have this over whatever boring base model A3 which must cost less money?

I must be the stupid one though, based on the amount of them you see about.

[fantheman80]

sege said:

I think the Audi S3 is one of the stupidest cars around. Why would any enthusiastic driver have one of these over an old second hand WRX or Evo?

1) Running costs and service interval's 2) Reliability 3) The S3 would comfortably hand most old evo and scooby models its arse on road or track

Would it look as good, have as much character, mechanical grip and sense of speed? Course not, but many folk can only have one car and hatches like these tick the boxes

[mcelliott]

sege said:

I think the Audi S3 is one of the stupidest cars around. Why would any enthusiastic driver have one of these over an old second hand WRX or Evo? If you're not an enthusiastic driver, why have this over whatever boring base model A3 which must cost less money?

I must be the stupid one though, based on the amount of them you see about.

Because if you're in the market for a second hand scoobie a brand new S3 isn't gonna be on your radar, I actually think its an ok car albeit quite pricy, I briefly looked at these, along with a Focus ST and a Megane RS test driving the last two before I decided am i30N was better than all of them, also own an STI wagon so speak with some experience.

[OoopsVoss]

Seems expensive relative to competition. I don't need the rear doors for my commuter so picked up a new M240 last year with nearly all options for 52k. That's a 4 series with a bit chopped out the chassis. Nor did I have to have an interior that makes me want to kill myself.

Obviously all cars have got more expensive, but this seems a bit errr dull for the money.

[timbob]

Limpet said:

In fairness, An S3 was on my shortlist back in 2017. I chose an M140i in the end, but the Audi's list price then was £35k plus options. That's the equivalent of £45k today, so £47k shouldn't be considered too outrageous.

What I wonder about is who is buying this stuff now? Finance rates are quadruple what they were back then, and the car is about 30% more expensive. Living costs have gone up exponentially, and salaries haven't. You can argue it's a "correction" and that cars like this historically have never been accessible apart from those years of nearly free money, but the point still stands. Who is actually going into Audi dealers and ordering these?

I also struggle to believe that many people financially prudent enough to have £50k in readies would choose to sink it into a depreciating asset like this.

And if it's anything like the one I drove in 2017, it won't exactly set your pants on fire either.

Confused

In answer to your question about who is ordering these, from my experience of youngsters at work - all living at home on zero (or minimal) rent paid to parents, no bills etc, the first thing many do upon being confirmed in post at 19/20yrs old, on a salary in the mid 20s is to show up at work in a brand new, super hatch. S3s, Golf Rs, hot Civics, the lot. One 19 year old lass showed up in a brand new JCW Mini. She was paying well over £1000 a month on the finance and insurance for it. Before fuel annd tax. And she still had hundreds of pounds of “disposable” income left for a massive phone, nights out etc. Because at that age, in that situation, every penny you earn is disposable income, if you’re not thinking about saving.

But many then complain that it’s impossible to save for a house and get on the property ladder despite living at home, because you need a car, you need a phone, and then there’s not a lot left at the end of the month………

[CG2020UK]

timbob said:

In answer to your question about who is ordering these, from my experience of youngsters at work - all living at home on zero (or minimal) rent paid to parents, no bills etc, the first thing many do upon being confirmed in post at 19/20yrs old, on a salary in the mid 20s is to show up at work in a brand new, super hatch. S3s, Golf Rs, hot Civics, the lot. One 19 year old lass showed up in a brand new JCW Mini. She was paying well over £1000 a month on the finance and insurance for it. Before fuel annd tax. And she still had hundreds of pounds of “disposable” income left for a massive phone, nights out etc. Because at that age, in that situation, every penny you earn is disposable income, if you’re not thinking about saving.

But many then complain that it’s impossible to save for a house and get on the property ladder despite living at home, because you need a car, you need a phone, and then there’s not a lot left at the end of the month………

What a load of biased rubbish

[triggerh4ppy]

Looks like a shoe. one that is destined for the bin.
Something for someone on a council estate and living in Bradford can aspire to attain

[James6112]

CG2020UK said:

timbob said:

In answer to your question about who is ordering these, from my experience of youngsters at work - all living at home on zero (or minimal) rent paid to parents, no bills etc, the first thing many do upon being confirmed in post at 19/20yrs old, on a salary in the mid 20s is to show up at work in a brand new, super hatch. S3s, Golf Rs, hot Civics, the lot. One 19 year old lass showed up in a brand new JCW Mini. She was paying well over £1000 a month on the finance and insurance for it. Before fuel annd tax. And she still had hundreds of pounds of “disposable” income left for a massive phone, nights out etc. Because at that age, in that situation, every penny you earn is disposable income, if you’re not thinking about saving.

