Audi S3 arriving shortly...

Cantab.

Cantab. wrote:

Eh but why the need to tell the whole world that you have a new car? Why go out of your way posting pictures and informing us of all the passer-bys stopping to gawk at your car? I don't know who's sadder - the gawkers or you, looking out of your window, gawking for gawkers.

Some people like looking at these believe it or not. Its a motoring forum. These cars are rare as hens teeth.

Go away troll.

Seth Brundle

Cantab. wrote:

Eh but why the need to tell the whole world that you have a new car? Why go out of your way posting pictures and informing us of all the passer-bys stopping to gawk at your car? I don't know who's sadder - the gawkers or you, looking out of your window, gawking for gawkers.

Tis a nice car, but I wouldn't buy one myself (I personally think a man should drive a large car). To be honest, I wouldn't have the asset base to support an Audi S3-driving lifestyle. Did you buy it on credit?

Im soo tempted to ban the troll! Already banned someone earlier - a second would make my day!
As for how he bought it - its none of your business! Would you ask someone how much they had in their bank account?

TheBazman

ronoc wrote:

Some people like looking at these believe it or not. Its a motoring forum. These cars are rare as hens teeth.

Go away troll.

Agree totally - to ask someone to stop talking about and posting pictures of their new motor is a joke.

Fair play - its a lovely car, and there is certainly kudos with having one of only a few that are/will be on the roads. Yes they are expensive, but if that is the car you want and you are willing to pay that for it - then it is worth it for you. Although the 2ltr turbo engine has some disadvantages (eg engine sound) it also has advantages (eg significantly lower tax than eg 3.2ltr R32)

So again best of luck with it and I'm sure it will be popping up on the HWIST thread soon

DirtyDog

kbannon wrote:

Im soo tempted to ban the troll! Already banned someone earlier - a second would make my day!
As for how he bought it - its none of your business! Would you ask someone how much they had in their bank account?

Do us all a favor ... and go with your first gut feeling

unkel

Looks nice, I like the colour. What happened to the picture in the tight car park? And what's that thing beside the gear stick? :eek:

scargill

gorgeous. i want one. I have an A3 too (but only 1.6!)

hope its kept locked up at night. I'd be sleeping in it with a shotgun :eek:

MarkN

Cantab. wrote:

Eh but why the need to tell the whole world that you have a new car? Why go out of your way posting pictures and informing us of all the passer-bys stopping to gawk at your car? I don't know who's sadder - the gawkers or you, looking out of your window, gawking for gawkers.

Tis a nice car, but I wouldn't buy one myself (I personally think a man should drive a large car). To be honest, I wouldn't have the asset base to support an Audi S3-driving lifestyle. Did you buy it on credit?

Which breed of kn*b are you?

And thankfully, I feel manly enough to drive a 3 door hatch, maybe a phyciatrist can help you feel the same without your car having to do that for you.

Cantab. wrote:

I wouldn't have the asset base to support an Audi S3-driving lifestyle. Did you buy it on credit?

No I didn't and how is your "asset base" my problem???!!

unkel wrote:

And what's that thing beside the gear stick?

Unkel - It's a hat I had for being outdoors at 7 yesterday morning

Manic - I dunno what a load of wood would be doing in a hot hatch TBH. You can spec alu, piano black or wood and I was after the alu.

Ba$tard

Wood trim in sporty type cars (and S3 is most definately sporty!) IMHO does not suit, and can look cheap/naff. I'd go with alu trim also.

Lovely car mate, enjoy it, look after her and yourself out on the roads.

Mc-BigE

OP: Nice Car, too much Money (but that's not your fault)! I’ve heard a few disappointing reviews in the UK about them, (but as you know, it’s a lot cheaper to own an S4 (or RS4) in the UK than in Ireland i.e. over 2.0 litre, so we have to compromise when choosing a car

Have a look at this forum in the uk for tips and reviews:
http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewforum&f=42&sid=dc8c8d62a52243ded5d3c06b6612b553

You will have people knocking down your door to buy it off you in 2 or 3 years time.

But you won’t get 58K for it then!

Nice car, but nicer in 2 or 3 years second hand IMO.

