Is there anything sub 3k to challenge an S3 ?

jq_quint

jq_quint

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So as the title suggests folks, as the S3 prices have dropped dramatically I am hoping to sort myself out soon with one (well after xmas), it did dawn on me is there really any alternatives bearing the following in mind:
  • Power
  • Quality
  • Handling
  • Exclusivity (not ever seen one where i live)
  • Following (fan base)
  • Size (nice an small to tuck away in garage)
I'm not really looking for an alternative to buy really just wondered what you all thought?
 
Performance, pulsar gti-r or evo 1-3 will rape the s3 but I would still have the s3 for build and comfort etc. st205 gt-4 is a good car. Build is decent and performance. Still not as nice as the s3 to be in though.
 
The s3 is a great all-rounder in my opinion, i cant think of anything better for that sort of money?
 
audi upgrades
Dons got an ace fiesta for sale, it has puma wheels on it that make it look twice as fast( what a mod)
Pm him I know he will do a good deal
 
ian - evo sub 3k really? , couldn't remember what a pulsar looked like so just looked one up...and well not being to graphic, a little tiny bit of tummy deposit entered my mouth..he he..
Lee - agree, I cant get over how few there are about (by me anyways)..
Aaron - lol, hey on a serious note ya gotta love those Puma alloys.....(I did)
 
Subaru impreza uk turbo 2000. I've owned 3 before. Yes you will say interior is not brilliant but I think it's pretty well sorted. 3k will get you a version 7 facelift with sub 70k, A/C and leather. Well serviced examples last forever. Fit the Prodrive performance pack and you have a weapon :-D
 
ben - hey good call, wow there's loads of em on a/trader....Which is why i wouldn't get one I guess,,,I really do rate the exclusivity of the S3...

So any others..?
 
Thats why the pulsar is so good. The reaction you got looking at one,its about the same as the reaction people is so called super cars have when they get raped by one. Early evos and pulsars only weigh about 1200 KG and 300 bhp just by turning the boost up a bit.
 
benh999 said:
Subaru impreza uk turbo 2000. I've owned 3 before. Yes you will say interior is not brilliant but I think it's pretty well sorted. 3k will get you a version 7 facelift with sub 70k, A/C and leather. Well serviced examples last forever. Fit the Prodrive performance pack and you have a weapon :-D
Click to expand...
Impreza gearboxes are like chocolate :-/
 
You have to be careful with roof corrosion on an S3.Lots have it in the roof bars and thats why there are some cheap ones .Hard to find a good one
 
jq_quint said:
  • Size (nice an small to tuck away in garage)
I'm not really looking for an alternative to buy really just wondered what you all thought?
Click to expand...

You will be surprised on how big the s3 is, its only just smaller than an e46 coupe for example, and has a wider boot than the e46,
 
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Scoobys ...
Other than STI's do seem to have pants gearbox's
a few of mates round here have them. only lad with sti hawk eye hasnt had a new box
If the classic is anything like the bug and blob eye... MPG is shocking for the power.
Mate has a prodrive STI blob eye. 305 bhp or something.
Mine beats it and manages about 28 mpg while doing it... he gets about 18mpg over a tank.
( 60 ltr tank on both cars )
Build on early scoobs is shocking too. just the finish... so many jobs left un finished.
 
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probably a biased place to ask the question...

I doubt you can get a good S3 for sub 4k - I think you're still looking at spending more like 5K, unless you're happy to wait a long time and view alot of crap.

Imo, there's not much in the price range that's as good if you insist on hatchback, except an R32.... Forget the fact you want a hatchback and there's loads of similar priced cars out there I'd have over an S3.

E46 330, early Z4s, early boxsters, Jag XK, M5s can all be had for £5-7k.


8L S3s are dirt cheap to insure compared to all of the above tho....
 
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Put it this way...i felt it was the best i could by under £5k only 2.5years ago.

For under £3k, if in good well maintained order, there is little to match your spec of power, quality, handling, exclusivity and following that will match it on your average British road.

It's a car that, for the most part, is very understated, has fantastic residuals and unbelievably reliable. Like s3dave says, it's larger that you think and whilst the Recaro's somewhat reduce the back seat leg room, the boot space offered by the hatchback means it far more practical than some of the vehicles mentioned in the lists.

The real beauty of the car though is the fact that the S3 offers one of the best modification platforms available...then the fun begins.
 
S3 Andy said:
probably a biased place to ask the question...

I doubt you can get a good S3 for sub 4k - I think you're still looking at spending more like 5K, unless you're happy to wait a long time and view alot of crap.

