Few thoughts on changing S3 and Q5....

PanamaS3

PanamaS3

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So....time to change the missus' Q5....swore I wouldn't head back to another Q5 after various run-ins with our 2013 one (constant coolant issues and some really incompetent/unforgiveable dealership repair work)...but it appears to still be one of the best replacements and the dealer is changing up how it does warranty work. Had a 2018 Volvo XC60 for the weekend.....gorgeous looking (weirdly had people giving me thumbs up at lights! in an SUV!!!! sad)....drives nice...but in the end the unnecessary (here anyway) driver aids (intervention....I thought was a bit dangerous! coming over crest of hill, cars stopped in front....sensors pointing up at the stars....car slammed on brakes at last minute....in a Volvo of all things!) and the iPad-esque only touch screen to do everything on is swinging us back to a new Q5. Anyway, enough about boring old SUV's.....
Am gonna keep the S3 maybe a year longer....but the pull of looking at my next replacement is too much. My dealer has both RS3 and TTRS....so sat in both...engine on....wow
RS3 they have doesn't have VC or manual SS seats....sat in it....yeah its a bit different....actually the seats felt more plushy (probably cos they haven't had my fat RS in them for 3 years) and my head was rubbing on the roof....biggest annoyance for me....unless I can try one with no pano (heresy I now) and SS seats to confirm better headroom then can't see myself ponying up the asking of $85k (!!!!) but could take a chance on ordering with my spec at discounted price I have negotiated verbally.
However....sat in the TTRS....now thats a different story....gorgeous place to sit....plenty of headroom...beautiful seats....kinda feels more basic in the cabin than S/RS....thats listed at $88k. Bargain in comparison! I drove the new TTS and that felt really special, so can only imagine how this one is. If price can be negotiated then I think this has become my first choice.
Must stop dreaming and sort the wife's car out....thx for indulging me :)
Anyone else having similar dilemmas/thoughts?
 
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those big wide chrome exhausts on the rs3 just look tacky to me. I think the front grill on both is also ugly also. The S version looks more discrete, even with two extra pipes. The colour on that ttrs is cool though. Nice dilemma to have :) . I would be looking at a used 911 instead for that kind of cash i reckon.
 
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Same here. I think those oval exhaust are wayyyy too big for a car that size and the front grille isn’t as nice as the S. 911 would be a good shout if the prices are the same!
 
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Mrs Wogan's Lemon Drizzle said:
those big wide chrome exhausts on the rs3 just look tacky to me. I think the front grill on both is also ugly also. The S version looks more discrete, even with two extra pipes. The colour on that ttrs is cool though. Nice dilemma to have :) . I would be looking at a used 911 instead for that kind of cash i reckon.
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yeah I have to say I was a bit taken aback by how big those cans are on the RS3....I don't want to say they look silly...but for sure I would go for sports exhaust and be glad they are blacked out.
yeah the nardo is a chameleon colour....I took another pic from 'the dark side' and it came out totally differently....can't say I love it to be honest unless its really bright.
 
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Audi have really lost the way with their alloy wheel designs they both look :puke2:

For the price difference you state. I would take the TTRS, as long as 2 doors and limited cargo area suit you.
 
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Flying Scotsman said:
Audi have really lost the way with their alloy wheel designs they both look :puke2:
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to be fair....in the flesh, the ones on the RS3 look nice....much better than in all the pics...can't explain why but they just do
 
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jassyo06 said:
RS3 saloon is the best looking end of, forget the uber fast TT..... It's not worth the extra dosh over and above the RS3.... Mate, if you want to afford to run one fooking go for go for it.... Life is Too short.... The more you think about it.... The less likely you are of doing it.... Trust me on that one... Lol
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i'm in no rush mate.....and I HEAR ya..lol.....just got to sort out a few financials anyway and get the wife a new car first....am still loving my Vin Diesel S3 and definitely want to wait and see what the best set-up is on the RS3 before I commit anyway....you driving yours much these days or still got it in the glass cabinet? lol
 
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I have a serious itch to scratch for an RS3... honestly, it's not even funny. But, the wife would utterly destroy me and it would no doubt affect a few things we have planned for the near future, so my sensible hat is on currently. Until I have a moment of madness... must resist the urge.
 
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Mark_86 said:
I have a serious itch to scratch for an RS3... honestly, it's not even funny. But, the wife would utterly destroy me and it would no doubt affect a few things we have planned for the near future, so my sensible hat is on currently. Until I have a moment of madness... must resist the urge.
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well Mark....don't listen to Jassy right now....put cream on it and resist! like me! anyway your car is FL so you're not allowed right now end of! lol
 
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Mark_86 said:
I have a serious itch to scratch for an RS3... honestly, it's not even funny. But, the wife would utterly destroy me and it would no doubt affect a few things we have planned for the near future, so my sensible hat is on currently. Until I have a moment of madness... must resist the urge.
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RS3. = D.I.V.O.R.C.E
 
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Mark_86 said:
I have a serious itch to scratch for an RS3... honestly, it's not even funny. But, the wife would utterly destroy me and it would no doubt affect a few things we have planned for the near future, so my sensible hat is on currently. Until I have a moment of madness... must resist the urge.
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Still only driving it at weekends mate and even at that not very far done 800 miles in 2 months though need to curb this lol
 
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You know as soon as you sort the wife’s car out the itch will need scratching !!

