[AlexFL]

RS3 performance on a wet road. 3.7/11.6 sec, insane. I want to buy an RS3 and tune it to 600 hp.

[Draman]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

This grill is far, far larger than anything BMW is doing. It pretty well covers the entire front end. I know it's cool on this forum to hate BMW's latest grilles but let's be a little realistic here. If you hate the BMW grilles, this is a total abomination.

While this certainly doesn't look great, it's still better than the BMW bucktooth grills. At least this is proportionally large both horizontally and vertically. The problem with the BMW grills is that they are too tall while simultaneously too narrow (for how tall they are), they are disproportionate

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by Draman

While this certainly doesn't look great, it's still better than the BMW bucktooth grills. At least this is proportionally large both horizontally and vertically. The problem with the BMW grills is that they are too tall while simultaneously too narrow (for how tall they are), they are disproportionate

That's your opinion though. I don't find this front end attractive at all as it looks just as bad as the Hyundai Elantra N that also has the black mask effect. It's just too much black plastic. It's clear Audi has kind of hit the wall with ideas trying to refresh their big grille look as I don't know how anyone could look at recent Audis over the last decade and think this new one looks good.

[Matt 335is]

My opinion: The new M3/M4 look a million times better than both the RS5 and RS3, especially from the front.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Matt 335is

My opinion: The new M3/M4 look a million times better than both the RS5 and RS3, especially from the front.

I would strongly disagree, but that's opinion of course.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by Matt 335is

My opinion: The new M3/M4 look a million times better than both the RS5 and RS3, especially from the front.

Originally Posted by Burrcold

I would strongly disagree, but that's opinion of course.

Both look great imo. Very different cars, too. Difficult to compare.

Overall, I would (am going to) take the RS3 over the new 2 series. I would take the G80 over the RS5.

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by Matt 335is

My opinion: The new M3/M4 look a million times better than both the RS5 and RS3, especially from the front.

Instead of words, let's see them in juxtaposition:





Now the words... both grilles are oversized, but the Audi wears it better because it looks wide, aggressive, angular and mean. The BMW grilles looks vertically too long, like buck teeth, like a beaver.

Advantage Audi, and it's not close IMO. Though I much prefer the RS5/RS6/RS7 look where the headlights aren't integrated into the large grille to make it appear even larger.

[x622]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

RS3 performance on a wet road. 3.7/11.6 sec, insane. I want to buy an RS3 and tune it to 600 hp.

Just swapped mine for an X3MC. It's a fun little car, (the previous gen) but I'd rather have the TTRS if I was going to do it over. It's not practical at all if you have wildlife and bad roads to contend with. If this was one of my Phoenix cars I might of kept it, but honestly, I don't have a place for it.

I felt like a kid driving it. It squeaks and rattles like any A3, but has a ton of power. It's what I'd imagine a 20 something would buy if he lived with his parents and wanted to impress girls and still go fast. I'd rather have the new G8x chassis with AWD and tune the piss out of that rather than do it on the 5 pot, but the DSG was sweet. Suspension was meh, had a lot of push because of the weight over the front end, but was very satisfying to "claw" out of corners since it was so FWD biased.

I got to sit in the new one and the new shifter is completely lame. No where to set your hand, and there's just this huge empty space, same complaint on the new 911s.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

Instead of words, let's see them in juxtaposition:





Now the words... both grilles are oversized, but the Audi wears it better because it looks wide, aggressive, angular and mean. The BMW grilles looks vertically too long, like buck teeth, like a beaver.

Advantage Audi, and it's not close IMO. Though I much prefer the RS5/RS6/RS7 look where the headlights aren't integrated into the large grille to make it appear even larger.

Both cars look great! Just check out the G80 forum - people truly love this car!

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by x622

Just swapped mine for an X3MC. It's a fun little car, (the previous gen) but I'd rather have the TTRS if I was going to do it over. It's not practical at all if you have wildlife and bad roads to contend with. If this was one of my Phoenix cars I might of kept it, but honestly, I don't have a place for it.

I felt like a kid driving it. It squeaks and rattles like any A3, but has a ton of power. It's what I'd imagine a 20 something would buy if he lived with his parents and wanted to impress girls and still go fast. I'd rather have the new G8x chassis with AWD and tune the piss out of that rather than do it on the 5 pot, but the DSG was sweet. Suspension was meh, had a lot of push because of the weight over the front end, but was very satisfying to "claw" out of corners since it was so FWD biased.

