[Zombie_Head]

Originally Posted by jmh600cbr

Considering the rs3 is only DCT I don't consider it competition. I do however wish that BMW had more tech like the rs3

Too many cars are stuffed with all sorts of tech, while it makes it easier to live with and safer (to an extent) it also means a lot more things tend to fail very quickly.

For example, i owned a brand new 2018 Golf R and it came with the front assist system. When it snowed, it constantly gave me "Front Assist System Malfunction" due to the snow covering the badge (where the sensors are) as well as the PDC at the front was also covered in snow and the car kept warning me of a collision.

If anything, we need much simpler cars, maybe navigation and an audio system, ABS/TC/DSC and that is it honestly.

Unless you have another meaning of car being loaded with "tech".

[scottbar6]

Originally Posted by Tracus

Interesting, as I was playing with the idea to buy an RS3.
I am looking for an AWD sports car and since the M3 and M2 are not I was looking at the RS3.
I don't like their air vents, yet I can learn to live with that if the car is worth the money.
I was considering the M2 but it will be a waste to keep it in the garage since I have at least 6 months of winter in here...

I have 330i RWD with manual and live in New England. I drive my car your round. I was skeptical about how good winter tires would be, I have been blown away with their performance. 2 winters and no issues at all driving in the snow. Excellent grip when accelerating and stopping.

[mtoosexy]

Originally Posted by Tracus

Interesting, as I was playing with the idea to buy an RS3.
I am looking for an AWD sports car and since the M3 and M2 are not I was looking at the RS3.
I don't like their air vents, yet I can learn to live with that if the car is worth the money.
I was considering the M2 but it will be a waste to keep it in the garage since I have at least 6 months of winter in here...

if u can stand an automatic trans and unreliable parts/features...the Alfa quad is nice. I was on a list for one until they debuted with Automatic only.

[drgmt]

Haldex type AWD systems never feel RWD. The whole "can send up to 80 % to the rear wheels" is largely marketing hype.

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by JamesT335I

Look at the new m5. awd

Yap, wonderful machine, yet too big for my needs. Plus, I can not justify the price for what I need. A lot of car that I don't use unfortunately.
My ex M5 was the dimensions of the actual 3 Series.
I would love the M3 with that M xDrive. I will jump all over it.

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by mtoosexy

if u can stand an automatic trans and unreliable parts/features...the Alfa quad is nice. I was on a list for one until they debuted with Automatic only.

LOL, Alfa is a terrible and unreliable vehicle. Back in Europe they call Italian cars Gigolos: they said that they look cute (not for me) but they disappoint you after.
I had an Alfa that the mechanic drove it more than me and I am a very peculiar individual with maintenance; still, that car beat me. Every weak or two weeks it was something.
No thank you.

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by Modaddict79

Haldex type AWD systems never feel RWD. The whole "can send up to 80 % to the rear wheels" is largely marketing hype.

It's their way of explaining when the fronts lose grip, 80% of power to the ground ends up in the rear, which is really only spinning at 50% torque or whatever Haldex is doing these days.

[mtoosexy]

Originally Posted by Tracus

LOL, Alfa is a terrible and unreliable vehicle. Back in Europe they call Italian cars Gigolos: they said that they look cute (not for me) but they disappoint you after.
I had an Alfa that the mechanic drove it more than me and I am a very peculiar individual with maintenance; still, that car beat me. Every weak or two weeks it was something.
No thank you.

I think you are preaching to the choir. Of course they are unreliable!!! they are marketing quite hard right now to out compete the negative info being traded around.

[mtoosexy]

Originally Posted by mWHO

When comparing the nutritional value for school children, you will find that you can in fact, compare apples to oranges...

Agree. the intrinsic amount of calories/nutrients/vitamins can be measured quantitatively. The degree of fun factor obtained from sliding the ass end out in a curve and rowing one's own gears can not be measured!! Therefore shouldn't be considered competitors except for size/pricepoint/couple of features. completely different beasts in my opinion.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Tracus

Interesting, as I was playing with the idea to buy an RS3.
I am looking for an AWD sports car and since the M3 and M2 are not I was looking at the RS3.
I don't like their air vents, yet I can learn to live with that if the car is worth the money.
I was considering the M2 but it will be a waste to keep it in the garage since I have at least 6 months of winter in here...

I am considering the same thing - I am not in love with my F80 ZCP (even though it's a very nice car), and would enjoy the aspects of AWD capabilities up here in Chicago (limited garage space for dedicated winter tires and/or wheels).

One of my biggest gripes with the F80 is the sound (or lack thereof) - the 5 pot in the RS3 sounds amazing and I think it actually looks very good, especially from the front. I also love the dash/tech, flat-bottom steering wheel and the interior overall.

I'm trying to find one to drive, as most of the ones coming into Chicago are already sold. Hopefully that works out for me soon.

[drgmt]

Originally Posted by Transfer

It's their way of explaining when the fronts lose grip, 80% of power to the ground ends up in the rear, which is really only spinning at 50% torque or whatever Haldex is doing these days.

I understand. Buy it gives people the false idea that it emulates a rear wheel experience. Which it definitely doesn't

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Tracus

Yap, wonderful machine, yet too big for my needs. Plus, I can not justify the price for what I need. A lot of car that I don't use unfortunately.
My ex M5 was the dimensions of the actual 3 Series.
I would love the M3 with that M xDrive. I will jump all over it.

