Discussion
I am looking to get one of these for the wife. The 3.2 litre A3 looks to be very nice, and perhapps even faster than the S3. has anyone tried both, or can anyone comment on their ownership of either?
I know a Cupra R is perhaps better value, but as an overall package (including looks, interior, and so on), the Audi is more what we want.
Any input appreciated, ta.
I know a Cupra R is perhaps better value, but as an overall package (including looks, interior, and so on), the Audi is more what we want.
Any input appreciated, ta.
Thanks. They do look nice. I'll have to see if I can get us a test drive.
This might be difficult at my local dealership (Docklands Audi). I turned up a few years back to buy an S4, and they simply could not be bothered to sell me one. Today, I turned up again with every intention of buying an S4 if I liked one, and, again, the salesman simply had no interest in trying to sell me anything. He seemed to want no more than to give me a brochure and go back to his coffee. I think that I might write to Audi UK, it was so bad.
This might be difficult at my local dealership (Docklands Audi). I turned up a few years back to buy an S4, and they simply could not be bothered to sell me one. Today, I turned up again with every intention of buying an S4 if I liked one, and, again, the salesman simply had no interest in trying to sell me anything. He seemed to want no more than to give me a brochure and go back to his coffee. I think that I might write to Audi UK, it was so bad.
MimiB said:
I have a 3.2 supermachine aka the S3.
OK, I accept that I might not have the facts here, buut have you not just made that car up? I really did not think that there existed such a car as an Audo S3 with a 3.2 litre engine.
What gives, what do you actually have?
Or are you not sure, or am I being very foolish?
Balmoral Green said:
It is real, it does exist, there is a guy around the corner from me who has one too.
It is the fourwheel drive, 3.2 litre V6 with twin turbos in the little A3 3 door hatch bodyshell.
There must be the full spec on the Audi website, look it up.
Can't find it, and I am not surprised that the disinterested salesman did not tell me about it. Sounds like the sort of thing that woudl do just great (except that I do not like buying brand new).
I had the old model of S4, and thought it was brilliant. Might still get the new one, if the dealer here can get off their arse and get me a drive. If the new S3 has 300bhp+ (which I'd hope, as the normally aspirated 3.2 A3 has 250bhp), then that might be the perfect car for Mrs NB.
Balmoral Green said:
<a href="http://www.audi.co.uk/newcars/range.jsp?section=/models/a3/a3">www.audi.co.uk/newcars/range.jsp?section=/models/a3/a3</a>
Scroll down, its on the left in the middle of the model range list.
>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Saturday 9th April 21:46
But that's surely the normally aspirated A3 that I mentioned earlier, not the supposed S3, unless I am being directed to a different site?
_VTEC_ said:
There's a 3.2 S line but it says nothing about being blown or it actually being an 'S3'.
The s-line is just a spec for an A3. I have the brochure here, and it is not the "s" model.
Is this being confused with an S3, or does someone actually have a link to a turbocharged new S3?
MimiB, does your car say "S3" on it, or is it actually an A3 S-line?
toppstuff said:
Can someone explain the Audi " thing" to me , because i really , genuinely , do not get it.
- The dealers are truly awful
- The cars have much in common with VW, Skoda, Seat , who offer similar driving experiences for a LOT less money.
- The engines are average, with the diesels certainly not being the best.
- The handling is dull, and the steering is lifeless in the extreme
- They are very expensive for what they are. Equally competant ( and often better ) cars are cheaper to buy and to service.
So why would anyone buy an Audi A3 over a Golf, Seat , or Skoda?
If buying an S3 or 3,2 Quattro then I might understand ( they have few competitors ) but as for the cooking A3's and A4's, I genuinely do not understand why anyone buys them...
I maybe agree with your last point, but I do think there is reason to buy the better ones over Seats, and the like.
I used to have an S4, which was stolen, and, as I was about to start doing a 60 mile round trip to work (into central London), I decided tto get a Toledo V5 to replace it. It cost 8k, had a 2.3 litre engine, all the whistles and bells, ad was a nice car to be in.
