A friend has one on his S3 and you can just switch it on or off. There is a difference on the road - the power is there instantly when you need it at any wheel but onb the track I could not really tell any difference.

Hi Rich

I too have an S3, which I bought after having 2 Impreza's. I am not going to compare them, because you can't.

Love the S3 to bits I have had the Revo ECU re-programme done, so it now puts out 270bhp. It pulls like a train in any gear and returns 34mpg on a run with ease. Insurance is also much less than my Scoob was.

BOSE stereo is an essential upgrade IMHO.

Cheers

TONY

Thanks for all the good advise, pretty much tipped the balance! Last question, does the S3 come factory fitted with Thatcham CAT1 equivalent alarm?? obviously makes a huge diff on the old insurance.

Pretty sure they dont come with cat 1. my new tt doesnt and i am sure that would be the same. alarm is very quiet but has all the features u would want, such as auto locking( in case u press open by accident) opens windows and boot etc.

roTTie2

Rich,
Not sure re alarm, just try Privilege Insurance`s on-line insurance calculator, I was amazed how cheap they insure S3s for.

Ok, devil's advocate....

Some people buy a car and thats it, it does everything they need, whereas some people buy a car and immediately start thinking about different springs, shocks, brakes, tuning etc....

If you are the sort that fiddles anyway - would an A3 1.8T quattro not be a better (and cheaper) starting point? Would also (if you like that sort of thing) make a better stealth machine?

Also possibly available as a 5dr?

Just a thought.

Ian.

ianc,

i thought that Haldex automatically engages in first??. Dont know why i think it does, must have read it som ewhere.

What Audi have you got with 222bhp?

roTTie

That must be such a riot to own!

What a stealth car, i bet you have seriously pi**ed off alot of people with that.

Who did the mods?

RoTTie

Cheers Simon, just tried Privilege Insurance they quoted around £720 based on yr 2000 car, so I went back to Norwich Union who insure my VR6 changed the alarm to factory fitted from CAT1 and the quote was £10 more at £537. Dont know why I get such good deals from them but no other company has got anywhere near them in the last 3 years.

Re potential mods to the car, not in favour, I drove a Beetle for years then a Group A spec 309GTi Pug, the continual waiting for something to go wrong tends to sway you to keeping a car standard!

RoTTie2..

Custom remap was done by Jabbasport in Peterborough.

Other than that - Ferodo DSC2500's and Castrol Super Response dot 4.

It's a blast, lovely and quiet and comfy (and 40+mpg) on long journeys, and yet great fun on the wet & muddy B roads. There was a temptation to go for the spoilers and big wheels look, but I love surprising people so will keep it low key.

http://www.geocities.com/ian_cooke/3qtrocty.txt

Ian.

RichWalk,

That`s good news re insurance! I pay around 550 quid with Privilege, I`m 32, full protected NCB etc.

That's because RichWalk is 85 years old, lives in a hamlet that has a lower insurance risk rating than Trumpton, and he keeps his car in a bullet proof glass box. ;)