Just_me

your book is getting old. Buy a new one

Centurion

I think it is okey but I find the 130i to be more desirable in this case. There is just no way I would pay over 30k for a 3 door hatch.

martinbo

I didn't buy it. I wrote it.

Just_me

you did right Good answer

martinbo

I've owned plenty mild and hot hatches and I've driven frikken tons of them, including the 130i and the old S3. The 130i's saving grace is its engine, beyond that it's turned out to be the hyper hatch disappointment of the moment, it gets a carrot from the less powerful and heavier R32 around just about any circuit, doesn't feel nearly as classy inside and its five door configuration gains it no practicality advantages over a 3 doored opponent from Ingolstadt or Wolfsburg, so poor is the packaging. Overall, a flawed product to all but the most loyal of fanboys.

An S3 is every bit the better car because Audi have had more experience in this arena. But hey, thanks for bringing up the 1er in a thread dedicated to the appreciation (or lack thereof) of the new S3.

Edit: Ah wait, you didn't, Yannis the pesky Audi touting crazy air traffic controller did. Shame on him...

Just_me

I didnt started this thread by involving 1-series, Im innocent.

Yes its true the 130i got beaten by R32 around tracks in carmags but also the the other way around.

I driven the 130i as well and its one of my favorite bimmers at the moment. The 130i is all I want and I wouldnt be surprised if I buy a used one in a couple of years. 130i with sportpackage, I freaking loving the car


BTW Have you noticed this thread?
http://germancarzone.com/showthread.php?t=5725

martinbo

Yes, I did acknowledge that.

Yes, that's true... but even here in SA the 130i's performance has been less than what was expected - even a 330i has posted quicker acceleration times by the same testers. This confounds me...

I know that you're a big fan of the car and I certainly wouldn't criticise you for buying the thing: it is a great drivers car, no doubt. It's just that you and I have different tastes based on a different set of needs and values.

Yes, I have and now I'm really rueing my decision not to take those RS4's for a spin a while back. I'm jealous.

Yannis

Yup that's me.

I always loved the previous S3. In it's time it was everything that a younster like me wanted (we are talking 8 years ago so back then i was a youngster lol). It was compact, well built , powerful and aggressive. The fact that it was turbocharged also added to the excitement cause when the turbo starts to work adrenaline starts to flow.

I even remember the day that i met a S3 on my way to work (5 o clock in the morning or something empty road and the lucky bastard came from behind and overtook me) and i tried to race it with my A3 1.6 lt. Of course i didn't stand a chance in open road but in twist and turns of the country road i managed not only to stay close but even to overtake it since the other guy didn't wanted to take it too far cause he was scared of an accident! What a rush ...the good old days...when you are young you do a lot of stupid things but you never regret doing them...lol...

Anyway the new one seems like a worthy replacement and i would seriously love to own one as a second or third car (i am a family man now so it can't be my first car anymore).

ojis

The new S3 is allright. I just don't like that it only has two doors for passengers. Supposedly it's more sporty that way but pffttt....

BMW_Dude

I voted 2, many because this car is so expensive! Between this and the R32, I'd take the golf everytime, you can get it in 4 door, has a V6 engine and has 4WD! The bodykit of the S3 doesn't excite me that much, maybe it's just the boring colour the car was unveiled in, hopefully it will look better in black!

BTW, the old S3 was one of my most favourite cars, thought it looked wicked, remember when I first saw it, although now it looks dated. This new car doesn't seem as nice now, as the old S3 did back then!