Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 11,117
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
What car for up to £25k (S5/M3/RS4)
- Thread starter Mulder
- Start date
[TW]Fox;29966875 said:Exactly yet most peoples first thoughts are that the S5 is 'special' and the 335 is 'just a 3 Series'.
I'd imagine a similar thing happened with the S3 v 135i, which is why we now have an 'M135i' instead...
A glorious triumph of marketing
The 4.2 S5 is still more special than a 335, because V8.
I agree when its 3.0 L6 turbo 335i vs 3.0 V6 turbo S4 though!
In my opinion Audi have made 4 great cars, of which I have owned/own 2 of them. I will probably own another 1 at some point in the near future and maybe, who knows, the 4th one.
THE Audi Quattro
B7 RS4
R8 V10 Plus 2013
R8 V10 Plus 2015
Outside of that they have made many nice cars, but all of them let down in some area or another in my opinion. I've never rated the B5 RS4 like so many do, mainly because you can tune it silly. I don't like the RS6, didn't like the RS3 I drove a few weeks back. The TT is getting better, but has typically been a numb boring sports car wanna be, but as I said it seems to be getting better and the RS one sounds interesting...but suspect it will be ANOTHER failed to hit the target special.
THE Audi Quattro
B7 RS4
R8 V10 Plus 2013
R8 V10 Plus 2015
Outside of that they have made many nice cars, but all of them let down in some area or another in my opinion. I've never rated the B5 RS4 like so many do, mainly because you can tune it silly. I don't like the RS6, didn't like the RS3 I drove a few weeks back. The TT is getting better, but has typically been a numb boring sports car wanna be, but as I said it seems to be getting better and the RS one sounds interesting...but suspect it will be ANOTHER failed to hit the target special.
If I bought the F30 335 (and Fox I hear you; despite my preconceptions as an E46 330 owner they are different cars) I'd be thinking as soon as I drove away from the dealership, "I should have bought the M3".
Maybe i'll think that if I go for the S5 too, who knows. But I really rate the interior on the Audi so much more, it's gorgeous and was a great place to be when I took it out, whereas the M3 is fairly standard inside.
Yes the M3 is a proper sports car and the S5 isn't. But given you can remap the 3L supercharged S5's to have the BHP and torque of the RS I still think it's worth the comparison.
I think I basically need to decide what i'm really after, and it's between i) a proper sports car and ii) a powerful, but more sensible, premium coupe.
Thanks for all the replies. This is what I'm taking out tomorrow, will keep you updated.
Maybe i'll think that if I go for the S5 too, who knows. But I really rate the interior on the Audi so much more, it's gorgeous and was a great place to be when I took it out, whereas the M3 is fairly standard inside.
Yes the M3 is a proper sports car and the S5 isn't. But given you can remap the 3L supercharged S5's to have the BHP and torque of the RS I still think it's worth the comparison.
I think I basically need to decide what i'm really after, and it's between i) a proper sports car and ii) a powerful, but more sensible, premium coupe.
Thanks for all the replies. This is what I'm taking out tomorrow, will keep you updated.
A lot of people class that as a bit of a let down... I would sooner bag the B7 RS4 Avant
A lot of people I know have had both and can't understand still how Audi could get the B7 RS4 so right and the RS5 (and B8) so wrong.
I tested a RS4 Avant on Tuesday morning. I was in Bristol with a little time to kill and found one for sale at a dealers. Told them from the off I wasn't buying today but hadn't driven one and needed to know. They obliged and I got about half hour with it on the Bristol ring road.
It wasn't the best example. The seat leather was pretty cracked on the drivers side. It had a miltek exhaust which sounded awesome on start up but droned at constant speed. It did understeer coming off a roundabout which I expected but a little earlier than expected. Interior level doesn't bother me as I have a B7 avant now.
To me, it felt quick. Quick enough to get into trouble anyway. Didn't feel it lacking pace at all, personally.
I don't really like the C63 although it sounds immense. M3 doesn't really do it for me and I have kiddies so would have to be a 4 door. I've also considered keeping the oil burner and getting an Evo or Impreza for weekends but it would hardly get used. Might make a decent investment. I also think a good RS4 would hold it's value. I'm thinking I'll still go for the RS4 to get it out of my system but maybe for a year or so then go back to sensible-ville.
