Your S3 Purchase - Head or Heart purchase?

[Itguy]

Come on then?

Head or Heart purchase?

Head for me, it's actually quite a sensible choice as far as I'm concerned.

 

[paullowther]

Heart for me. Had it been head I'd have bought the 1.8TFSI not the S3!

 

[Dylock]

Heart, ever since the s3 came out originally I've said "I want one" now that dream has come true

 

[PilotAudi]

Both really . Head as our car needs have changed.. No longer need a big car for 300 mile a day motorway travel. S3 fits well with other. 2 cars.. Golf Diesel as family hack , can insure kids on it. Classic car in the garage so S3 is a balance between practicality and fun .. So yes head and heart !

 

[paullowther]

Surely an S3 is always a heart purchase, who really needs 300bhp in something so small?

 

[PilotAudi]

Surely an S3 is always a heart purchase, who really needs 300bhp in something so small?

Heart yes and head!!

Head = Cheap to run in relation to what I've been used to.
Low depreciation.
Cheap to insurer
Mrs will drive it ( back from pub ;-). )

Heart= goes like 5h17 ( those with PPs will understand poor spelling) off a shovel.
Handles pretty well and is fun.

 

[Daveotto]

Surely an S3 is always a heart purchase, who really needs 300bhp in something so small?

Agree, I want one but will never use it to its full potential except for occasional trips into Europe so would be total heart decsion

 

[Trickz]

Head purchase for me as I've chucked lots of money on my 10 month old focus st3 wagon only to find out it's now to powerful for fwd lol

 

[geefunk1978]

Bit of both I think:
Head: Practical, well built, class, comfort, not too expensive to run (fuel/insurance etc.), holds value well
Heart: Rapid, handles all year round no matter what the weather

I think the S3 is probably the perfect everyday car if you're not doing loads of miles. I'm a big fan of 'hot hatches' for that reason I'm on my 3rd S3 as they are as good as it gets (until the new RS3 comes out obviously!)

 

[CraigI]

Definitely head, this is the sensible option for me.
When my heart makes the decision it's more often than not to buy something with character, which I don't think the S3 has much in the way of.
It's a very capable, functional machine, and while I expect to enjoy owning it I fully expect that I won't love it, nor miss it when we part ways.

 

[Itguy]

Definitely head, this is the sensible option for me.
When my heart makes the decision it's more often than not to buy something with character, which I don't think the S3 has much in the way of.
It's a very capable, functional machine, and while I expect to enjoy owning it I fully expect that I won't love it, nor miss it when we part ways.

exactly. I expect I'll only really know how good my new s3 is when I don't have it any more.

I also expect that the m135i that I shunned to buy the s3 would have been the heart purchase for me. A car I'd love to hate, but probably miss when I didn't have it.

 

[Johnnyb]

Bit of both I think:
Head: Practical, well built, class, comfort, not too expensive to run (fuel/insurance etc.), holds value well
Heart: Rapid, handles all year round no matter what the weather

I think the S3 is probably the perfect everyday car if you're not doing loads of miles. I'm a big fan of 'hot hatches' for that reason I'm on my 3rd S3 as they are as good as it gets (until the new RS3 comes out obviously!)

Agreed!

This will be my third and last S3 and it's been a great love affair, but touch wood in 2 years i'd like to take the leap to an RS model, preferably an RS3 saloon would be awesome, that's if Audi pull their finger out and release it sooner than the last one!

Then again, who knows what will be available in 2 years time?

 

[lozzermo]

Head for me with a sprinkling of heart! Have a 2011 S4 and wanted something a little less expensive to run but similar in terms of performance and quality. I'm not into flash cars and the Audi S's fit the bill perfectly for me.

 

[NotquiteWelsh]

Head, the sensible choice; otherwise it was a Cayman or "F" Type.

 

[Zig81]

Head for me, we already have a A3 S-line TDI and we were looking to change the wife's car. A quick call to the dealer and a few nights deciding on the spec we ordered a S3 on Tuesday.

 

[geefunk1978]

Definitely head, this is the sensible option for me.
When my heart makes the decision it's more often than not to buy something with character, which I don't think the S3 has much in the way of.
It's a very capable, functional machine, and while I expect to enjoy owning it I fully expect that I won't love it, nor miss it when we part ways.

Of all the cars I've owned over the years and thought "that must be better than the last one" I changed my mind when I got to the S3. It is an amazing car and I stand by saying it's probably one of the best all round cars you could buy.

