Audi rs3 8p vs A45 AMG

[stevekoz]

Just wondering on thoughts for a daily driver with some oomph and a bit interesting.
Used for commuting and weekend blasts and roadtrips
Never going to be tracked.
I can get both in original spec no mods for under £16k.

I lean towards these two because of the engines but for different reasons -

rs3 - 5pot engine
a45 - mercedes amg hand built

Both seem a nice place to sit - audi a bit more understated and arguable a bit more dated but has everything you need.
Merc looks outrageous but inside is nice and modern (for me).

I'd discount m140/m240 for lack of an lsd making them that bit less driver orientated as a hot hatch. Plus they are not as useable all year round.

Which would you choose and why? Am i missing alternatives ?

[Chris_91]

5 pot all day.

[stevekoz]

Yep the 5pot is delicious and it’s a very tempting factor.

I wonder if it’s enough to sway me given it’s not supposed to be a very good drivers car and what I boy needs to tick a box for when blasts.

Have you driven the rs3?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'm a Mercedes fan but I'd buy the RS3 as our friends over the pond say "there's no replacement for displacement" the 5 pot is the better packeage BUT when you want to go like your license doesn't matter then the A45 is the pick but for the other 364 days a year the RS3 is the one.

[Belle427]

I would take the Audi but both great cars, it does get slated in most tests i have read saying its not a great drivers car but only you can decide if you like it by having a go.
It would seem it is all about the engine if that make sense.

[Chris_i8]

Audi vote here too...really not keen at all on the modern Merc interiors.

[nikaiyo2]

M140/M240.

As a daily driver car for driving through town, up and down the motorway etc, its VASTLY better.

I had the CLA45 (A45 in a different body) followed by an M140, the CLA45 is fast, it would demolish a M140 round a track or twisty B road. However to have fun in it on the road, to feel like its sliding a bit you are at license loosing, maybe jail speeds. Yes the M140 is a bit crude, especially over uneven road surfaces it gets confused a bit, but it is fun at semi sensible speed.

The M140 is so much easier to drive in town or on a motorway, its a vastly better daily and the interior is much less like a 90s low end argos stereo.

I had my CLA45 for under 18 months the novelty had worn off after 6months max and, would have got shot sooner had I been able.

I had the M140 for 7 years until it was stolen.

[123DWA]

For a daily driver i'd take the A45. Whilst the 5 pot noise is lovely, the 8P is 20yrs old and it shows. Not to mention the types of people that owned RS3's. I helped a friend try and find one about 2yrs ago and he ended up with a TTRS as every RS3 we looked at had either had 10 owners and patchy history or was 'HPI clear' but had clearly had big shunts and were lashed back together badly

[Tarmack]

I’d say the 8P platform is too old nowadays although it'll probably hold value better than the Merc. Could go for the TT or RSQ3 too

[stevekoz]

Tarmack said:

I d say the 8P platform is too old nowadays although it'll probably hold value better than the Merc. Could go for the TT or RSQ3 too

Think if i didn't have kids the TTRS would be a nice daily driver, but with kids in the car 3-5days a week, its not doable. Plus its my only car.

I don't like the rsq3 tbh - just suv's in general are a no from me. Though i'm sure its good. I couldn't put up with that being my fun car too.

[stevekoz]

123DWA said:

For a daily driver i'd take the A45. Whilst the 5 pot noise is lovely, the 8P is 20yrs old and it shows. Not to mention the types of people that owned RS3's. I helped a friend try and find one about 2yrs ago and he ended up with a TTRS as every RS3 we looked at had either had 10 owners and patchy history or was 'HPI clear' but had clearly had big shunts and were lashed back together badly

THIS!! It is proving an issue, every car i look at is 7/8 owners, patchy history, poor mods. I have only seen one stock car online for sale and the garage seem to refust to answer my emails about history which makes me suspect.

Shame really as think would make a lovely daily. TBF the A45's aren't much different - a lot of V-Cars.

[stevekoz]

nikaiyo2 said:

M140/M240.

As a daily driver car for driving through town, up and down the motorway etc, its VASTLY better.

I had the CLA45 (A45 in a different body) followed by an M140, the CLA45 is fast, it would demolish a M140 round a track or twisty B road. However to have fun in it on the road, to feel like its sliding a bit you are at license loosing, maybe jail speeds. Yes the M140 is a bit crude, especially over uneven road surfaces it gets confused a bit, but it is fun at semi sensible speed.

The M140 is so much easier to drive in town or on a motorway, its a vastly better daily and the interior is much less like a 90s low end argos stereo.

I had my CLA45 for under 18 months the novelty had worn off after 6months max and, would have got shot sooner had I been able.

I had the M140 for 7 years until it was stolen.

I would go towards an M140i as i've had lots of fast BMW's over the years and love how they drive. BUT. From my test drives and research, its not a good weekend car for b-roads. And that would be a shame. Whilst i need a car that can do that commuting, it also has to be fun as well and m140i is good in a straight line but its not hot hatch in the handling dept, just power and speed. Maybe i'm wrong, but its a lot ot spend to find out i've gone the wrong route.

