535dboy wrote:335d BMW then if you don't want to totally give up !
Good economy and will keep up with an S4 fine if that bothers you
Shame about the lotus though
The Lotus has been an amazing car to own but I need something different for the time being.
I've owned one diesel. I hope I never have to own another.
I know they can be as quick as, or quicker than, their petrol counterparts but I just can't stand the way they sound. Noise forms a huge part of my enjoyment of a car.
doodlebug wrote:Devils fuel. Wouldn't touch with a barge pole. And I suspect part of the VW fallout will confirm this (again) and tax will be tweaked.
Personally I'd take the S4. RS3 is OK in a straight line, but the interior and controls are prehistoric. RNS-E!!
I looked at and had a passenger run in an S4 on my way to the test drives yesterday. The interior was nice but the car didn't feel special enough to me. Maybe a drive would have changed that but it's a bit late now...
Deal done. I'm picking up the RS3 tomorrow.
It was never going to be as sharp, as precise or as angry as the Exige (in fairness I've never driven anything that was) but I absolutely love the noise, the pace, the interior and the gearbox.
My drive in the Golf R in the morning confirmed my thoughts from driving the DSG version last year. A competent car but not in the least bit exciting even when I was pushing on. The manual 'box livened things up a bit but not nearly enough. And the noise that's pumped into the cabin was as pitiful as I remembered it being.
The biggest surprise getting into the '3 was how much nicer the cabin is than the Golf's. The last Audi I drove was my C5 RS6. I didn't realise interiors had moved on so much by the 8P.
I'm very happy with my decision. I know the RS3 isn't to everyone's taste but I really like it and I'm looking forward to putting some miles on it.
I'd like to make the most of the noise (even with S pressed I feel it could do with being a bit louder especially in the cabin) so a catback will probably be in order before too long.