Looking at an S3

[bellamy06]

hello everyone, i've registerd to get a bit of advice on the S3

I currently drive an Astra VXR pushing 298bhp and 342ft lb, its a lovely car to drive and pulls really nicely
Anyway i'm looking at changing to an S3, is there any advice you can give me when i go to look at dealerships, and if there are any common faults with them
regards, tom

 

[S3Alex]

hello everyone, i've registerd to get a bit of advice on the S3

I currently drive an Astra VXR pushing 298bhp and 342ft lb, its a lovely car to drive and pulls really nicely
Anyway i'm looking at changing to an S3, is there any advice you can give me when i go to look at dealerships, and if there are any common faults with them
regards, tom

Dealers first....only the usual things to avoid...pushy salespeople,poor sales techniques,and lack of discounts or poor trade-ins.

Having said that,my local one has been very fair each time I've been there,and both me and them know what to expect.

Faults....overall,the car is pretty robust,and the engine is under-stressed as you'll see from the power levels some of the modded ones put out.

The problem areas have been coil-packs(although not recently it seems),dual mass flywheels(although this is not Audi/VW specific),and clutches on uprated cars.

Other than that,have a look at Honest John ( www.honestjohn.co.uk )

I've had mine for about 16 months and have been very happy with it.

This forum has been a goldmine for help and information...hope you enjoy it.

 

[bellamy06]

I've seen that they ae very tunable.
My dad has an Ed30 GTI with a remap and running 300bhp, i've heard that they have a similar engine to the s3
And thanks for the info:icon_thumright:

 

[S3Alex]

I've seen that they ae very tunable.
My dad has an Ed30 GTI with a remap and running 300bhp, i've heard that they have a similar engine to the s3
And thanks for the info:icon_thumright:

A lot of the internals are different AFAIK,but the turbo is the same( a K04 ).

Jonnyc,one of the members here was running a 350bhp ED30 for a while before going back to his S3.

On the stock turbo,you'd get a maximum of between 370-380bhp,but you would need Revo's Stage 2+ software,a high pressure fuel pump,a Milltek exhaust,cold air intake,diverter valve and new clutch for that.

There are quite a few(!) threads here covering tuning,and tuning companies....I used AMD Essex and Revo for mine.

I nearly forgot.....tyres.....mine was fitted with Bridgestone RE050s from new and I thought these were about the worst "performance" tyres I've ever used.
Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetrics are much better...IMHO.

Another point is the suspension geometry,which is almost always out a bit on Audis from new,and well worth getting checked when you change tyres.

 

[bellamy06]

Very glad i looked on here for some advice now mate.
and yes im familiar with AMD, my dads ED30 is mapped by them and i have a few mates with LCRs that have had work done by them.
I have Eagle F1s on my VXR and agree theyrevery good tyres.
Out od interest, have you ever ran yors with a set of Toyo R888s on them?

 

[S3Alex]

Very glad i looked on here for some advice now mate.
and yes im familiar with AMD, my dads ED30 is mapped by them and i have a few mates with LCRs that have had work done by them.
I have Eagle F1s on my VXR and agree theyrevery good tyres.
Out od interest, have you ever ran yors with a set of Toyo R888s on them?

If you get an S3....you know where to go then!

Shaun and they guys there have been very helpful and haven't pushed products at all,which is very refreshing these days,and when there have been problems such as a misfire,the backup has been excellent,and I would say the same for Revo.

I've not used R888s on this car,but had Toyos on a previous Escort Cosworth(not the R888 though).

Good tyres,but better on a dry road,which is worth taking into account.

The F1 is a good all-rounder,and pretty progressive when it's getting near the limits,which the RE050 was not.

 

[bellamy06]

I will def be using AMD the feedback has been great and theyre only 20 mins from me
I used the r888s on my VXR this summer on the dry warm days and they were amazing, so was just ondering what they would be like on the S3 really
But defo agree the F1 is the tyre of choice

 

[S3Alex]

I will def be using AMD the feedback has been great and theyre only 20 mins from me
I used the r888s on my VXR this summer on the dry warm days and they were amazing, so was just ondering what they would be like on the S3 really
But defo agree the F1 is the tyre of choice

If you've got rims for both tyres that would probably be the best way...!

Sounds as if you're already sold on the S3.

 

[bellamy06]

I can have two sets of wheels yes, will probs be the best way.
And pretty much sold yep but im starting to wonder about the new golf gti r??

 

[S3Alex]

I can have two sets of wheels yes, will probs be the best way.
And pretty much sold yep but im starting to wonder about the new golf gti r??

The R20?.....if you see it as very much an S3,you wouldn't be far off.

If you're buying new,try both.

 

[bellamy06]

Same sort of performance figures arent they? but not sure when theyre available and i'm after a car pretty much soon as really

 

[S3Alex]

Same sort of performance figures arent they? but not sure when theyre available and i'm after a car pretty much soon as really

It's pretty much the same car almost.

 

[JohnS3]

Hi Tom, I might be letting go of my high spec 07 revo S3 if I can do a deal on a car I've seen. Drop me a PM for more info.
Regards, John.

 

[PaulAr]

Hi Tom, I might be letting go of my high spec 07 revo S3 if I can do a deal on a car I've seen. Drop me a PM for more info.
Regards, John.

Whats next John?

 

[dc240969]

The R20?.....if you see it as very much an S3,you wouldn't be far off.

If you're buying new,try both.

An S3 with front wheel drive maybe.

 

[Lee_R]

An S3 with front wheel drive maybe.

Er no....The new Golf R is 2.0T 265bhp and is 4WD "4motion" so yes its pretty much identical to the S3 powertrain wise. Only trouble is, its going to be 28k in base spec which puts it in the S3 price bracket so cant see the point in it.

The Scirocco R has the same engine but is FWD and around 25k

 

[JohnS3]

Whats next John?

It might be a B7 S4...

 

[dc240969]

Er no....The new Golf R is 2.0T 265bhp and is 4WD "4motion" so yes its pretty much identical to the S3 powertrain wise. Only trouble is, its going to be 28k in base spec which puts it in the S3 price bracket so cant see the point in it.

The Scirocco R has the same engine but is FWD and around 25k

It does, l havent read up on it. l was just quoting what the salesman said when l was in looking at a new gti. Speaks volumes doesnt it.

 

[Lee_R]

sure does, heres all the details you need

http://www.worldcarfans.com/109091421719/vw-golf-r-uncovered-ahead-of-frankfurt-debut

I cant see the point because when it comes out there will be no discounts and a few month waiting list. If you buy an S3 most people reckon you can get between 8 and 10% discount now so depending on options, the S3 would be the cheaper car!!! And to make it worse the Golf comes with cloth seats so you are looking £800 plus for leather and its standard in the S3!

What badge would you sooner have VW or Audi? Its a no brainer.......although the Golf has Audi wheels!!!