Back in a S3.........

CraigI · Aug 16, 2015

Ive decided my money is better spent on the family and in our house, so the RS5 is going and I'm going to find myself in a S3 again. As great as the RS5 is, I'm not using anywhere near to its capability, it's not particularly practical and I'm at the stage where I'd rather be spending my money elsewhere. It is an expensive car for commuting in when you have a mortgage to pay off.

Now, my thoughts on the S3 are well known, but this decision was largely down to a brilliant deal being offered on a stock manual S3 Saloon in Sepang. It has no options.
VW couldn't get anywhere near it on a Golf R.

I could have gone for something of a lesser nature than another S3, but love the look of the saloon (after initially being uncertain), enjoyed the straight line speed of my previous S3, so thought why not.
Perhaps first time round I was harsh (although I'm never going to "like" the way Haldex goes about its business), and maybe being back to basics with manual car, no options and magnetic drive might make all the difference.........
Reduced expectations might also be a good thing, it's a day to day family car for commuting now, excitement not required!

One of the first times my head has ruled my heart when it comes to cars. I'd rather have the compromise and the cash in the bank.
One thing is for sure, I'll be keeping it for a lengthy period whilst I bank these savings, so will share my thoughts with honesty..........

jaypers777 · Aug 16, 2015

I like your rationale....a lot. There is a lot of different criteria to consider when buying/owning a car. For me, the S3 is perfect. I see a lot of criticism against the model on this forum. Every car has its faults but it is all relative. I could afford an RS3, but justifying the cost would be difficult with other priorities to consider. For the money, I can't think of anything else I would want to own. Congratulations on your purchase. Look forward to seeing a photo or 2.

veeeight · Aug 16, 2015

Welcome back !

Hope you can live with the foibles, and drive around the limitations!

4K · Aug 16, 2015

RS5 is mostly pointless for the UK mate as the roads are too slow, too poorly maintained and with such trash drivers. You've made a wise choice, I'm in a similar boat and made similar decision.

Daveotto · Aug 16, 2015

Welcome back, the S3 does attract huge amount of debate/criticism on here but your rationale maybe puts it all into perspective.

The S3 sits at the point of bottom of high performance spec or top end of every day car specification? So depending on your view it's either great or not quiet worthy of an S badge

@craigl I am with you - was a bit concerned about going manual but after first 2000 miles have no regrets. I love the straight line speed and acceleration and can be fun on country roads without taking it to the edge and its practicality for everyday family, social and business can't be beaten

ENJOY!

Pulp84 · Aug 16, 2015

That's a surprise but very pleased to see you back in the S3 club @CraigI

Not an easy decision but fair play when it comes down to kids and £££.

Everytime I see a saloon I wish I had gone for that bodystyle

Martinbanshee · Aug 16, 2015

I partially understand, family comes first and the S3 Saloon is a nice family car that's also a bit fun when you want it, will hold its value too, but.........
Got to ask though, for someone that hated the S3 handling so much why not a Focus ST or Leon? Allegedly they're better on the road but are also cheap buy.
It's alright I know the answer.

Jassyo06 · Aug 16, 2015

Er...a Daytona RS5 passed me by as l crossed the road to the site l am working on at Glasgow Airport,this road is just along side the runway its a national speed limit road.....what a sound this car made in full flight...sounded like a muted Gatlin Gun gur,gur,gur...lol...........the thing just evaporated into the horizon, immense road presence this car has,think you will be sorry to let it go, but the S3 saloon with a manual gearbox Magride sounds a worthy replacement given your new mind set.

CraigI · Aug 16, 2015

Martinbanshee said:
I partially understand, family comes first and the S3 Saloon is a nice family car that's also a bit fun when you want it, will hold its value too, but.........
Got to ask though, for someone that hated the S3 handling so much why not a Focus ST or Leon? Allegedly they're better on the road but are also cheap buy.
It's alright I know the answer.

The Focus RS might be worthy of investigation once it's been out for a while. I don't think the ST drives that well.
I did look into the Leon, sounds like a great package on paper and likely a better drive, but, seeing the 5 door in the flesh, don't like the way it looks I'm afraid.
Had Renaultsport had a 5 door Megane, then that's where I might have ended if their valuation of the RS5 was suitable.
That's the problem with changing marque, sure it might be a cheaper buy, but they will offer less for a trade in, so it levels out.

This was about a good deal. Had I not got where I needed to I'd have moved on from Audi, or kept the 5. I got the deal I needed.

Martinbanshee · Aug 16, 2015

Well, fair play, I think you've made a good choice, Audi is a nice safe option and sometimes we need to be sensible. The S3 doesn't always tick everyone's boxes but it's a great all rounder.

RichardT · Aug 16, 2015

CraigI said:
Reduced expectations might also be a good thing, it's a day to day family car for commuting now, excitement not required!

