sell up or carry on with the s3..

s3clarke

s3clarke

Money grabbing s3!
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I'm in a bit of a predicament here, as much as I enjoy my s3, there's a lot to not like about it as well, every time I repair something lately, there's another job I find that needs repairing and I either just waste my time doing the original job, or it ends up costing me more money then id originally bargained for.

The to do list is as follows now:
Cambelt change with all the vital extras, tensioners etc.
Turbo rebuild (bent a compressor wheel fin causing it to make this horrid noise)
New springs as 1 broke.

I have all these plans of making it a quick smart looking motor, but at the same time, im abit of an old skool lover and would love another mk2 golf gti.

What should i do guys, finish the to do list on the s3, and sell up, or just enjoy the good car that it will be?..
 
you wont get good money for it anymore as they are old cars, if you can accept a loss then sell up but make sure the new car you get ticks all the boxes otherwise you'll feel gutted
 
Keep it, its worth the money, its getting old hey so is my wife and she costs more money than the car. you just have to pay for what you enjoy!!:yahoo:

mark
 
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MK2 Golf is surely going to be in worse state of repairs than your S3. Everything will be rusted and corroded. Ok it might be cheaper to repair but probably going to need more repairs over the long run. The S3 is just at that point in its life where things are wearing out. My misses went through it with her Leon. 2000 and 80k miles and everything she`d get fixed something else would need doing and ended up spending a fair bit of cash on it but then once it was done there wasnt much left that was going to go wrong and it was a good car.

If you sell with those repairs needing to be done you`ll get ****** all for it. Keep it and repair then sell you`ll still not get a huge amount for it so keep it, repair it and love it again.
 
Ive had these feelings a few times now...
Ive gone as far as the " thats it, **** it , its going" but... it never has.
2 reasons for me... one ... i have a mk2 golf toy and a mk1 gti soft top
and two... for the money it would now bring to sell my S3 you wouldnt get a good mk2 or anym other car that will do what the S3 does well.
 
see its gonna need bushes in the wishbones too soon, then after they are done, along with the new springs/coilovers will be a four wheel alignment. the front bumper and bonnet I want respraying. I donno I'm just not feeling the love for it at the moment and everytime I get in it to drive it (which isn't a lot as its a weekend car) the battery is either dead or very close. :unsure:
 
I would get some good springs and shocks on it and do the bushes at the same time.
Get the car safe with the cam belt and service items and take it from there... paint i would leave until the back end of spring...
A mk2 golf unless heavily modified will feel slow on long runs . I love my golf and would sell a leg before it went but... i know as a daily the S3 is a much better option.
 
If you've lost the love then get it gone.

I'm going to look at an E30 325 Sport tomorrow.
 
E30 what a motor! I love them in white and red.
I hear what your saying about the whole mk2 golf being more a pain in the ***, but its all relatively easy and cheap if it was to do so. I keep seeing all these old motors about lately and i get a funny warm feeling inside haha. a red original XR2 Spot lamped, original orange indicators, pepper pots etc. was following me yesterday, i couldn't stop looking and grinning at it in the mirror! My Audi does still drive good, but with the list just never getting closer to being finished, I just lose love for it, which is a shame as i always wanted 1!
 
Not everyone is like you and gets rid the first sign of danger or boredom.
 
Jason.s said:
Not everyone is like you and gets rid the first sign of danger or boredom.
Click to expand...

Within the last 3 months I have done a clutch, a gearbox, a completely reconditioned head and gasket, cambelt, water pump and tensioners, polybushed lower arms, polybushed dogbone, fmic, full exhaust, front discs, new maf, new tb, new N75, new DV, a full S3 leather interior, RS4 steering wheel, hard wired a bluetooth obd adapter, made a boost gauge pod and wired it in, done a full service with plugs as well as new exhaust mounts, new centre hanger and had the front and rear bumper resprayed, debadged the boot and resprayed it, fixed the glovebox and dash storage, plastidipped the air con controls, fitted a hands free kit, machine polished the car and steam cleaned the engine bay, replaced the turbo gaskets and 12 months tax. And TT pedals, removing the catch can and deleting the PCV recirculation, removed the SAI and wired in resistance, and fitted the S2000 filter, and changed gearbox oil twice, and hard wired a road angel.

And driven two 700 mile round trips to R Tech for mapping. The list of work done is pretty stupid...

Do you think I am afraid of work? "Danger" isn't the issue here, and never has been.

I just fancy another beemer.
 
Last edited:
Thats probably because its a nice car and you wanted to preserve that. You do it everytime you`re on here. Big up your car soooo much and spit on those who appeal it and challenge everyone but then you get rid, buy some other car do the same elsewhere then run back and start all over again with the S3 slayer crap on another A3.

