Bye Bye.....for now.....S3 gone.....

[idjbell]

S3 to Cupra R...

Well the time came to move on from the S3. 3 doors needed to become 5 doors.

The early maths wasn’t good and looking at the classifieds I just couldn’t stretch to a decent enough low mileage S3 Sportback, so the painful decision to change was sealed.

Now I love 4wd, but the options weren’t good. The Subaru STI was cheap enough £20k for a delivery mileage 10 reg was tempting, but the boot is tiny and rear space is pretty tight. At the other end of the scale an Insignia VXR looked like a bargain, plenty big enough but a 2.8L and the way road tax and petrol is going seemed like a bad idea. That also ruled out a late R32.

My missus has a Leon FR and it’s always made the S3 feel very plain. The seats hug you, the steering wheel is meaty and the exhaust sounds like it has a pulse. I couldn’t get anything much slower than an S3 so the Cupra R seemed like a good option.

It has the same engine as the S3 but clearly failed on 4WD. But then they have become a bit of a bargain. £27k new with all the options ticked, one of these today on a 60 reg can be yours for £18k or less if you drop some spec. Found myself a fully optioned low mileage Speed Blue one.

Comparison-

+’s
· Sounds great, but that’s a speaker in the cockpit rather than the real deal.
· Seats actually feel like they belong in a hot hatch- much better than standard option in the S3.
· 19” is a manufacturer option and therefore rides much better than my S3 did on 19” wheels and standard suspension.
· Lack of Bose isn’t as bad as I thought, hardly notice the difference.
· Exhausts look the business.

-‘s
· Wheelspin, had forgot about this, but it rained solid for a week after picking it up- 3rd gear wheelspins all the way...
· When Seat face lifted the car- they changed the steering wheel design and you can’t see the speedo below 40mph....doh
· No heated seat option.

A great compromise, but not a brilliant one.

Thank you for all the help over the past 3 years....i'm sure i'll keep stopping by.....maybe you'll let me into Audi International...

 

[N8]

S3 SB?

 

[idjbell]

Couldn't afford a decent one, with plenty of waranty left. When i got my S3 it was the height of no one being able to sell a car, it was 8 months old and cheap. with the same money today i would just scrape a nearly 2 year old sportback with the same spec, or something very basic.

Also- was that your car all over "Car" mag this month- the fesature on the Golf 35??

 

[N8]

I have no idea?

 

[idjbell]

I'm sure it was. They have a feature on the Golf and took it to GTI, sure it's your car parked behind, short number plate grey SB. It's in nearly every shot. Check it out... i don't have a copy with me now but will check it out later.

 

[N8]

Whats the mag called - Car?

 

[Matt_S]

Shame the s3 had to go, though the new motors smart almost sensible....

 

[paddy]

· Sounds great, but that’s a speaker in the cockpit rather than the real deal..............Ehh ??

 

[voorhees]

Good call mate,you've by your own admission compromised.
I do love the front especially by the fogs...looks good.

 

[Hellz]

· Sounds great, but that’s a speaker in the cockpit rather than the real deal..............Ehh ??

The Cupra R alledgedly has a speaker in the bulkhead which amplifies/distorts engine noise to make it sound more gruff (more like a V6! )... The Ibiza cupra and bocanegra have the same thing, too.

 

[Hellz]

BTW nice looking car matey, hope you enjoy it!

 

[paddy]

The Cupra R alledgedly has a speaker in the bulkhead which amplifies/distorts engine noise to make it sound more gruff (more like a V6! )... The Ibiza cupra and bocanegra have the same thing, too.

Oh dear

 

[audicruiser]

Oh dear

What will they think of next??!!

 

[Hellz]

Oh dear

You're contemplating the mod - g'wan, admit it pads. V6 beatbox in the cabin

 

[paddy]

Wish i had made a MP3 of my Remus now for my S3 media interface...what ever that is ....

Keep expecting to find my old car turning up on here

 

[idjbell]

Whats the mag called - Car?

Hi,

Yeah Car Magazine. Might have over-egged the times it appears- twice in all. Below is a page shot, left hand side, in the background behind the guy in the shorts.

 

[idjbell]

The Cupra R alledgedly has a speaker in the bulkhead which amplifies/distorts engine noise to make it sound more gruff (more like a V6! )... The Ibiza cupra and bocanegra have the same thing, too.

Sounds like a spitfire, it's so loud, problem is it's early days and quite addictive, so I'm struggling to see 26MPG, vs 28MPG in the S3, just because i keep putting my foot down....I'm sure it will become very tiresome in a while!

 

[N8]

Yeah Car Magazine. Might have over-egged the times it appears- twice in all. Below is a page shot, left hand side, in the background behind the guy in the shorts

Thats right - its Akoya Silver btw not grey

 

[Hellz]

Does it just amplify the engine sound as you rev / accelerate or does it permanently amplify the engine sound?

 

[akash_sky1]

Just get an LSD and some sticky tyres will make hell of a difference. In the dry once you have traction will beat an S3. I like the Cupra Rs but prefer quattro so rules one out for me.

 

[N8]

Just get an LSD

You paying for it?

 

[akash_sky1]

You paying for it?

Ok there that not that cheap! But worth it...

 

[idjbell]

Does it just amplify the engine sound as you rev / accelerate or does it permanently amplify the engine sound?

