Back in the S3 gang :-)

B

benh999

Registered User
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
228
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Location
Midlands
Well having previously owned a 2000 x reg black s3 running an RSD map and some 2009 scirocco wheels on 5x112 H and R adaptors, I sold her as I was made an offer I could not refuse.

I have flirted for the past year with an Audi S4 avant 2.7 Twin turbo, remap, coilovers and alloys. It has been a superb car however I have always had a niggle in the back of my head that selling the S3 was a bad move. So being impulsive 2 weeks ago I sold on the S4 and began my hunt for an S3. I wanted an 8L as the 8P does not have the flared arch look I am after. The 8L screams " I am a naughty car"

So I started trawling the classifieds and by chance came across a bit of a Gem.

2001 AMK S3 in mineral Grey, 2 owners from new, 85k on the clock. All original paintwork, sunroof, piano black inserts, BOSE, Comprehensive history and completely standard.

Plans already are to take her to RSD in Northamptonshire and have her remapped. Next plan is to source the climate unit with the heated seat switches and with the loom activate the heated seat option :)

I will probably sit her on a nice set of coilovers and at the moment am debating whether to go the milltek route or stay standard for now. My last s3 was mapped but on standard exhaust

So glad to be back in an S3, I am definately a smaller car person. The S3 has the balance of nice size and a cracking power plant. Here's to a years of happy ownership, I will not be selling her in a hurry :-D
 
I'll sort some nice pics out. As for comparison against the S4 its really a different animal. The S4 runs true quattro for a start. The 2.7 engine is very torquey and the twin turbos just help usher her along at speed. The car comes into its own when she's wound up 50+ mph she just surges hard. The S3 as I remember in standard for was slightly underwhelming however once mapped it was a dream to drive, I just remember the kick from the Ko4 turbo putting a smile on my face.

The S3 handling wise is just a cracking car, I think the balance of the car combined with the grip from the haldex makes a very accomplished car!!
 
what was the s4 like handling wise? compared to the s3 in both standard and collie form?
 
The S4 on standard suspension and mapped was ok in a straight line but if you pushed her in the twisties then the suspension was found wanting. The car stepped out and how can I put it wallowed. The AP coilovers transformed her. The wallowing was eliminated and she pushed through the bends with ease. Ride was firmer however I had dropped her easily 50mm front and rear. Looked brilliant but was near impossible to negociate speed humps and multi story car parks etc.

I think that even on standard suspension the S3 drives really well. From the point I had her mapped I only had her a few weeks so I am really looking forward to putting this new map on her :-D
 
ha, still thirsty little buggers when your hooning it!

i've never heard of RSD, good rep?
theres loads more new mods and tuners for you to use now so you've bought at a good time. plus S3's coming down in price MASSIVELY!
 
superkarl said:
ha, still thirsty little buggers when your hooning it!

i've never heard of RSD, good rep?
theres loads more new mods and tuners for you to use now so you've bought at a good time. plus S3's coming down in price MASSIVELY!
Click to expand...

Yes you are right with S3 prices plummeting. I looked at them when I bought my s4 and I didnt see one for under 5k.

As for RSD they are based in Daventry Northamptonshire. Road and Sport Developments are independant VW specialists. Chap called Danny Whitrow owns it and he is an absolute genuis with anything VAG. He used to be heavily involved with the Seat rally team. I've used them for the last 15 years and they have always been superb to me. His maps in my opinion are ****** good. Transformed my last S3 so I'm expecting big things.
:thumbsup:
 
Welcome back to the gang - look forward to seeing your pics!

Wait until you read about the development been made by a certain tuner called Bill who runs 'Badger5' for the k04 turbo. He's developed a 3" TIP coupled with a Jetex that's made MASSIVE gains. :)
 
fran-s3 said:
Welcome back to the gang - look forward to seeing your pics!

Wait until you read about the development been made by a certain tuner called Bill who runs 'Badger5' for the k04 turbo. He's developed a 3" TIP coupled with a Jetex that's made MASSIVE gains. :)
Click to expand...

Yep saw the thread, price is tasty but if it's backed up with solid figures I will be investing in one, what size is the forge one?
 
Well I went to view and pick up the S3 today and came away with no car.

