24 Audi RS3, 24 BMW M2, 24 VW Golf R

[Egrunt]

Looking for the next vehicle for my of 37 years, she is very frugal but I have her considering the price difference from a Golf R to the Audi RS3 and BMW M2.

We currently have a 18 BMW M5 (F90) and prior to the F90 we had a 15 BMW M3 F80. Both purchased new and used as a 3rd vehicle since we have other vehicles. My wifes current vehicle is a 12 VW GTI Autobahn DSG 2-door (puchased new), with a APR stage 1 tune and APR DSG tune. She loves that car and I am thinking about keeping it.

The cars in the running for her: 24 Audi RS3, 24 VW Golf R, and 24 BMW M2. Currently the RS3 is in the lead, it has a proper dash, stereo sounds great compared to the others (very important to the wife) and we both like the looks of the vehicle over the other two.

The Golf R is considered but the lack of buttons and having to go through the center screen just to turn on the front defoster was a time consuming task. This is well documented online and others have stated once you own the vehicle for some time you will become use to finding the functions through the center screen. Stereo is just ok and I would have to spend roughly 5k - 8k for a system upgrade.

Then there is the M2, we think the looks of the vehicle on the outside is just ok, yes we are old pushing 60 and we miss the days of our E46 M3 and E39 5 series. As they say looks are subjective. Not a fan of the computer monitor looking dash but as my wife stated once you are sitting in the drivers seat it is an after thought. To us the exhaust sound is the worst of the 3 but we also did not like the sound of our F80 either. Again the sound of an exhaust is subjective.

Any input good or bad on the vehicles we are considering.

[strohw]

Considering you listed multiple positive points for the Audi and not a single one for the other two, I think you already made up your mind.

[Ugly Kar]

I would suggest a lightly used 22' M240xi. It doesn't have the ipad dash and can be easily tuned/chip to be faster then the RS3, M2 for $12-$15k less than the RS3, M2.

The VW just doesn't seem likes it's in the same class and looks like a cheaper car being a hatchback. Although, it is a good value for what you get if that doesn't bother you. BMW is ranked significantly better in reliability also.

[mjj]

Your definition of your wife being frugal was interesting being she has an M5 and came from an M3. Frugal to me is 2002 Chevy Malibu with 190,000 miles.

My wife’s definition of frugal is similar to yours. LOL

[evomike]

out of these 3 cars the only one I would want to own is the RS3

[XMetal]

Golf R only makes sense in your situation if you're getting rid of the GTI. Otherwise, it would be too similar to the current GTI with all the downside you've mentioned.

M2 if you want a manual and no need for 4 doors.

RS3 gets my vote in your situation since it's different enough from the GTI and looks much better than the M2. The 5 pot alone is enough justification!

[BlkGS]

I like the idea of the M2 a lot, and it isn't hideous like the M3/M4, but it's hard to argue against the RS3. It's more practical, more capable with AWD, and more "special" having the last 5 cylinder.on the market I know of. It may not be better dynamics wise, but does that really matter?

[BMWsully]

If you didn't already have a GTI, then I think the Golf R would be a slam dunk, by far the best value for the money (and the touch control thing is way WAY overblown btw).

That said, given the overlap, I'd probably go with the M2, especially given that the RS3 is getting a significant LCI next year.

[Egrunt]

Originally Posted by mjj

Your definition of your wife being frugal was interesting being she has an M5 and came from an M3. Frugal to me is 2002 Chevy Malibu with 190,000 miles.

My wife’s definition of frugal is similar to yours. LOL

Her everyday vehicle is the 2012 VW GTI Autobahn DSG 2-door, purchased new in October of 2011 for 27k (MSRP 32k). The M5 and M3 are cars that I purchased as our weekend cars since I have 2008 Tacoma 4X4 off-road double cab that is still going strong with only 110k on the clock.

So after 37 years of marriage I want her to splurge for once in her life, since I do most of the spending on vehicles.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by BMWsully

If you didn't already have a GTI, then I think the Golf R would be a slam dunk, by far the best value for the money (and the touch control thing is way WAY overblown btw).

My daily is a Mk7.5 '19 Golf R, the wife's car is a '22 GLI. Her car has the shitty haptic controls on the steering wheel, mine has proper old-school buttons/rockers.

Overblown? I disagree. I've got at least 20k miles of seat time in her car and I curse at those damn things every time I drive it, to this day. Enough customers complained that VW is backtracking and going back to the old way...

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a4...wheel-buttons/

They still have eliminated too many other physical controls for my taste. Climate controls, heated seats, etc., via touchscreen is a non-starter for me.

[NickyC]

M2 grudgingly, but only in black and 6MT.

[XutvJet]

Black M2 if you must, to mute the ugly front and rear bumper covers.

I think the RS3 and Golf R are pretty mundane rides in terms of style, meaning they blend in.

I'd save my money and get an M240 RWD. Minus the wheels and bumper covers, it's the same exterior body as the M2. The M240 arguably has better looking bumper covers and still has a very sporty presence and way more so than the RS3 and Golf R.

Women like style and I can't imagine she'd come close to using what the M2 is capable of. Plus, it's going to be a harder and bouncier ride than the M240.

Lastly, the M240 is only fractionally slower than the RS3. It's like 0.2 seconds slower in the 1/4 mile.

Get an M240, paint the black lower rockers body color, add some wheels, and call it a day.

[R N M]

Have you considered used 991gen 911.

[clutchdj]

Originally Posted by Egrunt

Looking for the next vehicle for my of 37 years, she is very frugal but I have her considering the price difference from a Golf R to the Audi RS3 and BMW M2.

