Would you buy a newer S3 (still 8L though)

Ian W

Ian W

Registered User
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
1,366
Reaction score
313
Points
83
Location
Wirral, Merseyside
Right been thinking of this for a while but keep changing my mind...

Currently got a 2000 pre-facelift S3, basically standard bar 18's and its a very tidy car which has given me very few problems in the last 2.5 years / 35k.

Its done 110k now and its 10 years old but I still love the old 8L shape, had an idea to maybe sell mine and 'upgrade' to a later model 02/03.

Pro's to this are obviously getting a younger car, facelift model and I would look for pre-modded example so would save some cash on mods.

Con's are that i'm basically buying the same car but spending more money, I know first hand how pricey these can be when they go wrong so I don't want to trade to a possible money pit !

Paying over the odds for a low mileage example is also pointless as I rack the miles up pretty quick so anything I get will plumet in value within 6 - 12 months anyway.

So what do you guys think - stick with what I have and just do the mods to mine or sell up and buyer a new car?
 
The differences between them are so little there wouldn't be much point! With your current car you know it's quirks and problems. Selling and buying another has potential of buying someone else's problems, if you see what I'm saying.

I thought exactly the same and still do from day to day, while viewing PH classified of course! Wanting an Avus Silver S3 with black/red leather, just to be different. But that's all it is. Being different. I can do the same with my car, yes it would cost money to do it but at least I know my own car. I've just spent 4k on it so I'm not about to sell up anytime soon, there'll be more to come in BT guise.

Personally, keep your car, spend some money on it, save splashing out on another one!

G
 
tough one, but i'd get a facelift with as many options as possible (hold value better) since you are planing to keep the car for a while.
Sell the prefacelift one as soon as because their values are dropping quick.
 
I personally wouldn't bother. I would get a different car, maybe the S4 if you like quattro and the Audi shapes, or something totally different. Perhaps an R32?
 
Dont do it mate, I have thought about this a few times with previous cars, but then there is no point, as already mentioned, you know this car and whats good and bad about it, the one that you might end up buying could end up giving you no end of issues, which will always make you think 'why did i do this!!!'

Keep it, if you have extra money lying around, all i need is your bank details, account number and sort code ;)
 
Have you got a pigeon in your bank account as well, Nilz???


On a serious note, do you not fancy something a bit quicker, or better handling etc?
 
Looks like you all share basically the same view as me - could be buying into the unknown so I think i'm best keeping mine.

On the plus side mine has about 95% of the options fitted so its a nice spec :)

Maybe I will just keep an eye out for some facelift headlights...

JD09 - In an ideal world I would be buying myself an E46 M3 early next year but as I do just under 400 miles a week it would plumet in value just like my S3 has and would cost to much to run.

Only other car I fancy is an 8P S3 but again to much money and again the mileage issue. I've tried the whole two car thing to keep the miles down but its a pain in the ***.

Thanks for the input guys :)
 
to be fair the differences between pre and post are subtle but they are nevertheless there...... i personally dont know of a car id rather have and if i coulndt afford an 8P...id buy a facelift 8L in your situation.....downer is obviously the preventative maintainence costs...upside is that all these subtle modifications do add up to a lot when compared... I know cos ive done exactly that swap albeit from a well equipped A3

Finesse you forget you pay a little more (depending who you buy from) for the toys in the first place so theres no real cost benefit in commanding options, its more of a user benefit more than anything, sure it could make it more saleable - but lets face it, most S3 owners think they have the best specced car already meaning they dont understand the extra extra's that were available

up to you but i would say for me - facelift kicks the crap out of pre with everything they changed, takes the car into a different era
 
Ian W said:
Looks like you all ....
Click to expand...

Might not be for everyone, but if I was in your position, I would be looking into two cars, a cheap, diesel mile eater and a cheap weekend toy. Mate of mine runs an A4 diesel estate during the week, ticking over 120k miles. His weekend "toy" is a 1980s Porsche carerra, red un, stunning. Insurance on the chugger is not a lot and the Porsche is on classics insurance (over 13years old) which is about 200£ per year.
 
Personally I'd stick with your current pre-facelift, the differences are as many have said, subtle, and to me not worth the cost of changing, add to that the fact you do a lot of miles each year, and you know your current car, it would be an expensive change for no real gain.
 
I have a couple of problems with two cars though..

Only one parking space outside my flat and I really can't be bothered with the two car thing, as I said I have tried it (currently still have two cars) and its a right pain in the *** - double MOT, Tax, etc.

