Vs Audi S3 vs BMW M135i

[Zafiro]

I'm confused, is it the AWD or the automatic gearbox you have a problem with because you seem to be still considering the S3 or is this wrong?

Let me put it like this. I want M135i with rwd and manual gearbox. I want a S3 with manual gearbox and awd.

Im gone to the gym.. bye bye..

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Its all about what your personal intrest is, not which one is most fair.

Who's talking about what is "fair"? You talk like it's a battle or a competition!

And no it's NOT about what YOUR personal interest is. It's a comparison between two cars, the aim of which should be to choose cars which are closest matched. BMW and Audi both offer 4WD, so those cars should be compared.

RWD bimmers been compared to AWD Audi as long as I've lived, like M3 vs RS4 or M5 vs Rs6 and it shall continue.

And had there been a 4WD M3, or a RWD RS 4 then those cars should have been chosen. As it happens there wasn't. The fact is that there are now cars which are closer matched on specs than ever, so to deliberately avoid comparing the 4WD M135i with the S3 is just ludicrous!


These arguments between fan boys just makes me laugh and bang my head against a wall in equal measure. Just pick the car which you like and accept other people feel differently.

You could have fifty different criteria for picking your favourite car. If it was me, the S3 or M135i would be replacing my A1. As I have the R8, driving enjoyment would not be the most important factor. As it would have to be a good long distance car as well, things like fuel economy and a comfortable ride would be more important, but with the ability to be fast and fun too. So, if the M135i turned out to be slightly more fun, but far worse in terms of fuel economy and ride, then I would go for the S3. Alternatively, if it was my ONLY car, then driving enjoyment would be the number one priority. Full stop. In which case the M135i would get it.

The looks, I couldn't give a toss about. The interior looks are far more important than exterior looks anyway.

 

[martinbo]

Yes, of course, it's about the tried and tested traditional BMW recipe against the tried and tested traditional Audi recipe. Ok, so the BMW happens to be turbocharged now (what besides the odd obscurity isn't these days?) but it is still an inline six and it's still RWD. Same goes for the Audi - familiar configuration for the 3rd generation of S3. Both have their merits; both have their drawbacks.

As for the concept of not being entitled to conveying an informed opinion about a car just because you have no intention of buying one: bollocks! I have no intention of buying an E63 AMG or XJ but boy have I done plenty time in them. And I've driven many fast BMWs and Audis in my time. I'll chuck in my 2 cents thank you.

 

[Deckhook]

I was going to say something similar, both brands have their usual recipes which in BMW's case for a performance car is RWD and with Audi it's AWD, both are good but for usually entirely different reasons. I'm of the opinion that when driving almost exclusively on public roads the things that seperate them on the track are far less noticeable or important and it's the other merits like design, ride, economy, ease of use, textile feel and general fit & finish that are as much if not more importance.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

As for the concept of not being entitled to conveying an informed opinion about a car just because you have no intention of buying one: bollocks! I have no intention of buying an E63 AMG or XJ but boy have I done plenty time in them. And I've driven many fast BMWs and Audis in my time. I'll chuck in my 2 cents thank you.

I suppose this is is in response to my post.

You qualify your statement by explaining that you have done plenty of time in many fast BMW's and Audis. The thing is, there are plenty of people who HAVEN'T, and even when they have, they won't necessarily have the talent or driving ability to recognise a good car when they experience it, or what they're even looking for. Lots of car journalists talk about "steering feel" or "the ability to steer the car with the throttle", amongst lots of other terms, and I don't think many people have the first idea to recognise this when driving a car for themselves. Instead they fall back into the safe, welcoming bosom of "reputation". It's a BMW so it must drive great. I'm voting for that beauty". Or, "it's an Audi so it must understeer and it must be dull, so I'm not voting for that". It's these people I am aiming my comments at.

Being in the market for the car DOES have an impact on someone's thoughts. Some silly little fan boy in his bedroom doesn't care about residuals, boot space, delivery times, quality of service at the dealership, proximity of the nearest dealership. Etc.

And you are in the minority on here Martin. You're one of the few people who, when states his opinion, I listen.

Enough arse licking now.

 

[martinbo]

Fair points, I concede.

 

[Giannis]

I suppose this is is in response to my post.

You qualify your statement by explaining that you have done plenty of time in many fast BMW's and Audis. The thing is, there are plenty of people who HAVEN'T, and even when they have, they won't necessarily have the talent or driving ability to recognise a good car when they experience it, or what they're even looking for. Lots of car journalists talk about "steering feel" or "the ability to steer the car with the throttle", amongst lots of other terms, and I don't think many people have the first idea to recognise this when driving a car for themselves. Instead they fall back into the safe, welcoming bosom of "reputation". It's a BMW so it must drive great. I'm voting for that beauty". Or, "it's an Audi so it must understeer and it must be dull, so I'm not voting for that". It's these people I am aiming my comments at.

Being in the market for the car DOES have an impact on someone's thoughts. Some silly little fan boy in his bedroom doesn't care about residuals, boot space, delivery times, quality of service at the dealership, proximity of the nearest dealership. Etc.

And you are in the minority on here Martin. You're one of the few people who, when states his opinion, I listen.

Enough arse licking now.

Fair points, indeed, but I disagree to one key thing: We are here to discuss cars and we come from every corner of the world. Of course, things like delivery times, residuals, dealer service and stuff like that, will be different. But we discuss the car itself!

Also, while you (in general) might care about residuals or delivery times, there are people who view the whole process of buying a car, totally different. I, for one, don't buy a car to sell it a few years later. I buy it to keep it, and I don't care about its residual or about the delivery time. Then again, the local BMW dealership suchs big time, while the VAG one is the best dealership I have ever experienced. But is this enough to dismiss a car that (to my opinion and still generally speaking) drives better than another?