They claim it a support noise to the natural engine noise, it' sounds very natural.

Only kicks in when you floor the accelerator, if you drive softly it doesn't play it.

 

[idjbell]

Thats right - its Akoya Silver btw not grey

Sorry!

 

[Hellz]

Decided to have a look on the trader at some Cupra R's and maybe its just my inner (crack smoking) child but they are definitely one of the better looking VAG cars.

Before buying the S3 I looked at a few Cupra's (non R's) and whilst the exterior was attractive the interior wasnt. The Cupra R steps the game up with leather seats, FBSW, and a refined dash plus a sharper exterior.

It'd be interesting to hear what it is like to live with after a few weeks and in particular, whether you actually miss the quattro vs FWD...

 

[idjbell]

And the best bit- my 19" CK's are now up for sale with some very nice Michelin Pilot Supersports- 225/25/19's.

Link is in the Ebay thread!

Ta

 

[N8]

Sorry!

I WILL let you off

 

[RAPS3]

My S3 sportback is going up for sale this week, good spec and priced to sell

Looks like I missed a potential customer :lol:

I do like the look of the Cupra R though. I remember the horrible green ones they used in the press releases for the R model.
That blue looks well.

 

[N8]

Thats a shame Rap

 

[1animal1]

nice upgrade matey i hope you enjoy

I absolutely love these, if it werent for that god awful dash id have one, well that and the lack of quattro..... they made an amazing job of the outside, just that dash looks like it belongs in a Skoda Yeti than a top end sports car

enjoy mate!

 

[N8]

that dash looks like it belongs in a Skoda Yeti than a top end sports car!

Thats the low end of the VAG stable for you Tim

 

[RedDejavu]

nice upgrade matey i hope you enjoy

I absolutely love these, if it werent for that god awful dash id have one, well that and the lack of quattro..... they made an amazing job of the outside, just that dash looks like it belongs in a Skoda Yeti than a top end sports car

enjoy mate!

Welcome to Tic Tac world:]

 

[N8]

Tic Tac

 

[PaulAr]

My S3 sportback is going up for sale this week, good spec and priced to sell

The sooner its sold the better for me, temptation is an expensive weakness........
Ive already formulated some wacky justification in my own head...

Paul

 

[RedDejavu]

It has the same engine as the S3 but clearly failed on 4WD. But then they have become a bit of a bargain. £27k new with all the options ticked, one of these today on a 60 reg can be yours for £18k or less if you drop some spec. Found myself a fully optioned low mileage Speed Blue one.
]

27k new 60reg 18k.... 2 years time and it'll be worth 10k or less... can you afford losing 8k? its not cheaper to run or maintain than S3 either if you take everything under consideration! S3 doesn't depreciate that much and its more desirable car therefore easier to sell. Why not aim to get 3 years old bmw 3 series or A4/S4 and save money towards s3 SB?. No offence to you mate but I would not get Seat if I were you:].

 

[idjbell]

27k new 60reg 18k.... 2 years time and it'll be worth 10k or less... can you afford losing 8k? its not cheaper to run or maintain than S3 either if you take everything under consideration! S3 doesn't depreciate that much and its more desirable car therefore easier to sell. Why not aim to get 3 years old bmw 3 series or A4/S4 and save money towards s3 SB?. No offence to you mate but I would not get Seat if I were you:].

S3 prices are bit funny at the moment. Upto 3 years and in warranty- £20k+, get to the fourth year and they drop like a stone. Have a look on Autotrader, it's very odd. for £20k (my budget) the best sportback you can get is a 2008 with pretty low rent options. Look at the 3 door cars at 4 years and they start at £15k! So i'd lose £5k in a year in an S3 anyway.

Seat aren't that bad, 3 year old cupras still command £12k, so it should be a tad over that, but Seats are harder to sell.

Plan is to give it to my wife in 2 years as her FR will need to be moved on by then, so we probably won't sell it for a good while.

 

[nally]

sorry bowt the s3 i am in the same dilemma looking for an s line sport back but dealers where giving silly prices to trade. no going private for sale and purchase

 

[55_UK]

leon has the worst dash! agreed fully! that pic is horrendous!

 

[RedDejavu]

The Cupra R alledgedly has a speaker in the bulkhead which amplifies/distorts engine noise to make it sound more gruff (more like a V6! )... The Ibiza cupra and bocanegra have the same thing, too.

Does it mean when I stick hamster inside bulkhead it will sound like a supercharger?

 

[1animal1]

S3 prices are bit funny at the moment. Upto 3 years and in warranty- £20k+, get to the fourth year and they drop like a stone. Have a look on Autotrader, it's very odd. for £20k (my budget) the best sportback you can get is a 2008 with pretty low rent options. Look at the 3 door cars at 4 years and they start at £15k! So i'd lose £5k in a year in an S3 anyway.

Seat aren't that bad, 3 year old cupras still command £12k, so it should be a tad over that, but Seats are harder to sell.

Plan is to give it to my wife in 2 years as her FR will need to be moved on by then, so we probably won't sell it for a good while.

Theres a few variables here, sportbacks are more rare and I dare say you may have found an odd 3 door at 15k, but there isnt generally a 5k difference, i can guaranteee you this. Also take into account looking at facelift cars which obviously hold value slightly better....I was only looking last night and think a decent specced 3 door 09/59 should be able to command 22-23k still!