 

[Cumbrian_bob]

Head & Heart - Nice fast car with some luxury and toys, but still has some practicality so I can go shopping or camping in it.

But it is slightly more about the smiles per gallon than miles per gallon.

 

[ivicyrusivi]

Neither head nor heart.... Makes "him" happy

Jokes, bit of both tbh....
Head - adrenalin/happiness etc
Heart - I'll love her more that that other missus that lives with me

 

[pat15312]

Head - it's the fastest and most "premium" hatchback you can buy today. The only real direct competitor is the A45 but your talking at least £6,000 premium over an equivalent specc'ed S3 and an additional 85Kg in weight. Yeh it's got a bit more power "out of the box" but both cars will be capable of 400bhp within the next 18 months and that is enough for me! Also after experiencing several Mercs, the build quality and reliability of their cars compared to Audis is chalk and cheese, with the Merc being the cheese...

 

[steeve]

I cant ever believe that an S3 or RS3 or similar can ever be a choice of the head.
It's not economical, it will have relatively high depreciation, its expensive compared to other A3's.

It's got to be an almost 100% decision of the heart, comapring it as the 'sensible option' to other heart cars doesnt fool any one. The "oh I bought an S3 because it was the sensible choice between that and a GTR" just doesnt cut it I'm afraid. Otherwise you would have had a diesel or 1.4 or similar.

Come on guys stop trying to fool youreselves! Admit it to us we wont tell your wives, partners, girlfirends.

I've been there, done that, trying to pursuade 'er indoors that a 300bhp car is a necessity, it's difficult. But it's the drive and perfomance youre after, nothing to be embarrassed about!

 

[CraigI]

I cant ever believe that an S3 or RS3 or similar can ever be a choice of the head.
It's not economical, it will have relatively high depreciation, its expensive compared to other A3's.

It's got to be an almost 100% decision of the heart, comapring it as the 'sensible option' to other heart cars doesnt fool any one. The "oh I bought an S3 because it was the sensible choice between that and a GTR" just doesnt cut it I'm afraid. Otherwise you would have had a diesel or 1.4 or similar.

Come on guys stop trying to fool youreselves! Admit it to us we wont tell your wives, partners, girlfirends.

I've been there, done that, trying to pursuade 'er indoors that a 300bhp car is a necessity, it's difficult. But it's the drive and perfomance youre after, nothing to be embarrassed about!

Different things for different people. It's all relative to your circumstances and criteria.

Personally for me, the S3 is the sensible choice, and one that only used my head, here's why;

Safety stats, AWD, 5 door, reasonable size boot, economic (lower cost, fuel, tax, insurance, depreciation and servicing compared to previous cars), plus still has the minimum level of performance I wanted.

Nothing about my choice for the S3 was made by the heart - it was largely a functional decision so we could expand our family and have two cars that we can use as a family, instead of just one. Yes I wanted minimum levels of performance, but had my heart led my decision I would have ended up in something far less family friendly.

 

[Joetidman]

Head and heart. I was looking at an S5 sportback which would have been very little head by comparison. Coming from a 2.0tsi scirocco the S3 saloon I've just ordered is more economical, lower emissions and car tax, bigger boot, two extra doors and 4WD and yet has 100BHP more under the bonnet and I haven't stopped thinking about it in 4 months!

it says it all about this car, does pretty much everything, what a Q car!

 

[PilotAudi]

Head and heart. I was looking at an S5 sportback which would have been very little head by comparison. Coming from a 2.0tsi scirocco the S3 saloon I've just ordered is more economical, lower emissions and car tax, bigger boot, two extra doors and 4WD and yet has 100BHP under the bonnet and I haven't stopped thinking about it in 4 months!

it says it all about this car, does pretty much everything, what a Q car!

Think you mean 300bhp!!

Interesting.. views on the A5 range is variable. The 3 door Coupe is widely viewed as the one to have with the Sportback being less popular (rep mobile)and looking like a bit of an afterthought. I think the old 8p A3 looked better as a Sportback whereas both 3 and 5 door look great in the 8V new version. Just my opinion.. anyone else have a view?

 

[h5djr]

Think you mean 300bhp!!

Interesting.. views on the A5 range is variable. The 3 door Coupe is widely viewed as the one to have with the Sportback being less popular (rep mobile)and looking like a bit of an afterthought. I think the old 8p A3 looked better as a Sportback whereas both 3 and 5 door look great in the 8V new version. Just my opinion.. anyone else have a view?