Sounds like you are being very sensible. But not sure you aren't after some excitement, or you would have chosen a nice Sport or S-Line saloon with the 1.4COD. Then you would have saved even more money and still had a pokey little car to commute in.... :yum:

steeve · Aug 17, 2015

Welcome back, when do you pick up the S3?

Bristle Hound · Aug 17, 2015

Nice one @CraigI :thumbs up:

At least its the 'right' colour

Looking foreword to the pics

Still do like the S3 saloon TBH. May be next time for me ...

pat15312 · Aug 17, 2015

CraigI said:
Had Renaultsport had a 5 door Megane, then that's where I might have ended if their valuation of the RS5 was suitable.

If you'd have gone from an RS5 to a Renaultsport Megane, I think most people would have assumed you'd lost your job and were in total denial about it.

Pulp84 · Aug 17, 2015

Fair play @Craigl for going to look at the Megane.

When I took Mrs Pulps ZOE to Renault Bath for an update last week I looked at the finance offers.

From memory the Megane RS Trophy (which has a good spec actually) came in at £29k with a few nice options. With a £2k deposit from customer and £4k dealer contribution it was £369 a month on 4 year PCP with servicing. Not bad I thought.

CraigI · Aug 17, 2015

Picking it up on 2nd September.

CraigI · Aug 17, 2015

Pulp84 said:
Fair play @Craigl for going to look at the Megane.

When I took Mrs Pulps ZOE to Renault Bath for an update last week I looked at the finance offers.

From memory the Megane RS Trophy (which has a good spec actually) came in at £29k with a few nice options. With a £2k deposit from customer and £4k dealer contribution it was £369 a month on 4 year PCP with servicing. Not bad I thought.

Brilliant cars. Had a 250 previously and it drove better than any other car I've had.
So very well engineered.
I assume the latest version is even better than it was.

Snake Pliskin · Aug 18, 2015

Firstly .... Wtf !

Secondly .... Lol !

Thirdly .... Another wtf

Well I would have never thought I'd see this day after all the slating you gave the S3 previously ha ha.

Also amazed you got a good deal on part exing RS5 so early - usually that = mega loss as Dealers aren't usually so accommodating.

That said, if you have got the figures to stack up and feel you can live with the S3 for a 'long time' then good on you if you can manage it. Just hope the things that put you off first time don't reer their head again and regret creeps in, but sounds like you have thought it through.

For what it's worth, I drove an S3 manual recently and thought it was great car. We were looking at it for the misses but she opted for a TT in the end but we both thought the S3 was a good all round package. The manual was enjoyable to drive too.

The saloon is a nice looking car.

Good luck and enjoy the last days of your amazing Suzuka RS5 ... it's a stunning car.

TheFiftheElement · Aug 18, 2015

I'm sure you have thought it through, with a sensible head on and the S3 ticks a lot of boxes on paper as an all round compromise car.

However I sincerely hope you do better than me when it comes to keeping hold of a car you've bought with your head. Some of my 'head' cars have lasted a few months, the worst one 3 weeks (BMW X5 3.0SD). It's an expensive mistake.

We had a VW Tiguan R-line 2.0 TDi manual a few months back as a hire car, as the wife's Q5 was in getting the turbo replaced :blink:

.. did Aberdeen - Arbroath - Edinburgh - Motherwell - Arbroath - Aberdeen in 2 days. Apart from the wife complaining of a sore back with little support in the front seat, it was quite an enjoyable drive :yes:

It was actually less frustrating than the S3, as it's not meant to be quick or handle like a sports car, so my expectations were low.

Hopefully you prefer the interaction of the manual gearbox, and the mag ride helps with the ride/handling issues.

Good luck!

Bristle Hound · Aug 18, 2015

The S3 saloon part 1 that got away from me

Blackwhite · Aug 18, 2015

Bristle Hound said:
The S3 saloon part 1 that got away from me

Stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3.

Bristle Hound · Aug 18, 2015

Blackwhite said:
Stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3.

Had part deux & part tres is some way off BW

Leegaryhall · Aug 18, 2015

Doesn't really look any different to your S4? Lol
If they had the same wheels I'd be hard pushed to separate from those photos

Jassyo06 · Aug 18, 2015

Bristle Hound said:
The S3 saloon part 1 that got away from me

lol Loser..............lol

Bristle Hound · Aug 18, 2015

Leegaryhall said:
Doesn't really look any different to your S4? Lol
If they had the same wheels I'd be hard pushed to separate from those photos

I thought that too lol
BUT the 3.0 litre V6 supercharged engine does make a difference ...

I even had to go for the S3 front look on my S4 as I like 'that' look so much too

jassyo06 said:
lol Loser..............lol

Easy ...