Happened to me, new car envy is hard to resist LoL.
 
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My 2p worth...........
I bought my new S3 in 2014 as a short term car to cover a need for a short period before buying something I really wanted. 3.5yrs later I still have it as it is easily fast enough day to day and costs peanuts to run, I have looked at replacements, some way more expensive and still have my S3. Jassy make a proper grown up decision taking a fast enough car and making it his rather than following the horsepower.

The RS3/TTRS are both new and shiny and make a nice noise and then what, the RS3 looks similar inside and out to an S3. Why pay loads more for a TTRS which has the same mechanicals as an RS3, I could but won't and most of the market doesn't either. Do the maths on a cost to change basis against your already quick enough S3 (if your signature is correct it is already quick enough!) and see if it makes sense. If the RS3 looked more like the RS4 styling of a few years back then that would make the decision way harder. Most of the RS owners I have seen are middle aged and slightly balding (just like me) and having a car popping and banging everywhere can be a bit ott.

Not meant to sound patronising/preachy/old manish etc just a bit bored on a cold wednesday afternoon looking at 2018 legislation changes :(

p.s. back on topic, the new Q5 is a decent bit of kit but don't change your S3 and buy her a RR Sport or Macan? New BMW X3 also getting good reviews.
p.p.s. sit back and wait for the next quick Golf.
 
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Loving that white RS3 saloon - Yummy ! :hubbahubba:
 
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msdmjb said:
My 2p worth...........
I bought my new S3 in 2014 as a short term car to cover a need for a short period before buying something I really wanted. 3.5yrs later I still have it as it is easily fast enough day to day and costs peanuts to run, I have looked at replacements, some way more expensive and still have my S3. Jassy make a proper grown up decision taking a fast enough car and making it his rather than following the horsepower.

The RS3/TTRS are both new and shiny and make a nice noise and then what, the RS3 looks similar inside and out to an S3. Why pay loads more for a TTRS which has the same mechanicals as an RS3, I could but won't and most of the market doesn't either. Do the maths on a cost to change basis against your already quick enough S3 (if your signature is correct it is already quick enough!) and see if it makes sense. If the RS3 looked more like the RS4 styling of a few years back then that would make the decision way harder. Most of the RS owners I have seen are middle aged and slightly balding (just like me) and having a car popping and banging everywhere can be a bit ott.

Not meant to sound patronising/preachy/old manish etc just a bit bored on a cold wednesday afternoon looking at 2018 legislation changes :(

p.s. back on topic, the new Q5 is a decent bit of kit but don't change your S3 and buy her a RR Sport or Macan? New BMW X3 also getting good reviews.
p.p.s. sit back and wait for the next quick Golf.
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The new X3 is a quality product indeed been in the X340i... Bmw are catching up Audi *** lol
 
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Jassy, yes BMW may be catching up in interior design and yes they make some nice exterior looking cars, but I would not be seen dead in one. It is just the supposed/advertised cache of owning a bimmer that puts me right off their brand. I just prefer a more subtle brand that is not in your face and Audi does that for me.
 
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msdmjb said:
My 2p worth...........
I bought my new S3 in 2014 as a short term car to cover a need for a short period before buying something I really wanted. 3.5yrs later I still have it as it is easily fast enough day to day and costs peanuts to run, I have looked at replacements, some way more expensive and still have my S3. Jassy make a proper grown up decision taking a fast enough car and making it his rather than following the horsepower.

The RS3/TTRS are both new and shiny and make a nice noise and then what, the RS3 looks similar inside and out to an S3. Why pay loads more for a TTRS which has the same mechanicals as an RS3, I could but won't and most of the market doesn't either. Do the maths on a cost to change basis against your already quick enough S3 (if your signature is correct it is already quick enough!) and see if it makes sense. If the RS3 looked more like the RS4 styling of a few years back then that would make the decision way harder. Most of the RS owners I have seen are middle aged and slightly balding (just like me) and having a car popping and banging everywhere can be a bit ott.