It was not as good as owner had described. Dont get me wrong it looked reasonably tidy however the more I dug the more I uncovered.

Roof corrosion on passenger side rail probably 10 inches long.
rear bumper been resprayed, rear glass replaced.
Whole passenger side resprayed including wing
Front bumper headlamp washers not sitting flush.
Front ball joint and wheel bearing needed replacing
Rear brake caliper sticking on.
pixels dying in centre console.
Front and rear discs heavily worn.

In my head for the price I was paying I would not have been happy with it so I walked away and will continue to look for the right example!!!!
 
I was just about to say welcome back, but you can ****** off now!! ;)

Dont worry dude, there are some bargains to be had at the mo and with the run up to Xmas, people will need money so haggling will do you good too.

Im sure you will be in an S3 before you know it :)

Let us know how you get on.
 
Yes it must be the best time to buy an S3 now... I can't believe the prices they go for! If you can, hold out with all the extras you want. Heated seats are so cooool! (well hot!) & the arm rest is a must in my opinion. :)
 
Bit gutted TBH.

After seing the roof corrosion and then spotting the paint work, i knew Audi would refuse any warranty claim on the roof.

And seeing as the side of the car and rear bumper had seen paint and the rear window was a replacement I could not get out of my head that maybe the car had been rear ended into the rear quarter, or been in a ditch etc. It was HPI clear so any repairs were done privatley.

In my head I started doing the maths and could easily see roof and side repairs costing £1000 easy. Discs/pads/bearing and balljoint did not worry me as Im pretty handy with the spanners.

one of the brakes was binding on, I think it was passenger rear, car pulled to the left also. This could just be tracking or the brake but I couldnt help thinking that any damage occured may also be to blame????

I could have asked for a lot of money off the car but even then I would have to invest it straight back into the car again!!!!
 
benh999 said:
Bit gutted TBH.

After seing the roof corrosion and then spotting the paint work, i knew Audi would refuse any warranty claim on the roof.

And seeing as the side of the car and rear bumper had seen paint and the rear window was a replacement I could not get out of my head that maybe the car had been rear ended into the rear quarter, or been in a ditch etc. It was HPI clear so any repairs were done privatley.

In my head I started doing the maths and could easily see roof and side repairs costing £1000 easy. Discs/pads/bearing and balljoint did not worry me as Im pretty handy with the spanners.

one of the brakes was binding on, I think it was passenger rear, car pulled to the left also. This could just be tracking or the brake but I couldnt help thinking that any damage occured may also be to blame????

I could have asked for a lot of money off the car but even then I would have to invest it straight back into the car again!!!!
Click to expand...

Not wishing to pry, but this wasn't the one for sale in Burton on Trent was it? Only I went to see one which was as you described and I too walked away...
 
murphyslaw said:
Not wishing to pry, but this wasn't the one for sale in Burton on Trent was it? Only I went to see one which was as you described and I too walked away...
Click to expand...

Yes mate same one, what did you spot wrong with it??
 
why don't you buy dane's s3? it's a cracking car!
 
Sorry Ben, I can't reply to your message as I haven't made enough posts yet :)

Moe was a decent bloke, but there were a few things that put me off, the rusting as you mentioned along with the wheel bearing/joint, felt under-powered (but that could be due to the caliper sticking) but perhaps what put me off most was the recent top engine rebuild due to the cambelt snapping (and with it being so recent) - couple that with the camchain rattle, I figured too much, financially, was wrong with it for the money he was asking.

Nice colour and spec otherwise though - if it were £750-£1000 cheaper, I would have snapped it up and taken a chance.
 
murphyslaw said:
Sorry Ben, I can't reply to your message as I haven't made enough posts yet :)

Moe was a decent bloke, but there were a few things that put me off, the rusting as you mentioned along with the wheel bearing/joint, felt under-powered (but that could be due to the caliper sticking) but perhaps what put me off most was the recent top engine rebuild due to the cambelt snapping (and with it being so recent) - couple that with the camchain rattle, I figured too much, financially, was wrong with it for the money he was asking.

Nice colour and spec otherwise though - if it were £750-£1000 cheaper, I would have snapped it up and taken a chance.
Click to expand...