Blackwhite · Aug 18, 2015

Bristle Hound said:
Had part deux & part tres is some way off BW

That's O.K. It's like a good television series. You never want it to end.

Jassyo06 · Aug 18, 2015

Blackwhite said:
That's O.K. It's like a good television series. You never want it to end.

Aye reminds me of the TV series "Lost" lol

Nick- · Aug 18, 2015

Snake Pliskin said:
Firstly .... Wtf !
Also amazed you got a good deal on part exing RS5 so early - usually that = mega loss as Dealers aren't usually so accommodating..

I've often wondered that, you see quite often on here people getting rid of cars regularly and soon after buying.

Doesn't that cost a ton of money?

I might be changing job for one with a much longer commute and was considering chopping in the S3 (Feb 2015) for a diesel A3, but wouldn't I be massively out of pocket if I did that?

froggy · Aug 18, 2015

Yes..........and bored!

ACWKGYTO · Aug 18, 2015

Manual box way to go...I'm enjoying mine in the SB form, especially now ive got PS3's all round.

Snake Pliskin · Aug 28, 2015

You getting excited now then Craig ?

Pick up of your 2nd S3 next week .... getting close !

Hope you don't miss the RS too much and the S3 saloon works out for you this time.

Look forward to hearing how you get on and of course we need pics

CraigI · Aug 28, 2015

I am actually, in a strange kind of way.
May not make much sense to some, but I'm looking forward to not expecting much from it, and it having no frills.
I think we'll get on fine this time round.

I am going to miss the RS, but it's just not the right thing for me to be ploughing my cash into at the moment.
Got a full tank of fuel to get through this weekend and the weather looks good, so will do that with pleasure, then clean it Sunday and collect the S3 Wednesday.

Simon L · Aug 28, 2015

CraigI said:
I am actually, in a strange kind of way.
May not make much sense to some, but I'm looking forward to not expecting much from it, and it having no frills.
I think we'll get on fine this time round.

I am going to miss the RS, but it's just not the right thing for me to be ploughing my cash into at the moment.
Got a full tank of fuel to get through this weekend and the weather looks good, so will do that with pleasure, then clean it Sunday and collect the S3 Wednesday.

I totally get what your saying and found your OP really enlightening.

I was very much into the idea of dipping my toes into Audi with an S3 and possibly moving up to an S5 or RS5 next time round but to be perfectly honest after 6 wks with the S3 I really don't think I want any more power!!

Don't get me wrong though the S/RS5 are phenomenally good looking cars

mfl · Aug 28, 2015

welcome back Simon L, ... beginning to feel like the movie Ground Hog day around here...

Simon L · Aug 28, 2015

mfl said:
welcome back Simon L, ... beginning to feel like the movie Ground Hog day around here...

It's always groundhog day here!! lol

Snake Pliskin · Aug 29, 2015

I had a test drive in a S3 manual recently and liked it a lot - as good as autos are its nice to drive a manual.

The only slight concern you may have is the seats as you mentioned you didn't like the seating position / height previously. Is the saloon the same ? And you got standard or super sports seats.

Great looking car though and not long till pick up next week.

CraigI · Aug 29, 2015

Seating position will be woefully inadequate (IMO only), that goes without saying.
It's a totally standard car (although they are adding parking sensors as part of the deal), although I wouldn't have specced the Supersports regardless, had them before and the standard seats are just as good (bad).
If it's not a bucket it's not worth the 'upgrade'.

I'll live with it though - eyes wide open this time, compromises to be made and happy to make them.

Snake Pliskin · Aug 29, 2015

Yeah I guess we are all different but I do find the super sports seats are a good (if expensive) upgrade. I found the standard seats didn't offer as much side bolster support and felt I moved around in them whereas the super sports seats held me in more and they felt more supportive - but I am a fan of them after having them in the S5.

As you say though the regular seats are ok and your reasons for getting this car are on a different level. Plus when you do chop this car in at least you won't lose shed loads of £'s on extras ! You never really see that investment back do you.

veeeight · Aug 29, 2015

Snake Pliskin said:
You never really see that investment back do you.

Definitely not! Just about the only option that makes a difference to the trade in price is Sat Nav

Daveotto · Aug 30, 2015

Simon L said:
I totally get what your saying and found your OP really enlightening.

I was very much into the idea of dipping my toes into Audi with an S3 and possibly moving up to an S5 or RS5 next time round but to be perfectly honest after 6 wks with the S3 I really don't think I want any more power!!

Don't get me wrong though the S/RS5 are phenomenally good looking cars

Simon, I starting to form the same opinion....pretty much the same as you with 5-6 weeks of ownership and 3000 miles and certainly I have enough power maybe next time round it might be something slightly larger and a little bit less power but more quality, thinking Porsche Macan.... But that's a long way off and have not even got the correct specced car yet !!!!

Back in a S3.........

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