Aaaaaanyway enough about what you do.

I say again, keep the S3, do the work and you`ll love it again in time.
 
16Klappe said:
Within the last 3 months I have done a clutch, a gearbox, a completely reconditioned head and gasket, cambelt, water pump and tensioners, polybushed lower arms, polybushed dogbone, fmic, full exhaust, front discs, new maf, new tb, new N75, new DV, a full S3 leather interior, RS4 steering wheel, hard wired a bluetooth obd adapter, made a boost gauge pod and wired it in, done a full service with plugs as well as new exhaust mounts, new centre hanger and had the front and rear bumper resprayed, debadged the boot and resprayed it, fixed the glovebox and dash storage, plastidipped the air con controls, fitted a hands free kit, machine polished the car and steam cleaned the engine bay and 12 months tax. And TT pedals, removing the catch can and deleting the PCV recirculation, removed the SAI and wired in resistance, and fitted the S2000 filter, and changed gearbox oil twice, and hard wired a road angel.
Click to expand...

...but it's still an A3 :ninja:
 
I like buying cars, it's what I do.

I say sell it and buy something you enjoy, once you stop enjoy a car you might as well face facts and get rid before you lose patience.
 
As others have said, you'll won't get a lot for it in it's current state, spend the money on it and sell it and you still won't make a lot.

The three things you list in the original post aren't going to cost the earth to get done, but it's difficult when you don't drive the car as it does annoy you.

I'd get them done and a new battery, then hoon it about. Surely a very good condition MK2 will set you back a fair few £k and will need to be well maintained to keep it as a desireable one, a s**tter will cost a fair bit to restore or you leave it so you're just driving around in a sh*t MK2.. Also, looking at older cars on the road is one thing, using them everyday is another...
 
009__scaled_600_007.jpg


To me, that is a timeless design which looks better than any S3.

Petrol heads don't look at a Mk2 and think it is an old shed, they look at them and know the owner has purchased that car out of choice and chooses to own it.

My other car is a 1955 Ford Popular; I have had it since I was 11. I drove it daily for 2 years, regularly doing 200 mile round trips.

It's never broken down, passed every MOT and cost me less than £500 in fixing it/keeping it on the road.

I get it Clarke, I know where you are coming from and I personally prefer the feel, look, drive and ownership of an older car. But like you I have made the choice to buy a "newer" car a couple of times and then regretted it after a while and gone back to what I know and love, then before long wanted more power and gone back to something new. Then it all starts again.
 
16Klappe said:
009__scaled_600_007.jpg


To me, that is a timeless design which looks better than any S3.

Petrol heads don't look at a Mk2 and think it is an old shed, they look at them and know the owner has purchased that car out of choice and chooses to own it.

My other car is a 1955 Ford Popular; I have had it since I was 11. I drove it daily for 2 years, regularly doing 200 mile round trips.

It's never broken down, passed every MOT and cost me less than £500 in fixing it/keeping it on the road.

I get it Clarke, I know where you are coming from and I personally prefer the feel, look, drive and ownership of an older car. But like you I have made the choice to buy a "newer" car a couple of times and then regretted it after a while and gone back to what I know and love, then before long wanted more power and gone back to something new. Then it all starts again.
Click to expand...

Currently, the link doesn't work so I don't class that text as better looking than an s3..

I think if you saw a really rough Mk2, you would have to be pretty blinkered not to think it's a shed, even if you commend the owner for owning it.

Key is that you say your 'other car' whereas the OP is talking, by the sounds of it, about getting rid of the S3 for a mk2. I would imagine if you drive your Ford like you drive your A3, it'd break down a lot more often.

Your last point sounds pretty similar to Jason's summary of your car ownership, but just keep it until the end of the month as I know Jay is gunning for more power then you from a K03s..
 
Reesy said:
Currently, the link doesn't work so I don't class that text as better looking than an s3..

I think if you saw a really rough Mk2, you would have to be pretty blinkered not to think it's a shed, even if you commend the owner for owning it.

Key is that you say your 'other car' whereas the OP is talking, by the sounds of it, about getting rid of the S3 for a mk2. I would imagine if you drive your Ford like you drive your A3, it'd break down a lot more often.

Your last point sounds pretty similar to Jason's summary of your car ownership, but just keep it until the end of the month as I know Jay is gunning for more power then you from a K03s..
Click to expand...

I used to ruin my Ford on a daily basis, I did 11000 miles in a year, the car has done over 200,000 miles.

I have, and am doing it. I'm going for something older next, for daily driving older cars are fine as long as you aren't a spastic over it.

What's the oldest car you have owned Reesemeister?
 
