J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Mate of mine has decided he wants an Audi S3, he has about 14 grand to get one, what should he be looking for, they seem strong but every car has its issues, I drove one and was very impressed but not moved in the slightest, my MK2 Golf was more fun but the S3 (chipped) was very quick but a bit lacking in character, anyone got one for sale ?

pflowers

Hi, dogy ignition coils is the main thing AFAIK the VW 1.8T was notorious for it and supply problems made the matter worse. Other than that pretty bullet
proof I think.

Mitchy260

Will you get a 225bhp facelifted S3 for £14000 mate?

Dracoro

A MK2 golf (gti?) will be more fun than 95% of cars on the road these days, Audi S3 being prime example of this. Nice cars, quick, well built, classy, but fun? No way near. Too lardy etc.

pete1977

i raced an old modded s3 at santapod,i think the guy got about 12.7.but i think the newer one is a lot better looking.

Simon S3

Not unless it`s a high miler.

NWMark

I didnt know that there were 2 version of the S3? i know theres the 210 and 225 but im pretty sure they are all the same model range i.e. 98->04

Mark

JBONDO1

Nice car it did well in the Evo ultimate 4X4 test only just being piped to the post by the RB5.

cheddar bob

Tell him to go for the facelift 210bhp model, late 2000 X reg - 2001 Y reg, I think late 2001 was when they introduced the 225bhp model? (someone may correct me on this). And performance wise supposed to be no actual difference in either model 210/225 (might be slighlty less insurance also?)

rf

Early S3's have really poor brakes in the wet (i.e none)
Also check for paint work repairs, the factory paintwork is fantastic but get it repaired at the front and it is stone chip city

ps And look out for any STI's, the S3 is fast but not that fast and more importantly it does not feel fast, also understeers much more than the Subaru

Cupramax

Just as a caviat to the above, all S3's have the same brakes...

RB5_245

I've heard of quite a (minor) few faults with them, I don't think they're as solid as the reputation would have you beleve. Worst one was a dodgey fuel tk level sender. There's no access hole apparantly so it's a tank out job...... and you really don't want to be taking that tank out.

NWMark

Ill second that the best one to try and get is the 210 facelift, you get all the advantage of the facelifted model but with the lower insurance.
Plus they both chip to exactly the same in the end anyway.

210's are insurance group 17 and the 225's are insurance group 18, and for me the different was over £400 a year on insurance, £1480 as opposed to £1039 on the facelift 210

The reg's to look out for are X reg, these will all be 210 but a mix of facelift and old, and also Y reg's that should all be facelifts (bar a few stored ones) some will be 210 and some will be 225.

Mark

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Just bought a Rover BRM myself, what a superb little car, quick enough, handles really well and only cost 2900 quid, cant see the point of a 14 grand Audi that isnt really any quicker, this thing flies, been modded and produces 170 bhp, only weighs 1100 kilos.

RB5_180

Audi never considered painting the nose of their cars orange and then fitting red 'quilted' leather interior tho did they - those conservative germans eh?!

I personally think they are great (v underated as with the vi) but the missus said she'd dump me if I bought one!

Flat 4x4

... here here. Got a Vi for the parents 3 years ago. Cracking drive. They're now thinking of selling for something newer, but £1500 trade in for a genuine 37,000m car (98S) - makes you think about why bother, as it flies.

NWMark

My missus has a BRM (modded to around 155->160bhp) and ive got an S3, now for the money the BRM is a cracking car (if you can live with the style), light weight, LSD, shorter ratio's than the vi, good VVC engine.

but to say the S3 isnt much quicker is a major mis statement, any type of driving or racing the BRM has no chance.

now give the BRM a saxo VTS (easy kill) or clio 172 (very close) to play with and things get interesting!!

Mark

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Yes, would agree the Audi is definitely quicker, the Audi I drove was chipped, amazing how many looks the BRM gets though, really posh stuff is ten a penny round here, there was a guy of about 20 taking a photo of it when I looked out of the window before, well it was my uncles one as mine was on the path, rarely see one never mind two together.

Is an S3 quicker than the TT, I always found that TT's didnt seem that quick when I pitted them against my T5 or Fiat Coupe but that S3 I drove was very quick, used to match the 180 BHP in my MK2 Golf GTI, incidentally the Rover feels very similar to a slightly more civilised MK2 GTI.

NWMark

I do agree that ive never had much trouble seeing off TT's although they are slightly heavier and in roadster form around 120Kg heavier.

Yeah my missus loves the BRM not many people actually realise actually how quick they are, and the VVC engine is a peach almost flat torque curve right across the rev range just keeps pulling and pulling all the way to 7000rpm

Mark

aurora

hmmm, BRM, stripped out for a track day special.. was looking at a 205 gti 1.9, but if I can get a cheap BRM instead

LeonCupraR225

Watch out for knackered clutches as they cost around £1200 to replace at a main dealer.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Do a search on Auto Trader, theres one with 93k not sold, its up at 2995 but when I rang the dealer he said it should be up at 2695 but we could 'do a deal', same car went without any bids on Ebay at 2395, 2 and a bit grand should get it, dont know what it was like, I though mine was cheap but it has done 30,000 less miles and had 2 grand spent on it in the last 2 months !

wez_sti

have to disagree with most of the posts on here,

thought the car had exceptional handling, superb grip and good straight line performance. Mate had one for about a year and let me drive it just before he sold it. Not as quick as some cars but it did have gorgeous armchair like leather recaros, heated seats, climate control, bose sound system etc etc...

through the back roads it certainly gave my STi a challenge! (though i do have the worst tyres in the world at the moment!)

things to watch for are...

the syncro on 3rd gear going (whole of the trans need to come out and very irretating crunch everytime you go into 3rd) a very common problem apparently and make sure theres no fault with the ESP sensors (ie no warning lights) as also v. expensive to sort...



wez

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Cheers for the input, was hoping to report back this morning, found he has bought one at the weekend, will see what its like.