golf edition 30 or audi s3 bare with me. pos eddie found?

[rmstu]

Hi all,
now im new to the vw/audi scene so have patients , ive posted over in the intro section ive sold my car and had my heart set on a candy edition 30 and still do,i was out and about yesterday and id thought id pop into Audi and there was a black Audi s3 never seen them up close and personnel always deemed them as "nothing special"thought they all looked like a s-line A3.
But i was pleasantly surprised very nice prescence and gorgeous interior.

So im kinda asking has anyone been lucky enough to own both and which youd buy or prefer if you were given the choice, ive read some stuff Jonny C has wrote but id like some feedback from you guys/lasses.
 Theres little price between them at the min and i no the S3 has quattro but does this dampen the fun or make it feel planted and even quicker than the edition 30.
please help im going to sort myself some test drives hopefully but the edition 30 arent to close to me.
I am planning on modding as its rude not to.

I no its a vw forum but id appreciate whatever is said and it would be very usefull i havent a clue which to go for.

Thanks all hope you can help me choose.
Stu

[Tinytim]

I'm in a similar situation.
Reason for settling on an ED30 was

Fwd, less hassle ad maintenance. Potential extra cost of the haldex 4wd
Cheaper to buy
Actually prefer the look of the ED30 over the S3
5 door ED30 available. (S3 sportback are crazy prices)
Similar performance.

If as you say the prices aren't that much different I might have to take another look at the S3

[Oli]

I've owned two ED30s and one S3. Even though he ED30 has better steering feel, I'd have an S3 every time, for the 4WD. Only trouble is the five door DSG S3 is nearly twice he price of an equivalent ED30. 

[berg]

The S3 is the better car overall - Gazbut has owned both.

Reason I got an Eddie was that a.) could not afford a sportback at time. If i had waited I probably could have now! b.) I prefer the exterior looks of the golf, interior on s3 is far superior. 

They are both brilliant so whichever you buy you wont regret.

[MAT ED30]

Yeah gaz has owned both but I think the ed30 was too much of a hand full for him     so he went for safer s3  
But they are both great cars and you can't go wrong with either

[rmstu]

I've owned two ED30s and one S3. Even though he ED30 has better steering feel, I'd have an S3 every time, for the 4WD. Only trouble is the five door DSG S3 is nearly twice he price of an equivalent ED30. 

Thanks for in put guys I might just stick with my original intent get an Eddie and give the dsg ago.
Oli does the 4wd make the car feel slow or slower than the eddie and could I Eddie use the extra power as good as an S3 when modded 300hp + . I just want it to feel quick not to sensible if that makes sense.

Thanks
Stu.

[sub39h]

there are good reasons to own both

i don't necessarily agree that the Audi's interior is nicer (check my sig to see what i drive btw), and RNS-E is RUBBISH compared to RNS510.

the thing that would swing me towards an S3 is the fact that you can do more with it. i think 300bhp in an Eddy is daft, but an S3 could cope because of the extra driven wheels.

i've driven both and on balance i think i'd have an S3. but there's really not much in it

[s3dubbin]

I've owned two ED30s and one S3. Even though he ED30 has better steering feel, I'd have an S3 every time, for the 4WD. Only trouble is the five door DSG S3 is nearly twice he price of an equivalent ED30. 

Thanks for in put guys I might just stick with my original intent get an Eddie and give the dsg ago.
Oli does the 4wd make the car feel slow or slower than the eddie and could I Eddie use the extra power as good as an S3 when modded 300hp + . I just want it to feel quick not to sensible if that makes sense.

Might open a debate here but..........a s3 would eat an ed30 all day long in every way that matters!!! Theres no way the 4wd makes the s3 feel slow. Bring it on! Stevie.

[rmstu]

oops a can may have been opened here

[rosco07]

I'm with Stevie on this! I had a Leon FR before my S3 which was no Ed30 but close enough to a GTI to pass comment.  The 4wd continues to impress me, traction is superb in these cold, damp greasy roads.  In terms of mods, the S3 has more potential again due to the 4wd.  The interior is nice in the golf but the S3's is of better quality.

Performance wise the S3 is slightly heavier but has 15% more power, is quicker off the mark and has a higher top speed.  Someone no doubt be along to talk about drive train losses and power to weight ratios soon  . 

Bottom line is I could have bought a Ed30 and had a few grand left over, but I chose not to and have not regretted it in the slightest.

[Neil]

Unbeleivebly I`m trying to make my mind up between an Ed30 and an S3.

I`ve just been looking for a decent Audi forum too . . but can`t find one 

I have experience of Edition 30s and I`m very nearly taken, I know nothing about the S3 but having some time spent in an RS6 recently I wanted an Audi and an S3 is still more money than I want in a car really.

I guess a couple of S3  test drives are needed  . . .

[bacillus]

I`ve just been looking for a decent Audi forum too . . but can`t find one 

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/44-new-a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/

[Neil]

I`ve just been looking for a decent Audi forum too . . but can`t find one 

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/44-new-a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/

Yeah thanks, I had a look there earlier, seems the best of the bunch though the forum seems a bit slow and jerky, maybe it`s my laptop 

       

[rmstu]

Its hard work aint it neil im looking at eddies for 12K or S3 for £13.5 to £15K  so possibly a grang or two in my back pocket for mods,

I also agree there is desperate need for a decent s3 OC  or ill be buying a eddie to stay on this site had a warm welcome and some very help comments, I need to find some S3 local to get some test driving done, took a GTI the other week and i was impressed very smooth and nippy big thumbs up.

Neil let me no how you find the s3 once you test drive them.

cheers stu

[JackG]

Its hard work aint it neil im looking at eddies for 12K or S3 for £13.5 to £15K  so possibly a grang or two in my back pocket for mods,

I also agree there is desperate need for a decent s3 OC  or ill be buying a eddie to stay on this site had a warm welcome and some very help comments, I need to find some S3 local to get some test driving done, took a GTI the other week and i was impressed very smooth and nippy big thumbs up.

Neil let me no how you find the s3 once you test drive them.

cheers stu

Spend that 2k on mods are you will own a car that will make the S3 feel like a KA