Hey guys, I sold my stage 1 s3 last year an replaced it with a 330d due to the arrival of my wee boy. Simple truth is, it's been my biggest regret to date on the car front. I've been giving serious thought to changing back to a s3 again, but getting a sportback instead. To be honest this is what I should have done in the first place, I prob would have saved money in the long run. I'm pretty much fixed on a sprint blue sb, but can't decide between manual or stronic. I will be getting a stage 1 map again, how does the stronic cope with stage 1 maps. My manual clutch held up just fine with 10k on it before I traded her in. Can anyone advise?
Thinking of a return to s3
- Thread starter bigyin
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DSG is fine and loves the Stage 1! its like, is that it? I want more! Gimme more! LOL
I had Shark on mine at the HQ in mansfield. I love it. Having the DSG just makes it feel even more faster, wow, bring it on.
At the time I had my DSG mapped too. Most of the popular names do very good maps and the DSG will take it.
I had Shark on mine at the HQ in mansfield. I love it. Having the DSG just makes it feel even more faster, wow, bring it on.
At the time I had my DSG mapped too. Most of the popular names do very good maps and the DSG will take it.
I did a similar thing. I traded my stage 1 S3 in for an R36, then an E93 335i and less than 20 months later I'm back in an S3, this time an S-tronic sportback. It is the car I always wanted and 2 months in I'm so glad I did. To me the sportback is a hugely practical car. Its a nice size, has 4 doors, you can get things in the boot or can fold the seats down if needed and in S3 guise has great tuning potential especially mated to the S-tronic box.
My last S3 was a nice car but lacked the extra doors and the all important S-tronic box. The auto may not be one for the purists but this is my 4th dsg/S-tronic and I wouldn't go manual again. It'll also handle more power than the manual, so if you are going past stage 1, you'll have no issues
My last S3 was a nice car but lacked the extra doors and the all important S-tronic box. The auto may not be one for the purists but this is my 4th dsg/S-tronic and I wouldn't go manual again. It'll also handle more power than the manual, so if you are going past stage 1, you'll have no issues
Cheers for the replies. My bmw is an auto an I've gotten used to the lazy commute with it. I do however get annoyed when I want to press on as the manual mode is still computer controlled. I believe the full manual mode in the stronic is exactly that so I'd be getting the best of both worlds. My last s3 had the Apr map on it, think I'll be looking at shark this time round. Just gotta fund the perfect car an away I go. I'm looking on the audi site daily as well as pistonheads, auto trader etc. gonna trade the bmw in, which should return 10-11k an add about 10k to it, so should get a decent example.
I recently brought a s3 sportback to accommodate the family and I love the car. I tried dsg and manual and for me manual is what I prefer - yes call me old skool. Lol.
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DSG all the way... If you get a manual and a remap you will have to budget for a new clutch. I do a lot of miles for work and a lot in traffic so might be biased.
PS: DSG is faster!!!
PS: DSG is faster!!!
I could do with a sport back instead of 3 door, i can't find anything in as good nick with as low milage and DSG for under £20k, the buckets aren't really necessary but the normal seats just look so plain compared lol!
Yeah is seems my budget was slightly off, found a couple of nice examples for around 24k, so going to enquire about them. With regards to the remap, do you have to remap the Stronic box aswell? I've been reading about people having issues with hesitation etc with the auto, and not being able to utilise the additonal power? Can anyone advise?
Hello,
I have a s3 sb s-tronic on a stage3 and can tell you I love it. Never misses a beat and goes like a goodin. I never liked autos but the dsg/s-tronic is fantastic........
Be prepared to spend good money on a high spec one.
Oh is sprint blue too....
Cheers Dan
I have a s3 sb s-tronic on a stage3 and can tell you I love it. Never misses a beat and goes like a goodin. I never liked autos but the dsg/s-tronic is fantastic........
Be prepared to spend good money on a high spec one.
Oh is sprint blue too....
