Buying an S3 (possibly)

Cheeks

Cheeks

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so!

I'm sick to death of fixing my A3 1.6...
I understand that if I buy an old car it's bound to get a few issues, but I'm more willing to pay money towards something like an S3 rather than an A3 1.6 it jut doesn't feel like it's worth fixing.

I'd just like to know what to look out for when buying, mileage, certain issues? just general things to look out for!

Really appreciate any help!
 
Sweet, thanks man had a read through and it's a good read, only thing I didn't really see was mileage?
Personally at what mileage would you avoid buying an S3? 100k 120k?
 
Cheeks said:
Sweet, thanks man had a read through and it's a good read, only thing I didn't really see was mileage?
Personally at what mileage would you avoid buying an S3? 100k 120k?
Click to expand...
Why would anyone avoid a certain mileage. It's just a number. Hence why the guide doesn't have anything on it
 
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As long as it's been looked after, plenty of oil and filter changes and such, these engines do star ship mileage, best to buy on history and condition, rather than mileage.
 
Yeah I kinda got that from the guide a lot of emphasis on history, just wondered because looking around I've seen a few 100K ish that seem a lot cheaper by like 1-2K compared to say one at 95k just seemed like a big jump and had me kinda vigilant about it haha
 
Also excuse the ignorance, the A3 was my first proper car first was a rover 45...
Only had my license for just over a year so I'm not too savvy on buying!
 
S3's cost a fortune to keep on the road and they are money pits. Is it a hobby / project you want? I needed to have 2 cars and when my spare car broke down whilst the S3 was "under repair" - I needed to then buy a 3rd car to get to work, and scrap the second car - after wasting more money on that. I reckon you will be repairing the S3 more often than your 1.6


How much do you want to spend on modifications and general maintenance?

shocks and springs, driveshafts, exhaust, head gasket, timing belt, water pump, oil pickup, oil pump, sump, turbo, hoses, front wings, electric seats, electric sun roof, gearbox, clutch, brake discs and pads, brake calipers, clutch slave cylinder, tie bars and rose joints, tyres, arb bushes, drop links, head light sensors, screen wash bottle, clocks DIS repair, longditudinal sensors, wheel alignment, lower arms, ball joints, undertray, air conditioning pump, stereo, aerial, aux belt tensioner, door mechanisms, door blades, abs sensors, engine mounts, coolant flanges, air filters, turbo intake pipe, cheap maf, bosch maf, o2 sensors, coil packs)

think of the above as a 1st year shopping list to keep it on the road - then you will be able to spend some time getting it ready to be mapped :D

No that wont happen - they are excellent fun and I enjoy the basic layout although surprised there are no stereo controls on the steering wheel.

or

Get yourself a nice reliable rust free luxury 3 litre S Type Jag for £1200 or Mercedes C class kompressor for a couple of grand - then come back to Audi later on as you've had one already now :)

People complain the S3 is too soft and boat like - but it is the hardest suspension ride car - I have ever owned

I would actually buy another Alfa Romeo but they feel like they are made from polythene plastic.
 
I think you need to get a few insurance quotes before you think about buying anything in this "sport" bracket, it might scare you off for at least a few years I suspect.
 
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Stuart B said:
S3's cost a fortune to keep on the road and they are money pits. Is it a hobby / project you want? I needed to have 2 cars and when my spare car broke down whilst the S3 was "under repair" - I needed to then buy a 3rd car to get to work, and scrap the second car - after wasting more money on that. I reckon you will be repairing the S3 more often than your 1.6


How much do you want to spend on modifications and general maintenance?

shocks and springs, driveshafts, exhaust, head gasket, timing belt, water pump, oil pickup, oil pump, sump, turbo, hoses, front wings, electric seats, electric sun roof, gearbox, clutch, brake discs and pads, brake calipers, clutch slave cylinder, tie bars and rose joints, tyres, arb bushes, drop links, head light sensors, screen wash bottle, clocks DIS repair, longditudinal sensors, wheel alignment, lower arms, ball joints, undertray, air conditioning pump, stereo, aerial, aux belt tensioner, door mechanisms, door blades, abs sensors, engine mounts, coolant flanges, air filters, turbo intake pipe, cheap maf, bosch maf, o2 sensors, coil packs)

think of the above as a 1st year shopping list to keep it on the road - then you will be able to spend some time getting it ready to be mapped :D

No that wont happen - they are excellent fun and I enjoy the basic layout although surprised there are no stereo controls on the steering wheel.

or

Get yourself a nice reliable rust free luxury 3 litre S Type Jag for £1200 or Mercedes C class kompressor for a couple of grand - then come back to Audi later on as you've had one already now :)

People complain the S3 is too soft and boat like - but it is the hardest suspension ride car - I have ever owned

I would actually buy another Alfa Romeo but they feel like they are made from polythene plastic.
Click to expand...
I've never heard anyone call a jaguar reliable before.
 
