sulli

Had a play with one earlier. Was interested to see how the scooby faired as I had a dabble with a couple of years ago, when I was in an Astra Gsi, and I was very impressed, and very beaten!
I'm pleased to say that I comfortably kicked his ***
So what's the power/performance on them?

Flat 4x4

You would do in acceleration terms, but it does grip well.

O-60 6.5 ish. Better at higher Mph (80+) than the Impreza.
Totally deceptive power / torque delivery - picks up from 1500rpm.

Easy 265bhp remap with no other mods required.

jmk

Boring car, overpriced for what you get and small. Also, if it drives like a TT - which it will - then it'll understeer like mad. Well built though - but that's not enough of a reason to buy one.

Old_Fart

Preferred our 225 MY02 to our MY01WRX. Understeer was certainly no worse in the Audi than the bugeye. Brakes faded rather too easily on the Audi and the steering and brake feel was lacking, but point-and-squirtyness was better in the Audi, and interior was absolutely leagues ahead of course. A suspension, brake and remap session would create a real beast IMHO. Only sold ours as wanted something larger, miss the S3, certainly don't miss the bugeye!
Rgds
Cman

dosenöffner

It doesn't drive like a TT.

Standard upgrade are the brakes off the GT3.

They get over 300 torque out of the box.

Hell of a lot more comfortable and good mpg.

Horses for courses.

Duck_Pond

My brother's just bought one - a 210bhp version. It's very understated in looks, but does have real road presence - looks really squat! Goes quickly too, with no lag, and pulls very well at motorway speeds. Seems to handle well, though it feels like the suspension is harder than my Scooby (MY97 UK Turbo).

That said, he's admitted that it doesn't feel as quick as mine (might be the lack of the kick-in-the-back turbo feeling tbh), and it doesn't handle as well either.

He's been surprised at the poor mpg, though he does have mostly town trips. Interior is very nice, but very Audi, if you know what I mean!

He decided on the S3 over the TT, and I think he's chosen wisely. There seem to be hundreds of TTs around, and they haven't the best driver reputation. The S3 is rare, and has no such problems with hairdresser comments!

As someone's already said - Horses for courses. I probably wouldn't buy one - not a massive Audi fan... though I could be tempted on an RS2!

Simon S3

Firstly, don`t compare a WRX to an S3.

The Audi is a well made, rapid quality hatchback, the WRX isn`t. The Subaru will costs a lot more to run (Insurance, fuel tyres etc will cost a lot more for the WRX) and we all know the Impreza will have ferocious depreciation.

I drove both S3 and WRX, the quality of the S3 won me over, I enjoyed driving the Subaru but couldn`t live with it over a long period of time.

Gastro

I'd have an S3 over a scooby any day of the week..
As has been said before - horses for courses..

Gastro

SideShowBob

I love the look of the S3, and as its an Audi, you're getting some class and quality along with it.
Im going to look at one in about a year or so, hopefully the latest 225BHP ones will have fallen just into my price bracket.

Whats the MPG on them? is it particullaly bad then? as that may put me off slightly, I can get used to the 34MPG average of my Clio Cup!!

I suppose im thinking less about outright performance and handling, and more about image and build quality.
For me personally, it beats an Impreza in both these areas, and as I very rarely get to go ten tenths when driving month to month, the additional handling/performance of the Subaru arent too important, not very hard core I know, but its probably one journey out of every ten that I get to use any real power anyway, the rest of it id appreciate a nice interior with lots of toys.

churchwa

Having owned and S3, get the 210 bhp and get it chipped and a new exhaust. It will hit 270 bhp with no problems at all. This is the best option by far. As for MPG they are awesom on that front. It is a nice change from owning a scooby, well into the 30's on motoway trips and even around twon you get 22. (that is according to the computer it had anyway and i was not light footed. Great little cars, just get the bose sound system.

Dave T-S

I'd rather have a Golf R32 than either a WRX or S3.

Oh, hang on, I have

SideShowBob

Yeah, im not into modding really anymore, got that out of my system, but would keep looking till I found one with the Bose sound system, black, with the black/blue interior, very very nice little car. Chip I wouldnt mind doing, but exhausts etc id be tempted to leave stock.

Do insurance companies generally insist on trackers on S3's?

Edit: na, R32 doesnt look as special as the S3, and it'll always be a VW desperately trying to grow up into an Audi



[Edited by SideShowBob - 12/31/2003 4:33:50 PM]

carterjohn

a friend of mine has just bought a 51 plate,nice motor.rather small
but lots of toys.!

Simon S3

My S3 is about the same to insure than the Golf 1.8T I had before it! I`, with Privelege and the premium for S3`s is very reasonable.

