[Egrunt]

Looking for the next vehicle for my of 37 years, she is very frugal but I have her considering the price difference from a Golf R to the Audi RS3 and BMW M2.

We currently have a 18 BMW M5 (F90) and prior to the F90 we had a 15 BMW M3 F80. Both purchased new and used as a 3rd vehicle since we have other vehicles. My wifes current vehicle is a 12 VW GTI Autobahn DSG 2-door (puchased new), with a APR stage 1 tune and APR DSG tune. She loves that car and I am thinking about keeping it.

The cars in the running for her: 24 Audi RS3, 24 VW Golf R, and 24 BMW M2. Currently the RS3 is in the lead, it has a proper dash, stereo sounds great compared to the others (very important to the wife) and we both like the looks of the vehicle over the other two.

The Golf R is considered but the lack of buttons and having to go through the center screen just to turn on the front defoster was a time consuming task. This is well documented online and others have stated once you own the vehicle for some time you will become use to finding the functions through the center screen. Stereo is just ok and I would have to spend roughly 5k - 8k for a system upgrade.

Then there is the M2, we think the looks of the vehicle on the outside is just ok, yes we are old pushing 60 and we miss the days of our E46 M3 and E39 5 series. As they say looks are subjective. Not a fan of the computer monitor looking dash but as my wife stated once you are sitting in the drivers seat it is an after thought. To us the exhaust sound is the worst of the 3 but we also did not like the sound of our F80 either. Again the sound of an exhaust is subjective.

Any input good or bad on the vehicles we are considering.

[strohw]

Considering you listed multiple positive points for the Audi and not a single one for the other two, I think you already made up your mind.

[Ugly Kar]

I would suggest a lightly used 22' M240xi. It doesn't have the ipad dash and can be easily tuned/chip to be faster then the RS3, M2 for $12-$15k less than the RS3, M2.

The VW just doesn't seem likes it's in the same class and looks like a cheaper car being a hatchback. Although, it is a good value for what you get if that doesn't bother you. BMW is ranked significantly better in reliability also.

[mjj]

Your definition of your wife being frugal was interesting being she has an M5 and came from an M3. Frugal to me is 2002 Chevy Malibu with 190,000 miles.

My wife’s definition of frugal is similar to yours. LOL

[evomike]

out of these 3 cars the only one I would want to own is the RS3

[XMetal]

Golf R only makes sense in your situation if you're getting rid of the GTI. Otherwise, it would be too similar to the current GTI with all the downside you've mentioned.

M2 if you want a manual and no need for 4 doors.

RS3 gets my vote in your situation since it's different enough from the GTI and looks much better than the M2. The 5 pot alone is enough justification!

[BlkGS]

I like the idea of the M2 a lot, and it isn't hideous like the M3/M4, but it's hard to argue against the RS3. It's more practical, more capable with AWD, and more "special" having the last 5 cylinder.on the market I know of. It may not be better dynamics wise, but does that really matter?

[BMWsully]

If you didn't already have a GTI, then I think the Golf R would be a slam dunk, by far the best value for the money (and the touch control thing is way WAY overblown btw).

That said, given the overlap, I'd probably go with the M2, especially given that the RS3 is getting a significant LCI next year.

[Egrunt]

Originally Posted by mjj

Your definition of your wife being frugal was interesting being she has an M5 and came from an M3. Frugal to me is 2002 Chevy Malibu with 190,000 miles.

My wife’s definition of frugal is similar to yours. LOL

Her everyday vehicle is the 2012 VW GTI Autobahn DSG 2-door, purchased new in October of 2011 for 27k (MSRP 32k). The M5 and M3 are cars that I purchased as our weekend cars since I have 2008 Tacoma 4X4 off-road double cab that is still going strong with only 110k on the clock.

So after 37 years of marriage I want her to splurge for once in her life, since I do most of the spending on vehicles.