Its something I would consider in the future if I was to buy an 8P S3 but as mines now a 10 year old 100ker its just not worth it imo
 
audi upgrades
i looked into changing my car pre respray wheels etc... was going to go for a (cough cough) tt and swap everything over from mine and do loads to the styling went to look at one and was so put off as my s3 was mint pre respray so the tt had to be well upto scratch and needless to say my s3 kicked the **** out of it so i decided to stop trying to waste money just because im boared and fancied a change. i guess you just flick through ph all the time dreaming?? if so stop it as you really wont find much worth having for what the value of your s3 will be.
im so glad i spent the money doing my car as now im chuffed to bits with it its the first car ive every modified and been tottaly overwelmed by the way it turned out.
if you want to freshen up your s3 get some facelift rear lights and normal a3 headlights the a3 headlights go straight in no messing with wiring just trim a little off the inside the front wing as on the a3 mod then the existing wiring plugs straight onto the a3 headlight only downer you loose xenons but there poo on prefaclift and if your that bothered buy a hid kit job done
cost me about £170 to do faclift front and rear lights from ebay depo lamps and good quality
 
I have actually concidered selling mine, for a newer model.
Just to get the symphoney HU and an armrest.

Instead im going to wait a couple years and get an 8p.. Most likely diesel.
 
csweatherston said:
I have actually concidered selling mine, for a newer model.
Just to get the symphoney HU and an armrest.

Instead im going to wait a couple years and get an 8p.. Most likely diesel.
Click to expand...

You could retro fit them? - not sure about the head unit but the armrest can't be that bad to put in
 
1animal1 said:
best thing is to go and look at one...or look at another members
Click to expand...

I've driven a facelift plenty of times as my dad used to own one, problem with going to see one is i'll just get in the mood for a new car and make a rash decision !
 
Can't see the point in changing from one 8L S3 to another personally. Always going to cost you money and you're essentially getting the same car regardless of any subtle cosmetic changes. I don't therefore see it as an upgrade, and if not why would you want to change unless you think you're in for heftier bills than the cost to change?
 
Following on from this....

I just put a deposit down on an 02 S3, got it for a good price so I reckon with what mines worth its probably going to cost me under £1000 to get a car two years newer :)
 
am i the only person that thinks pre face lift S3s look better?
 
finesse said:
Good purchase, nothing like a new(er) car. Is it red aswell?

Post up pictures!
Click to expand...

Nope, not red !

I'll get pics up once i've picked it up which should be mid week hopefully.

Sooner I get it, the sooner I can get my RSTT's on it and sell my red one.
 
i own neither so im not blinkered. something more purposful about their look haha
 
I keep finding myself looking at e36 M3 even though there older and hard to find as well spec'd but god you can pick them up for peanuts these days, shame the running costs are a lot higher, was impressed with richard hammond getting almost 155mph on top gear the other week. I'd prefer a E46 but would need to find a bit more money to get a good one. as for chopping in my prefacelift for a facelift i've been tempted myself but then the sensible head comes to play and im not all that convinced with the centre console, i prefer the facelift climate control but dont like how the paino black is broken up by the stereo. Glad to know im not the only one who browse's the classifieds dreaming
 
yeah i was looking at the E46's, they have come down massively (and prob one a few BM's id have)but for the running costs id much rather have an RS4 which would kill it :) ok wont be as much fun due it being a massive bus but my god will it rip the M3 on the straights :)
 
Yeah would have the RS4 over the E46 M3 but the cheapest B5 RS4 i've seen is 12k, and im at the stage in my life where id rather be putting money into my house (or off the mortgage) than into a car.
 
my thoughts exactly mate ;) plus once you buy and build the inside to exactly how you want it, you end up starting where you began, vicious circle :(
 
Yes!
But a 52-53 225 with the right colour as in nogaro blue and the right wheels and the right interior...blue and black!!!!
And thats the car you want!
Ive had alsorts of cars and still come back to owning one of these even after a e39 m5, e39 540i, 2 m3s e36 and e46!
S3 is the way forward!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
S3 8l owners would you swap to a B6 S4?
Replies
22
Views
2K
m19lte
m19lte
H
Would you buy an R32 Turbo?!
Replies
51
Views
4K
jcb
J
S3 Nattie
Would you buy this? (ebay TIP)
Replies
61
Views
4K
finesse
finesse
G
Would you buy a 2003 S3 with 117,000 miles on the clock?
Replies
5
Views
1K
gwilo
G
W
Got a 8L today, what upgrades would you recomend?
Replies
4
Views
654
Gavin G
Gavin G
Top
Back