[bazz780]

Hey guys, as per title really, have put the 335d for sale on auto trader at a very competitive price. Was considering a downgrade to a 330i m sport or was looking at these facelift s3's which look quite decent imo, just want to know if anyone made the hange and what they think

Regards

[PhilM]

Why the change out of interest?

I was tempted by an S3 on a 57reg but realised it wasn't really what I wanted.

[bazz780]

Originally Posted by PhilM

Why the change out of interest?

I was tempted by an S3 on a 57reg but realised it wasn't really what I wanted.

Had the 335d for over a year now and to be honest dont do long enough journeys for owning a diesel.

Just advanced thinking really

[Not a Diesel!!!]

Just coming from a Megane R26 & back in the day they wiped the floor with S3 in road tests.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...6-2008/1002391

Maybe not the same league in build but not as bad as you would think and small-ish turbo means boost from very low revs & good economy.

Rare Leather really lifts the interior.

[uke92dude]

Had an 07 S3. OK car, but a little boring and unexciting to drive; a 4WD Golf in a posh frock. Economy not great, some issues with build quality and Audi dealers as clueless, arrogant and useless as BMW, but car great in snow and ice with Haldex 4WD!

New one, technically looks great with 300PS engine, low emissions (159g) and 40+ MPG, shame about the plain, uninspiring styling.

[ukbeemerboy]

I'd suggest you drive one first because they drive nothing like a BMW due to the over light and numb steering feel. I had a 2.0T Quattro and it was £270 a year to tax and only got 28mpg. More on a run. Build quality is good, but Audi's just seem so boring.

Also the ride on mine (s-line) was rock hard, very fidgety so the S3 would be even worse as it 10mm lower again. Boot is shallow too due to the Hadlex and diff.

[bazz780]

....and that is why i cannot think of anything other than bmw, i drove my cousins 10 plate s4 back when i had a 530d m sport, it felt awfully light and mundane, also drove a 08 s5 which felt way too light for a v8

[BanziBarn]

Originally Posted by bazz780

Had the 335d for over a year now and to be honest dont do long enough journeys for owning a diesel.

Just advanced thinking really

In my opinion, diesels aren't only for people who do big mileages any more. I only do 8k per year but to get a petrol e90 with the same level of grunt would have meant a 335i and that was more expensive and dearer to run.

I'd keep the 335d if I was you as a petrol car is going to feel a bit sluggish unless you go for a big power hike. The S3 has quite a fast 0-60 but once on the move won't be that fast and like has been said, won't be as good to drive as your 3er.

[Robin330i]

I had a remapped 2.0T Quattro and I loved it - engine was the best part of the car - went really well at low revs so you could drive in 6th gear most of the time as it was wonderfully flexible. Handling wise it was good but not as sharp as the E90 chassis.

[BIGBOYQ]

Interesting comments, after 6 years driving D's a 320d and 330d, I want to petrol.

I did love the 330D as it was remapped, but there was loads of power - but rarely was able to appreciate the car as the power was very top end.

I find the 335i much more enjoyable car to drive, and i do not listen to the radio any more! - just tune into station 335i

But its personal preference

[pretendporsche]

I owned a 57 plate s3 for around a year.

I had it remapped, it was f**king quick for a 2.0l, only thing i really raced that left me was a 911 turbo, top end was also good for a hatch (on a private road) i hit 170mph.

However, unless it is icy or snowing the quattro isnt much use, and down to the way the system works on the S3 it makes them understeer BIG TIME.

Bmw handling is more enjoyable and they feel more balanced.

I have owned 4 performance audis now and i can honestly say i will never go back.

[confused.com]

Originally Posted by pretendporsche

I owned a 57 plate s3 for around a year.

I had it remapped, it was f**king quick for a 2.0l, only thing i really raced that left me was a 911 turbo, top end was also good for a hatch (on a private road) i hit 170mph.