The car has to be better than the Golf GTI, or else it will flop.

copacetic

great car OP, can't understand all the begrudgers! you should stick it out over on the uk forum you put the pics on too, at least everyone appreciates the car over there!!
interested to see how you get on with the cheaper sat nav, i'd get that swoped out to finish things off if I was you..

marku-allen

great choice of car, lovely colour.....enjoy and thanks for posting pics,

and those begrudgers ......FECK OFF and go back knitting:rolleyes:

CrowdedHouse

Nice one - well wear

( ..well at least I have the same engine,if not quite the horses !)

galwaytt

OMG OMG OMG !!

And no, not the car, the knobs whing(e)ing (??) on here about who/how etc etc......

Irrespective of what the 'other' cars can/can't do, the car stands on it's own merits to the most important person in the world - the owner/buyer of it.....all else is just horse****.

Which is why I still boast - yes - that I was as stoked about the day I got my first brand new car - a Cinquecento Sporting - in yellow, of course - as I was the day I got my first TT, or my 911. Or why I still love my faded and chipped paint 1990 Mazda MX-5...............

And why the search to sate the automotive thirst continues...........hmmm, wonder what those 968's are like.............???

....and even the Cinqeu broke the speed limit. A lot more than the bigger stuff. Reverse the psychology out of that, do...............

Manic Moran

Ba$tard wrote:

Wood trim in sporty type cars (and S3 is most definately sporty!) IMHO does not suit, and can look cheap/naff. I'd go with alu trim also.

I think it worked out very nicely in my S-car, than you very much. (See picture earlier in thread). Still, my opinion's worth what you pay for it...

NTM

skyhighflyer

Beautiful car, best of luck and safe driving with her

On a side note, I think it's instructive to compare the begrudgery of some on this forum to the universally positive response one nearly always gets on US forums when somebody posts about taking delivery of a new car.

Then again I'm sure that's the last thing on the OP's mind as he spins around in a 07 S3 and the begrudgers make do with their Micras and Starlets

hiscan

MarkN wrote:

My application for 53 arrived a day late and two others put in for it so I missed the draw.

just got in in time with 07-G-4 for my audi a4
best of luck with the car i didnt get mine yet next week hopefully

JHMEG

MarkN wrote:

At least I've given some people a thread to look at - over 1,500 views

Mark - it's a 24 yr old spending 58 grand on a hot hatch that's newsworthy!

As I've said before I would have bought more car and less trim/frills if I was spending the same money on a car. But thank God there are people like you who don't mind loosing 30 grand on a car so that the rest us of can get the same car for half the original price! Look after it for the next owner... he/she will appreciate it (if nothing else)!

rabbitinlights

Any news/specs of the RS3?

S.

MarkN

JHMEG wrote:

Mark - it's a 24 yr old spending 58 grand on a hot hatch that's newsworthy!

As I've said before I would have bought more car and less trim/frills if I was spending the same money on a car. But thank God there are people like you who don't mind loosing 30 grand on a car so that the rest us of can get the same car for half the original price! Look after it for the next owner... he/she will appreciate it (if nothing else)!

Have a look at used S3s on Carzone, it's taken 6 years for them to lose 30k.

Gatster

Although the 2ltr turbo engine has some disadvantages (eg engine sound) it also has advantages (eg significantly lower tax than eg 3.2ltr R32

I would reckon if you can afford €58k on an (admittedly gorgeous) new S3 yearly tax on a 3.2 wouldn't really matter. In the OP's position, I'd have gone for an R32 because I'm not massively keen on turbo engines, or at a push a 130i m-sport but each to his own, it's still a lovely motor. Fair play MarkN, enjoy it

Dasilva94

Just out of interest Mark, what amount of insurance are you paying on her?

MarkN

MarkN wrote:

Have a look at used S3s on Carzone, it's taken 6 years for them to lose 30k.

Requesting hardcore engine bay shots plz

JHMEG

Mark you know as well as I do that asking price and selling price are not the same thing. And carzone.ie is the perfect example of that!

Are they single pot calipers I see on the front?

Mc-BigE

So mark, now that you've had the car for a week, what's it like compared to the GTI? Have you got used to the Quattro system? I found my old S4 had a bit of oversteer for a brief second before the rear grip kicked in, then it felted like it was on rails and lightening acceleration from the lights! Ahh. Happy days!

