Reasons to love your S3 - S3 owners only please! :-)

[Benjiman46]

Why the snobbery over being confused with an A3?

It's not snobbery... It's just very annoying when you have to keep correcting people and doing so makes you look a right throbber haha I wish people could just learn to read badges... It's a completely different car to the A3, different body, interior, different engine set-up and suspension... and before all you A3 lot say... "Well it's based on an A3..." Well I've got news for you... The A3 and S3 are both based on a Mk4 golf so don't shout too loud about that fact I don't see people looking at your A3 and saying "Look over there, at that golf!"

Anyway I've had my rant... Back to the main point! I love my S3 because it looks so un-assuming (even though it's yellow...) which really surprises people... You get in a Porsche, you expect it to be fast, get in an S3... People are like "What's an S3?..." lol, I love the arches and the power and that really nice subtle aggressive stance it has when you look at it from the front. It reminds me of a serial killer or something lol

 

[Westy]

The A3 and S3 are both based on a Mk4 golf so don't shout too loud about that fact I don't see people looking at your A3 and saying "Look over there, at that golf!"

My mate at work always refers to my car as a Golf in a frock

 

[Prawn]

unless on the drag strip

Perhaps, the place where people who can't drive go to prove themselves

 

[Vex182]

Comparing a standard A3 1.8t 150bhp to a S3 when all standard is a bit silly. They are pretty different car, all different rear suspension, different brakes all round, 2x intercoolers and those arches lol. With guys on here with all sorts of different setups then it's all just a blur and the A/S part does not have much of a meaning.

 

[Jason.s]

Perhaps, the place where people who can't drive go to prove themselves

Saying Niki cant drive?

 

[Westy]

Comparing a standard A3 1.8t 150bhp to a S3 when all standard is a bit silly. They are pretty different car, all different rear suspension, different brakes all round, 2x intercoolers and those arches lol. With guys on here with all sorts of different setups then it's all just a blur and the A/S part does not have much of a meaning.

This is a very good point. We've all forgotten how both these cars were when new and standard.

 

[Prawn]

Saying Niki cant drive?

Pretty much

 

[mk1chopper]

My mate at work always refers to my car as a Golf in a frock

The A3 isnt based on the golf, you could say the golf is based on the A3 as the A3 was the first VAG model to use the platform (A3 released 1996, mk4 golf released 1997)

 

[[Dave B]]

The arches and it's fat ***!

 

[Scullies]

Don't forget the door blades too

 

[Westy]

The arches and it's fat ***!

I've always been an *** man

 

[16Klappe]

The A3 isnt based on the golf, you could say the golf is based on the A3 as the A3 was the first VAG model to use the platform (A3 released 1996, mk4 golf released 1997)

True, but not correct.

Release dates mean nothing in this case; the platform is heavily based on the Mk3 Golf platform. Audi had no FWD sideways engined car until the A3; they had nothing to develop it on.

The A3 was a gamble for VAG, which is why the A3 came out first. To pave the way for the Mk4.

My last A3 was Audi's own launch car and was so early it had a totally different font on all the interior switch gear and dials, and no adjustment for the intermitent wipers. I did a lot of research on very early A3's in the time I had the car. The prototype Mk4 was disguised as a Mk3 during testing.

 

[<tuffty/>]

Couldn't pin point exactly why I love my S3... just brings a smile to my face every time I look at her... sad but true...

...when she plays up I enjoy sorting her out, when she is dirty I enjoy cleaning her and when she is behaving herself I enjoy driving her... love the classic shape of the old girl...

<tuffty/>

 

[kwistof]

Audi had no FWD sideways engined car until the A3; they had nothing to develop it on.

:geek mode on:
How about the Audi 50?
:geek mode off:

I love the wide arches on my S3 - gives it such a great look.

 

[s3 Hoggy]

This is a very old pic but its shows the arches well!

 

[16Klappe]

:geek mode on:
How about the Audi 50?
:geek mode off:

I love the wide arches on my S3 - gives it such a great look.

The same thing, it was just a Polo with a different badge. All of the A01 platform was.

