Interesting how most people say the S3 is predictable, safe and boring (which I agree with having driven one) but the Golf R is much better. I really must drive an R to see for myself. I wonder what VW have done to make them drive differently as they obviously share the same engine, gearbox and 4WD system? Must be different suspension settings I guess.

Let's be honest, all new fast are predictable and safe, though boring is another matter;  personally I wouldn't want to be tossed off into the nearest tree (no really ) I suspect the Golf isn#t that dissimilar to the S3. That said, I think thse cars have too much grip and speed for them to be fun at the limit on a public road, only on the rarest occasions. TBH, I had more fun in a 1.2 Nova years ago, which you could drive around on 2 wheels everywhere.

Let's be honest, all new fast are predictable and safe, though boring is another matter; personally I wouldn't want to be tossed off into the nearest tree (no really ) I suspect the Golf isn#t that dissimilar to the S3. That said, I think thse cars have too much grip and speed for them to be fun at the limit on a public road, only on the rarest occasions. TBH, I had more fun in a 1.2 Nova years ago, which you could drive around on 2 wheels everywhere.

The fun comes when you arent sure if you're gonna get tossed into a tree though

I buzz off that haha.

Let's be honest, all new fast are predictable and safe, though boring is another matter;  personally I wouldn't want to be tossed off into the nearest tree (no really ) I suspect the Golf isn#t that dissimilar to the S3. That said, I think thse cars have too much grip and speed for them to be fun at the limit on a public road, only on the rarest occasions. TBH, I had more fun in a 1.2 Nova years ago, which you could drive around on 2 wheels everywhere.

  

The fun comes when you arent sure if you're gonna get tossed into a tree though

I buzz off that haha.

It's good to have that slight sense of danger where you know you need to treat the car the a little bit of respect or it might just bite back.

The road tester in the vid above pointed out that in the S3 it was fine to just mash the throttle into the carpet at any point in a corner and the car would just grip and go with no action from the rear end at all. That's the bit I was referring to really about being safe and predictable. I can see how some might like that but for me it has only a limited appeal. I prefer to have to think abit more about how the car will respond, modulate the power accordingly etc. If that makes the M135i a little slower across a section of cold wet road I don't mind at all, comes back to "speed doesn't necessarily equal fun".

Besides the M135i is actually pretty phenomenal in terms of grip in the wet and cold (partly due to the awesome Mich PSS tyres admittedly), you'd have to be going at ballistically inappropriate speeds on the public road to notice a significant performance deficit behind an S3 in my view. :-)

It's good to have that slight sense of danger where you know you need to treat the car the a little bit of respect or it might just bite back.

The road tester in the vid above pointed out that in the S3 it was fine to just mash the throttle into the carpet at any point in a corner and the car would just grip and go with no action from the rear end at all. That's the bit I was referring to really about being safe and predictable. I can see how some might like that but for me it has only a limited appeal. I prefer to have to think abit more about how the car will respond, modulate the power accordingly etc. If that makes the M135i a little slower across a section of cold wet road I don't mind at all, comes back to "speed doesn't necessarily equal fun".

Besides the M135i is actually pretty phenomenal in terms of grip in the wet and cold (partly due to the awesome Mich PSS tyres admittedly), you'd have to be going at ballistically inappropriate speeds on the public road to notice a significant performance deficit behind an S3 in my view. :-)

Respected testers can't all be wrong -The Golf R can be great fun.

Get yourself a decent test drive Tom and see for yourself. Then there will be no doubt- have fun in an R, YEP. Simples!

Edited 10 January, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Respected testers can't all be wrong -The Golf R can be great fun.https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dRYA1dsQBmYGet yourself a decent test drive Tom and see for yourself. Then there will be no doubt- have fun in an R, YEP. Simples!

Don't worry Keith I wasn't referring to the R, only the S3 which was in that vid (and which I have had out for an extended testdrive). I am looking forward to testing the R out too.

I never said the respected road-testers were wrong, I quite agree with the chap from Evo and his take on the S3!

I'm sure the golf R drives quite differently, will report back when I've had a go. Just need to find some time to get a drive sorted :-)

Don't worry Keith I wasn't referring to the R, only the S3 which was in that vid (and which I have had out for an extended testdrive). I am looking forward to testing the R out too.

I never said the respected road-testers were wrong, I quite agree with the chap from Evo and his take on the S3!

I'm sure the golf R drives quite differently, will report back when I've had a go. Just need to find some time to get a drive sorted :-)

Why would it be so different? It's basically the same car!

Btw there's nothing wrong with losing grip, power sliding and a that, but I prefer a progressive predictable response, not an uncontrollable bite you up the arse sort. If anything it means less idiots pirouetting I to the hedge, or worse into oncoming traffic.

Interesting sales comparison stats, currently VW/Audi Dealerships stock of Demo or previous owner cars.(Not used Autotrader for this analysis.)

Golf R 3&5 DR Audi S1 3 &5 DR.

@Dealers 15 @ Dealers 55

Lowest asking price £27000 - £23400 Difference £3600

Highest asking price £35990 - £31990 " £4000

Manual 10 - Manual all

DSG 5 - No Option

Average asking price £31200 Average asking price £26800 Difference £4400.

Note! Golf Stock is moving but Audi stock is very static.