[stevekoz]

I guess are there any other cars that fit the bill - not too difficult for every day use but a blast on the weekend and handle well ? My head goes towards old stuff - like Impreza's and Evo's, though not sure about an Evo X these days?? And i've had a few subaru's before. Great for acouple of years but you tire of the lack of creature comforts

[Belle427]

Not sure if the Megane or Civic Type R creep into budget but worth considering, PP Golf Gti too would give you 99% of all the fun you ever need.
Golf R and Audi S3 a bit boring but very capable, lots of choice out there really.
The M140 is such a tricky one, some say for normal spirited dry road driving its fine and the handling is not an issue.

[ScoobyChris]

I had this choice 8 years ago and picked the M140i. It’s true it’s not a hot hatch in the traditional sense (being RWD is a big factor) and rewards “getting the inputs right” far better than the more forgiving FWD and AWD hatches which are more point and squirt and I found less enjoyable to drive. The BMW also handles the day to day nicely and my wife (who is not a car person) comfortably drove it around.

Chris

[stevekoz]

ScoobyChris said:

I had this choice 8 years ago and picked the M140i. It s true it s not a hot hatch in the traditional sense (being RWD is a big factor) and rewards getting the inputs right far better than the more forgiving FWD and AWD hatches which are more point and squirt and I found less enjoyable to drive. The BMW also handles the day to day nicely and my wife (who is not a car person) comfortably drove it around.

Chris

I hear what you are saying and having had the "daddy" to these in the form an 130i and also having had e46 and e92 M3's - i would like to imagine it's a good car. Is it your only car? How do they handle the wet? I never had an issue in the e46 or e92 but then they didnt have the spikey power of a turbo to deal with and were easy to modulate. I don't feel like a near 400hp turbo rwd hatch would be as forgiving on british roads and the majority of wet summers days we get.

[ScoobyChris]

stevekoz said:

I hear what you are saying and having had the "daddy" to these in the form an 130i and also having had e46 and e92 M3's - i would like to imagine it's a good car. Is it your only car? How do they handle the wet? I never had an issue in the e46 or e92 but then they didnt have the spikey power of a turbo to deal with and were easy to modulate. I don't feel like a near 400hp turbo rwd hatch would be as forgiving on british roads and the majority of wet summers days we get.

Mine was used as a daily driver, school run, station car, etc and in regular Comfort mode is as docile and easy to drive as the base model 1-series. As I mentioned, my wife (who has no interest in cars or speed) would happily drive it to work without any issues and keep up with traffic. Power delivery is not spikey at all and is very linear in delivery with peak torque flat from 1500-4500rpm. Of course, it can get more lively if you push on and, as with any powerful RWD car, requires some respect, smoothness of inputs, etc, but the limits are much higher than their reputation would have you believe and I didn't really have any issues getting the power down on the road.

I ran winters during the colder/wetter months (mine originally came on MPSS which had room for improvement in wet conditions!) but the later model MP4s were a huge improvement in that respect and gave more confidence.

Had mine for 8 years and only sold it recently because with me working from home, etc it wasn't getting the use it deserved.

Chris

[stevekoz]

ScoobyChris said:

I had this choice 8 years ago and picked the M140i. It s true it s not a hot hatch in the traditional sense (being RWD is a big factor) and rewards getting the inputs right far better than the more forgiving FWD and AWD hatches which are more point and squirt and I found less enjoyable to drive. The BMW also handles the day to day nicely and my wife (who is not a car person) comfortably drove it around.

Chris

I hear what you are saying and having had the "daddy" to these in the form an 130i and also having had e46 and e92 M3's - i would like to imagine it's a good car. Is it your only car? How do they handle the wet? I never had an issue in the e46 or e92 but then they didnt have the spikey power of a turbo to deal with and were easy to modulate. I don't feel like a near 400hp turbo rwd hatch would be as forgiving on british roads and the majority of wet summers days we get.

[stevekoz]

Well.

I want ahead and purchased a later plate 2012 8p RS3.

None of the AMG's i saw were of the right history and this (whilst its had a few owners) looked well serviced and maintained and have to say its very good.

The steering at slow speeds is somewhat weighted which is one early criticism but honestly, doesn't drive too much like a 12 year old car. Coming straight from a 2017 focus RS which is pinpoint and very agile. The rs3 feels every bit as agile up to national limits on a local country road i use to test out all my new cars.

The acceleration is blistering and despite having equal HP the cars feel very different in terms of delivery and pace but the RS3 remains composed so it has much better dampening than the Focus for our roads. At sedate 30mph town speed it is stiff but not bone shaking and at 60mph on country roads it is alive and fun but composed and not pogoing like the Focus does.

Anyway, those are my early thoughts from days 1 and 2, got a Wales weekend roadtrip planned in a couple of weeks so sure i'll learn more of the cars capabilities but for now , i'm very happy with my purchase.

Cheers for all your help.