S3 quicker than R32

[alex_123_fra]

Well...not a surprise really. The new S3 is quicker than the R32 (mk V). R32 is over 150 kg heavier (no doubt largely due to the 3.2L V6).

What I didn't know is by how much the new S3 might be quicker around a track as demonstrated here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRdEXWgq_08

Apologies to those of you who have seen this vid. The S3 corners much flatter and seems more sure-footed. The R32 seems more rolly as you would expect from a heavier car.

I'd probably still go for the R32 as I just love the sound of that engine and would want the practicality of 5 doors.

[coxw]

the S3 will break 300bhp with far less outlay than the R32, and with all the extra weight your bhp/tonne is never going to be as effective.

The R32 is a nice motor, although I think VAG have foolishly downgraded the dash quality which really tells in the Mk5 (and at £24k this is pretty inexcusable), however I can live with the S3's Q car attributes as for a few extra quid you can easily get a car with 310bhp / 400Nm after an MTM map, and then hopefully it will also have more exclusivity and better residuals.

[fredfunk1975]

If you look in the new top gear mag there is a group test between the S3, R32 and the BM130 around the track i think the car was 2-3 seconds faster than the golf and about 5-6 seconds faster than the BM, the day of the track test it was raining very heavily. It does get the best right up of the 3 cars but they would choose the R32!!
My opinion is the S3 for the complete alround package!

[coxw]

but they would choose the R32!!

I think magazines are frightened that they will lose credibility if they rate a 4 pot engine over a V configuration. VAG cars understeer when you put huge engines out over the front wheels (although its rumoured the new A4 shouldn't be as bad as they have moved the engine further back).

I admit there is more drama from the sound of the V6 lump, but ultimately its nose heavy, prone to more understeer, less powerful and ultimately more expensive to extract higher performance from it. Now I'm used to the turbo lumps it would take a very special normally aspirated engine to move me from blown cars. BMW's M3 engine is one, the RS4 v8 is another, but the R32 should always have been an R36 like it was Stateside (and will be in the new Passat R36)