But many then complain that it’s impossible to save for a house and get on the property ladder despite living at home, because you need a car, you need a phone, and then there’s not a lot left at the end of the month………

What a load of biased rubbish

Lifted from the Daily Wail comments section

[EC2]

timbob said:

In answer to your question about who is ordering these, from my experience of youngsters at work - all living at home on zero (or minimal) rent paid to parents, no bills etc, the first thing many do upon being confirmed in post at 19/20yrs old, on a salary in the mid 20s is to show up at work in a brand new, super hatch. S3s, Golf Rs, hot Civics, the lot. One 19 year old lass showed up in a brand new JCW Mini. She was paying well over £1000 a month on the finance and insurance for it. Before fuel annd tax. And she still had hundreds of pounds of “disposable” income left for a massive phone, nights out etc. Because at that age, in that situation, every penny you earn is disposable income, if you’re not thinking about saving.

But many then complain that it’s impossible to save for a house and get on the property ladder despite living at home, because you need a car, you need a phone, and then there’s not a lot left at the end of the month………

I know lots of people of my generation (been on PH a long time!) who agree with this. I had no money in my early 20s as everthing I earned was going towards a house deposit/mortgage. In defence for the modern generation, we had far less to spend our money on in London in the 80s. Strangely enough I had an S3 in my 40s and loved it so not sure how that fits with the demographic.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Cryssys said:

A cheap dig which does not reflect well on you.

Worked in central Bradford for 8 years. Its not a cheap dig, its entirely accurate.

[OoopsVoss]

EC2 said:

timbob said:

In answer to your question about who is ordering these, from my experience of youngsters at work - all living at home on zero (or minimal) rent paid to parents, no bills etc, the first thing many do upon being confirmed in post at 19/20yrs old, on a salary in the mid 20s is to show up at work in a brand new, super hatch. S3s, Golf Rs, hot Civics, the lot. One 19 year old lass showed up in a brand new JCW Mini. She was paying well over £1000 a month on the finance and insurance for it. Before fuel annd tax. And she still had hundreds of pounds of “disposable” income left for a massive phone, nights out etc. Because at that age, in that situation, every penny you earn is disposable income, if you’re not thinking about saving.

But many then complain that it’s impossible to save for a house and get on the property ladder despite living at home, because you need a car, you need a phone, and then there’s not a lot left at the end of the month………

I know lots of people of my generation (been on PH a long time!) who agree with this. I had no money in my early 20s as everthing I earned was going towards a house deposit/mortgage. In defence for the modern generation, we had far less to spend our money on in London in the 80s. Strangely enough I had an S3 in my 40s and loved it so not sure how that fits with the demographic.

Back in the 1990's I did the whole reckless spend thing. I had the choice between a new Williams Clio or use the money for a deposit on a flat in Islington. Decided that 90k was too much for a conversion flat so shiny gold wheeled fanny magent it was. Of course one is now worth 700k - but at the time it made a lot of sense.

[Pablo16v]

OoopsVoss said:

EC2 said:

timbob said:

In answer to your question about who is ordering these, from my experience of youngsters at work - all living at home on zero (or minimal) rent paid to parents, no bills etc, the first thing many do upon being confirmed in post at 19/20yrs old, on a salary in the mid 20s is to show up at work in a brand new, super hatch. S3s, Golf Rs, hot Civics, the lot. One 19 year old lass showed up in a brand new JCW Mini. She was paying well over £1000 a month on the finance and insurance for it. Before fuel annd tax. And she still had hundreds of pounds of “disposable” income left for a massive phone, nights out etc. Because at that age, in that situation, every penny you earn is disposable income, if you’re not thinking about saving.

But many then complain that it’s impossible to save for a house and get on the property ladder despite living at home, because you need a car, you need a phone, and then there’s not a lot left at the end of the month………

I know lots of people of my generation (been on PH a long time!) who agree with this. I had no money in my early 20s as everthing I earned was going towards a house deposit/mortgage. In defence for the modern generation, we had far less to spend our money on in London in the 80s. Strangely enough I had an S3 in my 40s and loved it so not sure how that fits with the demographic.