 

[[Dave B]]

The same thing, it was just a Polo with a different badge. All of the A01 platform was.

YYYYAAAAAWWWNNNNN.

Anyway, back on topic..

 

[16Klappe]

YYYYAAAAAWWWNNNNN.

Anyway, back on topic..

I love your S3's, because without them I wouldn't have a reason to be so smug

 

[Westy]

If it's arches porn you want.......

 

[kwistof]

The same thing, it was just a Polo with a different badge. All of the A01 platform was.

So much want for an Audi 50 with a 1.8T conversion

Anyway - back OT.

I love it how the S3 can blend in anywhere.

 

[superkarl]

i love mine because i've just found this old picture and it looks absolutely awesome in the snow

 

[jojo]

A3's are a bit flat aren't they.

 

[Pabl0]

S3's are just a great all rounder, nothing to challenge it for the money.

A3's don't compare, there the cheap ugly knobhead brother

 

[Dicky A]

I love the street sleeper appeal. Those who know their cars know what it is. Those who don't think it's an A3.

Wouldn't want it any other way.

 

[Prawn]

S3's are just a great all rounder, nothing to challenge it for the money.

A3's don't compare, there the cheap ugly knobhead brother

LCR.... Cheaper, faster, more econimical, more practical, better spec....

I'd say that's a reasonable challenger....

why don't you guys say what's GOOD about your S3's rather than looking for the negatives in others?

 

[Westy]

LCR.... Cheaper, faster, more econimical, more practical, better spec....

I'd say that's a reasonable challenger....

why don't you guys say what's GOOD about your S3's rather than looking for the negatives in others?

GO AWAY!

 

[Prawn]

Haha. Sorry boss.

I got told my fred west

 

[mk1chopper]

LCR.... Cheaper, faster, more econimical, more practical, better spec....

I'd say that's a reasonable challenger....

why don't you guys say what's GOOD about your S3's rather than looking for the negatives in others?

LCR....
Cheaper, really in what sense?
Faster, standard I'd say there about the same
more econimical, probably but not by much
more practical, agree
better spec, do not agree, better brakes, electric folding mirrors and 18inc alloys is about all they have over the S3, where as the S3 has a lot more as standard and as options over the LCR.

Its a fair challange but the S3 is a nicer car to be in.


What did I like about the S3 - subtle touches like the flared arches and bumpers, the recaro seats, the piano black interior, the white needles and red lighting on the dash, it was a nice car to be in and drive.

 

[16Klappe]

LCR....
Cheaper, really in what sense?
Faster, standard I'd say there about the same
more econimical, probably but not by much
more practical, agree
better spec, do not agree, better brakes, electric folding mirrors and 18inc alloys is about all they have over the S3, where as the S3 has a lot more as standard and as options over the LCR.

Its a fair challange but the S3 is a nicer car to be in.


What did I like about the S3 - subtle touches like the flared arches and bumpers, the recaro seats, the piano black interior, the white needles and red lighting on the dash, it was a nice car to be in and drive.

Market research has failed you my friend.

The same power and 200kg's lighter.

The weight makes every difference in every aspect, especially performance and economy.

LCR's are a lovely place to be and other than the Bose which is **** anyway are the same spec as an S3.

LCR's can be bought for £2500 now, and are in every sense a better car if you want a performance hatchback.

 

[Jason.s]

But the seats are sh1t, They leak water like a sieve as mentioned before. They have half the looks the S3 does and they`re common as muck. True they`re becoming a bargain though as we brushed over in another thread but then the S3 is a bigger bargain if you look past the mileage differences. They have an *** that puts the S3`s to shame lol.

 

[Pabl0]

LCR.... Cheaper, faster, more econimical, more practical, better spec....

I'd say that's a reasonable challenger....

why don't you guys say what's GOOD about your S3's rather than looking for the negatives in others?

Not bad, but mk1 chopper has put it well.

A friend has a Cupra R and the only thing i want are the brakes, otherwise i prefer my car in everyway and iut certainly has a far greater spec then any Cupra R i've ever seen, i did buy an S3 with plenty of optional extras though.