Apology for the quality of tabulation.

Note! No reference made for discounters New Prices - we all know that the distortion exists.

PS. Might look at extending to S3 later.

Edited 10 January, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Stats are for S1 and not S3?

Stats are for S1 and not S3?

Yep, working slowly on S3.

Need model 63 plate to current day.

The aforementioned stats emphasise how poor the S1 market is ,yet Audi still hold up selling prices and apparently give little.hence the forecourt stock levels.

Edited 10 January, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Interesting sales comparison stats, currently VW/Audi Dealerships stock of Demo or previous owner cars.(Not used Autotrader for this analysis.)

Golf R 3&5 DR Audi S1 3 &5 DR.

@Dealers 15 @ Dealers 55

Lowest asking price £27000 - £23400 Difference £3600

Highest asking price £35990 - £31990 " £4000

Manual 10 - Manual all

DSG 5 - No Option

Average asking price £31200 Average asking price £26800 Difference £4400.

Note! Golf Stock is moving but Audi stock is very static.

Apology for the quality of tabulation.

Note! No reference made for discounters New Prices - we all know that the distortion exists.

PS. Might look at extending to S3 later.

S3 Dealer stock Sept 2013 to date.

7 National Audi Stock 3D 6 MANUAL & 1DSG.

lowest PRICE £26995 > Highest £33290 Average Selling Price £30250

PS. stever750 - no I'm not doing Leon 280 stats, before you ask. You can do them if you like.

Note!! Just found an error in Audi S3 refined search, there are more cars to analyse. Sorry!!

Edited 10 January, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Corrected and amended stats for S3 but a partial analysis of the 111,one year old cars Jan 2014 - Jan 2015.

 

2 PAGES OF 6 = 40 /111. Audi Used website.

 

Average price of the 40 cars £31880.  approx. spec 30 DSG ,10 Manual . 18 3dr & 22 Sportback 5 dr.

 

Cheapest Price scanning all 111 was approx. £27500 . Most expensive approx. £38900. 

Edited 10 January, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Why would it be so different? It's basically the same car!

Btw there's nothing wrong with losing grip, power sliding and a that, but I prefer a progressive predictable response, not an uncontrollable bite you up the arse sort. If anything it means less idiots pirouetting I to the hedge, or worse into oncoming traffic.

Not sure how or why it would be different, maybe the suspension settings as I mentioned earlier. A lot of reviews are lukewarm about the S3 but rave about the Golf R, no? I think BossFox took both out too and found the Golf to be somehow more hardcore and exciting.

Agree I also wouldn't like a car that would spit you off the road with little or no warning or under minimal provocation. Luckily the M135i isn't that way inclined. Of course it will break traction at the back if you are brutal with the throttle on a wet road part-way round a corner but that's not what I would call 'unpredictable'. It's a very powerful RWD car so needs treating with a little respect but that's all part of the fun. Don't get me wrong I'm not some sort of mad powerrr-sliding hoonigan, far from it In fact. I just love the dynamic feel of a RWD car. :-)

Saw the Shark Golf R earlier, looked an absolute beauty in the darker Blue.

Saw the Shark Golf R earlier, looked an absolute beauty in the darker Blue.

Which means they've almost cracked it. Too late for me....

Golf R examples sold out 500, in the USA online within 12hours.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-detroit-motor-show/volkswagen-group-exceeds-10m-global-sales-first-time

Edited 12 January, 201511 yr by vrskeith

In the US are they actually sales to Private Individuals, and not a Block Sale / Order like might happen in the UK where a Finance / Lease 

company buys them, 

or as happens in the UK, they are First Registered by Dealerships or Motor Dealership Groups, and when they are actually sold to the Public they are used cars?

In the US are they actually sales to Private Individuals, and not a Block Sale / Order like might happen in the UK where a Finance / Lease 

company buys them, 

or as happens in the UK, they are First Registered by Dealerships or Motor Dealership Groups, and when they are actually sold to the Public they are used cars?

You might need to phone CE Martin Winterkorn. Feel sure he would like a chat with you George

He needs a chat with somebody it seems that are not just feeding him spin and statements,

maybe the Journalists or Editors that do not believe their spin like others do.

 

http://carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/How-to-fix-a-problem-like-VW-in-North-America-the-next-US-Passat

He needs a chat with somebody it seems that are not just feeding him spin and statements,

maybe the Journalists or Editors that do not believe their spin like others do.

 

http://carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/How-to-fix-a-problem-like-VW-in-North-America-the-next-US-Passat

Interesting detail George.

Why is there 43 pages on this?

Has bossfox bought one or something.......

Why is there 43 pages on this?

Has bossfox bought one or something.......

6 are full of crap of me and Oli going in to un related discussion which should be removed

The rest has been a discussion on colours, other cars that are possible purchases, equipment checks and general info of the new car industry. Oh and a lot of waffle as Toxic said.

Generally, a lot of its repeated crap IMO aha.

Just waffles on about the thing haha.

Why is there 43 pages on this?

Has bossfox bought one or something.......

:p

6 are full of crap of me and Oli going in to un related discussion which should be removed

Shame the crap was put on in the first place BY BOTH OF YOU AND OTHERS. Apology means FA!

If you don't like the thread, then ignore it and move on.

Edited 13 January, 201511 yr by vrskeith