For a little over a year now I've been looking for a new car and have driven just about every sports car/ sedan/ truck under $70k. My favorite cars were the new corvette stingray coupe, the camaro ZL1 and e92 BMW M3. However, having any one of them as my sole car presnts me with challenges weather is be winter use or storage space.

The Audi S3 comes next and my brain is telling me Yes, but I can't quite pull the trigger on one. It offers almost everything I'm looking for, but I'm reluctant to order one. I don't think the seats are that great and I'm not a fan of the infotainment system. Has anyone ever used Audi MMI? I can't be the only person who doesn't like it, can I? I think the old system in my 2012 mini is way better. Its a great driving can, has a Haldex AWD system, a robust tuning community can can be driven, fast, slow, sedate or bonkers. It has room for my stuff, is a sports car sleeper. I could go on an on about its great attributes, but somehow it feels disconnected from the road.

Conversely, my mini feels too connected to the road. My car has a rock-hard, tooth rattling suspension. What a great handling car, but I'm human- I have bones, feelings and nerves. I'm tired of being rocked around in my car. I drive lots of cars and the mini has the least comfortable ride of them all. I mean, its fine on glass smooth roads, but I rarely get to drive on those. To negate the very harsh ride, I've gone to softer rubber at the wheels (I've gone down in wheel size too) and my mini doesn't handle nearly as well as it used to and handling was the car's biggest attribute. I've come to realize that there's a sport suspension and then there is what mini uses, and I don't like it anymore.

I'm tired of the little things that go wrong with my car. Not mechanical problems, but it seems like as soon as I fix one problem area of the car, something else needs to be replaced. I'm not made of money and this car seems to have lots of little problems. This is not an antique car that needs constant attention. I bought it a few years ago and it always breaks. Its aggravating. I used to have an Acura RSX Type-S and it never had any problems. My mini, not so much.

My can is also pathetic in the snow. It's so/so on plowed roads, but on unplowed roads or when I need to cross partially plowed roads, the car always gets stuck in the snow. I've tried multiple sets of tires and nothing really helps.

I like the driving position of my car. I love the the heated seats (Oh, those broke at one point and were a $2000 repair. FML. It took 5 times before the mini dealership could fix them. I could go on and on how the mini dealer dicked me around), I'm comfortable in the seats on long (4+) hour trips. I like the nav system and the turbo. I like the paddle shifters except when its cold out and they take time to shift. I like my mini, but it wears or me. I like the car a lot, but the harsh ride combined with crapy winter weather driving and the upkeep makes me want something else. I'm getting something else, the question becomes when.

The Audi S3 is the best all arounds sports car I can find (I'd get a golf R, but having no sunroof kills it for me). I'm just reluctant to do so. Should I? Has anyone driven one hard? I am at at the point where I think the days of my Mini and I are numbered.

 

Having had VW and Audis (same manufacturer really, you're not going to get away from the expense of repairs or for that matter quality issues that you claim you've had with your MINI.

Get away from the run-flats if you want a more cushioned ride...it makes a difference without sacrificing much handling.

With that said, it appears you've made up your mind with the S3.

 

Seems like posting this on a Mini forum will get you skewed results. If you go with Audi, VW or Porsche make sure to request the special Diesel engine.

 

How can you drive a car hard if it feels disconnected to the road?

 

I'd get the s3. Or, if you can wait...have you considered the new focus rs?

 

I am a hardcore Audi enthusiast and owned several Audi's in the past few years. (S4,A6 in the past) (Right now, I own a '12 TT RS which is a monster.)

But here is the thing with Audis & VW in general. - They're numb. Just no way of getting around it. There is no 'connectedness' like you get in a BMW/MINI. The steering is somewhere between a MINI and an econobox.

But there are somethings Audi is very good at - AWD Traction. No matter what you throw at it, it never loses traction.
MMI - You'll either love it or hate it. I love MMI, but don't like BMW's iDrive. MMI seems more conservative UI.
Bulletproof - Recent year Audi's are very reliable. I never had an issue with them. (I've owned 3). Solid build quality. The engines do burn oil as they get old, but that's common in all brands these days.

S3 is probably the most nimble and fun Audi right now bar the Audi TT. It's a good car with decent handling and overall package. But it'll be no where near close to the MINI when it comes to pure driving fun.

Also, S3 is DSG auto only, if that matters to you.

 

Good luck on the search, some people cant live not driving the MINI and come back

 

I have a rare medical problem with my feet an ankles. Without going into great detail, it makes using a clutch really painful. I had a Subaru STI for all of 5 months before I sold it, as using a clutch became too painful for me- (Its the stretch and flex that my foot has to do when using a clutch which causes pain. Most able-boddied people can't understand the issue, but that's the problem in a nutshell. My feet are a constant struggle to deal with in everyday life too, but hey, that's the hand I was dealt, so I try and make due). The Mini has paddle shifters. The RS is stick only and while some sports car buyers might love a manual tranny, as a disabled driver, I can't really use one anymore.