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Surprisingly mate my insurance is only £300 more to jump from the 1.6 :S which is quite good I think means that it's £12-1300 like haha but I paid more than that last year for the A3!

In terms of upgrades etc, not looking for anything until I get used to it standard tbh, get used to the power difference and running costs.

The main thing is, I get that I'll be throwing money at it just like the A3 but it'll feel more worthwhile going to a performance car rather than a little runabout hatchback if you get me? I just see more value in it.

And this is everything so far just over 1 year ownership... also sat for 10 months sorn in that time

75k
Water Pump
Cambelt
Full Service
Crankcase breather hose
Intake pipe

77K
Front Shocks & Springs
Top Mounts
Strut Top Bearing
Intake Manifold
Rear Axle bushings
Rear Tyres (Toyo Proxes)
Auxiliary air pump mounts

78K
Thermostat
coolant temp sensor
MAF replacement
EVAP replacement
Window regulator

82K
Front tyres
Track rod (inner)
Lower arm bushes (both)
ARB bushes
Drop link bushes
Discs
Pads
Calipers
 
You will spend more that again maintains an s3 in 1st year mine cost me 2.5k in maintainable / repairs in 12 months and it was in good condition when I got it that's why I still haven't gone stage 2 or hybrid yet.
I'm 31 5 year no claims n I pay that now suppose it all about the postcode
 
Last edited:
Stuart B said:
How much do you want to spend on modifications and general maintenance?

shocks and springs, driveshafts, exhaust, head gasket, timing belt, water pump, oil pickup, oil pump, sump, turbo, hoses, front wings, electric seats, electric sun roof, gearbox, clutch, brake discs and pads, brake calipers, clutch slave cylinder, tie bars and rose joints, tyres, arb bushes, drop links, head light sensors, screen wash bottle, clocks DIS repair, longditudinal sensors, wheel alignment, lower arms, ball joints, undertray, air conditioning pump, stereo, aerial, aux belt tensioner, door mechanisms, door blades, abs sensors, engine mounts, coolant flanges, air filters, turbo intake pipe, cheap maf, bosch maf, o2 sensors, coil packs)
.
Click to expand...

Add to that clutch pedal , clutch switch, brake switch, haldex controllers,xenon level sensors countless split hoses and most importantly cup holder breaking ha all known to go wrong with these.
I tried talking my mate in to getting one he drove mine a few times but he'd never buy one to much time in the garage he says but saying that I wouldn't sell mine I enjoy it and spent to much on it that I wouldn't get back
 
Haha that damn cup holder I've got that problem!

I'll have a proper think later about it, I'm pretty much ready to get one, insurance is about £1200 I've already payed £800 for the A3 so they just said I have to pay the £400 and it's done, in terms of repairs for everything I've had done on the A3 I've done majority of it myself (mechanic lives down the street, let's me use tools and is there if I **** up! Really cheap too!)
I guess a good part of it is I don't actually need a car to go to work, parking is £7 a day so I usually get the bus unless I'm lazy (today) so if stuff does go wrong and the repairs mount up it's not going to really mess my travel up so I'd have time to sort it.
Decisions desicions...
What would you all say having fixed loads of stuff? It all worth it?
 
The price of the car + what I've spent maintaining it I could've got a a r32 or something and tbh there not as quick as you would think I went to get mine remapped thinking it was a bit slow for 210bhp and was gutted to find out it was already remapped and 250bhp so was a bit gutted but with what I'd already spent on it I'd thought I'd keep and throw another 3-4K and go hybrid

As my girlfriend hates the car (money pit) keeps telling me there nice/ better cars out there it's just a car! My response there better nicer girlfriends out there but I still choose to keep her haha
 
Haha my girlfriend said something very similar so I told her to buy her own car and get a license and she can drive herself about if she doesn't like it. She also complained because I'm buying the same car apparently... I couldn't really explain how it wasn't.
 
Interesting thoughts here on ownership from some, I've owned a few over the years, and always bought based on condition, mileage and history, to be fair I've always bought at the high end price wise, but I've never bought one that required lots of work and never considered these cars to be money pits or unreliable. Other than the choices I've made to make improvements (which are absolutely not cheap) I've spent very little keeping these cars going even doing above average miles yearly. Part of the reason I kept coming back to them was the appeal of a car that had often been bought by an enthusiast over lots of other marques available and as such had been treated in a way that meant you knew you could get your hands on a cherished example that had been serviced to within an inch of its life.

Ultimately you do get what you pay for and as these cars do get older and the milages increase, getting one with the right history over shiny wheels and mods becomes more important. If your buying one to mod, then you'd better have deep pockets.
 
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Have you a look at the s3 exciting to drive thread you get a sense that as standard there just to heavy personally if you just past your test and don't want to throw thousands making them quick get a Clio 182 or a older fiesta st.
 
