Audi S3

Post by **campbell** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:35 am

LOL.

MINI alternative, Steve. Nearly bought one last time round but out of budget. Hence moved to Clubman for sub-10k.

I'm very aware of the A3 underpinnings. But Lisa is insistent. Despite how much better the Golf 5-7 may be than the 4, she is adamant. No more Golf!

But given that I happen to like the A3 styling, and we've never had an Audi, there's an itch to scratch.

Plus even the Clubman is becoming a bit neat in the back for our growing terrors. Incredible.

I may yet abandon it, though. Depends on finalised Year 2 results. And it's a rubbish time to be selling as well...

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:50 am

The Golf / A3 platform is quite wide, so will be roomier than the Mini, but not sure you would gain a noticeable amount of boot space over the clubman. It's a nice steer, but not quite as sharp as the mini.

pjlarge · Post by **pjlarge** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:32 am

I had an 8P2 shaped one (the last of the old shape S3) - very quick, rather heavy and not the most engaging of drives but as a point to point car you can use every day you'd probably struggle to find something faster / better. Build quality is really good, ride is typical Audi - i.e. extremely harsh and crashy. Real world MPG was between 24 and 28 MPG over the 40k miles I ran mine for - that was mainly motorway stuff. Reading that back it sounds like I'm not that keen on the car but that's not the case. I'd have another one without too much persuasion. Just watch out for the dealers, they are uniformly dreadful in my experience.

Post by **campbell** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 12:45 pm

Now these are the kind of reviews I've been seeking.

Dom - really just considering a touch more rear seat space rather than the boot...we have the mighty Octavia for that, as you know

Although the kids are nowhere near crammed in to the Clubman...simply noticing that feet are kicking off the driver's seat a bit more than before!

pj - Rather confirms most of what I suspected, although the harsh ride troubles me. Just switched the MINI from summer runflats to winter non-RFs and my oh my, I'd forgotten what an improvement this makes to ride comfort. Thus I'm reminded of my dislike of a crashy ride, and the Audi DNA for such things. Real world m-way mpg looks pretty dire too. From the figures, I'd hope to get 35mpg on a journey, but from your experience, it looks like I'd be as well going back to our old Scooby!!

Having just driven the Clubman again this morning, in "just valeted" guise too, I think perhaps we will sit tight a bit longer.

Which is a shame...as a 2008 S3 in red showed up on a search last night, at Audi Lincoln, for £14k and with only 30-odd k miles on the clock. Hmm.

H8OAG · Post by **H8OAG** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:48 pm

I have owned the previous model of the S3 after a dalliance with an Audi TT and found it on balance to be wanting...........

The Bad

28mpg
Not particularly quick.......I subsequently chipped it to 265BHP.... and it made a difference to mpg and oomph!
Not particularly roomy (3 door)
The ride was "wooden" and "understeery"

The Good

Nicely appointed interior
Bose sounds
Local dealer - Cameron's of Perth were easy to deal with

I have just had a test drive of the Golf R and wanted to dismiss it
Blackbird Jim has a new Golf GTD and its real world fookin fast

The Golf R feels very quick, carrying speeds into corners that would have the Boxster confounded on the weekend's wet and greasy roads.
The man maths Cayman GTS option may not be getting a look in now

Rag_It · Post by **Rag_It** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:09 pm

Spent friday evening with the motor journo from DC Thompson, really nice guy - whilst not a real petrolhead we had a good chat about cars (let's just assume he was not wanting to be stuck next to some car geek!) he did mention that his recent fav was the Golf R, totally surprised him, albeit agreed the GTD was a difficult proposition to ignore.

Whilst suggesting that he had a pretty cool job, he did mention that he also happened to coach girls volleyball at St Andrews uni, i got the impression as a single 36 year old there were a few stories there!

Post by **campbell** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:24 pm

Now Dave, I think we are getting off topic a bit...

Comrade Boag, thanks for your insight.

If I had a pound for every time someone had tried to convince me of the virtues of the latest Golf R, I'd just about have saved up the deposit. I get the message, folks. Anyone mad enough to consider an S3 should get a Golf R instead. Noted

I'll just go and change the thread title to "Golf R reviews by stealth", shall I?

All right then, next up...the Audi A5 3.0tdi quattro. Who'll kick me off with a review on that?!

pjlarge · Post by **pjlarge** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 3:25 pm

campbell wrote:
All right then, next up...the Audi A5 3.0tdi quattro. Who'll kick me off with a review on that?!

Armchair on wheels. Avoid.

Doc883 · Post by **Doc883** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 3:35 pm

I had a MKV Golf Gti 5dr, nice drive, well built and tardis like inside. Also had a 2011 Audi S3 Sportback, both dsg and a manual. Think I preferred the dsg as the manual box was very clunky and a bit vague. The S3 is a nice place to be but it's pretty tight for space inside. Point to point in poor weather it was great but I never fell for it, didn't like the slow speed handling and the steering was made from wood. Part-ex'd it for a 63 plate 330d X Drive M Sport Tourer and I'm in love

StiflerMR2 · Post by **StiflerMR2** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 3:50 pm

Not what you want to hear but I have a GTi and it's a great machine. Loads of room in the boot and back, very nice steering and gearbox and real world quick enough for me.

Brother in law had an S3 and traded it after 5 months for a GTD. He's much happier with that. The S3 was just far to crashy for day to day driving and space inside was comically small for adults in the back (3 dr)

graeme · Post by **graeme** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:35 pm

Doc883 wrote:I had a MKV Golf Gti 5dr, nice drive, well built and tardis like inside. Also had a 2011 Audi S3 Sportback, both dsg and a manual. Think I preferred the dsg as the manual box was very clunky and a bit vague. The S3 is a nice place to be but it's pretty tight for space inside. Point to point in poor weather it was great but I never fell for it, didn't like the slow speed handling and the steering was made from wood. Part-ex'd it for a 63 plate 330d X Drive M Sport Tourer and I'm in love

My dad's piloting a shiny new (F31?) 330d x-drive M-Sport touring with all the toys, and I am 100% impressed as an all-rounder. A4 Avant was the obvious choice topping the shopping list, and the Q5 got a good going over with the tape-measure in the showroom, but after test drives Audi was completely out of the game. The 330d engine and 8-speed flappy-paddle 'box are, as far as I can tell, flawless. Drives far better I'm told (I didn't have a go). Cabin is a matter of personal preference... I felt Audi interior had the quality edge by a tiny margin for reasons I couldn't really say, but the BMW is better looking (in custom spec at least... unfair comparison?). Anyway, very impressed with it. X-Drive probably knocks points off dynamically, but winter's coming! Mid to high 30s MPG average since run-in, and as the good old Scooby wagon replacement that's not bad at all. A diesel 4wd estate (yawn) that's worth of the

emoticon??? Yeah, I think I'd agree with that actually. I can't imagine a better do-everything car.

Post by **campbell** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 6:22 pm

Well if money were no object etc etc.

Anyway, after finally stopping laughing after the A5 review - "Armchair on wheels. Avoid." - from PJ, above, it seems like the MINI might have a fair stay of execution after all.

Off to confer with the Financial Controller. Again.

H8OAG · Post by **H8OAG** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:48 pm

I would withdraw conjugal rights until you get the Golf R............

Post by **campbell** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:35 pm

H8OAG wrote:I would withdraw conjugal rights until you get the Golf R............

Interesting. I always thought it worked the other way round

graeme · Post by **graeme** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:35 pm

Tell Lisa that technically it isn't a GTi.

Scottish Elises

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