I agree about the 8P A3. I always thought it looked better as a 5-door. Mine you I had the Sportback because I needed five doors. Getting my 95 year old mum into the back of a three door might be a problem. Getting her out would be even worse.

As far as head and heart decisions go, my head is telling me I should buy a 2.0TDI-150 5-door Golf VII DSG, but my heart is telling me to stick with the Audi A3. There are several things that I'm not keen on with the new A3 that are not a problem in the Golf. But the biggest problem with the Golf is it's not an Audi.

 

[Joetidman]

Think you mean 300bhp!!

Interesting.. views on the A5 range is variable. The 3 door Coupe is widely viewed as the one to have with the Sportback being less popular (rep mobile)and looking like a bit of an afterthought. I think the old 8p A3 looked better as a Sportback whereas both 3 and 5 door look great in the 8V new version. Just my opinion.. anyone else have a view?

Thanks, I missed the 'more' in the post, now edited. I know what you mean on the A5 but personally thought the S5 Sportback was gorgeous, and the Supercharged V6 even better but the fuel consumption is pretty bad and because if the weight, slower than the S3!

 

[PilotAudi]

Thanks, I missed the 'more' in the post, now edited. I know what you mean on the A5 but personally thought the S5 Sportback was gorgeous, and the Supercharged V6 even better but the fuel consumption is pretty bad and because if the weight, slower than the S3!

If you want an A 5 the best version has to be the 3.0Tdi quattro or V8 proper S or RS 5

 

[CraigI]

If you want an A 5 the best version has to be the 3.0Tdi quattro or V8 proper S or RS 5

Have you driven them? Interested to hear what you thought was better on the V8 rather than the Supercharged V6 (noise apart)?

For the original question, the S5 is better looking, better specced and more comfortable than an S3.
However it's dull as dishwater, far too heavy, with limited agility and no driving sensation.
If you want a motorway cruiser and want to be driven (if you get what I mean) then the S5 is a great choice.
So far the S3 is more agile (not as agile as a RS Megane though) although somewhat lacking in feedback when you get it going it holds well and will keep me more entertained than the S5 could.

 

[PilotAudi]

Have you driven them? Interested to hear what you thought was better on the V8 rather than the Supercharged V6 (noise apart)?

For the original question, the S5 is better looking, better specced and more comfortable than an S3.
However it's dull as dishwater, far too heavy, with limited agility and no driving sensation.
If you want a motorway cruiser and want to be driven (if you get what I mean) then the S5 is a great choice.
So far the S3 is more agile (not as agile as a RS Megane though) although somewhat lacking in feedback when you get it going it holds well and will keep me more entertained than the S5 could.

I have owned x2 A5 3.0Tdi quattros... cracking cars.. quiet economical and they do motor. Neighbour has had an S5 V8 for 5 years so I think I am well placed to comment on both. The S5 V6 is OK but a gas guzzler... The 3.0Tdi Quattro is almost as quick and has real world 35-40 mpg capability. The V8 earlier S5 is awesome... the noise and performance is superb.. but I had one for a weekend and got 14mpg!! Great fun but..

 

[CraigI]

I have owned x2 A5 3.0Tdi quattros... cracking cars.. quiet economical and they do motor. Neighbour has had an S5 V8 for 5 years so I think I am well placed to comment on both. The S5 V6 is OK but a gas guzzler... The 3.0Tdi Quattro is almost as quick and has real world 35-40 mpg capability. The V8 earlier S5 is awesome... the noise and performance is superb.. but I had one for a weekend and got 14mpg!! Great fun but..

And how did you find the 3.0 V6 supercharged?
There's no real life difference in performance and the V6 is much more economical and more tunable (if that's your thing).
I would advise if you want an S5 the V6 is the one to buy, but I'd never advise that anyone should buy either.

Anyway, back on topic, S3 better to drive than S5.

 

[PilotAudi]

Not that inspiring. Somewhat disappointing after the V8 and the 3.0Tdi Quattro but for different reasons.

 

[J6YAK]

Defo Heart for me,
Head would not have let me trade a 2013 TT TDI Quattro Amplified Black Edition after 7 mths.........ooops!!
That's what happens when you happen to fall into an S3 for a test drive one Sunday afternoon!!
Now the wait is killing me!!

