VeeDub vs FourRings....

[Top Cat]

....I've just been out to visit someone - A round trip of 90 miles - And guess what? - I saw two S3 Sportbacks, both red, on the road. The first one coming towards me on open A-road gave me the impression it was just an A4. The second was in a town and I got a longer look - Very disappointing, very ordinary, and reminded me why I discounted the Sportback when I was originally choosing the GTI.

It's a bit like how we fancy females....Something grabs our initial attention instantly - It can be as simple as her eyes or the way her hair is, or that off-the-shoulder soft cashmere, it can be anything, but it arouses us on some level or other. The Mk5 GTI has that style, that extra something which appeals.

carl1 - It's that indefinable factor - I know what you mean

Pesky - Good point about the financials - Captain Sensible!

andrewp - I don't mind growing old just as long as I don't have to grow up!

I've absolutely no doubt that the S3 is a great car and quattro is very valuable, but even though I haven't driven one yet, there are too many people agreeing with each other that it's too 'grown-up'. I'm 61yo but not ready for being quite so grown-up yet!

I'll still have a test drive - it would be rude to say no.

as the light caught her hair the smell was overwhelming i new at that moment i was in love but not with her it was her sister i longed for.  Red have you been reading Mill's & boon books again. 

[RedRobin]

....^

All I get time to read is words by blokes on car forums!

[Rhyso]

lad at work has a Red A3 2.0T Quattro with the Sportline pack - nice looking car and the interior is a class act but it just lacks that certain something 

[RedRobin]

lad at work has a Red A3 2.0T Quattro with the Sportline pack - nice looking car and the interior is a class act but it just lacks that certain something 

....And 'that certain something' is what the GTI has, including some of the earlier Mk's. It's equivalent to sex appeal - It's not big b00bies or nakedness, but something more difficult to define.

[Rhyso]

lad at work has a Red A3 2.0T Quattro with the Sportline pack - nice looking car and the interior is a class act but it just lacks that certain something 

....And 'that certain something' is what the GTI has, including some of the earlier Mk's. It's equivalent to sex appeal - It's not big b00bies or nakedness, but something more difficult to define.

indeed as another mate of mine has one in WHITE with tinted rear windows and that looks 

[WhiteGTI]

Had a sit in a Ibis White S3 today at the Stealer, had two-tone white/black leather. Interior quality was very very impressive IMO, and thought the car felt really really nice. This particular example was 30K.....................seems too much really.

[RedRobin]

....I sat in one at Wolfsburg before it was available in the UK. You're right, WhiteGTI - Very impressive feel of quality and even things like the instrumentation put the GTI to shame, but.................

[R32UK]

I think I only echo what other say but.... the Golf definately has the edge in terms of looks and desireability to the untrained eye. But to those of us in the know the s3 is a superior car. The cabin is the main difference for me. A fully spec'd S3 with leathers, sat nav and bose sound system is a very nice place to be, with the benifit of having the performance to match.

on the other hand the golf in 5dr for offers practicality others just cant match without compromising looks

[gazbutmk5gti]

I think I can comment on this 1 , the S3 will never have the sharp turn in the GTi/ED30 has, maybe its the weight I don't know. The 4wd does come in useful everyday especially if you start modding
But the main thing for me is it isn't just a little better screwed together inside, its loads better. It was 1 of my main gripes with both the mk5 GTi's I had, they are not a cheap car yet the interior in my mind doesn't live up to its price tag. They look nice don't get me wrong but it will be interesting to see how they are holding up in a few years time, not as well as a mk4's is my guess.

Just my opinion having had both cars

[RedRobin]

I think I can comment on this 1 , the S3 will never have the sharp turn in the GTi/ED30 has, maybe its the weight I don't know. The 4wd does come in useful everyday especially if you start modding

But the main thing for me is it isn't just a little better screwed together inside, its loads better. It was 1 of my main gripes with both the mk5 GTi's I had, they are not a cheap car yet the interior in my mind doesn't live up to its price tag. They look nice don't get me wrong but it will be interesting to see how they are holding up in a few years time, not as well as a mk4's is my guess.

Just my opinion having had both cars

....Very valid opinion too, gaz

Personally I quite like the slightly more 'funky' Mk5 GTI interior (I had a Mk4 and I've driven Mk4 R32's which are much more 'luxury' in interior feel) - It all adds to the tactile driving feel. But definitely each to their own