CaseyS4

The lease on my 2013 S4 is up in September. I was hoping the B9 S4 was going to be available...but it looks like that was wishful thinking!

So I am considering two alternatives:

Alternative #1 BMW 340i Xdrive with M sport package. I have had BMWs before a great E46 330i with zsp sport package and a 335i seadan with sport package. Great cars but lots of quality issues. Especially the 335i. Really got to know the mechanic at my BMW dealership. Since moving to the Audi S4...0 problems. 3 years with just scheduled maintenance.

I see the 340i as the closest competitor to my S4 from both a performance and a size perspective.

The cons are I am sure the 340i will see a major redesign shortly.

Yes the 340i was just "refreshed" and upgrade from 335i in 2016.

But the "refresh" was mild.

Alternative #2 2017 Audi S3 Prestige with Dynamic Sport. Would not have considered the S3 but the refresh brings some great new upgrades like virtual cockpit, improved Quattro with better vectoring, and Apple Car Play.

Here are my major concerns:

Going from my sweet supercharged V6 with 333HP down to the S3's 2.0 liter turbo. The 340i's turbo charged 6 with 320 horses would seem to be a better option coming from the S4.

Size--I travel a lot and play golf the trunk of my S4 holds a good amount of luggage and my clubs fit nicely. The 340i would again seem to offer more trunk space than the S3...is this true?

Back seat...again the 340i would seem to offer more room. I have one teen age son who is 17. He is about 5'9. Would the back seat of the S3 be okay or will he be hating life back there. We sometimes drive on vacation which is about 5 hours.

I have come to really love Audi...would like to stay with Audi.

The new A4 just lacks too much punch after driving the S4 for 3 happy years.

So its the 2017 S3 or going back to BMW with the 340i.

Insights from S3 owner's appreciated.

markN1689

The s3 would smoke your current s4 in a race. The s4 is a fat pig. A tugboat.. It's ancient and it belongs in a museum. The s3 weighs just 3400lbs and with just 300hp can hit 60 in 4.4
its also way more nimble. Total no brainier imo. And I came from a b7 s4 with the v8 (344hp) and 6 speed

RockChalk

One set of golf clubs will fit fine (laying the driver on top of the bag), but two sets will need one of the seats folded down.

CaseyS4

I think the B8 and 8.5 S4s may well end up in a museum because they are beautiful. A perfect German well balance design.

My S4 is a 2013 and I get compliments just about every week.

It's Phantom black and I keep it immaculate.

Frankly, as not wild about the new A4 and S4...it kept many of the lines of the B8 but the new lines added just add up to "busier" look.

Not a better look.

The interior is a big improvement.

Sorta like the new A5/S5...they kept many of the same lines but the new front end lines add up to just a busier and less elegant look.

Some say it looks meaner...but you don't paint a scowl on the Mona Lisa.

I will definitely test drive the 2017 S3 back to back to a 340i and see which of these 2 cars suites my needs best.

I will also say I love the lines of the 2015/16 S3.

Much like the B8 S4...the exterior lines say balanced German strength. More understated than over stated which I like.

A simple tailored suit that fits right.

I fear that the extra lines added to the front lines of the 2017 S3 will upset the balance rather than add to it.

Busier lines for the sake of making a car look "meaner" is not always a good thing.

We shall see!

arU4ic

I was seriously reticent about the 2.0 4cyl. - love more cylinders - particular in the city... my favorite engine was the twin-turbo 2.7 - but you will forget your S4 on your first launch-controled 0-60 in your S3.

If you're NOT a launch-control, canyon-carving kinda guy, the ride and taughtness of the S3 will feel small and you'll soon wish for a little larger, more grown-up S4. The ride of the S4 you're presently in has a more complex and complete ride.

huskyz

Depends...of course. You've likely considered it but an A6 with the right stuff is a heck of a car too and 'improves on' some of your apparent concerns with the smaller cars.

19hole

Not true....My staff bag and my wife's cart bag both fit in the trunk of her A3. Drivers come out and go in after the bags.