OP. other people shouldnt have to make these decisions for you.
you either like your car or you dont. you either enjoy modifying/fixing it up, or you dont.
get what you REAAAALLLY want, even if thats a **** ol ford pop
 
16Klappe said:
I used to ruin my Ford on a daily basis, I did 11000 miles in a year, the car has done over 200,000 miles.

I have, and am doing it. I'm going for something older next, for daily driving older cars are fine as long as you aren't a spastic over it.

What's the oldest car you have owned Reesemeister?
Click to expand...

My last Audi was an X-reg. That's the oldest car I've owned.

Have family with a Ford Model Y and a '73 VW Camper Van and it's a completely different driving experience, but not one I'd want to replicate more then about once a year.
 
Reesy said:
My last Audi was an X-reg. That's the oldest car I've owned.

Have family with a Ford Model Y and a '73 VW Camper Van and it's a completely different driving experience, but not one I'd want to replicate more then about once a year.
Click to expand...

And that's where "getting" the whole old car thing comes in.

If you don't like it then naturally you won't want or expect others to do it, at least you know about it though where as most people just think older cars are ****.

I'd chop in my A3 for a nice Mk2, 205 GTI, RS Turbo, R5GTT, Saab 900T etc no problems. :)
 
16Klappe said:
And that's where "getting" the whole old car thing comes in.

If you don't like it then naturally you won't want or expect others to do it, at least you know about it though where as most people just think older cars are ****.

I'd chop in my A3 for a nice Mk2, 205 GTI, RS Turbo, R5GTT, Saab 900T etc no problems. :)
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, for example i'd have the 205 GTI in a money no objects garage but having been out in one last year, they aren't all that compared to what you build them up to be.. And if you wanted a minter, it'd be more then your A3 and would need to be maintained to a high standard to keep it a minter, probably not being used daily to keep mileage down etc etc..

Anyway OP, sort out your issues and drive the car as it's meant to be driven..
 
The whole point of owning old cars is enjoying them, driving them and living with them.

The thought of a cotton wool'd 205GTI sickens me, they shouldn't be any more expensive to run than my A3 and certainly not an S3.

You either get it, or you don't. I get it and Clarke does by the sounds of it, but you don't. Probably best to leave it at that.
 
16Klappe said:
The whole point of owning old cars is enjoying them, driving them and living with them.

The thought of a cotton wool'd 205GTI sickens me, they shouldn't be any more expensive to run than my A3 and certainly not an S3.

You either get it, or you don't. I get it and Clarke does by the sounds of it, but you don't. Probably best to leave it at that.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like you don't quite get 'it' either, otherwise you wouldn't go between old ****ters and A3's that are living on the edge of there K03s..

But as you say, let's leave it at that.
 
I sooo nearly bought a mint condition mk2 with a 20vt conversion last summer but after getting back into my s3 (which was off the road at the time) i chose to stick with that as its a better all rounder in my eyes.

Dont get me wrong though i think old cars have alot more character and if i had the space and money for a mk1 or mk2 golf i would have one in a heart beat but as a daily motor i would prefer my s3.

I may be biased though as i have two 8l s3s ;)

Get pics of this beemer up two jardo cos i have a soft spot for the old e30s too. Oldschool cool.
 
91 Honda CRX VT is my oldest and i agree to a certain extent that the older cars are more fun and have much more character and feel so raw to drive in comparrison to newer cars. But its just the condition these days thats puts me off. You have to pay mega money to get a minter and i cant see myself spending that amount on a car 20+ years old. A mint MK2 GTi will go for more than an average S3 these days easily. A mint RS Turbo will go for like 5k. Buy so much more for that amount of money these days.
 
I have a mk2 and an S3, the mk2 is more fun to drive for sure, but in this cold weather, it takes forever to warm the interior, and in the summer, you get baked alive! lol S3 wins as an all rounder, but there's no doubting a mk2 is a fun machine, and prices a slowly going up too, so difficult to find a good one for cheap, you need decent money to buy a good one!
 
well thanks for the coments guys, I love the s3 to bits but just getting tedious with it at the minute, its done like 5000 miles in 13months and I just seem to keep repairing things, it does have 90,000 on it which I know for a lot of cars is when things will start going wrong. I wouldn't sell it as it is at the minute anyway as that's just silly. the belt wont cost me much as I will do that myself with the old man, and the turbo I will hopefully be able to sort out for next to nothing if its simply bearings etc.

I guess I just miss my old golfs, rs turbos etc. I love the attention they bring when they are running and looking spot on. I used to get people in porsches coming over to look at my old mk2!!