Some really good points, my personal reason for wanting one is because I'm just drawn to the subtle design of them and having an A3 already I just wanted to get the extra power, not even looking to mod it at all maybe in the future but it's would just be driving about mainly

And that's something else too, I e noticed looking at them I'm seeing a lot more with a full service history compared to when I bought my A3, people that own them even by looking above seem to take really good car of them.
 
Mine was all standard and standard wheels apart from stage one remap which I didn't know about 120 k on clock and was a good example for 3.2k
 
Tj 0785 said:
Mine was all standard and standard wheels apart from stage one remap which I didn't know about 120 k on clock and was a good example for 3.2k
Click to expand...

And what was it like for reliability?
 
I bought my latest and current one last December, a 2003 with full main dealer history, just been serviced and 71k on the clock for £5800. A big chunk of cash more on the initial outlay but I've not had to spend anything I didn't choose to since. Find the right one and reliability and running costs will reflect it. I'm not saying you have to up your budget, I'm just saying be realistic, your buying something that's a minimum of 13 years old and likely more, that's a lot of years of potentially not being treated as you might intend to under your ownership. History is king on anything in the ageing used car market. If you don't have much experience buying cars, take someone who does, scrutinise those old mot certificates and look at what works been done when and buy who. If it's got gaps or inconsistencies, you have to think with your head and walk away.

I spent six months choosing my last one, since last summer there has been a consistent number available on AT between 35 and 45. As of today's there's 43. IMHO you're more likely to find a car owned by some older enthusiast with an immaculate past on AT than you will anywhere else..people will spend a bit to realise a cars true value if they think it's an example worthy of a few more pound notes. There'll be more modded and potentially hounded examples to be found on some of the other selling sites.
 
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Jutchops said:
I bought my latest and current one last December, a 2003 with full main dealer history, just been serviced and 71k on the clock for £5800. A big chunk of cash more on the initial outlay but I've not had to spend anything I didn't choose to since. Find the right one and reliability and running costs will reflect it. I'm not saying you have to up your budget, I'm just saying be realistic, your buying something that's a minimum of 13 years old and likely more, that's a lot of years of potentially not being treated as you might intend to under your ownership. History is king on anything in the ageing used car market. If you don't have much experience buying cars, take someone who does, scrutinise those old mot certificates and look at what works been done when and buy who. If it's got gaps or inconsistencies, you have to think with your head and walk away.

I spent six months choosing my last one, since last summer there has been a consistent number available on AT between 35 and 45. As of today's there's 43. IMHO you're more likely to find a car owned by some older enthusiast with an immaculate past on AT than you will anywhere else..people will spend a bit to realise a cars true value if they think it's an example worthy of a few more pound notes. There'll be more modded and potentially hounded examples to be found on some of the other selling sites.
Click to expand...

Absolutely sound advice mate, yeah I'm definitely not going to rush into it like the A3 going to check out a few in person nearby and take the mechanic with me!
 
It's never broke down put it that way but in the 2 years n 32k I've done it's needed new haldex and haldex service, main service new cam belt, water pump, aux belt, all the pcv hoses have split n been replaced head gasket, coil packs, track rod ends, inner track rods, cv boot, steering rack, new rear brake calliper, new suspension, xenon level sensors new headlights on order old one are shocking bad light output (group buy) the tilt n slide seat mechanism broke clutch switch x2 brake switch, top mounts, most bushes replaced,clutch pedal snapped and the ****** cup holder all the paint bubbled on alloys got them refurbished and the roof rails rust (common fault) so they do spend a lot of time being maintained that's why I said if you want to be out and about enjoying driving I'd think about these things but like I said still wouldn't get rid
 
By the looks of things it will be no different to what I'm doing now, which is a shame but they're old cars, and Like I was saying before I feel like it makes more sense to do it all on an S3 rather than a 1.6 A3. That's not silly is it?
 
Best single bit of advice if your going to get a high mileage car would be to try and buy some something that's just been serviced somewhere respectable and has signs of being cared for at least a little bit. Try not to go for anything private sale that's coming up for a service despite the owner telling you it drives like a dream and they haven't had to do anything to it and they have a genuine reason for sale, anything could have happened to it between services.
 
Cheeks said:
By the looks of things it will be no different to what I'm doing now, which is a shame but they're old cars, and Like I was saying before I feel like it makes more sense to do it all on an S3 rather than a 1.6 A3. That's not silly is it?
Click to expand...

Not if it's a car you really want, that's why most of us are at the end of the day, just make sure you go into it with your eyes open to the potential pitfalls...
 