I got to sit in the new one and the new shifter is completely lame. No where to set your hand, and there's just this huge empty space, same complaint on the new 911s.

I just want that inline-5 TFSI before it’s gone for good - a true gem of an engine! Just don’t want to “overmod” it.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

Both cars look great! Just check out the G80 forum - people truly love this car!

It's great, just the nostrils are terrible and what prevented me from buying one. It's too bad because I would have saved a few $$ the way I had specd one.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

It's great, just the nostrils are terrible and what prevented me from buying one. It's too bad because I would have saved a few $$ the way I had specd one.

it’s a polarizing design for sure. I do think that the RS5 is the better looking car. The G80 is the complete package though - that S58 is a hell of an inline-6 (I have it in my X3MC). I like what Vorsteiner did, looks much better than stock imo.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

it’s a polarizing design for sure. I do think that the RS5 is the better looking car. The G80 is the complete package though - that S58 is a hell of an inline-6 (I have it in my X3MC). I like what Vorsteiner did, looks much better than stock imo.

Too polarizing for me. To be a "complete package" I need something I can look back at as I'm walking away and not try to justify whether I like it based on performance alone (and that's what I'd be doing with the G80).

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Too polarizing for me. To be a "complete package" I need something I can look back at as I'm walking away and not try to justify whether I like it based on performance alone (and that's what I'd be doing with the G80).

Well, you’re an Audi guy. I respect that.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

Well, you’re an Audi guy. I respect that.

I'm really not. I would have 100% bought the G80 M3 over the RS5 if it weren't for the grill. It's unfortunate. The M340i was one of the best cars I've owned. I'm down for any brand that puts out a product that I like.

[Matt 335is]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

Instead of words, let's see them in juxtaposition:

LMAO at the pictures you choose.
I've seen both cars in person and the new M3/M4 is the one that looks aggressive, bold, and mean.
Go Audi if you want a beautiful looking car that's on the softer more feminine side.

[heavyD^2]

The RS3 render shown in the comparison (to an unflattering angle of the M3 btw) is strategically dark which flatters it as in the bright sun it's going to be hard to escape contrast of the vast amount of shiny black honeycomb plastic. If it looked good Audi wouldn't have to resort to dark settings for their press shots. If some of you actually like it that's great but I personally think the BMW did it better here and Audi has probably hit the wall with their big mouth grilles. It has served them well for the last 15 years but they have now taken it to the point of diminishing returns.

[Matt 335is]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

The RS3 render shown in the comparison (to an unflattering angle of the M3 btw) is strategically dark which flatters it as in the bright sun it's going to be hard to escape contrast of the vast amount of shiny black honeycomb plastic. If it looked good Audi wouldn't have to resort to dark settings for their press shots. If some of you actually like it that's great but I personally think the BMW did it better here and Audi has probably hit the wall with their big mouth grilles. It has served them well for the last 15 years but they have now taken it to the point of diminishing returns.

Well said, and of course looks are subjective, for the most part ha. I've owned 3 Audis so I'm not really a hater, they just don't appeal to me like they used to.

In regards to Audi taking a design as far as it can go, I feel like BMW reached that point as well. If you look at the f-generation M3/M4, M2CS, M5CS, M8 Comp, etc.... BMW perfected that look. It's amazing but there's not much more they can do to improve it at this point.

I'm happy to see them go in a different design direction even though it's polarizing to some. Imagine how incredible BMWs may look as they evolve and perfect this new design direction. It's going to be fun to watch.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by Matt 335is

Well said, and of course looks are subjective, for the most part ha. I've owned 3 Audis so I'm not really a hater, they just don't appeal to me like they used to.

In regards to Audi taking a design as far as it can go, I feel like BMW reached that point as well. If you look at the f-generation M3/M4, M2CS, M5CS, M8 Comp, etc.... BMW perfected that look. It's amazing but there's not much more they can do to improve it at this point.

I'm happy to see them go in a different design direction even though it's polarizing to some. Imagine how incredible BMWs may look as they evolve and perfect this new design direction. It's going to be fun to watch.

That is 100% correct. Also look at Mercedes struggling to give their new models any sort of visual identity. It’s basically an army of visual clones at this point. The W206 C-class looks like a light facelift of W205.