However, unless it is icy or snowing the quattro isnt much use, and down to the way the system works on the S3 it makes them understeer BIG TIME.

Bmw handling is more enjoyable and they feel more balanced.

I have owned 4 performance audis now and i can honestly say i will never go back.

I've never had a play with one from a standing start, but have show a few a clean pair of heels on the move - nothing above the speed limit mind, certainly not 170mph. I don't doubt what you say, but find it hard to believe.

[confused.com]

Originally Posted by pretendporsche

I owned a 57 plate s3 for around a year.

I had it remapped, it was f**king quick for a 2.0l, only thing i really raced that left me was a 911 turbo, top end was also good for a hatch (on a private road) i hit 170mph.

However, unless it is icy or snowing the quattro isnt much use, and down to the way the system works on the S3 it makes them understeer BIG TIME.

Bmw handling is more enjoyable and they feel more balanced.

I have owned 4 performance audis now and i can honestly say i will never go back.

I've never had a play with one from a standing start, but have show a few a clean pair of heels on the move - nothing above the speed limit mind, certainly not 170mph. I don't doubt what you say, but find it hard to believe.

[pretendporsche]

Originally Posted by confused.com

I've never had a play with one from a standing start, but have show a few a clean pair of heels on the move - nothing above the speed limit mind, certainly not 170mph. I don't doubt what you say, but find it hard to believe.

As i say, mine was remapped, didnt rr it, but others with same map showed and average 315bhp.

It showed 170mph on the speedo, so real time speed could have been as low as 158mph i guess.

Mate had a 335d and we raced, nothing in it on the move, but never went from a standing start, although i did in my tuned s4, and that left him with ease.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by pretendporsche

I owned a 57 plate s3 for around a year.

I had it remapped, it was f**king quick for a 2.0l, only thing i really raced that left me was a 911 turbo, top end was also good for a hatch (on a private road) i hit 170mph.

However, unless it is icy or snowing the quattro isnt much use, and down to the way the system works on the S3 it makes them understeer BIG TIME.

Bmw handling is more enjoyable and they feel more balanced.

I have owned 4 performance audis now and i can honestly say i will never go back.

They are reasonably quick standard but another 60bhp doesn't put it into that high a performance class.

It isn't a real quattro system either.

[pretendporsche]

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by pretendporsche

I can't make out.

I see the title is 179mph ish.

Hatchbacks are poor for aerodynamics. Look at the Focus RS etc claimed top speed of 163mph but in tests managed 157mph.

It takes a lot to gain big small amounts.

A 911 with 345bhp tops out at 180mph and an Audi R8 V8 only a few MPH faster.

[pretendporsche]

I agree, as I said, I doubt very much it was 170 real speed, most likely 155-160, but even that is impressive in a 2L hatch.

Pointless speed on the road anyway, and really a boring car to drive IMO, hence why I sold it and bought my Porsche, and that scares the s**t out of me at 150.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by pretendporsche

I agree, as I said, I doubt very much it was 170 real speed, most likely 155-160, but even that is impressive in a 2L hatch.

Pointless speed on the road anyway, and really a boring car to drive IMO, hence why I sold it and bought my Porsche, and that scares the s**t out of me at 150.

There is a bit in Autocar this week with modified hot hatchbacks.

The new Focus ST with 292bhp just managed 150mph. Ford claim 153mph for the standard one with 247bhp.

The Megane RS with 300bhp couldn't break 150mph.

Thornley's Astra GTC VXR with 320bhp ran out of puff at only 140mph.

[Nigelo]

Those new VXRs don't seem to be putting out quite the figures you'd expect for the bhp and torque - thinking back to the magazine drag race between one and a RS250 megane and the megane dusted it!

[Nigelo]

App double post :-(

[Nigelo]

Those new VXRs don't seem to be putting out quite the figures you'd expect for the bhp and torque - thinking back to the magazine drag race between one and a RS250 megane and the megane dusted it!