MarkN

Gatster wrote:

I would reckon if you can afford €58k on an (admittedly gorgeous) new S3 yearly tax on a 3.2 wouldn't really matter. In the OP's position, I'd have gone for an R32 because I'm not massively keen on turbo engines, or at a push a 130i m-sport but each to his own, it's still a lovely motor. Fair play MarkN, enjoy it

Like I've said, after two MKV GTIs, the R32 apart from an engine note, felt like just sitting in another one.

And fair enough you like the 1 series but the S3 is the better car, engine note aside.

It's different to the GTI for sure. There's a bit more turbo lag but once you get it over 2k it goes mental. Add in the Quattro and you can clear a roundabout and be half way down the road while other cars are still indicating for the 2nd exit. I haven't made it step out of line at all yet and it seems like you'd really need to be provoking it. Haven't seen the traction light flash once in 800 kms.

Gatster

Originally Posted By MarkN
after two MKV GTIs, the R32 apart from an engine note,

Can definitely see your point, I've sat in both - a change is as good as a rest and all that jazz I'm a sucker for RWD and big engines, woe is me!!!

fletch

MarkN wrote:

I haven't made it step out of line at all yet and it seems like you'd really need to be provoking it. Haven't seen the traction light flash once in 800 kms.

Now that is impressive....given the recent damp greasy surfaces and the power you have to play with. Says a lot for 4wd.

omega man

Not comparing the 2 cars but that interior is almost identical to the new Octavia vRS.

See link for vRS pics.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/gallery/?model=1437&img=archive/Skoda/Octavia%20vRS%20(05-)/IMG_6705.JPG

MarkN

I think the Octy is more like the GTI than the Audi. They share some identical switches.. Skoda interiors have come a LONG way but sitting in the two cars you'd notice the difference in the materials used.

They all use the same pedals though!

omega man

MarkN wrote:

I think the Octy is more like the GTI than the Audi. They share some identical switches.. Skoda interiors have come a LONG way but sitting in the two cars you'd notice the difference in the materials used.

They all use the same pedals though!

Agree the material in the S3 is superior but just looking at the vRS and the S3 they are very similar in colour combo and layout.

copacetic

omega man wrote:

Not comparing the 2 cars but that interior is almost identical to the new Octavia vRS.

See link for vRS pics.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/gallery/?model=1437&img=archive/Skoda/Octavia%20vRS%20(05-)/IMG_6705.JPG

have to disagree with this, they are slightly similar but far from almost identical...

MarkN

Dasilva94 - my insurance is €1500 fully comp with step back. 4 points, 6 years NCB.

The square wheel is an optional extra, it's less than 300 quid and something I wanted but this S3 I took was a stock car. Apart from that and BOSE the car was the spec/colour that I wanted so I wasn't gonna wait 3 months for the extras.

omega man

Mark. would love to know as you are a proud new S3 owner and having come from the gti mkv what you think of the the reviews below?

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/203837/audi_s3.html

http://www.channel4.com/4car/di/audi/s3/3614/1

MarkN

I'd love to ask a few of these journalists what they like sooooooooooo much about the GTI.

I had two of them, covered almost 40,000kms in them (far more than any of these journalists).

And my opinion of them..

Negative:

Engine ran out of steam too early.

Power in the wet was not the best due to wheel hop and lack of traction.

Standard spec was below average.

Brakes could've been better.

VW build quality - trim broke off the first GTI I had within days of taking delivery.

Gearbox was not as precise as it could've been.

Positives:

It looked great with the 18s.

Seats grabbed you in place.

Engine note not bad at all.

Steering was very in touch with the driver.

Steering racks on both cars were dodgy - one was replaced and the second car I judt didn't bother due to the mess MSL Pottery Rd made of it. Dashboard trim broken etc

In comparison and a lot of the reviews have mentioned most of these:

The S3 goes like it's on rails, Quattro assisted or not, the car is far more driveable in Irish weather conditions than any GTI.

It would've been nice for Audi to flare the arches like they did with the last S3.

As for turbo lag, it's not something that is as big a problem as they write. Sure, it exists but saying nothing happens below 2,500 rpm is just a lie.

The steering at very low speeds is too light I agree.

