Facelift M2 Comp vs. RS3 Saloon
- Thread starter NevMan
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To be fair, if I was off out the door with £50k in my pocket to buy a new car, I think (for the first time in my life) I'd head towards the BMW dealership.
Hated the look of the M2, but somehow (or maybe it's just the new Silver colour) the Competition Pack car looks pretty damn good.
Prefer AWD from the RS3, but prefer the manual box from the BMW. Manual wins every time.
Hated the look of the M2, but somehow (or maybe it's just the new Silver colour) the Competition Pack car looks pretty damn good.
Prefer AWD from the RS3, but prefer the manual box from the BMW. Manual wins every time.
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M2 looks awful imho. Step up for the modded Clio brigade perhaps 
TX.
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TX.
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M2 looks awful imho. Step up for the modded Clio brigade perhaps
TX.
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Why anyone thinks that M2 is usable on UK roads in our 6 month winters is beyond me....
I don't believe BMW figures for 0-60 for one minute, might be lucky on a hot dry day but for most of the year a prius will be quicker from a standing start.
I do like the M2 comp, my mate has an m2. It does like nice but I prefer the rs3. Manual gearbox is great but would be a right pain on congested roads. I have a manual car and hate driving it to work...well, ok its a peugeot 307 but the M2 comp would be no faster as traffic is very heavy/car park.
Quite amusing how the reviewer states it is "only" and "only that" slower....ummm...it has MORE power and MORE torque but its still slower (at least in a straight line)
Pretty fair review although the result whilst predictable from a reviewer doesnt match their comments at all. Laughable. For 99% of driving these cars will be on a road, maybe the occasional drag race and rarely on a race circuit, so for me the RS3 wins hands down - fast in all conditions and can carry 5 adults, 4 in comfort. The M2 can only carry 4 adults but not in comfort and is only 2 door, is rubbish for 95% of the year as cant use even 50% of the power
I do like the M2 comp, my mate has an m2. It does like nice but I prefer the rs3. Manual gearbox is great but would be a right pain on congested roads. I have a manual car and hate driving it to work...well, ok its a peugeot 307 but the M2 comp would be no faster as traffic is very heavy/car park.
Quite amusing how the reviewer states it is "only" and "only that" slower....ummm...it has MORE power and MORE torque but its still slower (at least in a straight line)
Pretty fair review although the result whilst predictable from a reviewer doesnt match their comments at all. Laughable. For 99% of driving these cars will be on a road, maybe the occasional drag race and rarely on a race circuit, so for me the RS3 wins hands down - fast in all conditions and can carry 5 adults, 4 in comfort. The M2 can only carry 4 adults but not in comfort and is only 2 door, is rubbish for 95% of the year as cant use even 50% of the power
Why anyone thinks that M2 is usable on UK roads in our 6 month winters is beyond me....
because they are clueless reviewer knobs - tell them to pay for one, drive it for a year as a one car family and lets see how p*****d off they get
Ah but you see it’s always more ‘playful’ as they put it.
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I think it looks great! Sounds pretty good, too. Agree though that it is mostly unusable in the UK unless you are Lewis Hamilton.M2 looks awful imho. Step up for the modded Clio brigade perhaps
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awd all day long no point in havin the power if you cant get it down a work mate has been in a new m2 not sure if comp pack he said it was ok but couldnt put the power down when you floor it.
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yeh, the playful that in my book means "act like a k..b on a public road". Sure I can understand that on a track, but who would take a near £60K car onto a track and drive it 100%. Hardly anyone would. Most people I know with track cars wouldn't drive a heavy bloating M2 on a track anyway, theyd go for something much lighter like a track prepped cheap as chips mx5 which would annihilate the M2 on a track, despite having less than 200bhp
my mate has an M2. looks great. his sounds great with an aftermarket exhaust. However, last winter in 18 inches of snow I drove to his in my rs3 as he couldn't get out of his driveway!
