Chipped ED30 or S3?

[hitchenp]

Have narrowed wish list on new motor down to either ED30 or S3.  And like many am unsure of the value for money with the S3.  Therefore chipping an ED30 sounds like a nice alternative.  However my concern is putting 270bhp+ through the front wheels.  Can anyone give me an honest opinion of how it performs with a power hike? 

[Ollieb7]

Standard 244hp Ed30 non - better value and just as fast as S3 - lighter and only gives away 16hp

see

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=75605.0

[R32UK]

S3 everytime! No contest. Can easily remap to 330bhp without wasting any power!

[Y444GAR]

Have to be the S3, I drove one and couldn't beleive the difference to my car, standard GTI. The traction was unbeleivable, you cant go anywhere in the wet without wheelspinnin a front wheel drive car with that power. Its just my opinion tho.

[Russ.C]

To be fair, if money was not a factor in the discision (although it usually is!) then it would have to be the S3, I do miss my old R32's traction! I love the GTI but a 300+bhp S3 would be awesome! 

[gazbutmk5gti]

I agree the performance and handling of a remapped S3 is really tempting, but its the looks that put me off. It doesn't look special enough, it just looks like any othe S line special edition, in fact some of them look better as the standard S3 wheels are nasty.

[RedRobin]

Have to be the S3, I drove one and couldn't beleive the difference to my car, standard GTI. The traction was unbeleivable, you cant go anywhere in the wet without wheelspinnin a front wheel drive car with that power. Its just my opinion tho.

....Not so! You need to be more sensitive with your right foot and learn to feed the throttle progressively. It becomes natural very quickly.

The S3 has superb interior but is very bland in appearance imo.

[Ollieb7]

Have to be the S3, I drove one and couldn't beleive the difference to my car, standard GTI. The traction was unbeleivable, you cant go anywhere in the wet without wheelspinnin a front wheel drive car with that power. Its just my opinion tho.

....Not so! You need to be more sensitive with your right foot and learn to feed the throttle progressively. It becomes natural very quickly.

The S3 has superb interior but is very bland in appearance imo.

hence my original comment - S3 is just too bland and really does not represent good value over the Ed.

[Russ.C]

Thats true, I'm not bowled over with the looks either - just looked at the Audi page and you can spec another two types of rims for £600 (both 18's) but they ain't that nice IMO.  The front end looks quite mean but the rear is boring and lacking character.  You also have to spec loads of bits you get as standard on the ED30, like auto lights/windscreen wipers, tyre pressure sensor, through load with rear armrest and you even have to shell out extra for a flat bottom steering wheel! So the ED30 is definately the better value package

[Vtec Abuser]

I agree the performance and handling of a remapped S3 is really tempting, but its the looks that put me off. It doesn't look special enough, it just looks like any othe S line special edition, in fact some of them look better as the standard S3 wheels are nasty.

As above really..
I was in the same position and it came down to ordering a bog bog standard S3, or a nice spec Ed30 (Nav, Xenons, DSG, MFSW, Armrest etc etc). Now I know the S3 has xenons, but I would of wanted Nav, flat bottom steering wheel and a few other bits including those awesome seats. But it came in at way over £30k.. Just not feasible really.