It wasn't the best example. The seat leather was pretty cracked on the drivers side. It had a miltek exhaust which sounded awesome on start up but droned at constant speed. It did understeer coming off a roundabout which I expected but a little earlier than expected. Interior level doesn't bother me as I have a B7 avant now.
To me, it felt quick. Quick enough to get into trouble anyway. Didn't feel it lacking pace at all, personally.
I don't really like the C63 although it sounds immense. M3 doesn't really do it for me and I have kiddies so would have to be a 4 door. I've also considered keeping the oil burner and getting an Evo or Impreza for weekends but it would hardly get used. Might make a decent investment. I also think a good RS4 would hold it's value. I'm thinking I'll still go for the RS4 to get it out of my system but maybe for a year or so then go back to sensible-ville.
You know, I do not think I have spent £25,000 on buying cars in my entire life, since 1980, all put together!
I am intrigued at peoples priorities....!
Now, OK.
I know I am a somewhat special case, (As lady friends have often pointed out "It is easy for you, You can just fix things, we can't" And they are right.)
I have always acquired near "End of life" vehicles for practically nothing (I always used to like old Jags but I am more old BMW/ Landcruiser these days), spent a grand on parts (plus my time) and then run them for another ten years or more.
It is cheap luxury motoring if you can do it!
On another note, there is actually very little I find attractive about modern motors!! (WAAaaaay to much technology! I am almost sympathetic with Isiac Issigonis (The Mini Man)
So I will try to keep my old, inexpensive, ones going for as long as possible. :/
I am intrigued at peoples priorities....!
Now, OK.
I know I am a somewhat special case, (As lady friends have often pointed out "It is easy for you, You can just fix things, we can't" And they are right.)
I have always acquired near "End of life" vehicles for practically nothing (I always used to like old Jags but I am more old BMW/ Landcruiser these days), spent a grand on parts (plus my time) and then run them for another ten years or more.
It is cheap luxury motoring if you can do it!
On another note, there is actually very little I find attractive about modern motors!! (WAAaaaay to much technology! I am almost sympathetic with Isiac Issigonis (The Mini Man)
He didn't think one should even have a radio in a car. He felt it was a dangerous distraction! Might seem extreme, but now we are in a world where it has been demonstrated that it is possible to access and hack a vehicles essential systems via the digital radio I think his point is more relevant than ever! 
So I will try to keep my old, inexpensive, ones going for as long as possible. :/
I am intrigued at peoples priorities....!
Paying for something you get enjoyment from is crazy right!?
Paying for something you get enjoyment from is crazy right!?
Stop talking crazy and make me some tea!
Paying for something you get enjoyment from is crazy right!?
I have had a great deal of enjoyment from my old V12 jags and Landcruisers.
Not just from driving them but also from working on them.
But my enjoyment has been a great deal less expensive than some other peoples.
But, yes, Horses for courses and all that!
Oh, And PS
I have never sold a car!
I always keep them until they die (And some beyond that, much to the annoyance of my GF's!
)
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A lot of truth in this, a mate bought one about a year ago for 16k, it was scruffy (kerbed alloys and swirl central paintwork) he took it from 70 to 82k and sold it on a few weeks back for £18k, he refurbed the wheels and had it detailed prior to sale, I thought him mad to buy it thinking (as he did) that he wouldn't lose money on it and he went and made on the thing!
Thread has taken a....
Now we are talking!
If it isn't 500CI it isn't worth driving! Those were the days!
Having had plenty of seat time in both, thanks Housey, the RS4 a far nicer car to push hard on the road, whereas the RS5 is a shocking drive on the road, it must be god aweful on track. Its only redeeming feature is straight lines.
The RS5 I said it earlier, but in short one of the worse performance cars I've ever driven.
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 11,117
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
Shame...because I much prefer the coupe looks & style.
I'll probably buy a Jag at some point (I love the LWB new XJs) but I want something a bit less middle aged for the next couple of years at least.
Never really thought about a VXR8, I wouldn't get it because I'm a self-confessed brand snob, but i'm surprised at those BHP and torque figures!