My choices for a fun car are pretty narrow. If I could get the STI with a dual clutch or the RS, or the shelby mustang, I'd do so but they're stick only and that puts me out in the cold. Before anyone recommends it, as a few people have, I can't find a single WRX CVT in all of New England. The BMW M235i X-drive is technically a better driver then the Audi, but I, unlike most media outlets, wasn't impressed. Its also getting into a higher price bracket and I really want to spend less. I'm greatly interested in the Polestar Volvo but it cost even more and as a friend who loves his S60R told me that they are constantly in the shop.

Maybe I look at the Golf R (which drives identically to the S3), save about $8k, put in an aftermarket sunroof and hope to god it doesn't affect warranty'd repairs. With my disability, my options are limited. I drove the S3 again the other night. It felt like a ho-hum VW unless I mashed the gas and drove it like a maniac. I just feel so limited.

BTW, the issue isn't with runflats. A week after I bought my mini, I changed those out and threw the runflats away. My current setup is a set Dunlop Sport Maxx RT's (OEM Subaru STI tire). They make the ride marginally softer and give up a huge amount of grip. I think I was running Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position's before and they made the ride worse but the handling better. I drove a Jag F-Type and the suspension was soooooooo comfy. If only that suspension is what mini used...

 

One of my favorite expressions is: So many cars, so little time. I feel sorry for any one who gets locked in on a particular make and model of car. There are so many neat vehicles out there that a guy owes it to himself to try as many of them as he can. If you have an itch for a car, buy it. The worst thing that will happen is a mistake will be made and time will correct that.

 

So are you saying you cannot find any used CVT WRX's? My very good friend has a '16 CVT and absolutely loves it. I hassled him about the CVT, but when I drove it I was fairly impressed.

Otherwise, the S3 is a wonderful option. Never been bored driving one, that's for sure. The over all quality and feel always impresses me.

 

How about a Porsche Cayman with PDK?

 

I thought the porsche cayman was meh. The S was a little better, but still kind of meh. The Macan was disapointing. For comparison sake, I drove the BMW Z4 M Roadster years ago and loved it. I never understood why the Boxter/ Cayman was rated better? The Z4M was a hairy beast of a car to drive!

 

Cayman is a meh? Are you serious? Have you driven it? It is one of the most balanced car at the moment. BMW Z4M???? It's ugly.

 

And thats my problem. Cars are getting too refined. I want the equivalent of a black stallion.- a car that's hard to tame, but rewarding when it is. I don't want a balanced car (to a degree). Yea, the cayman was relatively quick, but it really did nothing for me. If I could get a car like a Caterham that I could drive year round, now that would be the ticket!

 

Reading at your posts, you complain with so many...just stick with your Clubman. Many of NAM members who have had BMWs and other high perf cars that have switched or added Porsche (981 or 991) in their collection have concluded that this is pure driving pleasure.
What is the point of driving a car that you are trying to tame all the time? You came to ask opinions but it seems that you are set of your own. Good luck with what you will end up but don't bash excellent cars that you have not even driven or owned.

 

Just curious if you've given the new F56 a look. I don't think they are as...visceral as the 2nd gen MINIs, but sounds like maybe that's what you're looking for. Rides much smoother, the new engines are brilliant, and the upgraded infotainment is familiar, but much improved.

 

Even snow tires don't help?

 

speaking of bashing? I never drove the M version but enjoyed the heck out of a basic manual Z4, always received compliments on its looks. Glass houses, remember that saying?

 

I'm a big Audi nut, and I spent a few days in an S3, I loved it. Not nearly as connected of a driving car, but as you noticed it's quick as hell, and very comfortable.

 

Maybe wait on the JCW AWD Clubman expected to come out next year? Or the new Countryman coming out?

 

Based off what I seen with the new Clubman the JCW All4 should be worth it.

 

I'd stay with MINI go with the new Clubman. Would forgo the AWD. Switch to snow tires in the Winter. Extra weight/mechanicals is a no go for me. Audi's are an OK luxury car and they go well, but too well isolated from the road. MINI has made serious refinements in their latest efforts. They're approaching sizing that is now at the limits Mininess, but it's what we get.

If BMW keeps enlarging Mini, they will eventually have to be rebranded somehow. Maybe NS Mini. Not So Mini. I've driven a lot of cars, and have always found small light cars way more interesting and entertaining to drive than larger heavier ones. But that's just me.

 

+1. Came from two successive Miatas ('99 and '08) Love the responsive, connected feel to the road...same but FWD equivalent with our R59 Roadster. Then again....I appreciate the firm/smooth ride of my wife's BMW F31 SportWagon too. They compliment each other well..different needs & attributes but both fun to drive. "Life is too short to drive boring vehicles"

Best of luck in your vehicle search!

 

an S3 is a sports car and a Cayman is meh, what planet is this?

 

It's a mixed up world. Maybe it was a Cayenne instead of the Cayman. Might be a typo.