Help! S3 or Range Rover Evoque

LucasS3

LucasS3

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hi all, not been here for a while as I sold my S3 a couple of years ago and got the wife an A1 and myself a TT black edition roadster. Anyhow I sold the TT and now getting just one car as I work from home so don't need one but the A1 is far too small for our main car.

I know this is an Audi forum so maybe a little bias but I cannot decide on brand new S3 SB or RR Evoque. The wife will drive it mainly 5 miles a day to work and back but I do all the driving at weekends etc, so love the power of the S3 and it ticks all the boxes for maybe a baby in the future. But the RR is very nice so I just can't decide, can I get your unbiased thoughts as you are all very helpful folks.

I call this problem a first world problem!!!!!
 
I think you know what answer your going to get on ASN! :laugh:

The Evoque is 'perceived' to be of a bit of a woman's car me thinks. Wasn't the design of it 'assisted' by that well known car designer Victoria Beckham?

Seriousley tho'. Go for what suits your families and yours needs best. I would imagine you would find the Evoque a bit boring if you have a S3 in mind

As always, just my opinion of course ...:hi:
 
Boring and completely unnecessary. A range rover for 5 miles a day to work and back? Seriously?!
 
An evoke was the only realistic alternative I had to the S3.
However after having one as a rental car for a week made me decide the S3 was the better proposition.
Don't get me wrong I would be very happy with an evoke but there are a few areas where it falls short against the S3.

1. Power, there's just no getting away from the difference here
2. Build quality. Despite JLRs improvements there's still a long way to go to reach the german premium standards. Shut lines just aren't consistent, look at any evoke on the roads and you'll notice poor panel fit.
3. Interior feel. While it may look premium the materials aren't. The evokes dashboard material is just odd and cheap feeling. Plastics are all hard as well.
4. Sat nav hopeless
5. Overpriced

...but there are many positives

1. Ride is excellent because of the mag ride
2. Fuel economy impressive
3. 9 speed gearbox is really nice and helps it move along swiftly
4. Still looks fab
5. Full fat 4x4

Alround I feel the S3 is a better car for me and suits my needs currently. I've not discounted having one in the future though.

...and as for the design of the Evoke, my claim to fame is that I belonged to the focus group which I think helped decide that it should remain the same as the original concept!
 
Yea I agree 5 miles a day is overkill but we are very active and drive all over the UK walking and sailing so need something pretty big to fit the kit in. Martin L, that's the sort of feedback I needed to hear the S3 is so well screwed together and expected the same with the RR, driving one on Friday so will get a real idea then.

I always expected it to be well made as my mothers new full fat RR is stunning but that was £110k!!!

What I am after is something premium, fits everything in it has 4 wheel drive the power of the S3 is an added bonus.
 
LucasS3 said:
need something pretty big to fit the kit in.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't have described the S3 as 'something pretty big'. With mine I'm finding that I avoid using it if we're likely to carry passengers any distance. Takes a moderate amount of clobber though, I suppose.
 
Yea it's only for carrying clobber very rarely have passengers plus we can always have a roof box if need be as will get the roof rails.
 
I work for a hire car company that has the contract with jlr to provide cars to customers with broken down jlr's. Frankly I'm bored of it, we cover a lot of manufactures from vauxhall, ford, some vw group work to bmw, jlr and more specialist stuff like Lamborghini, Maserati etc and by far the most common we see is jlr dispite not being as common as some of the others.

Also you're comparing a petrol to no doubt a diesel so economy wise it's not that fair but the 2.2 diesel lump in the RR could be more powerful and it's noisy. Someone told me parts of it are the same as a transit van left over from when ford owned them but not sure how true it is. Also the satnav it's is hopeless, the touch screen doesn't respond well even when just trying to select a radio station.

Also when you have warrenty issues which I almost guarantee you will unless it's brand new or in their '495' VIP club eg a celeb or royalty it will take a while to fix as these cars jump the queue.

