Buying new car, Info wanted

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Bankzi

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Looking to buy a new car this year (hopefully soon) have a shortlist but am unsure on what to go for so please experiences and useful info needed to help me decide.

Leon cupra r 225
Golf mk5 gti
Audi s3 8L of course

Had others in mind lyk fiesta st and civic type r and ek9 but they seem inferior now that i look at what i can get for the approx same price.

Im gathering the leon and s3 will be similar, would like and s3 just wanted to know more about them.
Running costs/repairs
MPG
Things to go wrong
Peoples experiences and opinions

thanks
 
IMO The S3 is the best all rounder.
The Seat comes with the best out of the box setup with better brakes and no heavy quattro system.
Golf Gti mk5 are more recent - i believe the seat and the S3 are based on the MK4 golf.

As stated S3 is the one to go for IMO.
It comes with the best build quality, great looks, all weather performance and no chavvy associations!
Tuning is very much the same, as are repairs and maintenance (s3 and leon).
You can pick up a bargain too as S3 prices have fallen in the last couple of years as they are getting on!

S3 mpg on the motorway is between 30 - 35
Around town though i currently get 24 mpg which is crap!
Common issues/ things to check - Rust/bubbling on the roof rails and bottom of the doors, Cambelts not changed (should be every 60k/5years)

Hope that helps a little bit :)
 
cheers mate,

Im guessing the leon has the same engine in? so mpg and running costs will be the same, i do 250mile a week just travelling to work so mpg is an issue but if everything else is in favour i can work round that lol. Is there much to go wrong with the quattro system, is it reliable?
 
both cars are nice mate.
But the s3 is a nicer place to be imo.
Keep of the loud pedal and mpg aint that bad.
Winter is here ish, so the quattro system is gonna help.
If you can try and get the cars hooked up to a vag com and look up any codes that appear.
theres plenty of info here about cost on any codes that appear.
good luck
 
All nice cars, especially over a Fiesta.

As said, I'd get out there and test them all, then choose the best car your budget will get you.

This might not go down too well here but I'd actually prefer a nice well spec'd mk5 GTI over an S3.

The Type R is a good option too, and is ALOT of fun, but can get tiring and the paint will break your heart.
 
Bankzi said:
Leon cupra r 225
Golf mk5 gti
Audi s3 8L of course
Click to expand...


All great cars,

I think LCR is a great car is you get a well spec'd one. The S3 is a bit different, bit fatter because of the quattro. When i was buying the LCR was my other choice, I wishing Id considered it a bit more, as I think I would of been happier with one. The s3 drive very much like a fwd car, just without the wheel spin when trying to get out on roundabouts in a hurry. S3 is a little bit more exclusive, but they are become more common in my area.

Take all 3 for a drive and go though everything. I dont think you will choose the mk5 tbh
 
leon or s3 it is then, back to reliability then, are they both similar apart from the quattro and is it reliable?
 
reliable? given the age of s3's and some leons, debateable.

just being honest.

no performance car/hatch is THAT reliable.

less to go wrong with the leon i suppose, haldex isnt the best system inthe world when it does play up. but when it works, my god its good.

how much would you value 4wd? understated looks and image of the s3?

im tempted to say the leon is a better choice for so many reasons (sorry guys) but, i wouldnt have one over an S3 ever i dont think.

i love my s3. 4wd, looks, class, reputation, build. its great.

leon, prob more outrageous to drive, better brakes, lighter, less potential probs (haldex)


its a tough one to be honest.

drive and view lots of both.

YOU decide lol
 
One thing I learnt (was gonna get a lcr before the s3) is that the seat build quality is no where near Audi tbh. Heard about peeling paint and leaking door seals so stayed away. 5 door and big boot is a bonus, as well as brembos and 18" alloys as standered is a bonus mind :D
 
I have driven and spent some time in all 3. To be brutally honest the mkv fit is leaps and bounds a more modern car with a peach of an engine rather than the old BAM units.

Whilst I don't think the build quality of the mkv golf interior is as good as the old shaped Audi or even mk4 golfs, it is certainly better than then LCR. I would also go as far to say that the handling n the golf is more compliant and less harsh whilst still being on a par with the older cars. The also don't have the dreaded rear beam suspension and will not necessarily need updated bushes upfront due to old ones perishing

Just my opinion, but whatever you choose, they are all great cars in their own right
 
the golf is more expensive it seems for a decent low mileage one compared to the s3, although you can get a newer low mileage lcr for the same if not less money. I would like to think that i would have the s3 and it will be awesome but fear a fault in say quattro system and be left with a hefty bill, as paying for the car i will be taking a loan anyway. Surely the engine and drivetrain of the audi will be hefty and pretty reliable then again down to the owner.
 