We currently have a 18 BMW M5 (F90) and prior to the F90 we had a 15 BMW M3 F80. Both purchased new and used as a 3rd vehicle since we have other vehicles. My wifes current vehicle is a 12 VW GTI Autobahn DSG 2-door (puchased new), with a APR stage 1 tune and APR DSG tune. She loves that car and I am thinking about keeping it.

The cars in the running for her: 24 Audi RS3, 24 VW Golf R, and 24 BMW M2. Currently the RS3 is in the lead, it has a proper dash, stereo sounds great compared to the others (very important to the wife) and we both like the looks of the vehicle over the other two.

The Golf R is considered but the lack of buttons and having to go through the center screen just to turn on the front defoster was a time consuming task. This is well documented online and others have stated once you own the vehicle for some time you will become use to finding the functions through the center screen. Stereo is just ok and I would have to spend roughly 5k - 8k for a system upgrade.

Then there is the M2, we think the looks of the vehicle on the outside is just ok, yes we are old pushing 60 and we miss the days of our E46 M3 and E39 5 series. As they say looks are subjective. Not a fan of the computer monitor looking dash but as my wife stated once you are sitting in the drivers seat it is an after thought. To us the exhaust sound is the worst of the 3 but we also did not like the sound of our F80 either. Again the sound of an exhaust is subjective.

Any input good or bad on the vehicles we are considering.

“ but as my wife stated once you are sitting in the drivers seat it is an after thought. ”

So yeah get the M2. Done.
Seriously (?) it’s an excellent daily.
Power curve like the s50 but 800lbs heavier. Similar pull. I am very surprised;
suspension compliance is best out of the 3. Code off active sound.
With the valves closed it sounds like an e36 m3 especially at WOT.
I can go on. I think it’s definitely worth the money. I’ve had 3 F80s and 2 F87s.

[Humdizzle]

i'd take a ct4 blackwing over all those
- mag ride
- tremec 6 spd
- stereo is better than the rs3 and probably the M2 as well.
- better steering feel than all those other cars.

[DanG]

Another vote for the M2. In black or red it looks fine. The driving dynamics are great. Can’t go wrong with that car.

[x622]

RS3 if you want to go fast in a straight line, M2 if you want to turn, Golf R if you're mentally ill

Driven or owned all of them (except the golf r, which is a s3 hatchback)

Rs3 wont depreciate much
M2 will depreciate
Golf r will depreciate

[pbonsalb]

If you like putting the power down under more conditions, either of the 2 AWD cars on the list would be better. If you just drive in warm, dry weather, that is not as much of an issue unless you modify for more power.

The practicality of the Golf hatchback is nice, but it appears this will just be a toy and that other cars are driven most of the time. Maybe the other cars are practical so this is not a consideration.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Egrunt

Looking for the next vehicle for my of 37 years, she is very frugal but I have her considering the price difference from a Golf R to the Audi RS3 and BMW M2.

We currently have a 18 BMW M5 (F90) and prior to the F90 we had a 15 BMW M3 F80. Both purchased new and used as a 3rd vehicle since we have other vehicles. My wifes current vehicle is a 12 VW GTI Autobahn DSG 2-door (puchased new), with a APR stage 1 tune and APR DSG tune. She loves that car and I am thinking about keeping it.

The cars in the running for her: 24 Audi RS3, 24 VW Golf R, and 24 BMW M2. Currently the RS3 is in the lead, it has a proper dash, stereo sounds great compared to the others (very important to the wife) and we both like the looks of the vehicle over the other two.

The Golf R is considered but the lack of buttons and having to go through the center screen just to turn on the front defoster was a time consuming task. This is well documented online and others have stated once you own the vehicle for some time you will become use to finding the functions through the center screen. Stereo is just ok and I would have to spend roughly 5k - 8k for a system upgrade.

Then there is the M2, we think the looks of the vehicle on the outside is just ok, yes we are old pushing 60 and we miss the days of our E46 M3 and E39 5 series. As they say looks are subjective. Not a fan of the computer monitor looking dash but as my wife stated once you are sitting in the drivers seat it is an after thought. To us the exhaust sound is the worst of the 3 but we also did not like the sound of our F80 either. Again the sound of an exhaust is subjective.

Any input good or bad on the vehicles we are considering.

I don’t think you can go wrong with either of those vehicles. It sounds like you gravitate toward smaller vehicles like me. If you look at the RS3, you may want to consider a new or CPO S4. Once you sit in one, you’ll see why.

I really like the Golf R but feel like they had a miss and could have used the I5 like the RS3. Other than the AWD, I feel like it’s more like a GTI+ and yet they charge a premium.

Obviously I landed on an M2 and have no regrets. It’s my go to car for every day driving unless we take the Macan GTS.

[P1]

I think the M2 is one of the goofiest looking cars out there. I never see them which tells me other feel the same. The fact it doesn't have a dashboard and instead has two Amazon Fire tablets glued together would be a dealbreaker for me.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by P1

I think the M2 is one of the goofiest looking cars out there. I never see them which tells me other feel the same. The fact it doesn't have a dashboard and instead has two Amazon Fire tablets glued together would be a dealbreaker for me.

I will be first to admit that large screens are lazy design, but everything else about the car is pretty amazing IMO. Plus once you get used to all the functionality on those screens you realize there is some benefit. The rest of the interior is very nice. I love the long snout and short boot.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by P1

I think the M2 is one of the goofiest looking cars out there. I never see them which tells me other feel the same. The fact it doesn't have a dashboard and instead has two Amazon Fire tablets glued together would be a dealbreaker for me.

I see them often. And a lot of M240i. It must be your area.