I'm not being bias as an a3 owner but someone who works with these cars a lot and speaks to a lot of disgruntled customers. If your look at an evoke I strongly suggest you look at the Volvo xc60 d5. More economical sounds like some sort of v8, better dealers and not a women's car. Or just get an s3 haha.
 
Yet to meet a RR Evoque owner that hasn't had quite a bad ownership experience with lots of faults and poor build quality.

I'd get the S3 personally. From your post OP you mention nothing about going off road so if you want something similar to the Evoque I would suggest the RSQ3 over it every time.

The new face lift has a fair amount more power too......
 
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Interestingly this is something which I considered when looking for a new car, however the supercharged engine isn't out yet in the Evoque. A member of my family is pretty senior at JLR and we've got a whole family of Audi's!
 
Having the benefit of having an S3 & my partner having an Evoque, for me its a no brainer. S3 if you have to pick from the pair.
S3 is a better all round handling & performance motor. Its comfier too for any long runs.
The main let down with the RR is the customer service, its tragic considering they try to push it as a premium brand.
Had a few issues dealt with under warranty, & two different dealerships were equally bad.

That being said, if we were to chop them both in for one car, I'd go for either a Porsche Macan or Cayenne. Best of both worlds in my opinion & German build quality.
 
I was in the same situation as you with both those vehicles being the options. Land Rover dealer never got back to me and I'm glad they didn't as I think I would have got bored with an Evoque after a while. Went with the S3 and now just waiting for it to arrive.
 
Over on Tyresmoke there was some discussion about 4x4s and someone thinking about an Evoque. As that's an all makes forum there is no manufacturer bias.
The responses were quite negative. Panel fit was a particularly big problem. Overall, there was very little' if any positive feedback.
 
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If the S3 and Evoque is similarly priced I'd have said the RR was a lot more car for the money but as a 'premium' brand I'm quite shocked to hear of bad shut lines and the likes.

Have you thought about the previous shape RR Sport?
 
RSQ3 would be my choice. A perfect mix of both RR and S3 :)
 
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Hi all, I really appreciate all the feedback, I knew I would get some honest feedback. A few of you mention the RSQ3, I had one for a weekend and as much fun as it is, there is no real advantage over the S3 if any, yet it is more expensive and drinks a lot more! And to be honest its not exactly a looker....

I have a test drive of the Evoque tomorrow so will give it a good going over, but reading the above it looks like I will be back in the S3 in a few months!!
 
I'd be off to look at a Macan, if the budget allows, I would guess after a few options it's going to be significantly more expensive than either S3 or Evoque (unless you have a fully loaded Dynamic) ..

The only issue would be getting one, pretty sure waiting lists are long ..
 
My max budget is about £40k so the Macan is a not an option although I would love it to be!!!
 
Forbzeeee said:
RSQ3 would be my choice. A perfect mix of both RR and S3 :)
Click to expand...

12 - 18 month old SQ5 could be a good compromise and meet budget,

Personally I would no buy anything designed or allegedly designed by a Beckham
 
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Hi.

I bought a Dynamic Evoque SD4 automatic new in May 2013. Couldn't fault the car at all, I didn't use my local dealer near Preston, went to one in Carlilse. Got a discount on it and a decent px for my Mini Cooper S.

I did miss a manual gearbox and the power of a fast car though. In Sept I advertised and sold the Evoque privately within a week and didn't even lose the VAT amount on it.

I then ordered my S3 SB end Sept to beat the price rise, and had it delivered to home by Coventry audi on Dec15th. Ordered through Orangewheels saved me 3.6k as well.

So far, I've never looked back to the Evoque, very very happy with the S3 SB, it's superb!

Steve.
 
These are the same to cars I was going for but range rover dont offer any deals. There reliability is not great either.
 
Hi all, thanks guys for your help, to answers regards get a used RR Sport or used SQ5 I don't want to buy used only new as it will be a keeper for the next 3/4 years so buying an old Sport or SQ5 and something going wrong out of warranty sends a shudder down my back! The SQ5 is now on a rather old platform being replaced in 2016 I believe, and the old sport was never rated anyway.