M2 looks awful imho. Step up for the modded Clio brigade perhaps
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Ouch, harsh
Well put as always @D0C.
I never get the fixation on time taken to go round a track. 99% of potential owners would never go anywhere near a track, and I am probably one of them!
RS3 wins easily, but a xDrive M2 would be interesting. I too think it looks great, and no, I have NEVER had a clio
There could be an argument to stick a set of winter tyres on the M2, and it'll probably have more grip that the RS3 on summer tyres.
I think BMW are going AWD for all there future M Models. Seen it now on the M5. But they also give the owner the choice to make it RWD only. Which for those how like that, then I think BMW have done a good thing. 99% of M5 buyers will just leave it in AWD.
As many have said, AWD is far better in the UK. Think for me at least, owning an M2 would be as a weekend car purchase.
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Switchable 2WD/4WD seems to be the way manufacturers are going (E63S and new M5 etc). If they start introducing this on the smaller M/RS cars then that would be very interesting.Well put as always @D0C.
I never get the fixation on time taken to go round a track. 99% of potential owners would never go anywhere near a track, and I am probably one of them!
RS3 wins easily, but a xDrive M2 would be interesting. I too think it looks great, and no, I have NEVER had a clio
However, I could see more cars getting written off by owners who are used to the 4WD flicking a switch to 2WD, losing all traction and binning it as they don't have the skill to correct it!
Just go check out the tools on Instagram that post videos of doing endless ‘donuts’ on public streets.
Real cars for real drivers....
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An M2 is never going to beat an RS3 on this site, we are pretty much Audi ‘fan boys’ after all, there will be a mirror image on BMW forums.
Just appreciate them for being 2 different beasts. RS3 and 4 are probably some of the ultimate daily’s money can buy, the M2/3/4 are a lot more stand out and feel a tad more special.
Just appreciate them for being 2 different beasts. RS3 and 4 are probably some of the ultimate daily’s money can buy, the M2/3/4 are a lot more stand out and feel a tad more special.
illingworth22
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I agree totally with @Doc aloso, I had one before the RS3 and before the M2 I had a My13 S3 and before that an 09 TTS. I never understand why one follower trashes the other, I loved my M2 but here in Ireland where 70 to 90% of the time it is either cold, damp, wet or all of the above, it is just too un useable. It was also not as quick 0-60 but would pull better from a rolling start. As for looks, well these are subjective. The M2 would turn 90% of heads where the RS3 just slips under the radar..... that said I have been photographed twice in the last two weeks in the 3 and never in the 2
Why anyone thinks that M2 is usable on UK roads in our 6 month winters is beyond me....
Winter tyres pal, a RWD car with winter tyres will be better than a quattro or AWD car with summer tyres. 6 month winters is a slight exaggeration. We had a bad winter this year but total it up and you had maybe a week of snow.
Also, do not treat the accelerator like an on/off switch when its wet
Agree, completely different offerings. I’ll shut up any way, I’m a measly S3 owner not RS.
Winter tyres pal, a RWD car with winter tyres will be better than a quattro or AWD car with summer tyres. 6 month winters is a slight exaggeration. We had a bad winter this year but total it up and you had maybe a week of snow.
Also, do not treat the accelerator like an on/off switch when its wet
Yeah winter tyres improve the RS3 too.
I've said it before, I hate it when they compare these 2 cars. They should compare the M2 Comp to the TTRS, not the RS3. The main reason I'm looking to get an RS3 instead of an M2 (or TTRS) is that its a 5 door hatch/4 door saloon, not a 2 door coupe.
I think after the RS3, I'll probably go for a BMW or Merc because I can't see Audi doing the switchable 4WD/RWD thing. Just have to wait and see if the new M3 and C63S get it. I'm also not liking the new interior designs of Audi cars. In terms of the infotainment system, the new Mercs and BMW cars are adding options rather than taking them away. Both keep the wheel interface but add touchscreen controls and also have no touchscreen for Air-con controls. Have to see if they keep the exhaust noise though, the facelift C63S exhaust noise is pretty much the same as PFL. There are rumours of an M2 gran coupe, could be interesting rival to the next RS3. CLA45/A45 Saloon won't cut it with the 4 cylinder.
