Please don't beat me up too much!

tcg

tcg

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Hi guys,

New to hear as I'm looking at changing my current car (1992 Celica ST185 GT4) for one a bit more practical but still with some performance and rarity in the next few months.

Here's a pic. just in case you're too young or just don't know about my car...



I've been looking around and I'm finding it hard to get excited about losing my 'baby' but needs must.

I have a budget of around £3-£5k and so far the car that ticks most boxes is the S3 8L.

I've read the buying guide and have scouted a few posts so far on this forum.

Have loads of questions to fire at anyone who's willing to answer :openmouth:

I'll let you have a chance to 'knock me into shape' first.

Cheers,

Tim.
 
Bonus point to Alex C.

My dog is the main reason I'm having to change my car,he's too arthritic to settle on the back seat and can't fit into the boot :disappointed:
 
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Tj 0785 said:
Doesn't look like a gt4 to me ha
Welcome to asn
Click to expand...

Thanks mate,looking forward to researching the S3 and hopefully buying one in the not too distant future.
 
Never going to get beaten up for having what was an awesome rally car! IMO much nicer than the ST205.

Not saying that personally i'll be able to answer the questions, but fire away.
 
Cheers,also known as a 'crate' by the GT4 forum!

I love it but I have to change and the S3 seems to have the performance to match but (here's the first chance for a kick:blush:) I am struggling to adjust my brain to the look of a 'generic' 3dr hatch.
Sorry.
I'll get to the questions soon but just wanted you guys to get to know me/my situation first as being a member on another owner's forum I understand you have endless newbies asking no end of stuff without ever searching first (no doubt some of my queries will cover that).

Tim.
 
audi upgrades
there's not much room in the boot as you would think for a fair size dog and getting in n out the back seats might be a bit tight if the dogs got arthritis
 
We manage to fit the dog in the boot of my girlfriend's '13 Fiesta so I'm hoping the S3 boot would be ok.So far I've only briefly looked at a locked car at a dealers so do need to have a closer look at one.

That's brought up my first question...

I was hoping that there may be someone on here who is local to Oxford and who would like to show me round there pride and joy.

I promise I'm not a stalker or anorak:shutup2:
 
8L S3 is all about the more subtle look... should be a much nicer place to be sat in vs the GT4 from what I recall of one my mate had a fair few years back...

You may find the S3 a little 'dull' handling wise out the box but you can get them up to something half decent power and handling wise easily...

I am a big fan of the subtle sleeper look myself.... (silver S3's are the fastest btw ;) )

<tuffty/>
 
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subtle, the s3 is.

some dude in a wrc liveried octavia vrs paid in the garage in front of me and looked slightly uncomfortable and embarrassed at the spotty lad serving commenting... "cool, vrs, nice mate"

he didn't even notice my s3, just how i like it.
 
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<tuffty/>
Thanks mate,I've read quite a few of your posts although your build one is more of a 'bedtime book':grinning:

I was with you until you mentioned the silver ones being fastest :tearsofjoy: I always thought it was the black ones.

The 'sleeper' look is a favourite of mine and the S3 certainly gives the subtle look compared to other hatches.

I'm hoping that it will be exactly what I want once I get to know it's character and niggles a bit better.I have read a lot about understeer from outside of the forum but not yet read enough posts here to justify that.
 
At least you have a decent realistic budget, should be able to find one in good condition for that kind of cash. A few mods and you'll be loving it
 
<tuffty/> said:
Black?!!.... pffft!

:)

<tuffty/>
Click to expand...

I have to bow to your superior knowledge of the S3 and I have next to no knowledge so perhaps you're right,silver is faster than black:blush:
 
Its as fast as you care to make it.. no matter what colour... I am just biased to silver... as all my cars are silver :)

<tuffty/>
 
Im in Oxford mate but my cars off the road so probably not much use to you! your still welcome to have a look round it
 
I am not sure your dog will find much comfort in the boot of an s3? They are hard and bumpy and he will have a subwoofer (excuse the pun) in his left ear.

you should be sitting him on the suede seats :)
 
s3 Hoggy said:
Im in Oxford mate but my cars off the road so probably not much use to you! your still welcome to have a look round it
Click to expand...

That's a shame mate,nothing too serious I hope.How long before it's fixed?

I live east of Oxford just outside the ring road near the Thornhill Park & Ride.

If you're not too far away and could spare an hour sometime in the next few weeks then I'd be grateful to have a quick chat and nosey around your car mate.
Plus you'd get to see an old jap banger to remind you how up to date your motor is :yes:
 
Stuart B said:
I am not sure your dog will find much comfort in the boot of an s3? They are hard and bumpy and he will have a subwoofer (excuse the pun) in his left ear.

you should be sitting him on the suede seats :)
Click to expand...

Nice memory foam matress will keep him happy and the repetitive sub boom from my house music should act as a pacemaker just to keep his heartbeat regular!
 
Interior quality is far better than anything else in its class, you won't be disappointed, especially after the car you have been driving.
 
tcg said:
That's a shame mate,nothing too serious I hope.How long before it's fixed?

I live east of Oxford just outside the ring road near the Thornhill Park & Ride.

If you're not too far away and could spare an hour sometime in the next few weeks then I'd be grateful to have a quick chat and nosey around your car mate.
Plus you'd get to see an old jap banger to remind you how up to date your motor is :yes:
Click to expand...

Ok mate not far then, I'm in Wootton. Not a lot wrong with it just needed to take a backseat when I bought and refurbished my house. Could do with a clutch and I'm starting to think my valve stem seals may be going :(
Hope to have it back on the road around spring fingers crossed
 
s3 Hoggy said:
Ok mate not far then, I'm in Wootton. Not a lot wrong with it just needed to take a backseat when I bought and refurbished my house. Could do with a clutch and I'm starting to think my valve stem seals may be going :(
Hope to have it back on the road around spring fingers crossed
Click to expand...

Ok mate cheers,my car has it's dreaded MOT on Friday 20th November so I'll get that out of the way and then it would be great if I could pop round and empty your brain of S3 knowledge,if you've got that long to spare:flushed:

If you want to pm me or me pm you,whichever suits.
 
ayfreetee said:
Interior quality is far better than anything else in its class, you won't be disappointed, especially after the car you have been driving.
Click to expand...

Yes all pic's I've seen of the interiors look good except for the tatty climate control buttons,really surprised at the poor quality but also strange that some wear out but others don't.
Apart from button wear they still look fresh even now.
 
tcg said:
Yes all pic's I've seen of the interiors look good except for the tatty climate control buttons,really surprised at the poor quality but also strange that some wear out but others don't.
Apart from button wear they still look fresh even now.
Click to expand...

if the previous owner bit their fingernails then the buttons should be fine
 
Alcantara is nice but the silver alcantara is a ****** to keep clean...

20151003-IMG_7939.jpg


<tuffty/>
 
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You can get stickers to renew the buttons on the climate unit, I did mine and it looks new.
 
Makes my interior look a bit dated and dull!

DSC 0152
 
That Toyota is awesome mate, love it!
 
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BAN430G said:
That Toyota is awesome mate, love it!
Click to expand...

Cheers mate,so do I but need to move to something more fitting,just sat in the car staring at the bump in the bonnet is enough to get me excited!
 
tcg said:
Ok mate cheers,my car has it's dreaded MOT on Friday 20th November so I'll get that out of the way and then it would be great if I could pop round and empty your brain of S3 knowledge,if you've got that long to spare:flushed:

If you want to pm me or me pm you,whichever suits.
Click to expand...

Sound mate,
Just PM me whenever you wanna have a look
 
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