Interesting to hear regards fellow ASN members who have or had a RR Evoque yet all say the S3 is the drug of choice. Like I said, test driving the Evoque tomorrow so will let you know.

The reason I am thinking RR by the way is because they have offered me a cracking deal and discount due to my parents being customers of the full fat RR for many years and spending hundreds of thousands with one dealership, so I think they thought they better keep the son happy!!! lol

Thanks all, really appreciated, I knew I could count on you to have honest opinions, a great help :)
 
Go and drive both, that's both of you and both cars. Then make a decision.
 
Hi all,

Well we went for the test drive today in the RR, and I can honestly say I have never been so underwhelmed by a car in my life!!

For a £40k car with a RR badge I could of been in a Korean lookalike, ok maybe a little harsh but I didn't get a feeling I was sat in a premium brand, the S3 blows it away in the quality stakes.

The ride is fantastic it has to be said and it smooths any road surfaces you come across, but the noise from the 20 inch alloys is rather annoying along with the tractor diesel is not a pleasant combination. Also why oh why do the wing mirrors need to be the size of my wife's dressing table mirror, the wind bellowing off of those just added to a rather disappointed experience.

Like I have said before I have had full fat RR in my family since I was a very young boy and my mothers latest is just stunning in everyway and I just assumed the evoque would be a mini version of that inside but I was left walking away saying where do I sign for the S3!!!

So after all that, a Sepang SB stronic will be ordered tomorrow, so I will be seeing a lot more of you all

Thanks for all your help again.
 
Last edited:
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LucasS3 said:
So after all that, a Sepang SB stronic will be ordered tomorrow, so I will be seeing a lot more of you all
Click to expand...

Welcome to the fold!

What spec are you thinking of getting?
There's many varied opinions of what people should and shouldn't get.
 
I use to have an S3 8p so been here before, but not overly bothered by all the fancy bits, but will go tech pack with auto lights wipers etc, and I love the light pack.

I just wish they would offer memory seats on the S3, for the money and the "prestige" badge you should be able to spec it as it is one thing I really wanted in this next car. Can it be retro fitted if I ordered elec seats???

Oh and going with roof rails so we can have the use of a roof box if sailing etc.

Just the long wait now. Arggghhhhhhhh
 
The Evoque looks like an ordinary Range Rover that has been on Pimp My Ride.
 
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That's a great out come. I was fairly sure if you drove both the one that's most fun and most rewarding would stand out and it did.

Just the colour though, have you looked at Misano?
 
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Hi Steeve, yes I have seen you mention about Sepang, what are the issues? Sepang does look great in the pics I have seen.

I love misano with the chrome finish so could quite easily be persuaded, the test car was this albeit a 3 door.
 
Don't worry too much about what 'naughty steeve' says about sepang blue ;)

He just doesn't want everyone having it lol
 
LucasS3 said:
My max budget is about £40k so the Macan is a not an option although I would love it to be!!!
Click to expand...

Well, if you fancy a fully loaded SB in meteor grey (I think) I'd part with mine for the right price.
Picked it up in March last year, & done less than 4k miles in it.

Nothing wrong with it, but a change in circumstances means I'm eyeing up something else already..
:)
 
Doesn't the Evoque use haldex?...(interesting to hear it described as a '4x4')
 
Dear god no.

The MY2014 Evoque has one of the most advanced 4x4 system on the market today.

The 2014 Evoque has the new GKN Active Driveline system, in which you can not only inter-axle lock front and rear axles, but also cross-axle lock the rear wheels.
 
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veeeight said:
Dear god no.

The MY2014 Evoque has one of the most advanced 4x4 system on the market today.

The 2014 Evoque has the new GKN Active Driveline system, in which you can not only inter-axle lock front and rear axles, but also cross-axle lock the rear wheels.
Click to expand...

haha this has made my evening. shot down.
 
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