S3 in this weeks Auto Express
- Thread starter Wai-Fan
- Start date
deano670
Too Much Hype
PH1L
Gievf Buckets
evapor8
Registered User
That Megane's a good looking car, but Renault interior's are pretty crappy (with the exception of the beautiful buckets!)
Chris
Chris
beanoir
Large Member
I'm proud enough to say I have never owned a French car. I even made my missus sell hers and buy something non-French before i'd let her move in with me, she thought I was mad but I stuck to my guns! hehe
beanoir
Large Member
Its funny really, even though the Focus RS comes last in the test, I see far more of them on the road than all of the other 3 put together!...not that i'm saying I think it's better, but the public opinion seems to.
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
So, the Reno looks well, drives well, and is good VFM.
Hands up who wants one
Will be a cracking used bargain I bet.
Soooo wish VW had given the Rocco 4wd.
Paul
Hands up who wants one
Will be a cracking used bargain I bet.
Soooo wish VW had given the Rocco 4wd.
Paul
beanoir
Large Member
I think she did rather well going from a Citroen AX to a Golf GTI!
Putting up with me on the other hand clearly proved too much of a challenge, many a women has failed there!
I think she did rather well going from a Citroen AX to a Golf GTI!
Putting up with me on the other hand clearly proved too much of a challenge, many a women has failed there!
Wow much much better car, hate Citroens i'm afraid.
Aw! you all hard work or are women too complicated and hard to please lol
beanoir
Large Member
akash_sky1
Registered User
that was an exceptionally weak 0-60 they managed in the S3! Especially considering it was wet, EVO have timed one at 5.6 -60mph and 13.6 to 100.
Must have been a rubbish tester or a tight test car needing run in.
That review was pretty lame as well just reminds me why I never bother reading that shyt mag, they couldn;t be more vague in their comparisons if they tried. But they excel at photoshopping 'new car scoops' !
Must have been a rubbish tester or a tight test car needing run in.
That review was pretty lame as well just reminds me why I never bother reading that shyt mag, they couldn;t be more vague in their comparisons if they tried. But they excel at photoshopping 'new car scoops' !
beanoir
Large Member
So, the Reno looks well, drives well, and is good VFM.
Hands up who wants one
Will be a cracking used bargain I bet.
Soooo wish VW had given the Rocco 4wd.
Paul
Lucky they didnt do a "value for money " section eh Paul
is that because none of the other cars in the test actually existed 3 years ago!
Yup.. that's just what i am saying. the poor old a3 platform is nearly 7 years old now so its a little unfair rolling it out against the latest kit. Odd that they dont do a price section if your going to compare cars in a test like that.
But as has been pointed out before, the A3 platform is very similar to that of the Scirocco. The Mk6 Golf platform was actually designed to be cheaper than the Mk5, rather than just improve handling and ride.
The Scirocco is a very very good car, and it doesn't surprise me that it beat the S3. I think it's a shame that it's not 4WD, but on relatively dry roads, I'm not sure you'd miss it as much as you think. The only time I've been really pleased to own a Quattro was when it was snowing this winter... other than that, I could take it or leave it.
akash_sky1
Registered User
hmm even in the dry when exiting corners and from a standstill the Haldex makes a huge difference! don't know how you can say that.
Anyone else think the shape of the Megane looks like an Astra sports hatch/VXR? The final verdict didn't really surprise me apart from I didn't expect the Focus RS to be last. I would still go for the S3 though!
I did a 1000 mile round trip in a Scirocco one weekend and didn't once miss the Quattro. That's how I can say that!
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Lucky they didnt do a "value for money " section eh Paul
Indeed mate, those S3s are ****** expensive.......
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Ive owned a 250bhp MK5 Golf and the Rocco would have to be a massive step forward from the Golf in terms of grip, for me to want to go back to a FWD hatch with 250+bhp.
Being able to open the taps with 300bhp in all weathers is some thing I take for granted nowadays.
Not that the Golf was un useable or not enjoyable, but you simply didnt get the same sensation when putting the power down from lower speeds and/or with lock on, like you do with 4wd.
Its what pushes my buttons these days anyway.
Cheers
Paul
Being able to open the taps with 300bhp in all weathers is some thing I take for granted nowadays.
