Some would say foolishly I ordered the S3 based on the fact it is the closest car to an LCR but with 4wd. Placing an order on a £0+k car you've never seen is a very tough decision based on the fact you don't even rate the current S4.
Of course some of the other cars were much better than the LCR/S3, but they were either 2nd hand with fair mileage on them, had astronomical running costs (E55 AMG & FQ320 for instance), or they were just too focussed to be lent to the wife on the odd occasion she wanted to borrow it. Could I ethically lend her a car with rear wheel drive and 343bhp when she has very little driving experience?!! It had to be safe, but ultimately quick(ish).
I am toying with the idea of keeping the R as the thought of selling it makes me sick, but the missus doesn't like it to drive. As we share a car and we both put money in we both have to like it to some extent.
I loved the FQ320 other than its cheapness, but for the missus it was just too raw. Also the nearest dealer was 32 miles away and with it needing servicing every 4500 miles it would be a pain in the arse. The audi
dealership is round the corner from our house. The S3 was the closest match to having some of what we've got, with a little more plushness. Surprisingly the normally aspirated V8 Audi we tested felt flat as a pancake. I'm such a turbo junkie now.
On balance many of the cars tested above left a lot to be desired for the money. I had held a lot of them in very high esteem in my head, but know am somewhat bemused. The S4 although a good car was just a fatmans barge. They should have left it as a 2.7 biturbo, not a fat V8 with no urgency,
![[:@]](/forums/styles/seatcupra/oldforumsmileys/furious.gif "Furious [:@]")