Cheers Dan
Yeah I've found my budget creaping up, although I have started looking at other colours. There are 2 at the moment, One is Deep Sea Blue the other is Estoril Blue, tbh i cant see a difference between them in the pictures
Wife just threw a spanner in the works by saying she would prefer the s4. Initially I said that wasn't gonna happen, but been looking an must admit I kinda dig them too...... I'm guessing the s3 would be the more nimble chuck able car, whereas the s4 would be the quicker outright (stock form for both)
I would love an s4, I wanted to get one but couldn't quite stretch to one. They handle very well, nice size and power is nice
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I'm running stage 2+ and have had no problems. I haven't had the stronic remapped as I don't feel the need to. I think it increases the torque tolerances and increases the redline and shift points.
I'm waiting for feedback from a few members on here to see if it's worth it.
What age cars are you looking at?
There's an s4 from main dealer selling for 19k. Done 40k miles in 59 plate. Advert is on autotrader
Well I've stuck a deal with the dealership. I ended up going for the S4. 2011 in white, black styling pack, stronic with many additional options, pick it up tomorrow. I figured in the end that I'd already had an s3, and will do again in the future in the 8v form, but for now the S4 will suit my family requirements and get me back in an performance audi.
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Well although I've now got the car it turned out to be the biggest farce in dealing with a dealership I have ever encountered. I drove 450miles to get the car an trade mine in, I get there an after a LOT of faffing around I find that they've managed to damage the car. Small dent in bonnet an scuff on wing with 2 deep scratches. The car WILL need bodyshop attention now. We agreed that they would knock £1000 off the asking price (on top of the £750 already agreed) to allow me to get the repairs done so not all bad I suppose.
Driving back up we stopped off in stoke 180 miles north of where we bought the car to spend the night, as we approach stoke I notice temp gauge is reading very low (60 degrees). Next morning I take it to stoke audi (whom I'd like to point out went out of their way to help and did everything that you'd expect / want from a dealership) they diagnose that the main thermostat is the likely culprit but don't have one in stock so I drove the rest of the way home with an engine that wouldn't get up to temp unless I was driving slowly in towns. It's now booked I. Yo my local dealer to have the thermostat looked at under the warranty, then I'll need to get quotes from the local body shops to get the repairs done.
I'm still in 2 minds whether I should have just walked away but the car was the right spec and I'd already driven 450 miles. Once I get these problems sorted we should have the ideal car, which us ultimately the reason I still took it. Time will tell if it was a good choice or not! Aside from the temp issue, it's a lovely car to drive.
Driving back up we stopped off in stoke 180 miles north of where we bought the car to spend the night, as we approach stoke I notice temp gauge is reading very low (60 degrees). Next morning I take it to stoke audi (whom I'd like to point out went out of their way to help and did everything that you'd expect / want from a dealership) they diagnose that the main thermostat is the likely culprit but don't have one in stock so I drove the rest of the way home with an engine that wouldn't get up to temp unless I was driving slowly in towns. It's now booked I. Yo my local dealer to have the thermostat looked at under the warranty, then I'll need to get quotes from the local body shops to get the repairs done.
I'm still in 2 minds whether I should have just walked away but the car was the right spec and I'd already driven 450 miles. Once I get these problems sorted we should have the ideal car, which us ultimately the reason I still took it. Time will tell if it was a good choice or not! Aside from the temp issue, it's a lovely car to drive.
Hope you get it sorted mate, not nice having problems from day 1.
Which Audi dealership did you buy it from?
Which Audi dealership did you buy it from?
Bought from Walton Audi, kinda felt sorry for the salesman as it wasnt him that was at fault it was the network surrounding him. However, hopefully it'll be all sorted within a few weeks and i can forget all this. Will get some pics up soon
Yet S3 is faster
After driving the car for a few weeks to get used to it, I think i might challenge that statement
Car is all repaired now, both mechanically and body wise. Performance is very very different to what I'm used to (given that the last 5 cars have all been turbo'd, and the last was a diesel!) It accelerates very smoothly and in all honest doesnt 'feel' that fast, however a quick look at the speedo and that thought soon vanishes. Intend to keep it standard for the first year (warranty an all that). May look at pulley upgrade and remap in the future tho.
One thing that I dont like about it is the fuel consumption.......... damn its poor. Driving normally (read taking it easy) I managed a massive 23mpg. I bought the car with eyes wide open and knew what I was getting into, but I truely thought I could get better than that. Only saving grace is that it runs on 95 instead of super.