Imo, there's not much in the price range that's as good if you insist on hatchback, except an R32.... Forget the fact you want a hatchback and there's loads of similar priced cars out there I'd have over an S3.

E46 330, early Z4s, early boxsters, Jag XK, M5s can all be had for £5-7k.


8L S3s are dirt cheap to insure compared to all of the above tho....
Click to expand...

lol agreed yes a totally biased place to ask the question, but hey had some good points raised...
As far as your point goes on sub 4k, well ru in denial matey, there seems to be loads around for less than 4k, let alone 3k....
 
I haven't looked at any of the sub 3K ones around apart from the ads. What are they actually like in terms of condition are you still looking at spending X amount to sort the wear and tear stuff like brakes, bushes, suspension etc.. Especially as that price tends to be a 10 year old car there about.
 
All fair points, but at the end of the day any car is only worth what some one is willing to pay for it.

3-4yrs ago you could get a sapphire cosworth's for as little as £3k but look now you'll be lucky to get one that isn't a s**t box for less than £5k!

& again look at the the rest of the S's prices on the old girls like the S2's are on the up, imo us S3 owners that are going to keep them are on to something good.

Peace out dudes

Pat
 
Personally if I had £3000 and wanted an "exclusive" car I'd buy an S2, if I never had to look at the back of it I'd buy a Pulsar GTIR.

Technically speaking the Pulsar is pretty much the best car in the world, massive power, a great chassis which has a smaller wheelbase than a tic tac box, a reliable 4WD system and a bulletproof engine. Shame the back looks like a dead horse. And you'd get a 400BHP+ one or a MINT 300BHP one for 3K.

Here's my friend Sam's, you wouldn't believe the spec list -

02082009101.jpg


02082009102.jpg
 
I always wanted a GTiR when I was in my early 20's but never happened!
& there isn't many of them about now.

Anyhow, I would like a S2 or should I say an RS2, I'm getting to the point where I want old skool!
I'm a VAG man all the way, so I wouldn't get any jap, ford etc!

Keep the spirit alive man!

Pat
 
A Jaguar XJR...?

  • Power - 400bhp / 400 ft-lb enough to monster most things especially an S3.
  • Quality - yep, oodles of it, and comfort is just something else
  • Handling - Better than you'd think if you get the R
  • Exclusivity (not ever seen one where i live) - pretty exclusive and doesn't shout about it
  • Following (fan base) - old men generally which is a let down
  • Size (nice an small to tuck away in garage) - *cough* maybe not
 
Mazda RX-8 231ps - easily get a sub 60k miler for less than 3k, well built, handle well, but I don't like the look.

Mercedes C63 AMG - might be higher milage for sub £3k but certainly some out there, good build quality, quick, comfy, handle well.
 
beanoir said:
Somebody better let Bugatti know they didn't quite hit the mark then...
Click to expand...

Veyron's are for arrogant ****ers and Sultans, it's fact. Imagine owning one on a daiy basis? No thanks.

If you offered me a Veyron or a 400+bhp Pulsar to own (and not sell immediately) I know which I'd pick.
 
16Klappe said:
Veyron's are for arrogant ****ers and Sultans, it's fact. Imagine owning one on a daiy basis? No thanks.

If you offered me a Veyron or a 400+bhp Pulsar to own (and not sell immediately) I know which I'd pick.
Click to expand...

Aside from your opinion on the matter (and I agree to certain extent), I still think the Veyron is in your words "technically" a better car than an Nissan.

I'd take the Veyron everyday, because chavs drive Pulsars and i'm an arrogant c**t anyway.
 
That my man... Was a stupid post.
 
A pulsar does not have any quality feel. To track rag. Maybe a good car.
It's a beefed up takeaway delivery car
 
16Klappe said:
Veyron's are for arrogant ****ers and Sultans, it's fact. Imagine owning one on a daiy basis? No thanks.

If you offered me a Veyron or a 400+bhp Pulsar to own (and not sell immediately) I know which I'd pick.
Click to expand...

Jardo, Jardo, Jardo. Either you are fishing or you are retarded!

If you/I/Prawn (i know you like him in your discussions :lmfao: ) got given or could afford to buy a veyron, I think that being an arrogant ****er would be more then justified... It's also funny how you don't get a lot of people sharing the opinion that the pulsar is greater then the veyron. Didn't Jenson Button, a fella who is not a terrible driver, own a Veyron and not a Pulsar?
 
I don't give a flying f*ck, forums are all about opinions and if my opinion is invalid because it doesn't conform to yours you can all go f*ck yourselves. I literally could not care for the elitist/conformist attitudes that are on this forum at times.