However, it was a lot slower than the S4, the interior, though very nice, was noticeably less nice than the Audi, and, importantly, only the front wheels were driven.
If I want to stick with a car that has 4 doors, and a boot, but is very fast, has 4 wheel drive, and, importantly, has a great interior, then the new S4 seems to be a very good choice for me.
I definitely wouldn't but the 2.8 A4 over the outgoing Toledo model, though, nor an A3 1.8 Turbo over the Seat Leon Cupra R (well, except for the tacky interior on the Seat.
Seats, for me, are better value, but the range tops out at too low a level for what I now want. If they made the old Toledo, with 4WD, and 300BHP, it'd probably be everything I needed.
agent006 said:
OK,
Mimi's S3 is a Mk1 and as such has the 1.8 turbo engine. No S-line rubbish on the MK1 range.
The Mk2 S3 does not exist as yet, but the 3.2 is an S3 in all but name. S-line is a badge that gets stuck to the grille when a fancy audi bodykit is fitted.
Thought as much. Was the confusion beer related?
catso said:
If you do get one get the DSG, it really is a good gearbox.
Can't. It is mainly for the wife, and she is not happy with anything other than a standard manual, which is a pity. I would like an SL55, but they only come in automatic, so it is immediately a no no. Same with the RS6.
Ribol said:
Maybe the saleman has read some of your car buying posts on here, might have been the 996, F550, Boxter S, SL55, M3, RS6, S4, A3, S3 and has got you down as a tyre kicker?
Little does he know that you are actually someone at the top of his game in the city, although your posts could do with being a little more consistent if you want to stand half a chance with that story.
Well, his dealership used to service my old S4, which should still be listed on his system.
But if you want to pretend that I live in a hut and drive a reliant van, that's fine by me matey, whatever floats your boat.
>> Edited by NorthernBoy on Sunday 10th April 12:19
GetCarter said:
Have to agree that the dealers are a bit pants... but as has been mentioned, the cars are built like Panzers.
Nice noise from the V8tt too
One thing that lead me to buy my S4 over the opposition was that I wanted a 4 door. For the price I paid (20k for a 2 year old car), there didn't seem to be anything else that had the performance, comfort, and practicality.
I knew that the handling was pretty dead, and that was a pity, but everything else I looked at fell down too much in other areas.
I really loved that car, and was very upset when it was stolen. If you could buy that same model in a two year old car, I think I'd have another one.
Despite all my vacillating over which car to get (as was so kindly poinnted out by mr Ribol), I think I am maybe coming down towards an Audi again, Either an S4, or one of the quicker A3s.
Ribol said:
Despite all my vacillating over which car to get (as was so kindly poinnted out by mr Ribol)
Sorry matey, I was just offering up a reason why the salesman may have showed little interest in attending to you - clearly his loss.
Any doubts about your standing in the car buying community were cast aside a while back by your £20k used Audi purchase, a good choice over the F550/996 you were also considering, it must have been a hard one to call.
Yes, as, unlike really rich people like you, I still find it hard to hand over many tens of thousands of pounds on a car without being sure.
Despite what you might think, being capable of putting down x amount of pounds on a car is a long way from knowing it is the sensible thing to do.
As I am sure you understand, no matter what you earn, there is always the juggling act between saving for your pension, and enjoying yourself today.
Ribol said:
Mind you, those people would have no problems making decisions either, that is how they make their money.
Actually, that's the interesting thing I've noticed recently. I spend all day making quick decisions in a stressful sitiation, but, at home, in nearly everything, I just can't act the same.
It even happpens in restaurants, deciding between two choices of main course.
I think it's a common personality trait. Some people will be perfectly happy with something which does ok, others get stuck trying to have the best of all possible worlds, and are forever haunted by the idea that their choice was not the optimal one. I seem to be stuck in the second track at the moment.
As you can probably tell by the time of my postings, though, I've buggered off stateside again, hence the switch of emphasis to a car for the wife. I get yellow cabs for the moment.
Or maybe the tube, which might be a bit quicker.
But then the cabs are more comfortable...
>> Edited by NorthernBoy on Saturday 16th April 05:54
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