I think after the RS3, I'll probably go for a BMW or Merc because I can't see Audi doing the switchable 4WD/RWD thing. Just have to wait and see if the new M3 and C63S get it. I'm also not liking the new interior designs of Audi cars. In terms of the infotainment system, the new Mercs and BMW cars are adding options rather than taking them away. Both keep the wheel interface but add touchscreen controls and also have no touchscreen for Air-con controls. Have to see if they keep the exhaust noise though, the facelift C63S exhaust noise is pretty much the same as PFL. There are rumours of an M2 gran coupe, could be interesting rival to the next RS3. CLA45/A45 Saloon won't cut it with the 4 cylinder.
Of course they will, but my point that was the m2 (like any RWD car) can be used in snow with the correct type of tyres
Ones a coupe. Ones a saloon. Why are these cars being compared? I get why they’re doing it but it’s a bit of stretch for me. If I wanted a saloon I wouldn’t buy an M2 and if I wanted a coupe, I wouldn’t buy an RS3.
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They are a similar size, class and premium brand. They have similar power outputs and are the performance variants of their models Very different, yes. But also very comparable. We should be thankful we have such choices!
I have the RS3 and a 1M and like them equally, both amazing cars/brands. I only like cars/models and was never a fan boy of any specific brand, I have had cars from so many brands.
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Not so much here as even though we are Audi fan boys we are quite fair, but look at youtube comments and its like leavers/remainers apple/samsung ..your either one or the other and you have to trash the opponent. I TD an M2 and an RS3..the M2 was a lovely car, it was in the same price bracket, next level up from my S3 but as its been said its all about what suits you i wanted something practical, awd and something that felt 'modern'. The M2 was a great drive and even the interior feels more premium than the spartan audi offering..but the dials and manual handbrake and even lack of carplay/auto out the box compatability just made me feel like i was taking a step back in time. So i went for the RS3 as it suited my needs. Now for my next car id be seriously tempted by an M5 as it has the 2/4wd switch and digital dash as well as the power.
Starting a thread like this in the RS3 section ye know what responses your going get aye that's right unbiased and informative Not.. ..
Was only FYI post, as so much talk on other posts about M2 vs. RS3. Have found thread interesting
Audi owners are always going to play weather and the perceived build quality cardsWas only FYI post, as so much talk on other posts about M2 vs. RS3. Have found thread interesting
illingworth22
Registered User
And BMW will always play the "numb steering on the Audi's" and "their straight in line and RWD" cards
TBH I have enjoyed all my cars and I don't give a hoot what badge the car has. I just prefer the "365 fun factor" of Quattro, even if that means I loose some of the RWD days!
And BMW will always play the "numb steering on the Audi's" and "their straight in line and RWD" cards
TBH I have enjoyed all my cars and I don't give a hoot what badge the car has. I just prefer the "365 fun factor" of Quattro, even if that means I loose some of the RWD days!
New M340i looks interesting. 370bhp, xdrive, selectable driving modes, sports exhaust etc. 0-62 in 4.4, and just under £50k (ok with no other options added)
https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/news/166...letter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter
And BMW will always play the "numb steering on the Audi's" and "their straight in line and RWD" cards
TBH I have enjoyed all my cars and I don't give a hoot what badge the car has. I just prefer the "365 fun factor"
Another way of putting the weather point across mate and but my point is there's no denying it the M2 Cp is the car of the moment and the best looking one
BMW are now starting to embrace the AWD market a little more. If the new M3/4 have switchable X drive like the M5 then it will be perfect! Next car for me however will be an E63/S I think.
Actually love the RS3 saloon but it looks a bit too understated and is a bit small inside for my needs
