Do I sell or new engine time?

[Jay]

I've been looking at selling the A3 and getting something bigger, maybe a 2004 A4 or e46 330d which would set me back atleast 8K. I've recently started reading up on all the turbo upgrades on here and the vw forums...so now i'm in 2 minds.

The A3's is a 1.8T, K03s, AUM engine, currently on 109K and is running fine at the moment but I'm thinking a hybrid turbo maybe the beginning of the end due to its age and mileage etc.

I've seen some replacement engines on the Backdraft site for just over a 1k, I was thinking this maybe a good starting point then adding the k03s/k04 hybrid when the engines been run in.

1.8T Replacement Engine | Backdraft Motorsport

Other concern is with it being a fwd will it be able to put the power down? Its struggling at the moment with just a remap! and what other problems might arise after the transplant/upgrade.....gearbox??

So is spending 4K for around 280 horses worth it? This would also include full exhaust, turbo, fmic and suspension.

Or do I just sell up and buy a new car?

thanks

 

[jdas03]

Personally i'd sell up and get something else, for 8k budget for a new car you could get an S3, remap it and probably get near the power you want with badgers 3" tip etc
You may even be able to go hybrid if you find a cheap one ;-)

 

[aragorn]

I defo wouldnt waste any money on a FWD audi.

If i had 8k to spend i'd probably be looking at a 1.8T Quattro B6 A4 and a BIG turbo.

 

[DaveA3]

most will say get an S3. your choice though mate.

 

[Don's A3 TTu]

sell go quattro a3 or s3

 

[Jay]

I defo wouldnt waste any money on a FWD audi.

If i had 8k to spend i'd probably be looking at a 1.8T Quattro B6 A4 and a BIG turbo.

If I was to buy an A4 it would be the B6.....190bhp or maybe a 2.0T but the 330 diesel also sounds very appealing. A remap sees close to 250 bhp with stupid amounts of torque.

A R33 GTST skyline also looks interesting but dont fancy the idea of filling up with super unleaded every time.

 

[aragorn]

190hp B6 and the S3 both "specify" super-unleaded anyway, and especially if you remap them its recommended you run it on it.

Diseasels arent drivers cars. They might have a turn of pace and might return more MPG, but they're just not as nice to drive and enjoy as a nice petrol motor.

 

[steve bain]

FWD will always be the limiting factor imo. mines standard and wheel spins far too much!

 

[motfree]

S3 all day or a nice a4 1.8t with s line kit on .. Your moneys though !!

 

[adamss24]

Diseasels arent drivers cars. They might have a turn of pace and might return more MPG, but they're just not as nice to drive and enjoy as a nice petrol motor.

You'll be surprised mate, i did not drive many modern petrol cars that can massage my balls as well as me old v6 tdi does ! And i have driven some pretty wild cars in me life- had a dahlback fettled s2 as a getaway car in germany back in the 90's, i also drove a few ruf's and a porsche gemballa (none were mine(!) and i did drove them like I stole them- literally !). 330d with 335d injectors and remap and its dope on the dry ! Failing that, 3L tdi audi a4 b7 quattro(my next car) with 335d injectors and hybrid turbo/remap- 330 bhp and 4.5 sec. dead 0 to 60...and still returns 35Mpg ! Throw 2-3k in a diesel and you'll get unbelievable results.

 

[s3_stig]

I had a 330cd mate lovely car pretty quick iswell
I had the triptronic box and it went on me.
If you like power I would stick with a petrol car even tho diesels are very quick they just don't rev.
And dont fell the same as a petrol car to drive

 

[s3_kev]

i would'nt spend that sort of money on an a3 purely due to £££'s spent for your return once you sell. everyone will say get an s3 (which im not against) i have been out in my mates leon (fwd) 225bhp and its not a touch on my s3 for overal traction power delivery etc.. so having 280bhp i cant see it getting much better but only worse. look around and get something more suitable as a base car imo your always want to do somthing to it and if you start off with a goodun it'll only get better

 

[hilly]

i had a 330d with a remap it was fun but like my s3 better!i think the 0-60 mentioned are abit on the wild side!the 335d with a remap taking it 340bhp ish will only do early 5's!so no chance of the 330d doing 4.5!they struggle to get e46 over 300bhp

 

[JS1500]

B5 S4 Avant? Could get a gem for £8k...

