Josh Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Car Magazine (May 2011 issue) has just pitted the Audi RS3 against the BMW 1M coupe: no doubt the first of many such face-offs. I think the outcome is surprising, given the wall of negativity about the RS3 in so many quarters, including this forum! As expected, the BMW was thought to be better looking and a more challenging and involving drive. However, the RS3 was faster in practice, more agile, more "compliant and composed" and (this is the bit where I have to pinch myself) "better connected to the road"... even in the dry! How can this be: it's an Audi FFS? :confused: The conclusion... ...for the majority of drivers, even when the sun is shining...the RS3 is the better, more complete car" It would be unsporting to comment on the contest in the wet, an environmental scenario the BMW is apparently not designed to handle ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy2shots Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Have you got your name down for an RS3 Josh? Or interested in one? Two posts, weeks apart, both regarding positive press reviews. You don't work for Audi by any chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Blimey ! That is a surprise! I'm sure many AWD cars are "faster in practise" when driven by Joe Public but normally it takes away the thrill of RWD. As always I guess it depends what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Billy said it, spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Have you got your name down for an RS3 Josh? Or interested in one?Two posts, weeks apart, both regarding positive press reviews. You don't work for Audi by any chance? Don't be such a cynical fecker! Welcome Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted April 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Have you got your name down for an RS3 Josh? Or interested in one?Two posts, weeks apart, both regarding positive press reviews. You don't work for Audi by any chance? No, I don't work for Audi and have never even owned one. I have a VW Corrado I'd like to replace in the next year or so but no decisions yet as with what. I didn't write the Car report either BTW and have reported it as I read it! I think the RS3 is an interesting car and came here first a few weeks ago to see what I could find out about it (which is why I've only posted on it) but there are too many question-marks at the moment: I'd like to see a test on British roads for example! I thought the article in Car was surprising and counterintuitive is all. To be honest, the opinion here on the RS3 is generally very negative (with one or two exceptions) and I'm curious (for myself) how much of that is prejudice against Audi and how much logically founded (and so to be taken seriously). In my experience how people react to information that seems to contradict their opinion is usually a good indicator of how well founded that opinion really is! However, I really have just related what the guy who drove it for Car said about it and don't think I've added anything extra. Do you think Car is likely to be biased in favour of Audi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Maybe he doesn't like RWD- testers are never neutral. I'd take the BMW all day long. I'm sure the RS3 is a great car, but it seeps old and bin parts from every pore. Six years ago this was the RS3 auto crap mock up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted April 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Maybe he doesn't like RWD- testers are never neutral. Reasonable conclusion but in fact it doesn't seem to be the case. The tester says he'd buy the BMW too for the more "visceral driving experience" but then goes on to say that the RS3 is the "better, more complete car". The RS3 is, he says, "quicker, more homogeneous in the way it moves, responds and performs, displaying an entertaining mix of control and compliance. And above all inspiring more confidence in you, the driver". To paraphrase I interpret that as (him saying): "heart says BMW, head says Audi". Not what you'd expect from somebody who doesn't like RWD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Maybe he knows that good PR for the Audi means he can get one at staff discounts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Most of the reviews of the RS3 I've seen seem fairly positive, as an apparent Audi 'hater' I don't doubt it will drive well, and initial reports seem to say it doesn't suffer the usual Audi numbness, and disconnected feeling, I actually like the idea of the RS3 very much and I love the 5 cylinder engine that harks back to Audi's halcyon days. However, the big 'but' for me, is no matter how well it drives, how quick it is, or how well it handles, it's too old, the new A3 is due soon, and the current one is just too long in the tooth. Once it's a couple of generations old, it might be worth a look, much like other Audi RS models being launched towards the end of the models life, I'd quite like one of the old shape RS6's, as they become 'cooler' as they get older imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 The trouble with older RS6s - and it'll be even worse with the RS3 - is that by the time they're potentially cool again, a couple of generations and maybe 7 or 8 years old, they've fallen into the hands of chavs who can't afford to maintain them properly but seemingly can afford to adorn them with the most hideous alloys, bodykits and exhausts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 True, but that just makes a nice, mint original example, all the cooler! At least thats the theory I use when driving my Subaru anyway..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 That does work - it's just the hassle of finding a nice, untwatted one in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 The trouble with older RS6s - and it'll be even worse with the RS3 - is that by the time they're potentially cool again, a couple of generations and maybe 7 or 8 years old, they've fallen into the hands of chavs who can't afford to maintain them properly but seemingly can afford to adorn them with the most hideous alloys, bodykits and exhausts. That analogy would apply to every car in essence..........they all end up in "Chavcarheaven" sooner or later, the one thing I can never figure out, is how the aforementioned Chavs afford the insurance premium as most of these cars are group 20................I can only guess like most areas of the system, we pay up, they dont, we then pay up for them as well.everything from benefits (Which covers there Rent, Council Tax,Ciggies Booze etc) to higher insurance premiums to cover the fact that they dont pay, apparently there are a million cars uninsured currently driving around in the UK, and thats a feckin lot!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Not sure it applies to every car, but I guess it does eventually apply to most mainstream performance cars. There are definitely 'fashion' cycles though. Imprezas and Evos are out, chavved to the limit Audis are in. I see more chavved up Audis than BMWs these days. Who knows which marque will get it next... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Not sure it applies to every car, Who knows which marque will get it next... Well Porsches seem totally immune to the practice...........cannot ever recall seeing a CHAVTOWIEBFGW 1 of those...............wonder what that says about Turdos and Coxsters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 The most chavtastic 911 I've ever seen belonged to David Beckham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 The Turbo with the DB9 seats...I know, it was rather, umm, individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted April 29, 2011 Report Share Posted April 29, 2011 The most chavtastic 911 I've ever seen belonged to David Beckham. I think that could be deemed an "Exception to the rule" Garcon, most of us mere mortals and Clio/ Gti drivers, dont have that kind of Wonga to throw around in the pursuit of bad taste and individual "Chaviness" as "Dosh & Fecks" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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