Is it Up to The Task?: BMW 130i vs Audi S3 2.0T quattro and VW Golf R32 4Motion

Pocket rockets are the rage, and upscale versions of the tried and trued formula are gaining traction. VW, Subaru, and Mitsubishi all have proved with out a shadow of a doubt, that that a high performance model of a standard econobox will sell in droves.

Since the Audi A3 hit the US market, at the same time of the latest gas hikes, the market again is taking note of smaller high quality, high performance models. Now both Mercedes and BMW have made plans to jump into the fray with own models following Audi’s lead.

German magazine Auto Zeitung took the leap and compared the VW R32 4 Motion, the Audi S3 2.0T Turbo Quattro, against the BMW 130i. We won’t spoil the outcome yet, but place your bets and then read through the google translated article and see if your favorite came out on top.


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EL34 - 1/23/2007 2:05:01 PM

-4 Boost

DookietooSmelly is correct, the Focus is the way to go.

Mazman - 1/23/2007 2:18:21 PM

+4 Boost

It really is too bad that you have such a narrow mind. Really a car like this would pretty sweet, I think the price point would have to be lower than it is in the UK for it to work here. A Hot Euro Hatch thats RWD, sounds pretty sweet.

atomicbri - 1/23/2007 3:55:07 PM

+4 Boost

I agree with Mazman. Most of the people who put down these style vehicles have obviously never owned one. The Audi A3 is a fun to drive car and is built like a tank. Plus you can put TVs in it or what ever else you can stow into its hatch.

MPowerDK - 1/24/2007 1:58:08 AM

+4 Boost

IDIOT
You are so stupid, you cant make a comment on a car you have never seen and never driven. I dont say Lexus drives like s... i have never driven one.
But i have driven the 130i and it is a fantastic car, i would like to drive it every day, is is so fast react quickly on the steering, the one in the drivers seat is a winner, and will have a smile from ear to ear.
I have driven the Audi 1,8 and find it boring, it does nok look very good either, the model before this was better looking. Bad design.
Golf have not driven it.
Anyway no one cant use a magazine comparison test for much, some like a stiff suspension others a soft suspension. If you dont need the backseat every day, this small cars will be okay, but for a family problably not.

vdiv - 1/24/2007 11:13:19 AM

+1 Boost

Will, I am speechless. Now if we can get you to drive one... :)

MunichRob - 1/23/2007 6:24:14 PM

+2 Boost

I was down in Mexico over the holidays and saw the 1-series a few times in person and gained a liking to its design. That said the S3 looks way more masculine than the 1-series, as the 1er has a goofy looking face (grill to be more specific).

TruenoAE86 - 1/23/2007 6:26:02 PM

+1 Boost

http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/studio/94id_lexus_landau_2.jpg

Speaking of luxury performance hatchback, there was a concept car by Lexus and Italdesign called Landau in 1994. It's got a 4.0 V8, and a very luxurious interior. Unfortunately, they never made it to production.... probably because Lexus's biggest market was (and still is) North America, and North Americans have this weird stereotypical view on hatchback = econobox.

Because of this stereotypical view, many manufacturers don't even bother bringing their hot hatches to this shore (e.g. the new Euro Civic - which looks much better than the U.S. Civic). Some manufacturers even modified their hatchbacks into sedans for the North American market (e.g. Ford Focus and the Toyota Echo - both look weird and ugly with a trunk).

TruenoAE86 - 1/23/2007 6:31:11 PM

+3 Boost

"Most of the people who put down these style vehicles have obviously never owned one. The Audi A3 is a fun to drive car and is built like a tank. Plus you can put TVs in it or what ever else you can stow into its hatch," says atomicbri.

I totally agree with you on this. Hatches can be luxurious, high performance, and practical. The trunk of a regular sedan is just useless for moving large objects (like furniture from IKEA). A hatchback with the back seat folded down saves the day.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/23/2007 10:35:21 PM

+1 Boost

Oh, I looked up the Landau online... very, very ugly, and the interior doesn't look all that nice. Doesn't look like a Lexus at all.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/23/2007 6:38:47 PM

0 Boost

Of course, the S3 won and the 130i came in last.

I love my A3! Second-best car I've ever owned, "status" and rank in the brand nonwithstanding.

chewy - 1/23/2007 7:34:01 PM

0 Boost

Yep, the S3 and the R32 beat the ugly 130i. The S3 was first with the R32 not far behind, but the BMW 130i trailing far in the dust. On the track the difference is even bigger, with the S3 being much quicker, but the R32 still beats the BMW 130i by a significant margin.

MPowerDK - 1/24/2007 2:02:59 AM

+3 Boost

Because the magazine did not like the hard suspension on the BMW, mainly there and in space in backseat it loose som points. Due to rwd contra awd the beemer also loose some points, but rwd is more fun if you know how to handle it;) i guess many dont.

quizz - 1/23/2007 7:48:01 PM

+1 Boost

I love the compact look of the S3. The A3 is a great commuter car here in America.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/23/2007 10:33:56 PM

0 Boost

Yes, it is.

Larry - 1/24/2007 12:47:27 AM

+1 Boost

wow a3 good for you S4, the VW golf is a car that VW has perfected over the past 30 years the 1 series is a new to the VW golf class, and the VW is the better car the A3 a dressed up golf, to spend 30k on that POS is crazy.

chewy - 1/24/2007 3:10:47 AM

0 Boost

Wait, so a better car than a BMW is a POS? Then what is a BMW if you cnsider a car that is better than it a POS? I would like to know.

OWNED, buddy.

underthegravity - 1/24/2007 3:14:16 AM

+1 Boost

I must say the 130i is one brilliant car, a good steering feedback makes me confident to take control around every corner. The steering is really precise so you can even let the steering wheel go and it will turn back to the stable position by itself. It's a fun car to drive, somehow, the price is a bit too expensive for such a small car like this. Plus, VW Golf seems to be the obvious choice on the road.

SalvaGer - 1/24/2007 5:33:02 AM

+1 Boost

the 130 is a pure sportscar with understatement in design. if you've ever have driven one, you'll never get a golf or it's pumped up brother, a3.

vdiv - 1/24/2007 11:25:18 AM

+1 Boost

Notice at the end of this very detailed comparison that the Audi is overall about 3% better than the BMW. Considering that, the choice would really most likely lie somewhere between cost considerations and brand loyalty.