I am sure that's coming for the next generation G80.

The size of the RS3 is also really nice - ~20% smaller than the F80, which would be about right.

Once again, lack of a true M compact sedan or hatch is a missed opportunity by BMW...M2GC would make me reshuffle the garage for winter tire space.

[LemonOne]

After having driven a TT RS on the track, yeah, it is fast but uninspiring (aka Quattro).
No more RS in my life.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

I am considering the same thing - I am not in love with my F80 ZCP (even though it's a very nice car), and would enjoy the aspects of AWD capabilities up here in Chicago (limited garage space for dedicated winter tires and/or wheels).

One of my biggest gripes with the F80 is the sound (or lack thereof) - the 5 pot in the RS3 sounds amazing and I think it actually looks very good, especially from the front. I also love the dash/tech, flat-bottom steering wheel and the interior overall.

I'm trying to find one to drive, as most of the ones coming into Chicago are already sold. Hopefully that works out for me soon.

What AWD performance vehicle have you driven that impressed you?

[quikM2]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

What AWD performance vehicle have you driven that impressed you?

To get an AWD car to impress you I think you're going to have to move to a 911. no x drive or quattro is going to cut it. maybe the R8... maybe

Actually quick edit here... Nissan GTR is hands down probably the most impressive awd machine in that price point. and it competes fully with cars double it's price point like 911 turbo etc. in awd performance.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

What AWD performance vehicle have you driven that impressed you?

A 991.1 4S, which was obviously awesome, but as you know I ended up going 981 CS at the time.

I was especially impressed with how well that thing jumped off the line from a stop - now light to light sprints are not that important to me, but the F80 struggles (IMO) at putting the power down effectively. Cue the flashing traction light.

AWD would seemingly eliminate that, and give me more mobility options up here in snow country (the M3 has been out of the garage once all week, and that's pretty damn annoying).

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by quikM2

To get an AWD car to impress you I think you're going to have to move to a 911. no x drive or quattro is going to cut it. maybe the R8... maybe

You could be right of course, but I definitely am interested in test driving one.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by mtoosexy

I think you are preaching to the choir. Of course they are unreliable!!! they are marketing quite hard right now to out compete the negative info being traded around.

I know that the Alfa QV has been gushed over by reviewers...and aside from the reliability issues...I just don't get it?

I think the F80 is much better looking, the Alfa's wheels look like 17s, and the infotainment screen looks like it came from a 1990s Honda. I wasn't impressed at all...

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

A 991.1 4S, which was obviously awesome, but as you know I ended up going 981 CS at the time.

I was especially impressed with how well that thing jumped off the line from a stop - now light to light sprints are not that important to me, but the F80 struggles (IMO) at putting the power down effectively. Cue the flashing traction light.

AWD would seemingly eliminate that, and give me more mobility options up here in snow country (the M3 has been out of the garage once all week, and that's pretty damn annoying).

I would say that ANY Porsche is going to be a completely different driving experience from any other vehicle..

Originally Posted by quikM2

To get an AWD car to impress you I think you're going to have to move to a 911. no x drive or quattro is going to cut it. maybe the R8... maybe

Actually quick edit here... Nissan GTR is hands down probably the most impressive awd machine in that price point. and it competes fully with cars double it's price point like 911 turbo etc. in awd performance.

Agree...but as impressive as the Nissan GTR is... it's not really FUN to drive... I mean hell.. the dang thing just does everything for you..

Originally Posted by dmboone25

You could be right of course, but I definitely am interested in test driving one.

good luck on the test drive..but you don't need to wast your time trying to drive an RS3 that someone wants to BUY...

Try the lesser AWD model... you will either LIKE the way AWD feels or you will NOT.. and I can tell you... traction light blinking is way more FUN than terminal UNDERSTEER.

PS.. Even the 911 Carrera 4 is NOT as fun as the car you had in the Cayman. you drive into a corner and it PUSHES.. drive out of the corner and it oversteers..
It's maddening

[F87_LCI]

I test drove the RS3 - wife was looking at it, but ended up going with a GTI as she wanted a manual. I was not impressed at all with the RS3. I drove it...moderately hard...on some back roads, the sales guy was crapping his pants and bitching but I just ignored him. The car did absolutely nothing for me. Yes, there was some "push you back in your seat" during off-the-line acceleration, but that was about it. Steering was crap, sound outside was nice, inside was horrible (not sure what Audi's version of ASD is called, but believe it or not it's worse than the M2 - very fake sounding). Seats were too high, and the video game style instrument cluster was something out of Gran Turismo. Too many things I didn't like about it...I was not sad that the wife decided she didn't like it either.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

I would say that ANY Porsche is going to be a completely different driving experience from any other vehicle..

Of course.

But the RS3 is such a nice little package - the size and potential really have me interested. And the engine could be much more special than the S55, at least if you believe the reviewers.

I have had a RWD/tail-happy car for more than 10 years straight now, it might just be time for a change.

(coming from the car flipping recidivist)

[///cbrash]

Most auto journalist say the newest car is the best. Which is retarded, Im glad he took the time to evaluate on what matters!