Audi S3 v BMW M3

[jaedba2604]

Hi,

I currently have an M3 that i am trying - with little success - to sell. My intention was to replace this car with an S3 for my daily commute (i've been using a clio for a daily drive of 45 miles for the last two years).

Obviously i am aware of the costs of M3 ownership, one of the main reasons for the clio was the couple of years' extraordinarily bad snow we've had. it has occurred to me however, notwithstanding the added cost, that i might be better off with a set of winter tyres for my M3 and continuing ownership.

I would appreciate a view genuine opinions on the price of running an Audi S3, ie servicing, real world MPG etc and any pointers on purchase, budget would be around £14k-£15k.

Salient points:
Yearly mileage say 15k
Mainly A roads
Currently get about 26MPG on the M3

probably missed something flagrantly obvious, have read on here a bit and whilst it's up to others what they say (obviously!) i don't really want to discuss the dynamics of the two cars as such, i think common sense would suggest that, like many others, i find an M3 a bit of a handful in snow and ice after a long day at work and occasionally have had a few 'hairy moments'. i guess what i'm trying to say is either car is going to provide performance in excess of my capabilities!! likewise i'm aware that the S3 without winter tyres is not going to be plain sailing in atrocious conditions, but i have been far more comfortable in my clio when the going gets slippery than i was in the M3

thanks

[jaedba2604]

No one got any idea?!

[bmthnick1981]

You'll probably get more responses in the VAG forum.

[jaedba2604]

i'll wack it in there...at the risk of offending the moderators! don't worry i use the internet about twice a year.

thanks v much

[Dave Hedgehog]

very different cars, both good at what they do

my R32 DSG had no problems in the massive snow or on compacted ice hills with stock tyres, the road to my house is about 600 yards up a pretty steep hill, it was covered in 2" of ice, the sides where littered with my neighbors bimmers and mercs, just blasted past em

one sold his bimmer for an A4 quattro after i ran him to the shops lol

[icepop]

Can't understand anyone choosing their car, on the chance of one or two days of snow, every 10 years or so.

[madmover]

If you want a car to handle the snow and be quick still i know its not for everyone but Mazda 3 MPS could be a good alternative being quattro...

As for the S3 i cant comment on ownership but i can comment on audi ownership in general. I have a TT mk1 and the servicing isnt that bad at all, I have always used audi specialists not main dealers and found the work to always of been superb quality but often a fraction of the cost. I personally wouldnt buy a car based on the short spells of snowy weather we have each year but thats as I personally dont have a reason where i need too. Some peoples occupations etc mean they need too which i can totally understand, being self employed i can appreciate not getting to work can be a major unforeseen issue. Im lucky in that i can work from home under such circumstances... This time of year is a notoriously bad time to be selling, I think you would have more luck selling in a couple of months if you can hold on, part of the reason being what you've said yourself about it being crap in bad weather.... still got a couple of months where we will potentially get snow etc leaving the M3 useless not to mention its just after christmas.., Definitely put a post up in the Audi forum and you will get alot more response.

[crazy about cars]

icepop said:

Can't understand anyone choosing their car, on the chance of one or two days of snow, every 10 years or so.

Apt comment given the username

[icepop]

crazy about cars said:

icepop said:

Can't understand anyone choosing their car, on the chance of one or two days of snow, every 10 years or so.

Apt comment given the username

Well spotted CAC.

[Dave Hedgehog]

icepop said:

Can't understand anyone choosing their car, on the chance of one or two days of snow, every 10 years or so.

this is true, although the last couple of years it was substantially more than a few days, but this year nothing so far in the SE

4WD does help a lot in the wet as well which it does do a reasonable amount in the UK, in traction terms there is no wet in a 4WD

[Blowfish]

I used to have a 2007 S3, great car for everyday use. They are excellent in the wet and snowy conditions and I found mine fairly cheap to run for the 2 years I owned it.
I now have an E92 M3 that is rubbish in the wet and snow but in the dry is a league above the S3!

[chriscoates]

If you're wanting a car that is good in the snow and ice, as mentioned earlier a Golf R32 would be a better car to move onto than an S3 IMO.
You can get a good one for £15k: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3452756.htm

[jaedba2604]

icepop said:

Can't understand anyone choosing their car, on the chance of one or two days of snow, every 10 years or so.

I think the nub of the issue is the handling in adverse conditions, the last couple of years have merely amplified this. In my opinion the M3 does not inspire confidence in any cold, wet conditions, hence my query about winter tyres; it's not necessarily dangerous just 'engaging', which some want, others don't.