Not that the Golf was un useable or not enjoyable, but you simply didnt get the same sensation when putting the power down from lower speeds and/or with lock on, like you do with 4wd.
Its what pushes my buttons these days anyway.
Cheers
Paul
You know, its not all about the best and the quickest. sometimes a car thats on the ragged edge at 80mph is a lot more fun than my A3 at 140mph...
My old tuned up MGB was just brilliant fun !! you could drift that on the bend down my local bypass at 80mph !! My R1 Yam was fun at 100mph !! but not nearly as much fun as my ducati at 70mph on the same road ..
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Wouldnt disagree Paddy, but ones idea of `fun` is subjective and down to the individuals tastes.
How `capable` a car is, is some thing different. More fact based.
However some see `capable` as boring, maybe, but capable none the less.
beanoir
Large Member
I actually decided to buy the S3 because it was 4WD, that for me puts all of those aforementioned cars out of the question, I also think the Scirocco looks a bit naf (just my opinion of course).
However I do agree, the S3 is not particularly fun, but then thats what the second (or in my case third) car is for, and I haven't decided yet if it's going to be a 1967 Mustang fastback or a Caterham R500, both fun cars but in totally different ways, and a world apart form the euro boxes in that test.
However I do agree, the S3 is not particularly fun, but then thats what the second (or in my case third) car is for, and I haven't decided yet if it's going to be a 1967 Mustang fastback or a Caterham R500, both fun cars but in totally different ways, and a world apart form the euro boxes in that test.
akash_sky1
Registered User
that is true also, i'm all for purer sports cars about feel and control than outright power. for example I'd take a 911GT3RS over a turbo or GTR anyday.
But as good as the new 'rocco R its still close to the limit in terms of what a FWD car can handle without mad ie fun killing understeer and torque steer. Granted its steering and poise is probably much better then the S3s though. This owes mainly to the vastly different suspension set up of of the car, which is also aimed at a slightly different market, also it has a hugely wider track and lower centre of gravity.
Those figures for the S3 they achieved are pretty lame tho.
I suppose what i am saying is that if 4WD is a must then "akash_sky"1 is shutting a lot of doors. fun can be super capable, a car that can be put on the apex to the inch every time. but then as Bean says...A R500 has non of the refinements but its probably more fun than most cars and in this case fun is that smile that you just cant hold back
Please get the Mustang. It's a thing of beauty. My third car will be a Mustang convertible in baby blue.
akash_sky1
Registered User
I suppose what i am saying is that if 4WD is a must then "akash_sky"1 is shutting a lot of doors. fun can be super capable, a car that can be put on the apex to the inch every time. but then as Bean says...A R500 has non of the refinements but its probably more fun than most cars and in this case fun is that smile that you just cant hold back
definately not a must, but hell yes over a FWD ANY DAY! RWD is usually the most fun and my favourite, I just have a dislike for FWD, there's not a situation where it has any advantages performancewise.
I used to do drifts in my dads W126 420 SE ( 80s S class, &yes im not kidding), when tc was only an option, than was probably the most fun i've had on the road in any car. Lovely V8 sound, RWD and plenty out tail out action, and despite steering that would take all week to wind on full lock.
Re the road test, although the Renault is probably about as well made as a Mattel toy, Renaultsport do know how to make a fine handling car, and it probably deserves to win that test, esp when you take into account the price.
beanoir
Large Member
My dad's mate had exactly that! well it was metallic light blue with a white convertible roof, very good looking. The only problem with the Mustang, is I just know I will still yearn for something that I can really throw about and take on track days, but then with the Caterham the down side is that unless it's an absolutely dry day i'll never use it, and they look rubbish with the weather gear on....and I can't rent yet another garage!!!
beanoir
Large Member
I'm a bit surprised that the 'rocco only has a c.40kg weight advantage over the S3, I would have expected it to be more given it's not dragging the 4WD around. Maybe its the fate of all modern cars that seem to get heavier and heavier as time goes on, I mean just look at the Focus RS, thats a real bloater!
beanoir
Large Member
Sounds like you need 4 cars
Most sensible people would get rid of the XR2, but I can't bear to part with her!