MPG wise they easily get 30+mpg on a motorway run and has been said, round town you`re looking at 25-30mpg.

I love mine, sit back, turn up the Bose, settle down in the leather Recaros, slam it in 6th and go!

Dave T-S

SSB
You need to take your Badge Snob Blinkers off matey - the R32 is cheaper than the S3, drives a whole lot better, and is better looking than the S3

IM(biased)HO

SideShowBob

Im happy blinkered, and how much is an R32? I thought they were more than an S3?
Im buying second hand remember, dont think the R32 will be reasonable second hand value for a while, you know us lower class badge snobs cant afford these new fangdangled R32's and stuff, we have to settle for what the upper class throws away

Plus its still only a Golf

Simon S3

Dave,

I`d love an R32 but those things must drink unleaded quite heavily?

I listened to one pull away form a VW garage the other day and it was excellent (The S3`s engine does the business but it has little in the way of character!).

PS, Love those R32 steering wheels!

churchwa

The only reason to upgrade the pipes is to let it breath more easily. The Audi tuning scean is not like the scooby one, most of the back boxes look almost identical to the stock ones, and the sound is not hugly diffrent. If you would consider chipping it, then dont waist the money on the 225 bhp, becasue they both have the same end results after chipping.

Click here to see what can be done.
http://www.qstuning.com/list_for_car.asp?car=s318

[Edited by churchwa - 12/31/2003 6:57:41 PM]

Steve Perriam

not an s3 fan at all.

boring to look at and v overpriced for a hot hatch. always does badly in any mag comparison / road test i read and always has done.

buy it for the supposed badge appeal i guess.......

would/will still buy another scoob when funds permit or maybe an evo.

guess i just like the jap stuff and not the german !!

Simon S3

Steve,

Have you driven an S3? If you believe everything you read in magazines then good luck to you.

The fact that the S3 looks `boring` is a major plus factor to me.
I grew out of spoilers and scoops long ago..............

Dave T-S

SSB
S3 when last listed new was £24,820.
R32 is £22,595 new.

According to my calculator, the S3 is dearer

"it's only a Golf" - LOL, they must be big blinkers you have - who owns Audi, and which platform is the S3 built on

[Edited by Dave T-S - 12/31/2003 9:16:03 PM]

Dave T-S

R32 corners better too

Dave T-S

Simon S3
I've got a custom Milltek system on mine with the resonator deleted - sounds a bit Porsche flat 6, a bit M3 and a bit NASCAR

Yes, it is a bit juicy - would have bought a Golf TDI if I was worried about that

Reptillian

I must admit I've always liked the classy look an Audi gives you, yep the R32 is a great looking car too. I think its very much about image vs performance....some people want to have a certain image portrayed in the car they drive and why not ? after all they're the ones paying to drive what they choose. Personally I'd have both in my virtual garage as they are both great cars!!

Roll on a few years when I can actually afford one of these babies! :O)

MooseRacer

Never been a fan of the S3.

There are soooo many variants on the Golf platform, why pick the most expensive?

The only ones that are any good are the Skoda and Seat badged ones, and that's mainly because they're priced realistically.

Sure you can chip them, put Porsche brakes on blah blah blah. Look elsewhere for driver involvement.

SideShowBob

Alright Dave, had a look at some pics of the R32, and have to admit that is one damn nice looking car!!
They're on Atuotrader from around 18k, so they will definitely be a serious contender for when I do look at changing in about a year and a half, as I imagine there'll be a few by then that fall into the 16k maximum I want to spend.

Ill try it against an S3, and to be honest, it wouldnt be about the badge, more about which one feels like its worth its money, though I do like that light blue on the R32, so the Golfs got an advantage!!
Im getting better though, was considering 3 series, so the hatchback is an improvement.

Edit: saw this in my searches, this guy certainly liked it!!
http://www.robertfarago.com/roadtests/default.asp?storyId=6453
Thanks a lot Dave, now I have to make choices and things, I was happy blinkered!!

[Edited by SideShowBob - 1/1/2004 10:03:13 AM]

[Edited by SideShowBob - 1/1/2004 10:04:13 AM]

Dave T-S

SSB

LOL - honestly, if you drive both, I bet you will prefer the R32 - all the authorative car magazines do

sebastian

The R32 looks like a crude, overwheeled, designed by an adolescent on the hoof quickly before the new shape, particularly those twin exhausts just do not suit the shopping box body. A pointless car, in a pointless market niche.

MooseRacer

Yep, that about sums it up sadly.

kissmyarse

Couldn't agree more Seb.

Crock of ****e, can't understand the mentality of those that would waste that sort of money on a Golf.