Talk some sense into me...

[Mr Savage]

AM1W;

I agree. The BMW M135I is a brilliant car. I've had a few journeys in my friends, the only thing that puts me off is how back end happy they are on a slightly wet road which is of course down to the RWD. A great machine for throwing around the corners sideways though! 

The main thing that appeals to me about the new Audi RS3 (which i'm seriously considering as my next motor) is that it has that magnificent 2.5l 5 Cylinder turbocharged engine which is not only highly tuneable but also sounds fantastic due to the brilliant 1-2-4-5-3 firing sequence  Which in my opinion is the only thing the current 2L 4 Cylinders lack, that ability to have a nice deep growl.

So atleast 367 alleged BHP, 343LBFT Torque, 4.3 Seconds 0-62MPH combined with Quattro AWD with a top speed of 174MPH when you ask the guys at Audi nicely to remove the limiter. Not to mention again that it sounds great and the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to tuning these things. It's the full package.

What's not to like? 

[am1w]

Monsieur Savage:

When will the horsepower wars ever end?
I might just have to put a stop to it and get an Up! 

[fredgroves]

I used to get all the baby junk in much smaller cars than a mk7...it was a long time ago and I guess it depends how much baby junk you have... If you avoid the range rover sized off road buggy,  it might fit.... Or you could always buy a transit.

[Poached]

AM1W;

I agree. The BMW M135I is a brilliant car. I've had a few journeys in my friends, the only thing that puts me off is how back end happy they are on a slightly wet road which is of course down to the RWD. A great machine for throwing around the corners sideways though! 

The main thing that appeals to me about the new Audi RS3 (which i'm seriously considering as my next motor) is that it has that magnificent 2.5l 5 Cylinder turbocharged engine which is not only highly tuneable but also sounds fantastic due to the brilliant 1-2-4-5-3 firing sequence  Which in my opinion is the only thing the current 2L 4 Cylinders lack, that ability to have a nice deep growl.

So atleast 367 alleged BHP, 343LBFT Torque, 4.3 Seconds 0-62MPH combined with Quattro AWD with a top speed of 174MPH when you ask the guys at Audi nicely to remove the limiter. Not to mention again that it sounds great and the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to tuning these things. It's the full package.

What's not to like? 

It really is a great sound, there's a depth to it that the Inline 4 cannot make.

Have you heard it with a decat?

L6 also nice.

[Exonian]

Andy, you should get a BMW or a Golf 7R.

The 335d has clocked 0-60mph in 4.5s
My 330d has clocked 0-60mph in 5.2s.
The M135i has clocked 0-60mph 4.5s.
The Golf R DSG has clocked 0-60mph 4.5s (Top Gear).

These are seriously fast cars.
What's not to like? And besides, a car is never fast enough.
Come-on dear chap. Go for one of the above.

The one thing I never look at are 0-60 times as the only thing they reflect is how high the engine can rev!
Give me 50-70 times in top gear, that's what sets the men out from the boys in the performance stakes for a road car.
I like a car that can accelerate up a steep hill in top gear, that's a true measure of useable performance to me, 0-60 is just for forum talk and Santa Pod RWYB junkies.
On West Country hills you need low end torque not BHP!
Unless you're into Jap cars that have motorbike style power deliveries and like going everywhere in second gear...

So to the Golf R - that's a definite possibility at some point when one comes up at the right price to change. But alas it would always be a car I admired for its technical prowess rather than actually loved.
The 135i is something you could love. But It's not for me. Having driven one it will always be remembered as one of those few cars that actually made me laugh as I drove it but it lacks that ingredient X for me. A one trick Pony, it'll never win the Ballon D'Or in the car stakes but it's got bags of character. If I could afford to run one and another decent car then I'd buy one in a flash.
The 3 series BMW's are just far too big for me. I've had a very memorable run out in a 335d X-drive and will always take my hat off to one when I see it. Phenomenal performance and reasonable economy but it's a motorway bruiser or better still an Autobahn one, it won't take bends and roundabouts like a GTI despite the extra traction out of the corners.

Which leaves us with a Golf GTI.
Or a GTD.

Two cars that have ingredient X and tend to over-perform when viewed as a whole package.
At least they suit my needs best, being fairly discreet but well respected and cost sensible sums to run, both easily tuneable if the mood suits and... need I say more!

I'm happy to be in the minority!

[Poached]

Stick with the GTI lol, you could argue it drives in a Diesel-ish manner with a small turbo picking up early delivering a torquey response but the top end lacking a little (Still has more to give than the GTD) compared to the petrol models with a larger turbo.

[mike.]

On West Country hills you need low end torque not BHP!

Thats where the GTI is great, the torque in the MK7 GTI (350NM) is nearly the same as the GTD (380NM) but it comes in earlier in the GTI (1,500-4,600 rpm) than the GTD (1,750-3,250 rpm)

[Poached]

On West Country hills you need low end torque not BHP!

Thats where the GTI is great, the torque in the MK7 GTI (350NM) is nearly the same as the GTD (380NM) but it comes in earlier in the GTI (1,500-4,600 rpm) than the GTD (1,750-3,250 rpm)

Indeed, the power is available over a wider band.

[mcmaddy]

I think vw have the torque band slightly wrong on the gtd as it still pulls past the 3250rpm they suggest.

[ffrank]

I think vw have the torque band slightly wrong on the gtd as it still pulls past the 3250rpm they suggest.

I think Max power is around 3500? But the torque does seem to drop from 3250 pretty sharply on dynos. Has anyone played with best rpm to change gear? I wonder where the dsg changes in sport?

Compared to the GTI, I'm not sure if the GTI has a wider torque band as remember we only rev to 4000 (can't remember where the red line is)! What does the GTI rev to?