I can't say I feel any less involved driving one car over the other. The S3 just lets you enjoy the power in any conditions.

The seats in the S3 could have better bolsters, Audi skimped on that one for sure - the last model had Recaro seats worth over €4,000 when putting them in to a MKIV GTI for example, as standard.

Do I miss the GTI? No way.

Biro

You had 2 mk 5 GTi's? And only 20k kms in each? Would you not have kept the first one for 2 years instead?

MarkN

Am I not allowed or something?

bogmanfan

omega man wrote:

Mark. would love to know as you are a proud new S3 owner and having come from the gti mkv what you think of the the reviews below?

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/203837/audi_s3.html

http://www.channel4.com/4car/di/audi/s3/3614/1

The real eye-opener in the channel 4 review was the price: £26k! And 58k euro here! Holy ****.

davebirl

MarkN is right here guys, there is no way you can compare the GTI and the S3. there is light years between them. the R32 is the S3 competitor.

Biro

MarkN wrote:

Am I not allowed or something?

I'm not suggesting what anyone should or shouldn't do, so long as it doesn't affect me!
Best of luck to ya if you can afford to do that, you obviously have a very good job, and fair play to ya for getting it. I'm just surprised because it would actually probably save you money to put a few more kms and keep it a while longer on a trade in, but none of my business.
Still though, in fairness... the S3 should be a lot better than the GTi, it's €20,000 more expensive. Thats a lot more. Surely you can't criticise your Mk 5 Gti's for lacking in the driving experience considering the price bracket they're in. Plus, compare them to the rather mundane Mk 4 Gti.

Biro

davebirl wrote:

MarkN is right here guys, there is no way you can compare the GTI and the S3. there is light years between them. the R32 is the S3 competitor.

Exactly. It's like people who compare the octavia against the passat. Different cars.

MarkN

Ah yes, the MKIV GTI. Had one of them too.. less said the better.

Nah I know what you're saying Biro but for me I like keeping the cost of change as low as possible and for me, changing regularly in the past did that. I have less money tied up in the car than would buy you a bog standard 1.4 Golf. I couldn't afford to have bought the car if I had to borrow 58K for it, it's not a 911 or a Ferrari at the end of the day!

There's not much point comparing the S3 to the GTI anyway, the R32 is the competitor. If it had the same engine as the S3 the reviews comparing the two might not be so pro R32... I dunno. The R32 is a pretty special car too though.

The R32 sounds SAVAGE on full chat, you really have to hear one for yourself but like I've said, I reckon an S3 will sell a lot easier than a 3.2 engined car in the ROI.

There's *only* €5,000/6000 between the two of them IIRC. Standard the R costs about €46k and the S3 is just under €52,000.

omega man

Thought as much! These guys take the car for a few hours if even that. Dont think you could even compare the gti and s3, the r32 maybe but even that has the 3.2 v6 lump. The new leon cupra will have the same engine with 240bhp fwd and the mazda 3 mps will be fitted with a 2.3 265bhp but fwd only also. Basically there is nothing in the S3's class in terms of like for like comparison.

HashSlinging

I thought the MPS was 4WD, maybe only the saloon version.

C_Breeze

HashSlinging wrote:

I thought the MPS was 4WD, maybe only the saloon version.

3 mps is only FWD

the 6 mps is 4WD! ......what a car :eek:

Biro

3 MPS is only coming in 5 door, which is a shame

bazz26

C_Breeze wrote:

3 mps is only FWD

the 6 mps is 4WD! ......what a car :eek:

Slightly OT but reviews of the Mazda 3 MPS so far have been disappointing, they said it should have been given 4WD like the 6 MPS.

ando

MarkN wrote:

Dasilva94 - my insurance is €1500 fully comp with step back. 4 points, 6 years NCB.

can you tell me where you are getting insured? Im getting ripped off!!!!!!!!!!

MarkN

Howaya Ando.. I got it down another few quid since that post. It's €1485 and now have full bonus protection with two unlimited claims (hope I don't need them!).

Goggin insurance..8724444

ElCapitano

Just wondering where you got your reg plates from mark?

JDxtra

Very nice car!

...but you're in your mid-20's right? And this car is nearly 60k? I don't get it.