 

[werntonb]

I've been looking at selling the A3 and getting something bigger, maybe a 2004 A4 or e46 330d which would set me back atleast 8K. I've recently started reading up on all the turbo upgrades on here and the vw forums...so now i'm in 2 minds.

The A3's is a 1.8T, K03s, AUM engine, currently on 109K and is running fine at the moment but I'm thinking a hybrid turbo maybe the beginning of the end due to its age and mileage etc.

I've seen some replacement engines on the Backdraft site for just over a 1k, I was thinking this maybe a good starting point then adding the k03s/k04 hybrid when the engines been run in.

1.8T Replacement Engine | Backdraft Motorsport

Other concern is with it being a fwd will it be able to put the power down? Its struggling at the moment with just a remap! and what other problems might arise after the transplant/upgrade.....gearbox??

So is spending 4K for around 280 horses worth it? This would also include full exhaust, turbo, fmic and suspension.

Or do I just sell up and buy a new car?

thanks

Honestly, same concern here and I have just spent 4.5K in getting the new set up of my car. I think 4K is enough and worth it if you are wiser than the dealer of the parts that you'll needed for the set up of your car. But it is in you if you want to buy new car.

 

[adamss24]

i had a 330d with a remap it was fun but like my s3 better!i think the 0-60 mentioned are abit on the wild side!the 335d with a remap taking it 340bhp ish will only do early 5's!so no chance of the 330d doing 4.5!they struggle to get e46 over 300bhp

335d has a rather trick twin turbo set-up (wich is only built for linear boost pressure) wich is not as good as the GTB2260 vk as fitted to the 330d wich can sustain much higher boost with minimal turbo lag. Trust me, there are beemers running close to 500 Bhp in europe wich break the 5 sec. 0 to 60 and do low 12 sec. quarter mile. The v6 tdi also boosts a GTB2260vk turbo and with beemer 335d injector nozzles can break the 5 sec. time to 100 km/hour and has better traction off the line but higher parasitic loses due to the 4WD. Also all them big diesel have rather tall 6th gear wich means they go beyond 150 Mph at "just" 4000 rpm's. The v6 tdi getrag gearbox as fitted to the b5/c5 2.5 tdi quattro can do 220 miles per hour when fitted to a b5 rs4 before it hits the rev limiter ! Do not sniff at the diesels mate as many can give the petrols a really god run for their money whilst still retaining decent fuel ecconomy ! Yeah, a s3 might give you a wiplash every time you change gear, the smooth diesels will feel just clinical but chuck them in a roundabout and the torquey nature of the diesel means you on boost every time without having to work the box to get anywhere...

 

[mk1chopper]

If your after a bigger car then why even consider spending money on the A3? You've got to ask yoursefl what your after, more power or a bigger car or both?

 

[Jay]

thanks for the input guys, lots to think about.

I've given up on the hybrid idea as I can see lots going wrong in the future (gearbox etc...) so kinda leaning towards a quattro now either the 2.0T/tdi or 2.5tdi doesn't seem to many quattro's in the diesels at the moment though?

Only thing putting me off the 330d is the rear wheel drive.... the weather we've been getting recently isn't really suited for rear wheel drives.

I do arround 10K miles a year if that would a diesel make much difference economy wise?

 

[werntonb]

re:rebuilt engine thanks for the input guys, lots to think about.

I've given up on the hybrid idea as I can see lots going wrong in the future (gearbox etc...) so kinda leaning towards a quattro now either the 2.0T/tdi or 2.5tdi doesn't seem to many quattro's in the diesels at the moment though?

Only thing putting me off the 330d is the rear wheel drive.... the weather we've been getting recently isn't really suited for rear wheel drives.

I do arround 10K miles a year if that would a diesel make much difference economy wise?

what did you end up doing?

 

[Jay]

what did you end up doing?

lol nothing yet...getting dog bone bush changed tomorrow.

Seen a few A4's. still not sure about petrol or diesel yet........f***** Gaddafi's not helping with the price of petrol...could be 140 a litre soon!!!