Plus, the S3 has Haldex and although its not the best 4WD system of all time its still plenty nice to have, you plant your foot and dump the clutch and go, hassle free

Your car is great, but its hardly just another A3 is it lol

 

[16Klappe]

They do leak like **** to be fair haha!

My car is "just another A3" though, and I would confidently say that as a performance hatchback (which is what we are saying here) it is one of the very best cars that you can buy for the money.

Be it an A3, a TQS or an S3 they are all great cars. But when you get to this level of perfection personal preference comes in; I prefer FWD and people who can't drive prefer AWD and wheel arches. It is as simple as that

 

[Jason.s]

ooh loaded that hook up with some seriously good bait there

 

[Prawn]

LCR....
Cheaper, really in what sense?
Faster, standard I'd say there about the same
more econimical, probably but not by much
more practical, agree
better spec, do not agree, better brakes, electric folding mirrors and 18inc alloys is about all they have over the S3, where as the S3 has a lot more as standard and as options over the LCR.

Its a fair challange but the S3 is a nicer car to be in.

I'm talking mechanical spec mate.

cheaper when new, ~19k vs about £25k for an S3. cheaper now second hand, take an S3 and lCR of the same year and mileage, and the LCR will be a lot cheaper. 03-04 cars under 100K can be had for £3k, 01-02 cars over 100k can be had from £2200.

same engine, same power, 100kg lighter - it's faster (not the 200kg difference jardo quotes though)

Mechanical spec, it's basically identical, but the LCR has £1000's worth of better brakes, and stiffer bushes on just about every single bushed component.

if you get the recaro option on the LCR, it's a much better more supportive seat than the S3 recaro too.

S3 spec was fairly basic too without additions, it had aircon and unsupportive recaro seats, but aside from that what's it got over an A3? and don't say shiney black bits

 

[16Klappe]

S3 seats are **** to be fair; so little support compared to the cloth Recaro seats from a facelift or LCR

They look nice though, which is what an S3 is all about apparently.

 

[Scullies]

I love how the S3 comes with all the bits A3 owners want
Sexy wheels, k04, awesome wheel arch's, door blades, etc, etc

 

[Pabl0]

S3 seats are **** to be fair; so little support compared to the cloth Recaro seats from a facelift or LCR

They look nice though, which is what an S3 is all about apparently.

Whats the longest you've ever sat in either the S3 Recaro's or the LCR Recaro's?

If the A3 came with milk crates i'm sure you'd say there were better then S3 seats

 

[16Klappe]

Whats the longest you've ever sat in either the S3 Recaro's or the LCR Recaro's?

If the A3 came with milk crates i'm sure you'd say there were better then S3 seats

To assume makes and *** of you and me

I've sat in cloth facelift A3 seats (which are made by Recaro and are identical in every way to the LCR's other than the stitching) for the best part of three years; and I've sat in S3 Recaros for a 14 hour round trip to R-Tech and back and have had them in my car for the past 8 weeks. They're **** and weigh a ton. Which is why the owner of said seats gave them to me for free in exchange for my cloth seats.

Old seats of win (and a set of LCR Recaros) -

Current seats of almighty scene factor but otherwise nothingness -

The best seat in the entire Mk4 range is the half leather seats which Prawn had in his old daily, which now reside in Pierres A3.

In total unbiased honesty; if I was thinking with my head and not what looks nice and is worth more I'd have the cloth Recaro seats back every single time. And I'd have the highline half leathers like Prawn had/Pierre has over the lot.

So how long have you spent in cloth A3/LCR/Mk4 seats then?

 

[Prawn]

Absolutely no doubt about it, the recaros in the S3 are NOT as supportive as the seats in a facelift A3 sport. This cannot be argued or questioned.

S3 seats are ultra cool, and look amazing, but really do not give the same support. the half leather versions are much better than the full leathers though.

 

[S4 Muzza]

love the fact its nearly 13 years old and doesnt look half that, in my oppinion there are few cars which have aged as well as the 8L.

cant deny that the arches get me a little excited as well.....