[ska///235i]

some yellow flavor

[unintelligible]

That Sepang Blue is amazing.

[bimmer4life24]

It's beautiful

[Red Bread]

For some reason the yellow one is the first one that made me notice the wing mirror being mounted to the door, something I'm a sucker for. Nice detail.

[rca06Mcoupe]

Between the S3 - Golf R,
I had been leaning more to the Golf-R styling, since I've always had a problem with the Audi grill. However, the blue model works well for me, partly because there is no front license plate or license plate holder -- so my focus is on the whole front end and not just the big black center grill.
And that blue blends well for me.

(Lucky I have a legacy license plate situation here-- can use single plate on the rear).

The S3 backside looks great to me in any color.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by rca06Mcoupe

Between the S3 - Golf R,
I had been leaning more to the Golf-R styling, since I've always had a problem with the Audi grill. However, the blue model works well for me, partly because there is no front license plate or license plate holder -- so my focus is on the whole front end and not just the big black center grill.
And that blue blends well for me.

(Lucky I have a legacy license plate situation here-- can use single plate on the rear).

The S3 backside looks great to me in any color.

The Mk7 R looks a little bland, at least compared to the Mk6. I also prefer the central exhaust of the Mk6 to the four pipes (one per cylinder) of the Mk7 R and S3. But ultimately, with no manual choice for the S3, I've got to go for the Golf R, personally. I'll just be looking to either find a single sided exhaust or create a custom central routing like the Mk5 and Mk6 had.

[ska///235i]

What i really like about the s3 is the slightly flare fenders and the rearend...something the m235 doesnt have

[JButtonMCL]

That blue looks NICE on the S3!

Anyone have a side by side comparison between the S3 and the Golf R?

[ska///235i]

I went to the New England autoshow and saw the S3 in person. exterior looks good for what it is, but the small brakes are a turnoff. They didnt allow ppl inside as the car was on a platform but there was also an A3 there. I was very disappointed on the interior, is all plastic (80%) and the airvents are filmsy...it just doesnt feel right for a $40k car. I hope this only applies to the A3 and that the S3 will have better materials. The CLA AMG interior was so much better. I actually like the CLA more in person.... So back to BMW for me (235i)

[unintelligible]

Damn, that's disappointing. I thought the strength of the A3/S3 was going to be the interior. Between FWD-biased platform, no manual, no free maintenance, no loyalty programs and the typically ho-hum Audi lease rates, if the interior is only average on top of all that - see ya.

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by unintelligible

Damn, that's disappointing. I thought the strength of the A3/S3 was going to be the interior. Between FWD-biased platform, no manual, no free maintenance, no loyalty programs and the typically ho-hum Audi lease rates, if the interior is only average on top of all that - see ya.

maybe its just me. I find the new accord to have a better interior than the A3. If you place the CLA amg next to the S3 and judge by the design and quality (not just looks)...CLA wins by a mile

[miiipilot]

After seeing this at the NAIAS today...ABSOLUTELY INTERESTED.

[buumer]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

I went to the New England autoshow and saw the S3 in person. exterior looks good for what it is, but the small brakes are a turnoff. They didnt allow ppl inside as the car was on a platform but there was also an A3 there. I was very disappointed on the interior, is all plastic (80%) and the airvents are filmsy...it just doesnt feel right for a $40k car. I hope this only applies to the A3 and that the S3 will have better materials. The CLA AMG interior was so much better. I actually like the CLA more in person.... So back to BMW for me (235i)

Most of the reviews of the S3 praise the quality of the materials for its segment, so Id be optimistic.

Also probably worth remembering that the nice CLA interior comes in the 60k spec, the S3 stands a good 15k below that.

If I could order the car right now(or even within the next couple of months) then Id already have the check ready, but waiting for almost 6 months is going to be a drag. Feel that time is going to ultimately sway me back to the m235i for a Summer ED.

[ska///235i]

Lets hope the S3 uses diff material and have leather wrap where all the hard plastic is on the Sline A3...but then the controllers/buttons and airvents are as cheap as you can get. Not only that, the entire layout is boring

[jocamryn]

S3 offers FULL LED headlights...

[Red Bread]

I must be from another planet than other people shopping for sporty cars. I'd gladly accept the Shards of Glass interior option, a rusted set of Campbell's soup cans for vents and a Motorola Razr with a blown speaker rubber banded to the dash if I thought for a second it meant some engineering dollars went instead to make the car more fun to drive.

Are there Buick forums? I think some folks have the wrong expectations for German cars. They've almost singularly been about driving dynamics over fluff, but I guess the impact of Lexus and an aging populace have led this change. Man, for 40, I'm a hell of a curmudgeon...

[ska///235i]

If dishing out $40k+ on a car with subpar interior satisfy you, then by all means....

The S3 is a great car and I still like it for what it is, but we cant deny that is lacking compare to the competition

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

If dishing out $40k+ on a car with subpar interior satisfy you, then by all means....

The S3 is a great car and I still like it for what it is, but we cant deny that is lacking compare to the competition

Is $40k a lot? That's entry level for pretty much any German car, and given that the CLA, A3/S3 and 2er are all more focused on being more sporty than luxurious, my expectations are aligned more with that.

Cars like an XJ, S-Class or certainly a Bentley or Roller should have lots of leather and soft touch plastics on things that aren't leather, if any, but I guess I actually prefer my sports cars and sporty cars to have lighter, more pedestrian materials. It's cool that you can fluff up a Porsche with $30k of leather, but it won't make it drive any different (well, it will be heavier) than a stock one.

An E Class or F10 5er isn't even as nice inside as a front wheel drive ES Lexus, but then it's not really sold to the same customer. I like options, if someone wants an automatic, leather everywhere, a monstrous sunroof and a plasma on the dash, that's great, just let me get the basic car without that stuff and I'll be fine.

Honestly, if you killed the standard leather, sunroof, electronic shocks and a number of other "standard" features on the M235i, I'd probably be more interested in it than I am a 3,500 pound car with a bunch of forced content I don't want.

I don't really care about the S3, as it's currently DSG only for the US market, so I'm more interested in a Golf R. Sadly, the car I'd actually prefer, a BRZ with some torque, isn't available. Speaking of terrible interiors that I can still live with.

Just for humor, I'll mention that I'm already scheming swapping the standard leather seats in the R for a set of the tartan cloth seats from a GTI, but don't suspect I'll find someone willing to do that trade.

[ska///235i]

I know what you mean. I too prefer a lighter car...just give me a casette/radio, AC, & lsd and Im a happy camper.

But then $40k is $40k and im judging that by that standard

The $24k accord has a nicer interior (again base off of the Sline A3)

[Red Bread]

Hehe, I agree. I just put about as much stock in interior quality as I do which side of the car you put gas in. If the car drives well, I'll tolerate a shite interior. But if the car drives poorly, it better be comfy.

[YellowMellow]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

If dishing out $40k+ on a car with subpar interior satisfy you, then by all means....

The S3 is a great car and I still like it for what it is, but we cant deny that is lacking compare to the competition

I'm curious as to what competition your referring to and what you mean by subpar? Are you comparing S3 to 2 Series and CLA?

I don't think anyone has compared them in-person, side by side yet, right?

[amdmaxx]

Originally Posted by bimmer4life24

Should add its just my opinion. That's how I look at it when comparing the auto trannys.

When it comes to the manual, the M235i may be the best option.

Also...M2 > ALL

C7 z51 >m2