Facelifted A45 as RS3 alternative?

Radman

Radman

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Hi all,

Please don't bite my head off here, but previously an RS3 was my number 1 choice regarding next car purchase. But with delayed release, ridiculous lead times and rumours abound about the facelift next year, my head has been turned a little.
Popped into local Merc dealer yesterday enquiring about facelift A45. Fully specced up comes in around 46-7K mark and he gave me a guaranteed Nov delivery if interested. A45 is a seriously nice looking bit of kit with performance and toys to match. with that in mind, has anybody else thought of this option.
Don't get me wrong, I love the RS3, sound and all but new A45 looks and goes like the business.

Cheers,

Con
 
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The 4 main differences are;

Merc interior is naff/cheap and has the bolt on iPad screen
Merc has a 4-pot, so doesn't sound as good
Merc looks more outlandish
Merc gearbox is very laggy compared to the S-Tronic of the RS3

Both good cars, just depends how much you value the 5-pot and if you want to be more in your face riding down the street really.
I don't think anyone would blame you for getting an A45 in Nov rather than an RS3 in May '16!
 
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josedebardi said:
The 4 main differences are;

Merc interior is naff/cheap and has the bolt on iPad screen
Merc has a 4-pot, so doesn't sound as good
Merc looks more outlandish
Merc gearbox is very laggy compared to the S-Tronic of the RS3

Both good cars, just depends how much you value the 5-pot and if you want to be more in your face riding down the street really.
I don't think anyone would blame you for getting an A45 in Nov rather than an RS3 in May '16!
Click to expand...
Cheers Jose,

My main issue is at the moment is that May seems quite conservative and the facelift rumour is a dark cloud looming over everyone who theoretically could pick up their RS3 a month or so before facelift implemented.
 
You only live once ;) place the order, wait patiently then enjoy the car! If you're constantly waiting for a new whatever to arrive you'll never order anything as we live in amongst a constant stream of new products.

TX.
 
Have you been for a test drive in the RS3? That may make your mind up for sure!
 
Dam right its an alternative. So much so that I cancelled my RS3 this morning and have negotiated a mega deal on an FL A45 with every option box ticked.
 
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Disco Dal said:
Dam right its an alternative. So much so that I cancelled my RS3 this morning and have negotiated a mega deal on an FL A45 with every option box ticked.
Click to expand...
Who with and where mate? I specced one with nearly everything ticked and looks a good buy. I actually believe mercedes may actually trump Audi this time. Audi have been too slow out of the blocks for me
 
Scotty2011 said:
Have you been for a test drive in the RS3? That may make your mind up for sure!
Click to expand...
i have Scooty. Car was nice and sounded good. Aesthetically though there is something missing on a 45K car. I appreciate the RS badge can make up for this but personally I don't think its enough. Im off for test drive in pre FL A45 tomorrow, if i like that Im sure Ill like the uprated FL one.
 
I also have taken both cars out and agree , both great cars that aren't worth the money they are asking for them
If I wasn't in a contract I couldn't get out of , I'd have probably ordered the new A45 for a quicker delivery , but I don't need it till April , so that wasn't a issue .
I didn't like the "stuck on" massive iPad like screen ( seems like a added on after thought ) and the lag from the transmission took some driving round , but with the upgrades that are coming in autumn , I think the new A45 will drag some customers away from audi .
 
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I'm very tempted to follow suit. We're Southend Audi with cancelling your order Disco Dal?
 
Steve57 said:
I'm very tempted to follow suit. We're Southend Audi with cancelling your order Disco Dal?
Click to expand...
Steve it seems to be more of a no brainer the more I think about it. New FL A45 sounds really good and the selling point of the RS3 5pot is wearing a bit thin now to be honest.
 
The facelift will be a whole different kettle of fish to the current model, updated gearbox ratios with upgraded software, a new locking front diff to stop understeer as apposed to the RS3 just using wider tyres, another 30bhp over the normal model, only downside is that it will have sound piped into the cabin
 
Scotty2011 said:
Have you been for a test drive in the RS3? That may make your mind up for sure!
Click to expand...

I did, I seriously considered changing my S3 for an RS3. Please don't shoot me but I felt that at high speeds the RS3 was even more dangerous than the S3. It's a great engine but the suspension doesn't do justice to the performance on less than flat roads. The RS3 just didn't seem that special for the amount of money when compared to an S3.
But that's just my humble opinion. I'd rather consider an S4 (if it wasn't so big)
 
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Whilst I like the look of the re-styled Merc .... I just could it get excited Bout it enough to take one for a test.

I Audi 5 pot engine IS a big thing for me and the Merc just doesn't do it for me.

Plus I am not sold on the Merc build quality or materials used.

The Audi feels premium to me whereas the Merc doesn't feel it warrants £40k.

I am it saying it's rubbish, far from it, it's just not for me.

Good luck to those jumping ship though and I hope it meets your expectations when you take ownership.
 
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apologies for numerous typo errors above - but can't see an "edit" tag ???
 
s3_trev said:
Yeah I got a sore head reading what you wrote lol, thought to myself he must have typed this on his phone or something lol.
Click to expand...


Apologies yes it was on my phone.
Damn iPhone spelling changes !
It even confused me when I re-read it lol :)
 
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It's just completely bonkers how Audi have approached this.
Let's go out and market this vehicle to the max.. Lets hype this vehicle so we generate lots of sales... And let's dig ourselves in a massive pit because we can't handle what's thrown at us with apparent mass amount of new sales.... PATHETIC.
Still here's me waiting 6/7months for mine!:whip:
 
mole-uk said:
The editing is in the "tools" box just bellow where you write your message
Click to expand...

Thanks but ... Just tried that on my iPhone and opening tools I just get a report option ?

No edit.

Or is the post too old to edit now.
 
I would maybe be in the same situation if my delivery time had been pushed back to next year but my car arrives quite soon, I guess I have been one of the lucky ones!
 
Not an A45 AMG, though the m235 clubsport might be a nice alternative, if BMW decide to sell it and it's priced competitively below the M2, pulls pin and launches ;)
 
Very unlikely that it will be released for normal road use, the gap between the m2 and m235 is tight as it is, this will make it even worse and will most likely cannibalise sales for the m2
 
I just feel that the rs3 is worth the wait and if you jump ship to another car you do risk the possibility of making a mistake and future regret could creep in.

I considered the a45 but didn't get as far as a test drive - the rs3 is everything I want and as we have mentioned several times, it's ace card is that wonderful 5 cylinder engine & exhaust note - the Merc does not come close in that department (for me).
 
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