Which one gets your vote

[Poached]

Not a fan of that S3, proportions make the rear end look fatter. Wheels didn't help either...

I voted Merc like most have so far, probably because it's something different.

The R is nice but its not different enough from the MK6 R in that picture. Save the pennies and get a MK6 R?

Good point but who would base a decision on looks alone? For example, the Golf MK7 may not look much different but it's a whole new setup and with it's new chassis helping reduce the cars overall weight by 100 kg, I'm sure it's a very different car to drive.

Yes I agree - it will probably be a step up but I look at it and think a used MK6 R and mods worth ~ £1200 could give you more than the performance of a stock MK7 R and leave you with spare cash that would take years to break even on in terms of MPG etc if you bought new.

By the sounds of it the Merc will be very expensive...anyone fancy an RS3? Its looking a little dated inside now but I have read the 5 pot TFSI is a stonker.

[Jimble]

Had a look at this earlier and must say it looks stunning up close! Had a sit in one the showroom and it's very smart inside too, the seats look lovely but don't hug you very much but there is plenty of room inside except the boot which is tiny!





The auto selector is on the dash as well which i don't like, bloody Americans!!

[raferackstraw]

the merc just looks like an astra from the side and back 

[Jimble]

the merc just looks like an astra from the side and back 

Agreed.

[gazpowells]

S3 gets my vote

[zebedee]

R, Merc and Audi, in that order.

The R is classy to look at, could do with some better shoes though, slightly chavtastic 

The Merc is like a woman that looks great from the back and then you see the face and its like a dogs arse, in this case the front is nice but the arse is nappy.

The Audi looks like a spinster mobile, no style.

[Hurdy]

The engines are also key to any decision. As long as VAG have resolved the issue with tuned TSI engines- re the timing chain then the VAG engine should be a corker. The AMG 2.0 engine is a bit of an unknown, but with over 330bhp from it the engine should already have extras like forged pistons and rods. For me the decision would lay with just how far you can tune them and so just from looks alone I'd go for............



The Golf R of course