Its all down to care by the owner when it comes down to cars like these.
As much history as possible. Even if limited history, proof things have been done by the owner. Receipts receipts receipts!

If I were buying again I'd without a doubt by a car off an owner known to a forum, be it here or other audi forums. People on forum really do care about and for their cars.

Look at lots of examples, drive as many as possible so you learn what a good and bad one is like.
 
35-40mpg possible with this car? I heard off a mate that when he had his mapped it was averaging 40mpg?
 
Fuel consumption is subjective at best... yes you may be able to get up to 40mpg but it will really be dependant on how you drive, the sort of journey you are on etc....

<tuffty/>
 
i've managed 520 miles out of a tank, car took 60 litres to fill back up, so

520 / (60 / 4.54) = 39.34mpg

however, you will only ever see this figure if you stick to 60mph for your whole journey, whack up to 70 and it'll drop to around 37mpg

my dis on my old s3 had an average mpg of 26, so this is the figure you should realistically look at, i believe 26mpg works out to around 360 miles per tank, which will cost around £76 to fill up, this contains a bit of everything, motorway, town, quick driving etc
 
Sounds ok tbh, drive sensibly then and your looking at 35ish? I just travel on B roads to get to work (50mile per day) so hope it doesnt guzzle too much lol. Think im set on an s3 now just need to get the money and find one!
 
audi upgrades
Bankzi said:
Sounds ok tbh, drive sensibly then and your looking at 35ish? I just travel on B roads to get to work (50mile per day) so hope it doesnt guzzle too much lol. Think im set on an s3 now just need to get the money and find one!
Click to expand...

sorry, you wont get 35mpg on 50 miles of b roads, the s3 drinks petrol if you are braking and accelerating all the time, remember it's a fairly heavy car, don't buy it based on it giving you 35mpg, it wont give you that, buy it based on it giving you 26mpg instead...
 
colicabcadam said:
sorry, you wont get 35mpg on 50 miles of b roads, the s3 drinks petrol if you are braking and accelerating all the time, remember it's a fairly heavy car, don't buy it based on it giving you 35mpg, it wont give you that, buy it based on it giving you 26mpg instead...
Click to expand...

I'd say 26 is close on b roads... I get about 31mpg on a roads and motorways. Absolutely guzzles fuel when cold so not great for short journeys which brings the average down a fair bit on 10-15 mile journeys, as it takes 5 miles to gentle warm the engine
 
cheers lads, might cost me abit in fuel then, work car could be an option and use s3 on wkends lol
 
Bankzi said:
cheers lads, might cost me abit in fuel then, work car could be an option and use s3 on wkends lol
Click to expand...

Trying to be unbiased but can't help it S3 owner here. Best all rounder in all conditions with market leading residuals.

Never had a significant problem in 3 years...and it's ten years old.

All 3 are good choices and worst case is that you get a great car anyway but, personally and through experience of all...it's the S3 you will regret the least.
 
edition 30 mk5 will get you 330bhp on the standard turbo its a de-tuned 8P S3 engine however it is only front wheel drive. The Leon will be quicker in a straight line with or without a remap.
 
mattyboy199 said:
edition 30 mk5 will get you 330bhp on the standard turbo its a de-tuned 8P S3 engine however it is only front wheel drive. The Leon will be quicker in a straight line with or without a remap.
Click to expand...

I have to say the edition 30 mark 5 is pretty tasty. It Comes with dsg too as standard and It's subtly impressive. But come on...a golf/Leon over an s3?
 
what sorta money are the mk5 editon 30? The only gripe i have over buying an s3 is the fuel, also car is a car and it will break down but hopefully an s3 wont as often or a serious as others lol
 
S3 - Professional standard

Leon - To bulky - and just generally dont like them

Golf - Boy Racer
 
Bankzi said:
what sorta money are the mk5 editon 30? The only gripe i have over buying an s3 is the fuel
Click to expand...
An ed30 is a lot more than an 8L S3 some are 15k
If your worried about fuel consumption get an 1 litre fiesta
 
lets be honest, u come to a s3 section of an audi forum and ask opinions, what response did u think u was gonna get?

but honestly, s3 is genuinely better.
 
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