I will be doing the work in the next month or 2, then I've just gotta think where my heart lies.. keep spending money on a car which is devaluating rapidly, or chop it in for a classic which are going up in value and respect...
 
jojo said:
I have a mk2 and an S3, the mk2 is more fun to drive for sure, but in this cold weather, it takes forever to warm the interior, and in the summer, you get baked alive! lol S3 wins as an all rounder, but there's no doubting a mk2 is a fun machine, and prices a slowly going up too, so difficult to find a good one for cheap, you need decent money to buy a good one!
Click to expand...
I sold my old vr6 converted gti in a rare bright blue a couple of yrs back for £2900, 9j wide borbet A's with flat caps, caged etc! DOH I shouldn't of sold it haha
 
First car I owned was a mk1 Golf GTI, loved it to bits, swapped for an BMW E30 318is as I wanted something with more mod cons and comfort but still sporty and fun, then my next car was the S3. I loved both the golf and bmw but wouldnt want one as daily again and partly because I dont want to ruin the memory of them either, plus tin worm is a problem on a lot of cars of this age and parts and becoming harder to source. If you really fancy a mk2 then go for it, if it was me I'd get the S3 sorted and keep it, I'd only change the S3 for something older if that something older was something special, and I wouldnt class a mk2 golf gti(unless it was a rallye) as something special. Not saying there a good car, in ways it will probably be more of a drivers car than the S3 but on the whole your not getting much for your money and I think you'd miss the performance, comfort and cabin quality of the S3 after awhile, and as others have said to get one thats in good condition will probably cost more than you'll get for the S3, but hey each to their own depends on what you enjoy from motoring at the end of the day.
 
I wish I had never sold my s3 and I'm currently looking for another........... But all older cars , especially performance based ones are going to be money pits. " If its got tits or tyres , it's gunna cost ya! "

Sean
 
I think part of the old car "thing" is seeing the car as more than transport.
my golf... Every journey I make in it is fun filled and makes me smile.
i have used it daily for 12 years but for the last 5 years its been a toy.
The bond I have with it because I built it is far stronger than that with the S3
if I pull away from somebody or come out of a corner realy well I feel good because I feel more at one with it and.... Because what I did to it made that happen.
The OP said his S3 is a weekend car... If its stock I don't think it will ever be enough... They are fine standard but will never set your heart racing
 
This thread is making me want to brave the cold and finish the poly bushing of my golf ...
These are whats in the garage...
Withmims.jpg


greenvrniceshot-1.jpg
DSC02869.jpg


Now i know they are far from "mint" but each is in good nick but... My S3 is far from shabby. i mean it realy is in good shape, BUT i get far more comments and thumbs ups from other road users in the mk2 or mk1.
This must be for the reasons we have mentioned??
Sorry for the hijack but this has made me want to blow the dust off these cars
 
If you've lost the love, you've lost the love - simple. But if it's about ££ then forget it - depreciation is a hidden cost on a newer car that you'd have to offset against the cost of running the S3, and any older car will need work doing to kep it roadworthy. At least you know your S3, rather than risking big bills with something you don't know the history of.
 
I have a real soft spot for old cars I am restoring a Clio Williams 1 and 2 at the moment, more the number 2 at the mo the number 1 is staying in the garage till I have the funds to totally strip it. should have the 2 on the road in a couple of months I hope, have not driven it for nearly 4 years :( was thinking of getting it back on the road a selling it next year and getting a mk 2 golf just wish I had a bigger garage

my williams 1

IMGP0095.jpg
 
16Klappe said:
Within the last 3 months I have done a clutch, a gearbox, a completely reconditioned head and gasket, cambelt, water pump and tensioners, polybushed lower arms, polybushed dogbone, fmic, full exhaust, front discs, new maf, new tb, new N75, new DV, a full S3 leather interior, RS4 steering wheel, hard wired a bluetooth obd adapter, made a boost gauge pod and wired it in, done a full service with plugs as well as new exhaust mounts, new centre hanger and had the front and rear bumper resprayed, debadged the boot and resprayed it, fixed the glovebox and dash storage, plastidipped the air con controls, fitted a hands free kit, machine polished the car and steam cleaned the engine bay, replaced the turbo gaskets and 12 months tax. And TT pedals, removing the catch can and deleting the PCV recirculation, removed the SAI and wired in resistance, and fitted the S2000 filter, and changed gearbox oil twice, and hard wired a road angel.

And driven two 700 mile round trips to R Tech for mapping. The list of work done is pretty stupid...

Do you think I am afraid of work? "Danger" isn't the issue here, and never has been.

I just fancy another beemer.
Click to expand...

You mean Phil Miller has done Jardo? Haha

I said right, **** it, it's going about 5 or 6 times until it actually went. Not looked back once yet. Still pop in to the 8L section though to view the progress on other awesome cars!
 
I'm looking for a Mk1 at the moment.... Think I can get a decent one for about 3 Grand..... Need to sell my hairdressers car first.... Don't think her indoors would let me get away with 3 cars...... I'm only home for 6 months a year so not reall feasible anyway....
 
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