 

[Betty Swollocks]

But is this enough to dismiss a car that (to my opinion and still generally speaking) drives better than another?

That's fine. You make your choice based on your criteria. Other people make it based on their own criteria. The poll isn't very specific. Therefore it's up to people to determine themselves upon which criteria they choose. If the poll had asked "which is the best looking", then people would have had less opportunity for interpretation. Might have made for a boring discussion though.

 

[Zafiro]

Who's talking about what is "fair"? You talk like it's a battle or a competition!

And no it's NOT about what YOUR personal interest is. It's a comparison between two cars, the aim of which should be to choose cars which are closest matched. BMW and Audi both offer 4WD, so those cars should be compared.

Of course its about personal interest.
AWD is an extra option for M135 and just like seats with memories but I dont want it. The closest match is just a term for fanboys to use when the favorite brand lose/win. I dont know about you but I never buy a car based on paperreview therefore awd vs awd is pointless..
Let's take it one step further, both must be compared with manual gearbox, S3 without sportdifferential, same equipment, same weight but thats just ridicolous. Just like the rwd vs awd arguments we currently use. You race what you got.

Come on, are we still in kindergarten. It all about personal intrest. Period!

 

[Tumbo]

...It's a BMW so it must drive great. I'm voting for that beauty". Or, "it's an Audi so it must understeer and it must be dull, so I'm not voting for that". It's these people I am aiming my comments at.

Thanks Betty for stating my point aswell. I left this discussion, because I'm sick of some attitudes. Some people never change.

 

[Giannis]

Thanks Betty for stating my point aswell. I left this discussion, because I'm sick of some attitudes. Some people never change.

Indeed

 

[Tumbo]

Indeed

You are absolutely impossible. I have no idea what you are doing as a moderator, when you give BS answer like that.

 

[Giannis]

You are absolutely impossible. I have no idea what you are doing as a moderator, when you give BS answer like that.

Then you need to re-read the post #68 and try to reply.

All I'm saying is that you can't see past the 1er's front lights and bumper. It's going on since the 1er was launched and you constantly remind us of your feelings (using very descriptive language) in every thread the 1er is brought up. You even go that far, to say "you wish there were more people like that in the forum", people who agree with you, yet voice their opinion in a much less insulting way.

And then you still call others fanboys and say you are sick of some attitudes. Well, I am sick of your attitude towards the 1er. You need to grow up.

 

[Zafiro]

And you are in the minority on here Martin. You're one of the few people who, when states his opinion, I listen.

I completely agree with this. Martin is a great guy. I listen to him, Chris Harris and Tiff Nedeell.
And myself of course, 20 years of driving different kind of cars you learn a thing or two about cars.

 

[ACE]

You say you want a M135i, then Im curious, do you want a M135i AWD or RWD?

I said I would take an M135i (not an M135xi) over an S3. How could I vote for a model that wasn't in the poll?

If you are asking if I would take a M135xi over a M135i, the answer is no. I agree with Betty that the M135xi is the S3's closest like-for-like competitor (whether you or I want one or not). The M135xi vs S3 will make it a bit closer in the magazine comparisons since the M135xi is a fair bit heavier, will use more fuel, will have worse weight distribution, worse braking and will be more expensive. Don't expect to see many M135xi vs S3 comparisons (in English at least) because the M135xi isn't available in many English speaking markets.

 

[klier]

Hehe, another classic Internal Combustion battle here on GCZ. Sure haven't had those in a while

 

[Zafiro]

If you are asking if I would take a M135xi over a M135i, the answer is no. I agree with Betty that the M135xi is the S3's closest like-for-like competitor (whether you or I want one or not). The M135xi vs S3 will make it a bit closer in the magazine comparisons since the M135xi is a fair bit heavier, will use more fuel, will have worse weight distribution, worse braking and will be more expensive. Don't expect to see many M135xi vs S3 comparisons (in English at least) because the M135xi isn't available in many English speaking markets.

I think your expectations for M135i are too high. M135i feels more like 1-series with M-package, with different suspension and brakes. I mean, those brakes and suspension you can get to your 120d (for an extra cost of course).
I get the feeling there are more work behind the S3 than M135i. S3 also feels more special with its own sportdifferential. I dont think S3 is just normal A3 with sportchassi like I feel the M135i to be.

 

[Deckhook]

I agree Andreas, there's a lot about the S3 that's unknown to simply dismiss it as inferior to the M135i just because it has already received well deserved praise. From a very personal point of view if the S3 approached 95% of the performance ability of the M135i it would win hands down simply because its such a superior looking product with arguably the best interior ever to grace a hatchback. But that's just me.

 

[Mr Robert]

It's not about a "starting point". It's about having the cars that are closest matched. Even though BMW have a 4WD version you still think the S3 should be compared with the RWD version. that doesn't make any sense.

It serves as a starting point, as the S3 is less versatile and doesn't come with a chioce of drive, therefore, all others seem to have to adjust to the S-world.

I consider the RWD manual car the "real" one and the automatic 4WD an oddity - therefore I feel it is right to compare the real M135 (the way it is supposed to be) to the S3. On the other hand, It feels like BMW has made the bad version of the M135 just to have something for the people who would otherwise go for the VAG alternative. So, in that sense, yes, it might serve as an alternative to the S3, but that only makes it even less relevant on its own - if you want an Audi, buy an Audi.

From a very personal point of view if the S3 approached 95% of the performance ability of the M135i it would win hands down simply because its such a superior looking product with arguably the best interior ever to grace a hatchback. But that's just me.

To me, the S3 only has to pass 75 % to get the nod

 

[Betty Swollocks]

To me, the S3 only has to pass 75 % to get the nod

I never said that! That was Deckhook. Kindly change it please!