So i was trying to ascertain whether the running costs of an M3 + winter tyres make sense against a car i thought was possibly better suited to my requirements.

[Clivey]

jaedba2604 said:

I think the nub of the issue is the handling in adverse conditions, the last couple of years have merely amplified this. In my opinion the M3 does not inspire confidence in any cold, wet conditions, hence my query about winter tyres; it's not necessarily dangerous just 'engaging', which some want, others don't.

So i was trying to ascertain whether the running costs of an M3 + winter tyres make sense against a car i thought was possibly better suited to my requirements.

Winter tyres will transform the adverse weather handling and will cost you a lot less than changing your car. Personally, I think the M3 is in a completely different league to the S3 (which is more of a competitor to a 130i). Also remember that whilst you're running winter tyres, you're saving the wear on your summer set and so it all evens out - meaning the only extra cost is getting someone to swap the tyres every 6 months.

If you know that your car is a good 'un, keep it. It'd be much better than swapping for something that's an unknown quantity (a used purchase always has risk attached) as well as an inferior car in the case of the S3.

[jaedba2604]

Sorry if this steers away from the original topic but...

Does anyone have any experience of swapping winter tyres etc etc. I have read that some places store your tyres, what would be the cost of the tyres and the storage? is it best to have 2 sets of wheels or just swap the tyres on the wheels.

I really don't want this to turn into a similar thread to the other chap who was asking about the cost of running an M3. To me being able to afford something is not just having the cash in absolute terms, it's being able to justify the outlay. Ie if over 3 years / 60,000 miles an S3 would save me £6,000 then i'd like to make the decision with these facts in mind. to decide whether the marginally improvement to me of M3 over S3 is worth the marginal cash outlay.

thanks

Edited by jaedba2604 on Sunday 15th January 10:00

Edited by jaedba2604 on Sunday 15th January 10:01

[havoc]

If you've got a garage then Winter tyres aren't a big lifetime cost - initial cash outlay, but you'll get your money back on the alloys and you can only wear-out one set of rubber at a time!
(And yes, I'd go for a 2nd set of rims, ideally smaller diameter than original - M3 18"s would be fine, generic E46 17"s might be slightly better if the brakes fit.)


S3 vs M3 - which car do you like better? Simple as that...

[Clivey]

jaedba2604 said:

Sorry if this steers away from the original topic but...

Does anyone have any experience of swapping winter tyres etc etc. I have read that some places store your tyres, what would be the cost of the tyres and the storage? is it best to have 2 sets of wheels or just swap the tyres on the wheels.

Do you have a loft? - Why make things more complicated than they need to be?

jaedba2604 said:

I really don't want this to turn into a similar thread to the other chap who was asking about the cost of running an M3. To me being able to afford something is not just having the cash in absolute terms, it's being able to justify the outlay. Ie if over 3 years / 60,000 miles an S3 would save me £6,000 then i'd like to make the decision with these facts in mind. to decide whether the marginally improvement to me of M3 over S3 is worth the marginal cash outlay.

thanks

Edited by jaedba2604 on Sunday 15th January 10:00

Edited by jaedba2604 on Sunday 15th January 10:01

That will depend on:

- Depreciation: Which is good for M3s IIRC. The S3 will likely suffer to a greater degree when a new model comes along.
- The difference in MPG (if you're getting around 26, that's pretty good )
- The difference in RFL
- Insurance - Which will vary from person to person.
- Servicing and consumables

[jaedba2604]

Yep, hence my question regarding the MPG and servicing costs of a S3..obviously bearing in mind everyone drives differently!

Fair point re the tyres; the issue with storage is not a problem at the mo, i have a garage with a loft, but i don't see that being indefinite, and the thought of lugging 4 tyres through a house and up a loft ladder sounds a bit like a post natal celebrity trying to lose their tyre to me...

[nixon1]

I'm in the same situation where I have a 330ci butI haven't yet driven it in the ice and snow. I have a few thoughts for you, jaedba2604.

On those days when it isn't slippy outside you'll really miss your M3! I've owned a R32 and whilst I loved it, the performance isn't close to your M3. RFL was £425 I think and MPG similar to your M. I thinking runnings cost are comparable.

Put your car on some 17 inch (steel?) wheels with winter tyres and you'll be good to go, without the Clio as well. Shopping around I think the price was about £750.

[E38Ross]

keep the M3 and get winter tyres.

possibly cheaper in the long run, and you'll have the better car.

4WD doesn't mean it'll be good in the snow. one of my best friends has a B7 RS4 avant, he says it's one of the worst cars in the snow he's ever had; most likely due to the tyres its running. in very little traction conditions, it's just 4 wheels spinning instead of 2.