Finally sold my s3 today :(

[whitex8p]

Had it up for the last 2 months tho was a really good example but so many messers was annoying, they seem to be dropping in price at the moment people selling them so cheap had so many silly offers. Its not the best car i have ever owned for outright fun but the grip was immense even in the rain. Joining the dark side now and picking up a bmw 330d 2006 msport on friday and booked a few holidays Thanks for all the help and advice on here peeps

 

[Fopo]

Which 330d did you go with? BMW's a blast! I had alot of troubles deciding between Audi or BMW.... German quality any day

 

[Sandra]

Good luck with the new car. Enjoy. x

 

[martin_s3]

I just went the opposite way from a 2007 330d e92 coupe to a 2009 s3

 

[hollows wife]

good luck on the new car mate , nice drive bmw but really poor in snow ,get some bags of sand with the extra cash and stick it in the boot . even better remapped .

 

[whitex8p]

Which 330d did you go with? BMW's a blast! I had alot of troubles deciding between Audi or BMW.... German quality any day

went for the 231bhp engine getting evolve remap dpf removal and bigger cooler should be good for over 700nm torque

 

[whitex8p]

I dont think i will even bother in the snow with that much torque, hopefully there will be no snow now but you never know with weather these days.

 

[martin_s3]

watch what your doing with the dpf removel i had big issues with my dpf and was going to go down that route untill i found out new mot rules were coming out this month and apparently they check for the dpf now..

 

[smurfworth]

No different to a decat on petrols

Just buy an actual dpf delete pipe instead of pikey modifying your original one and swap it when it comes to mot.

 

[martin_s3]

Yeah can do that I just didn't fancy mucking about with it ever year.

 

[whitex8p]

My mate runs a mot center so thats no problem

 

[martin_s3]

That helps a lot! 😄

 

[whitex8p]

Well I got a bmw but had to return it to the dealership after i found a number of problems, its put me off having one again, my audi was much better and the quality of the interior was far better, the plastic interior on the bmw was terrible. So i need to find something else now and I am not bothering with a diesel as l i find them boring, I am a petrol head at heart so want something that sounds nice.

 

[martin_s3]

All of what u just said is the reason I got rid of my 330d for the s3 lol interior has never really changed to much over the years in bmw and I found it a lot harder work to drive than the audi if u know what I mean. That was my 1 diesel and it'll be my last! You thinking of goin back to audi or something totally different?

 

[whitex8p]

Yeah was very disappointed it was fast but soulless!!! It was my first diesel and it will be my last as well haha. I am not really sure what to get now, I want something that sounds nice tho and is fun I don't mind paying out for more fuel if it's fun.

 

[martin_s3]

Yeah my bmw flew on but it wasn't a fun fast it was a get upto speed fast haha! I did find the bmw smother and more comfortable to drive I suppose. I quite fancied a s4 or s5 the sound of the v8 sounds amazing but ended up buying the s3 still not sure how that happend but nevermind I'll get 1 of them next time lol

 

[warren_S5]

I've given up trying to sell performance hot hatches for private sale, so many tyre kickers and dreamers who think your car is worth half of the fair price you're charging. I'd rather be robbed by the dealer as at least it saves you the time and inconvenience of idiots spouting hot air.

Shame you didn't find the satisfaction in the BM, always thought they might be a good car. What's next on your hitlist; good luck finding something decent.

 

[whitex8p]

I would love to get a v8 but fuel would be a killer. I would get a v6 or a straight 6 tho. Thinking maybe a bmw e46 m3 for the weekend and using a run around in the week or maybe getting a r32 and using it daily, I am really not sure I have had plenty of 4 pot turbos and they get boring after a while.

 

[whitex8p]

I've given up trying to sell performance hot hatches for private sale, so many tyre kickers and dreamers who think your car is worth half of the fair price you're changing. I'd rather be robbed by the dealer as at least it saves you the time and inconvenience of idiots spouting hot air.

