BMW M235i Cab vs Audi S3 Cab

BMW M235i Cab vs Audi S3 Cab

We know that winter is around the corner however, there is no better time to plan for summer than now. Here are two of the hottest accessories for Summer 2015

Whenever the month of September arrives it usually signals the Spring season and thus preparations for summer begin in earnest. Some hit the gym and to try tone that body for summer while some do a spot of shopping, like searching for the ultimate sunny season tool – which is a convertible.

Quite recently I found myself sampling two of the newest, most bitter of rivals on offer. These are the new BMW M235i Cab. I happened to be in possession of the also relatively new Audi S3 Cab while driving to the airport to catch a flight to take me to the new BMW. Though it won’t be traditional comparo, rather it is a back-to-back mud-sling.

First the Audi…at 641 500 ZAR

On the world stage we find that Audi is catching up to their arch rivals in terms of sales, and in some regions they actually outsell BMW. The S3 Cab is the latest debutant in a harem that has grown spectacularly wide and attractive. You can have the S3 as a cab like I did, or have it in four-door sedan flavor, which is also fantastic or, have it in good old school three-door hatch or five-door Sportback shape.

In Cabrio form the same raspy 2.0-litre turbo with 206kW beats heartily upfront and sends its magic to all its wheels thanks to Quattro underpinnings. It’s just that now you can bask in the wind when you open the taps thanks to a soft-cloth roof that transforms in a fairly long time (a proper roadster does this in less than 15 seconds)

Then the BMW…at 643 500 ZAR

It’s certainly one of the popular choices for open-top driving thanks to its more affordable price tag above truer desirables like the M6 and M4 Cabs. As the latest addition which boasts enhanced everything including, a new set of number sequences (M235i as opposed to 135i of old), this junior cab will take on the S3 on many levels. The two rivals are so twinned that I have sympathy for potential buyers for when they must choose. Upfront is a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels – this is very different piping to the Audi. Happily this means we can separate them beyond their abilities of blowing cold hair on top of shaven heads.

Inside the two you will find…

Virtually similar everything but presented in varied shapes and styles of buttons. Both cars offer: automatic climate control with sensors for topless driving (the air comes out quite vicious to reverse the effects of inclement weather); electric operated soft cloth roofs (both take forever); lovely seats with the S3’s appearing slightly more buckety; audio with steering wheel controls, cruise control (the S3 was radar enabled for self-regulation of brakes and throttle); both have equally similar boot space; and in both cars the rear seats are impossible to use for fully grown human adults. It has to be said that both have extensive options catalogues for a deeper level of individualization.

The real Difference can be found…

In their mechanical make up. In the world there are dog people and there are cat people. Difference is in how both owners play with their pets. The BMW sticks to its tradition of RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) and seeing that the M235i hails from the M Performance division instead of the regular laboratory, it’s a special diff out back there and one which you can spec with adaptability for an extra 8K to maximize handling of the ragged kind. BMW almost expects that if you go for this particular car you will occasionally coax out the tail in a smoky, drifty fun way.

Audi is a bit conservative when it comes to handling. Theirs is to ensure maximum road grip at all times and that’s where Quattro comes on to play. Over the years (about 25 now) Audi’s attachment of AWD suspension has brought them the ire of true enthusiasts who have described Quattro with an assortment of spicy adjectives but it’s no bother really because, the contrasting advantage is that with more grip on the wheels you disappear quicker into the sunset from standstill. So in essence, Quattro has its delinquent side.

The engine choices speak volumes too. On the one hand you have a lighter four-cylinder turbo (210kW/380Nm) which in fairness, and when used in a more civil manner should consume less fuel than the 6-cylinder lump (240kW/ 450Nm) in the nose of the BMW.

But the BMW’s less weighty suspension also helps in returning respectable consumption. So really it’s looking more and more a Yin and Yang situation, which is great because both brands have an auditable following. In the end, I or anyone is unlikely to convince any group to jump ship. But this doesn’t mean we won’t attempt to split them up.

5 Reasons to buy the Audi S3 instead of the BMW M235i      

• Quattro
• Better seats
• Audi is the future (overhead from a fan)
• It uses less fuel
• And looks overtly sportier than the M235i

5 Reasons to buy the BMW M235i instead of the Audi S3

• It’s more powerful
• It can drift
• It sounds better
• It’s more comfortable, surprisingly
• It’s available as both Manual or Auto unlike the exclusively auto Audi