****** hell, he never told me about the cambelt snapping or rebuild. Car did seem
Underpowered but standard s3s hardly set the world alight ;-)

Even in eBay ad it did not mention cambelt snapping!!
 
benh999 said:
****** hell, he never told me about the cambelt snapping or rebuild. Car did seem
Underpowered but standard s3s hardly set the world alight ;-)

Even in eBay ad it did not mention cambelt snapping!!
Click to expand...

I found it in the paperwork - it was around a £1400 repair bill. Thing is, I would have thought the cam chain rattle would have been sorted when the engine was rebuilt. I reluctantly walked away, but it was a 7hr round trip to see it from where I live, so was a bit peeved after the time and distance travelled.
 
I did a 6hr round trip when I was first buying and it was awful. I was reallly angry, as id gone to the effort of spending allot of time on the phone asking alsorts and double checking info from the ad. Honest sellers are hard to come by. However, Dane is a fabulous honest chap with a great car ;)
 
superkarl said:
I did a 6hr round trip when I was first buying and it was awful. I was reallly angry, as id gone to the effort of spending allot of time on the phone asking alsorts and double checking info from the ad. Honest sellers are hard to come by. However, Dane is a fabulous honest chap with a great car ;)
Click to expand...

Trust me If I had the extra cash I'd be on the phone but it's a few hundred too much :-(
 
couldnt help myself, went and had a look at the super low mileage S3 on autotrader, ming blue 29k from new 2003, fully loaded. Have to admit it drove like and looked like a new car, only huge problem....... CAT C write off. Seemed to have been repaired well but the front drivers wing bolts on the top did not line up and had been forced to fit. Shame really as to look at it was MINT :-/.

Oh and beware, althought the V5 and the chassis match up the person selling it in my opinion is not the name on the v5. Car being sold in Leicester, name on V5 lives in North Birmingham.... :-/
 
Last edited:
I'll be selling my 53 reg Nogaro blue S3 soon. Cream heated leather and armrest, 18" RS4 wheels. Very very tidy car, FSH (Audi & specialist) 11 months MOT, 5 months tax. I'll be advertising it in a week or two and you won't find a better one for £5k. :)
 
Well patience paid off. Got my s3 and it's a great example. Good wood green 73k, Bose symphony, sunroof, heated recaros, completely standard. Drove flawlessly on way home, going to specialist for cambelt, tensioner and a service/health check. So good to finally get back in an S :-D forgot how agile they are....
 
Pics or it never happened :).

Whats the plans for it mate?
 
Dani_B19 said:
Pics or it never happened :).

Whats the plans for it mate?
Click to expand...

Immediatley will be in For service, Cambelt/tensioner and health check.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to order the Badger5 T.I.P. I will be addressing the alloys however I am not going to rush into them just yet as I want to get the look bang on. Will be sitting on AP coilovers as my S4 was running them and I thought they were on the money. Knowing me I'll end up playing safe and fitting TTRS alloys as they do look superb on the S3.

Exhaust will prob remain standard for now but eventually will run a 3" down pipe and either milltek or custom exhaust.

Bodywise tomorrow I am going to give her a thorough clean then clay her, clean again, wax her and follow by a coat of polish to seal in the wax.

Pics to follow tomorrow as anything i post now will look Bobbins :whistle2:
 
Well I didn't get round to ordering the T.i.P so tomorrow morning instead :)

Did manage to wash, claybar and wash her again. Too cold to polish today so tomorrow lunch will be polish time.... Booked in next mon forservice etc.

I now really am a fan of goodwood green, I was obsessed with getting grey or blue but am soo glad I went and saw this one.2001 AMK Sunroof, heated leather, 73k, 3 owners, BOSE symphony etc, all for well under 4k, very happy chappy!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

V
Back in the S3, and loving it!
Replies
1
Views
809
madvw
M
Šubler
S3 8l whining in the back, while decelerating
Replies
13
Views
4K
Stuart B
Stuart B
Ian W
Back in an S3...
Replies
39
Views
3K
Ian W
Ian W
vrbob
Back in an S3 :)
Replies
73
Views
5K
1animal1
1animal1
S
Beeping from somewhere in the back.
Replies
3
Views
826
RichWalk
R
Top
Back