Preview Comparison: BMW 1 Series M Coupe vs. Audi RS3

[hkm3]

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...1-ar93596.html

[BrokenVert]

Whats the point of that "comparo"? Haha

we no nothing about the 1M. And where did they get that 1M vert rendering? Jon sibal's was a gazillion times better looking

[Hairlesswookiee]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Whats the point of that "comparo"? Haha

Exactly. Seems like they just wanted to praise the RS3 since they really had no real information about the 1M/M1 to provide.

[amdmaxx]

apple vs orange.

[BMW86]

This review was pointless!

[Taymaishu]

Utter crap

[Ilma]

Wow.......

I have always found the Audi S3 attractive for some unknown reason and even though I love my 135, I have to admit there are some angles that it just looks awkward, so I understand their commentary.

But did those idiots actually look at the renderings they themselves posted in that article????

Because I just did and the audi rendering looks like crap compared to the 1.

And using those spy photos of a screwed together early M1 prototype is just plain dirty fighting.

Talk about head stuck up your butt.

[BMW269]

Maybe BMW M1 vs. Audi TT-RS?
Or BMW M1 vs. Porsche Cayman CS?

[ModernDayYuppie]

Originally Posted by Levi

Maybe BMW M1 vs. Audi TT-RS?
Or BMW M1 vs. Porsche Cayman CS?

The cayman clubsport will eat the M1 alive; it will probably weigh ~350 lbs. less.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by ModernDayYuppie

The cayman clubsport will eat the M1 alive; it will probably weigh ~350 lbs. less.

You are right:

BMW 135i vs. Porsche Cayman
BMW M1 vs. Porsche Cayman S
BMW M1 GTS vs. Porsche Cayman CS

BMW M3 vs. Porsche 911 Carrera S
BMW M3 GTS vs. Porsche 911 GT3
BMW M3 GTS-R vs. Porsche 911 GT3 RS

[SCOTT26]

Now apparently the Audi RS 3 is being touted as a "Grand finale" car like the BMW 1M and according to industry rumours we should see it very soon.

Of course it has fallen into the Audi Trap because in the segment the Audi is noted for it's terrible steering and mediocre handling , putting in a TT RS engine might give it power but the aged chassis might have other things to say. Again it is down to the Rules of BMW M that the standard car has to be really,really good before it is transformed into an M car, the 1er fits that
criteria, Audi A3 less so.

I am interested to see how they will market it and if they do follow the pattern with a personal introduction like the 1M , if they do we can now see how desperately Audi wants to be perceived as BMW.

[as7920]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Now apparently the Audi RS 3 is being touted as a "Grand finale" car like the BMW 1M and according to industry rumours we should see it very soon.

Of course it has fallen into the Audi Trap because in the segment the Audi is noted for it's terrible steering and mediocre handling , putting in a TT RS engine might give it power but the aged chassis might have other things to say. Again it is down to the Rules of BMW M that the standard car has to be really,really good before it is transformed into an M car, the 1er fits that
criteria, Audi A3 less so.

I am interested to see how they will market it and if they do follow the pattern with a personal introduction like the 1M , if they do we can now see how desperately Audi wants to be perceived as BMW.

Scott, have you any opinions/thoughts on the possible Mercedes A/B class AMG cars coming 2011/2012?

[Madozu]

It's somewhat strange to compare two cars without having the specs. From what I can see, there are 2 disadvantages of the RS3 the article doesn't mention:

Weight distribution: a A3/TT RS is somewhere near 60:40, the 1 series is roughly 50:50. As I assume that the weight distribution will be similar for the performance models, this will always give an advantage to the 1M in real-life situations.

AWD is nice, but the A3/TT(RS) Haldex technology is basically a FWD car that only brings power to the rear wheels if the front wheels are loosing grip. As an effect, oversteering/understeering changes depending on the torque distribution between front and rear wheels. To my experience this is close to a nightmare on a TT RS (had the chance of driving one for some days in the mountains), especially when road quality is not too good.

From the handling point of view the 1M will be built based on the better base car and if nothing goes wrong, the 1M will have the superior handling.

[ptack]

Doesn't matter here. Audi doesn't offer any RS models in the US and they're not going to start with the A3. They don't even try to sell the S3 here. Keep in mind the starting price for a TTS is $46k. Care to guess how much an RS would be? What's the market for a $50k plus Audi hatchback?

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by ptack

Doesn't matter here. Audi doesn't offer any RS models in the US and they're not going to start with the A3. They don't even try to sell the S3 here. Keep in mind the starting price for a TTS is $46k. Care to guess how much an RS would be? What's the market for a $50k plus Audi hatchback?

Mostly agree, but they did announce that the RS5 would be coming here. I can't imagine that the RS3 would come here, since, as you stated, they've never bothered with the S3 for our market.

[grant]

Originally Posted by Levi

You are right:

BMW 135i vs. Porsche Cayman
BMW M1 vs. Porsche Cayman S
BMW M1 GTS vs. Porsche Cayman CS

BMW M3 vs. Porsche 911 Carrera S
BMW M3 GTS vs. Porsche 911 GT3
BMW M3 GTS-R vs. Porsche 911 GT3 RS

But the GT3RS is a street car and the M3 GTS-R is a racecar, right?

[Sit]

The biggest drawback of the RS3 that I can see.....its an Audi, who owns Audi, VW. The people's car has become the crap car. And crap runs down hill, let's hope that it doesn't make it all the way to Porsche. Same day we bought our 1, we also test drove an 09 TT. What did we find, a transmission that was less than responsive and fun, uncomfortable seats, and interior finishes and textures that were the same as those in our 2000 Passat. Finishes that looked like they were 10 years old after 2 or 3 years. And the TT finish inside, already looking older than it should. Sorry, if VW is associated with it, I would not buy it, even if it looked good, which I think the RS3 does not. Looks like some sort of dated Civic hatchback.

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by ptack

Doesn't matter here. Audi doesn't offer any RS models in the US and they're not going to start with the A3. They don't even try to sell the S3 here. Keep in mind the starting price for a TTS is $46k. Care to guess how much an RS would be? What's the market for a $50k plus Audi hatchback?

Um...RS4?

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by grant

But the GT3RS is a street car and the M3 GTS-R is a racecar, right?

M3 GTS-R is a even more hard_core version of M3 GTS, just like 911 GT3 RS is a more hard core version of 911 GT3. The difference is that the M3 GTS(-R) is a limited production car, and 911 GT3 (RS) not.



SCOTT, any 5.5l V10, 580 HP M6 CSL grand final?

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Haywood

Um...RS4?

RS6 also

[jmunro]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Now apparently the Audi RS 3 is being touted as a "Grand finale" car like the BMW 1M and according to industry rumours we should see it very soon.

Of course it has fallen into the Audi Trap because in the segment the Audi is noted for it's terrible steering and mediocre handling , putting in a TT RS engine might give it power but the aged chassis might have other things to say. Again it is down to the Rules of BMW M that the standard car has to be really,really good before it is transformed into an M car, the 1er fits that
criteria, Audi A3 less so.

I am interested to see how they will market it and if they do follow the pattern with a personal introduction like the 1M , if they do we can now see how desperately Audi wants to be perceived as BMW.

Ohhh, a shot right to the balls...

SCOTT, any idea of a timeframe when we will hear something "official" regarding the 1M specs (weight, power, engine configuration, etc., etc.)?

[Spartikus]

I really can't get into RS cars. They are very pretty but there is a key element that never clicks for me. I mean look at the RS5. The specs look nice but why does it have to weigh 4,000lbs?!?!