 

[steeve]

Different things for different people. It's all relative to your circumstances and criteria.

Personally for me, the S3 is the sensible choice, and one that only used my head, here's why;

Safety stats, AWD, 5 door, reasonable size boot, economic (lower cost, fuel, tax, insurance, depreciation and servicing compared to previous cars), plus still has the minimum level of performance I wanted.

Nothing about my choice for the S3 was made by the heart - it was largely a functional decision so we could expand our family and have two cars that we can use as a family, instead of just one. Yes I wanted minimum levels of performance, but had my heart led my decision I would have ended up in something far less family friendly.

No if you had used your head you would have got everything you wanted from a 1.4. The performance is a desire not a need so it was a decision of the heart. Dont fool yourself.

 

[h5djr]

Personally I cannot see how anyone living in the UK can really justify an S3 on Head reasons. Heart yes I can understand someone wanting to drive around in the 'best and most expensive' A3 available but trying to justify it as a Head purchase....

If you lived in Germany where you can use it's performance to the full on de-restricted sections of the autobahn then OK but not with our silly 70 mph speed limit especially as you cannot add a speed camera database to look out for our 13,006 cameras. In germany there are just 416 and nearly all of those are in cities. There is nothing that the S3 can do that say a 184hp A3 cannot do, unless you really 'need' quattro and manual. An S-Line 184hp A3 would cost between £4800 and £6200 less, would be cheaper to insure, use less fuel and get you there just as quick.

I'm not having a go a people who buy an S3 but surely it must be a purchase based on the Heart and not the Head. If you have the money available and want one then so be it, but trying to say it is a Head decision is, in my opinion, silly.

 

[cemerson]

Yep, I don't believe a single person who claims it was all a head purchase - it just isn't. A 100% head purchase probably wouldn't even be any A3, or any Audi full stop...

 

[kenny_boon]

And how did you find the 3.0 V6 supercharged?
There's no real life difference in performance and the V6 is much more economical and more tunable (if that's your thing).
I would advise if you want an S5 the V6 is the one to buy, but I'd never advise that anyone should buy either.

Anyway, back on topic, S3 better to drive than S5.

I need to admit not many will agree the S5 V6 is much more economical than the V8. on paper yes but in reality there are many that are getting the same mpg V6 vs V8

 

[PilotAudi]

There is nothing that the S3 can do that say a 184hp A3 cannot do, unless you really 'need' quattro and manual. An S-Line 184hp A3 would cost between £4800 and £6200 less, would be cheaper to insure, use less fuel and get you there just as quick.

More smiles with an s3.. I find FWD Audis generally do not handle that well and if comparing an A3 184 Tdi Quattro with an S3 Quattro there is only £2700 in it (or £1200 if you have a manual S3) The S3 is also better equipped as standard. Heated leather sets for starters are £1055 extra on the A3 Diesel. Ignoring discounts my manual S3 is only £145 more than a Diesel Quattro s tronic.. BARGAIN!!

The S3 is more fun.. will drink more fuel and will get you there quicker. That's why I said it's Head and Heart!! ( we also have a Diesel!!)

 

[CraigI]

No if you had used your head you would have got everything you wanted from a 1.4. The performance is a desire not a need so it was a decision of the heart. Dont fool yourself.

I can't disagree more, no fooling anyone, totally a head led decision.
Whether you believe it or not I don't really care, nor do I understand why you care.
Without knowing me, my circumstances (financial/family) and my criteria (budget/economy/performance) there is nothing you can add other than conjecture.
This is a 2.0 5 door hatchback we are talking about - a normal day to day car, not anything special.

 

[cemerson]

What are your performance criteria based on? Heart...

 

[CraigI]

What are your performance criteria based on? Heart...

A realistic requirement for a certain spec of car with a certain amount of capability so that I don't get bored of it quickly and then end up changing it early for something that keeps my interest longer and thus costing me more money to change. Done that far too many times over the years.
Yes I desire a certain level of performance, but for me that's a very sensible criteria, otherwise it'll cost me dearly.
Hopefully the S3 doesn't let me down, planning on keeping this car for 4 years.

So in short, performance might be an added bonus, nice to have, heartfelt decision for some, but for me it's a minimum prerequisite for this particular purchase and is most definitely the sensible choice.

 

[cemerson]

'Getting bored' of it would be a heart decision as well. I don't buy performance is a pre-requisite, not by a long shot!