Audi S3 vs. BMW 135i Coupe

[imported_Wimbledon]

In the UK, the base prices are as follows:

BMW 135i Coupe: £29,745

Audi S3: £26,170

So given that the two are similarly priced, which would you choose if you could buy either?

Audi S3:















BMW 135i Coupe:

[Drawarms]

not gonna lie, that S3 looks insane. Never even knew they made one, my cousin in Greece has a A3, its pretty cool.

[Rearro]

The S3 looks awesome!! and the cockpit!!! WOW!!!
None the less, I am a BMW Guy!!

[Papethova]

Originally Posted by Drawarms

not gonna lie, that S3 looks insane. Never even knew they made one, my cousin in Greece has a A3, its pretty cool.

Ive seen 4-5 of those hatches driving around together here in the LA area. They were A3s though not S3s. I like the 4 door A3 the 2 door is too much of a hatch so I voted for the 135.

[Drawarms]

Originally Posted by Rearro

The S3 looks awesome!! and the cockpit!!! WOW!!!
None the less, I am a BMW Guy!!

I feel the same way dude.

[kobezklutch]

based on looks---> s3 no questions, interior AND exterior are wayyy better than the 1

on performance---> the 1 has way too much potential

tough decision, i guess it just depends on what you want in a car. i'd seriously consider the audi but end taking the one

[asv]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I really don't care for the Audi interior. Its way over the top, looks like something you would see from Japan.

[Twisted]

With these two cars for me here, there's no comparison...

Personally i'd compare the S3 to the 130i hatch. Look i know its a big modified 2litre engine producting 188kW but in terms of power i'd rather match it up to the 195kW of the 130i hatch and if you consider the price of the hatch in comparison to the S3... i'd say the 130i wins hands down.

I personally think BMW stepped up with the 135i and created a coupe no one would expect. To compare this car with the hatch segment is a bit of a waste even although the only "competitors" right now are in the hatch segment. (damn scooby)...

[rdkind62]

Not a fan of hatchbacks at all so my obvious vote goes to the BMW.

[d3syd]

I prefer the 1er's exterior, but the S3's interior.

Overall, give me the 1er any day.

[aesthetect]

love the S3. but would only take it over the bmw if i had a need for AWD, but if that were the case then i would have no reservations. and im not much of a hatch man, nor audi. (just read a second ago it runs at up to 1.2 bar of boost - wow)



although i do kinda agree with this guy. looks like what i would expect in a r32, should be a bit cleaner/classier

Originally Posted by asv

I guess I'm in the minority, but I really don't care for the Audi interior. Its way over the top, looks like something you would see from Japan.

[moff]

I have driven both and used to own the old model 8L Audi S3.

What I can tell you is the S3 is fast, not as quick as the 135i, but quick all the same. The cockpit is nice, but the seating position is too high and in the flesh the S3 is so subtle it can easily be mistaken for an A3 1.6 SLine.

To compound matters the S3 is really dull to drive, and I was doing 90mph and it felt slow. The steering is numb and there is just no feedback at all.

Add to that the fact that this car is predominantly FWD. It is not a 'true' Quattro as it uses the Haldex clutch system sending a maximum 100% torque to the front wheels and a maximum 50% to the rear wheels under hard acceleration. In normal driving 100% torque will be going through the fronts.

AutoCar recently did a test - 135i Vs 350Z Vs Cayman S. They mentioned that they were going to include the S3 but left it out due in part to some of the reasons that I mentioned above.

Wish I could find the article.... it's the same article that accompanies the Sedona Red and Yellow Cayman pics...

[Swift135]

Sorry!:wink: My Mistake, I voted for the wrong car! I'll be one of the first 135i deliveries in Australia, why wound I vote for an Audi?:iono:

[Robert]

My friend is buying an A3 sline. I will let you guys know how we like our cars after delivery.

[pumaknight]

HAHAHAHAHA, fairly comprehensive, but not a suprising result on a forum called 1addicts

[WAY]

I did consider the S3 as a replacement for my Golf GTI, but at the end decided that the DSG on the GTI is worth keeping over the AWD of the S3 (my GTI has been chipped and produces better numbers than the S3 so engine output isn't a consideration). But I have to say, the S3 has been praised by many in the motoring industry, and the track times have been as quick and sometimes quicker than a 135i. So it is a quick car, and a very good looking one in the flesh. It's also almost 10% cheaper. But the 135i's small, RWD platform with big power is something you don't see anymore. Small high powered all paws cars on the other hand are dime a dozen (WRX, STI, EVO, R32 etc). I think ultimately you will have more fun in a 135i than a S3.

[NJKSC27]

that interior is breathtaking but the look of the S3 is not impressive at all in my opinion

[moff]

Audi always produce the best interiors, they are very well made with excellent materials.

BMW have slipped a bit recently with their interiors. I think that our 335d has a nice interior, but the new Audi A5's cabin is a much nicer place to be.

Shame Audi can't make their cars drive as well (excluding the RS4 and R8!!!).

[clived]

Originally Posted by moff

AutoCar recently did a test - 135i Vs 350Z Vs Cayman S. They mentioned that they were going to include the S3 but left it out due in part to some of the reasons that I mentioned above.

Wish I could find the article.... it's the same article that accompanies the Sedona Red and Yellow Cayman pics...

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2564 ?

[peppebmw]

I've always been an Audi guy therfore this will be my first BMW. S3 is the car that us Audi enthusiasts have dreamed about coming to the United States. If there was one available right now and around $40K I'd be all over it. Man that car is sweet. Oh well to the dark side I go!

[larryn]

Love the S3 interior. Audi interiors are usually done well. The A3 platform drives pretty good too. I had one as a rental in Germany a few months ago. It felt pretty good.

I think the E82 exterior looks edgier, sportier, and plain better to me, and it certainly will beat it in tests, as the 130i hatch equalled the S3 in prior comparos. I think the E87 130i M Sport is a much more equal comparison to the S3.

[imported_sbw]

S3 looks boring in comparison to the 1. Maybe the next generation will be more bold.