Not meant to sound patronising/preachy/old manish etc just a bit bored on a cold wednesday afternoon looking at 2018 legislation changes :(

p.s. back on topic, the new Q5 is a decent bit of kit but don't change your S3 and buy her a RR Sport or Macan? New BMW X3 also getting good reviews.
p.p.s. sit back and wait for the next quick Golf.
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very solid points...have to agree aaaaaalmost 100%....yeah I think the TTRS is a step too far....love the saloon shape anyway....if I can stretch that little bit and get the price verbally negotiated (circa $70k) then am afraid I'm sold on the noise...yep big kid I know...but I would keep the exhaust as subtle (deep) as possible and not change the software to make it pop and bang all over the shop. yes....i need to drive the RS3 as my current S3 is mighty fast....but its lacking i'm sure on handling and noise....and i can go further with that engine on stock internals to keep me happy for longer
nah...I would never buy one of those really sporty SUV's....even though must be great to drive they are ****** expensive and rather have my own car and no dogs climbing all over one of those...yes X3 does get great reviews....prolly be a contender/the one to get once they update the interior....but having driven the Volvo xc60 and new Q5 they are both top right now of their class i think
don't beat yourself up about being bald and middle aged....young chicks usually dig that....especially here lol
 
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Flying Scotsman said:
Jassy, yes BMW may be catching up in interior design and yes they make some nice exterior looking cars, but I would not be seen dead in one. It is just the supposed/advertised cache of owning a bimmer that puts me right off their brand. I just prefer a more subtle brand that is not in your face and Audi does that for me.
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Aye..... a catch yer drift..... Lol
 
PanamaS3 said:
very solid points...have to agree aaaaaalmost 100%....yeah I think the TTRS is a step too far....love the saloon shape anyway....if I can stretch that little bit and get the price verbally negotiated (circa $70k) then am afraid I'm sold on the noise...yep big kid I know...but I would keep the exhaust as subtle (deep) as possible and not change the software to make it pop and bang all over the shop. yes....i need to drive the RS3 as my current S3 is mighty fast....but its lacking i'm sure on handling and noise....and i can go further with that engine on stock internals to keep me happy for longer
nah...I would never buy one of those really sporty SUV's....even though must be great to drive they are ****** expensive and rather have my own car and no dogs climbing all over one of those...yes X3 does get great reviews....prolly be a contender/the one to get once they update the interior....but having driven the Volvo xc60 and new Q5 they are both top right now of their class i think
don't beat yourself up about being bald and middle aged....young chicks usually dig that....especially here lol
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Final word bmw have changed the x3's interior it's virtually the same as the new 5 series very nice indeed
 
I dislike BMW's... fugly looking things.
 
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jassyo06 said:
Really...... Lol l used to feel the same but some models are growers, this is my last Audi they're far far too expensive now
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Oh I agree with that. I'm not sure I'll stick around for a second, but tempted by an RS3 as I've said. I'll probably switch to the next gen Golf R next time...

Last good looking BMW was the E46 M3... in CS form it was a stunner. Current M4 that you posted above in CS form is also quite nice, but they need all the 'right' bits to look the part i.e. alloys, black kidneys etc
 
Hate to say it as much as I love Audis, part of the reason the S3 is so great in my opinion is it's price and what it offers, however, whack a few extras on there and it isn't such a cheap car all of a sudden, but still one of the best, if not the best, of its rivals.

As much as it would be nice to upgrade to an RS3 I think you lose that greatness of the S3, where the S3 is a lot of car for the money, the RS3 is a lot of money for the car. Once you spend the typical 5-10k on extras it's ludicrous, there are many many vehicles on offer (maybe not spankers but low low mileage) at that price.

I'd way sooner look at 6-18month old M3 Comps, C63's etc.

For me, I'd love an RS3 but I think they should be closer to the 40k mark
 
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I wish I had that dilemma!

I hope the S3 will stay for the 4 years, and pick myself up a house in 4 years time, and get myself into a Golf R for a year or so on a lease through work.

After that I would be torn between an M2 or an RS3. But I will always always always have the thought of a used Nissan GTR in the back of my head :)

Think both look gorgeous and I know a lad with a 480BHP TTRS de-catted and that thing sounds mental. I heard it driving off from my desk at work a few months ago and my mug shook on my desk! ha.

But you HAVE to get the sports exhaust on that RS3 :)
 
Audis are getting more expensive, but so are BMWs right? So does it make much difference :(

My dilemma is that I don't need a big car, a 3/4 series / A4 is too big for me, the A3 sportback is just right. I'm not so sure on the styling of the 1/2 series BMW either.

The RS3 is just so expensive with a few options so I don't think I will ever justify it. Maybe another S3 next, though maybe I will be getting a bit bored of the A3 design after owning 2 already. So I'm not sure what I will be doing next! But I only bought the S3 in October so need to enjoy it for now =)
 
honestly i know it not fair judging a base spec car to a top of the range model but the 3 series i rented a while back seemed incredibly cheap interior wise compaired to my S3. Even the 5 series isn't much better. BMW need to up their game imo.
 
Mrs Wogan's Lemon Drizzle said:
honestly i know it not fair judging a base spec car to a top of the range model but the 3 series i rented a while back seemed incredibly cheap interior wise compaired to my S3. Even the 5 series isn't much better. BMW need to up their game imo.
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You obviously haven't been in the new 5 series then, it's build quality is as good as Audis
 
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no i haven't, looks like a step up from the pictures i've just looked at. Be intresting to see what they do with the new 1 series, always had a bit of a soft spot for the m135i/m140i
 
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