Back in the 1990's I did the whole reckless spend thing. I had the choice between a new Williams Clio or use the money for a deposit on a flat in Islington. Decided that 90k was too much for a conversion flat so shiny gold wheeled fanny magent it was. Of course one is now worth 700k - but at the time it made a lot of sense.

As did I including buying a brand new Citoen AX GT at 21 just because it came with a years free insurance. Thankfully I was able to offload it at 3 years old, bought a 1984 VW Scirocco 1.8 GL for not a lot, and still had a bit left over to put towards my flat deposit fund.

[randytusk]

sege said:

I think the Audi S3 is one of the stupidest cars around. Why would any enthusiastic driver have one of these over an old second hand WRX or Evo? If you're not an enthusiastic driver, why have this over whatever boring base model A3 which must cost less money?

I must be the stupid one though, based on the amount of them you see about.

The Audi is still seen as a status symbol - I have friends of mine that wouldn’t be seen driving anything else.

Brother in law has an s3. Sadly, he had to get rid of his RS3 after a week of ownership - he had a large gang of armed miscreants smashing his door down, threatening to kill him and take his car…….

Like wise, my brother in Leeds advised me against buying any Audi , even the cooking versions. Turns out that dodgy locals were leaving tracker tags on cars left/bought at the dealership so they could steal them from their home afterwards……

[iphonedyou]

sege said:

I think the Audi S3 is one of the stupidest cars around. Why would any enthusiastic driver have one of these over an old second hand WRX or Evo? If you're not an enthusiastic driver, why have this over whatever boring base model A3 which must cost less money?

I must be the stupid one though, based on the amount of them you see about.

Because nobody, except you, is cross shopping a brand new S3 with an old second hand WRX or Evo.

[fantheman80]

CG2020UK said:

timbob said:

In answer to your question about who is ordering these, from my experience of youngsters at work - all living at home on zero (or minimal) rent paid to parents, no bills etc, the first thing many do upon being confirmed in post at 19/20yrs old, on a salary in the mid 20s is to show up at work in a brand new, super hatch. S3s, Golf Rs, hot Civics, the lot. One 19 year old lass showed up in a brand new JCW Mini. She was paying well over £1000 a month on the finance and insurance for it. Before fuel annd tax. And she still had hundreds of pounds of “disposable” income left for a massive phone, nights out etc. Because at that age, in that situation, every penny you earn is disposable income, if you’re not thinking about saving.

But many then complain that it’s impossible to save for a house and get on the property ladder despite living at home, because you need a car, you need a phone, and then there’s not a lot left at the end of the month………

What a load of biased rubbish

Er....that's exactly what me and my mates did early 2000's! Didnt pay rent, couldn't afford a house, so bought a new Civic Type R....then a Focus ST...then finally moved out

[CedricN]

Cars will never become cheaper, only more expensive. The massive CO2 fines are already piling up for car manufacturers in europe, and they will need to compensate for that. It has already been done and it will only get worse. We are talking bilions in fines and many thousand of euros per car, some are already there. some are slightly better off. But the target is constantly getting tougher.

So like the legislation looks like now it will be expensive electric car or expensive ICE car that will be the option further on. As the trend looks like right now im not sure how this will work out, the take up of EVs isnt fast enough, even worse for the heavy duty buisness. It will be interesting to see if they will be forced to limit selling ICE cars to get the fines under control or else they will be drained clean of any money they have.

[Sim75]

iphonedyou said:

Because nobody, except you, is cross shopping a brand new S3 with an old second hand WRX or Evo.

I thought the comparison was a tad strange

[Sim75]

OoopsVoss said:

Seems expensive relative to competition. I don't need the rear doors for my commuter so picked up a new M240 last year with nearly all options for 52k. That's a 4 series with a bit chopped out the chassis. Nor did I have to have an interior that makes me want to kill myself.

Obviously all cars have got more expensive, but this seems a bit errr dull for the money.

The two cars are utterly comparible in spec, performance and price so not sure what your point is.

And no, an M240 isnt a 4 series with a bit chopped out, much like the S3 isn't an S5 with a bit chopped out.

[Sim75]

fantheman80 said:

Er....that's exactly what me and my mates did early 2000's! Didnt pay rent, couldn't afford a house, so bought a new Civic Type R....then a Focus ST...then finally moved out

Ditto. Calibra 16v at 20 was far more appealing than a house back then.