How am I retarded for not wanting a Veyron over a good Pulsar? :ermm:

My comment and opinion was "If you offered me a Veyron or a 400+bhp Pulsar to own (and not sell immediately) I know which I'd pick." which is totally true, even if I had the money I wouldn't want a Veyron because it is of no interest to me. A Veyron would be lower down on my list of cars which I want to own than a Fiat 500.

I said "technically speaking the Pulsar is the best car in the world" and a list of reasons why they are great, if you want to be f*ck off massive ****'s about it I'll happily retract my obviously limited statement based around the parameters of this thread and re phrase it to "for £3000 if you are looking at a hatch back then technically speaking the Pulsar is the best car ever". But only if it will make people quit crying over the fact that I made a limited statement which has been taken out of context.

My opinion is, that on a daily basis I would rather have a LOT of other cars than a Veyron. If you like I'll reel off the entire lot, but I'm not sure the forum admins would appreciate me taking up their bandwidth with such a huge document. (it'd be like a terrabyte or more)

A bit of a rant and maybe a bit OTT? Meh'. (yes I am more than aware that my closed question will be used on me in a witty reply by a moderator who will probably ban me)
 
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Wouldn't recommend a pulsar gtir had one and it cost a fortune to keep going. As the engine was crammed in its a engine out job for silly things a lot of the time so unless you can do the work yourself very high labour costs also had to replace most things on it when i owned it. Was a fun car running over 350bhp and handerling was amazing but for the money you can get something better and more reliable.
 
16Klappe said:
I don't give a flying f*ck, forums are all about opinions and if my opinion is invalid because it doesn't conform to yours you can all go f*ck yourselves. I literally could not care for the elitist/conformist attitudes that are on this forum at times.

How am I retarded for not wanting a Veyron over a good Pulsar? :ermm:

My comment and opinion was "If you offered me a Veyron or a 400+bhp Pulsar to own (and not sell immediately) I know which I'd pick." which is totally true, even if I had the money I wouldn't want a Veyron because it is of no interest to me. A Veyron would be lower down on my list of cars which I want to own than a Fiat 500.

I said "technically speaking the Pulsar is the best car ever" and a list of reasons why they are great, if you want to be f*ck off massive ****'s about it I'll happily retract my obviously limited statement based around the parameters of this thread and re phrase it to "for £3000 if you are looking at a hatch back then technically speaking the Pulsar is the best car ever". But only if it will make people quit crying over the fact that I made a limited statement which has been taken out of context.

My opinion is, that on a daily basis I would rather have a LOT of other cars than a Veyron. If you like I'll reel off the entire lot, but I'm not sure the forum admins would appreciate me taking up their bandwidth with such a huge document. (it'd be like a terrabyte or more)

A bit of a rant and maybe a bit OTT? Meh'. (yes I am more than aware that my closed question will be used on me in a witty reply by a moderator who will probably ban me)
Click to expand...

I just can't understand the logic behind this statement. I know you dont want to conform to a lot of peoples views, but saying you would rather own a Fiat 500 over a Veyron is like saying you would rather use public transport then drive an s3 (hang on)... I think I would prefer 1000bhp over about 65bhp.. Nick does have a point as well, the pulsar is just a super quick Nissan sunny, with a cheap interior and tin box feel.
 
Reesy said:
I just can't understand the logic behind this statement. I know you dont want to conform to a lot of peoples views, but saying you would rather own a Fiat 500 over a Veyron is like saying you would rather use public transport then drive an s3 (hang on)... I think I would prefer 1000bhp over about 65bhp.. Nick does have a point as well, the pulsar is just a super quick Nissan sunny, with a cheap interior and tin box feel.
Click to expand...

Because it's my preference? My preference is a "tin box feel" and I like little hatch backs which are fun to drive and have to have the tits thrashed off them. I don't like big expensive sports cars and never have done, I have no interest in them and I promise you I never will do. It's got nothing to do with being a non conformist, if my own opinion is in line with others then that's all fine by me. But what I cannot stand is when my own personal opinion is being questioned like I lack sanity or the intelligence to have made that opinion without proper information. When in reality it is like you telling me you don't like blue cheese, and me saying you are mad because I love blue cheese and think it is the best food in the world. Because we aren't talking about something factual here, we are talking about personal preference. (and before anybody quotes my "fact" about Veyron drivers, jog on it was a joke.)

If I was interested in busses or trains, I probably would rather take public transport than go in an S3. In fact, I love trains so as long as it wasn't a scummy commuter train I probably would rather take a train on a lengthy journey over going in an S3.

"You think you would prefer 1000bhp over 65bhp..."

"I would rather have a Fiat 500 than a Bugatti Veyron to drive every day..."

See the link?
 
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