Shame you didn't find the satisfaction in the BM, always thought they might be a good car. What's next on your hitlist; good luck finding something decent.

Yeah thats how it is mate, its so much hassle. The people who did come and have a try were just tyre kickers and wanted my s3 for a stupid price. So glad i am getting my money back off the dealership had big arguments with them but after a few letters stating the law they coughed up

 

[warren_S5]

I would love to get a v8 but fuel would be a killer. I would get a v6 or a straight 6 tho. Thinking maybe a bmw e46 m3 for the weekend and using a run around in the week or maybe getting a r32 and using it daily, I am really not sure I have had plenty of 4 pot turbos and they get boring after a while.

The new breed of 4 pots (in the S3 8V) are good, but like you I just fancied something with a few more cylinders. The V8 S5's on the market were too old, so I settled for the V6 version. It's no M3 (or M3 CS - my personal fave of the E46), but for a big car it's disarmingly good to drive, especially if you can find one with sports diff. My suggestion, try everything and spoil yourself, big engines won't be around forever! Happy hunting chap.

 

[martin_s3]

I would love to get a v8 but fuel would be a killer. I would get a v6 or a straight 6 tho. Thinking maybe a bmw e46 m3 for the weekend and using a run around in the week or maybe getting a r32 and using it daily, I am really not sure I have had plenty of 4 pot turbos and they get boring after a while.

I suppose it depends on how much miles u do aswell. I work offshore 6 months a year so running a v8 for all the miles I do wouldn't be the end of the world. An r32 is something I was looking at aswell and would defiantly like I know where ur coming from this is my 5th turbo'd car and would be good to have a change.

 

[whitex8p]

I am set on a mk5 r32 I think I have always wanted one and I just got a insurance quote that is 300 for the year so thats not bad at all. I would love a e46 m3 but there so expensive to maintain. Going to take my time and drive a few cars this time thanks

 

[martin_s3]

I am set on a mk5 r32 I think I have always wanted one and I just got a insurance quote that is 300 for the year so thats not bad at all. I would love a e46 m3 but there so expensive to maintain. Going to take my time and drive a few cars this time thanks

Yeah the r32s are really nice cars and seem to hold there value fairly well! I also like the e46 m3 but wouldn't buy 1 for that reason need very deep pockets when things start going wrong! Good luck with your search!

 

[MattS5]

Fuel consumption isn't too bad in the S4 V8, I averaged around 20-22mpg over 50k miles in mine.
The S3 isn't doing terribly better at the moment!

S4 worth considering if you do need 5 seats. The noise is to die for, albeit the handling is a little front heavy.
If 4 seats isn't an issue, then the S5 V8 seems to be good value, but bear in mind all (well, nearly all) V8's and probably R32 Golfs will be the £480 tax bracket if registered after the 26th March 2006 (might need to check that day, but its deffo March).

That probably isn't a deal breaker on a car of £10-15k value, but when you come to sell it in 2-3 years time and its then possibly worth nearer £5k, people will struggle to swallow the fact they're spending 10% of a cars value on RFL.

 

[whitex8p]

Fuel consumption isn't too bad in the S4 V8, I averaged around 20-22mpg over 50k miles in mine.
The S3 isn't doing terribly better at the moment!

S4 worth considering if you do need 5 seats. The noise is to die for, albeit the handling is a little front heavy.
If 4 seats isn't an issue, then the S5 V8 seems to be good value, but bear in mind all (well, nearly all) V8's and probably R32 Golfs will be the £480 tax bracket if registered after the 26th March 2006 (might need to check that day, but its deffo March).

That probably isn't a deal breaker on a car of £10-15k value, but when you come to sell it in 2-3 years time and its then possibly worth nearer £5k, people will struggle to swallow the fact they're spending 10% of a cars value on RFL.

The s4 is very tempting mate, Just done a insurance quote and its only 380 for the year but it would be more in fuel than a r32 i would of thought.

 

[warren_S5]

There is less in it than you think, especially around town. The R32's aren't frugal. That said either are great cars