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You'd have a better car out of it but you'd probably be doing what you've done already spent again so only you can decide really I've got one cause I remember when they came out I was (15) use to love em,gawking at them when one pulled up at the lights and let off! ha that's why I wouldn't get rid but they are not as fast/ reliable as you would think being an Audi n all
 
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Stuart I think your getting mixed up jutchops 5.8k and my -3k in repairs maintainance can't see jutchops stating that number for repairs
 
I also think you're deluded to think that any old car like an Amg merc or 3.0 jag isn't going to cost the earth to maintain. Wake up.

Old car = lots of maintenance. The end.

Wake up, smell the coffee, stop being naive, deal with it. Or sell, or don't buy an old sports car
 
oh yeah - I see that now.

don't get me wrong I love my S3 (which is awaiting repair at the moment so is not being driven *again) but you do get to a point of no return with expenditure - where it has cost so much you may as well push on and finish the rest of them. but an S3 shouldn't be purchased to save money on repairs and maintenance on another vehicle - they cost an absolute bomb to keep on the road let alone improvements.

In my vehicles history it has already had multiple coil packs, cv joints, gearbox rebuild, sunroof and seat electrical repairs in its few years.

my insurance is about £202 a year which is virtually the same price to insure as a 1.2 Punto / 1.2 Clio etc. the insurance company must know it will normally be on the drive instead of the road. ;-)
 
As I said in my post before I bought the right car so I've not had to spend anything since that I didn't choose to. I agree completely on the comment from SuperKarl, if you think that a 120k that's 15 years old and has average history is going to be reliable you're having a laugh, expect to pay out real money to make it nice again!

What's happened to my old ones? Well I sold a 2003 model in 2011 with 27k on the clock for £8k and moved to Thailand for a year. I also had a 2003 model as a company car in 2003 which lost an argument with a ditch at six months old, I was young and silly. Also had another that I chopped in on a 2006 Porsche cayenne turbo s. Glad I've got another now.

They remain a car that brings lots of memories and evokes emotions for me. They're also 1000% better than MG montego and maestro turbos which are the other car I'd still have if the world panned out like I expected!
 
superkarl said:
I also think you're deluded to think that any old car like an Amg merc or 3.0 jag isn't going to cost the earth to maintain. Wake up.

Old car = lots of maintenance. The end.

Wake up, smell the coffee, stop being naive, deal with it. Or sell, or don't buy an old sports car
Click to expand...

I replaced 1 coil on my 2003 3.0 S Type in 25K and 2.5 years - although I did sell it after it failed its MOT on brake line corrosion but that only cost £1600 to buy the whole car.

I had an R Reg Mercedes for 20K and 2 years before the Jag and had to pull the fuse for the alarm out of the boot as the battery had gone in the Alarm box under the left wheel arch (also I had to cut some under tray trim off after my wife reversed over a bush). even my 1986 VW T25 needed less maintenance than the S3 - I only used that for occasional weekends and still did more miles in a year than what is supposed to be a daily car.

I don't believe I have a lemon as all the problems I have had, other people know the answer to - because they are common.

The Mercedes point was my 1997 Mercedes C200 had more "features" inside the car than my S3, the 2001 S3 has the basic features (apart from CD player - and Trip Computer) as my 1985 (B reg) Golf 1.3 CL had (seats, lights and indicators)

I expect the fact that it is a "sports car" is why it keeps breaking - they have jammed in too much power capability into components which cannot take the power, hence why enthusiasts spend 4-5K on what amounts to a new powertrain.
 
Jutchops said:
*** --- They're also 1000% better than MG montego and maestro turbos which are the other car I'd still have if the world panned out like I expected!
Click to expand...

oh I see its a shame about the sale in 2011 I bet that car has been ruined by its new owner since then.

My work colleague in the 80's had a "Maestro Turbo" they were only about 12K new - unfortunately I had my Nans old Maestro 1.3 HLE (I think) it had 3 gears and an "economy" gear for driving at exactly 55 MPH
 
Sadly I know it went to someone that didn't realise how special a car it was, incredible history, the perfect one lady owner example. 1500 miles and a main dealer service every year for 9 years straight. It didn't look like it had been sat in. Genuinely gutted to let it go..

When the MG montego turbo came out it was the fast production car being made at the time, just before the cossy came out, silly fun, had one as the second car I'd ever owned at 19, I was dangerous in that...and go be fair so was the car! No real common sense approach to buying that one! Crap history and everything broke, luckily I was working for rover at the time.
 
Amazing advice as always guys thanks a lot really appreciate it.
I'm at the realisation that yeah I'm gonna do the same fixing as before, probably gonna cost more, but it's worth it for me haha!

I'll keep looking around for one!
 
Well I must be one of the lucky ones, touch wood, mine has 142k on it, short of general servicing, there has been no real outlay on it, although most upgrades and replacement parts were done by the previous owner, buying a car with higher mileage will most likely have had all the parts that wear, replaced already, whereas a car with say 90k on it will need these parts doing soon.
 
I had noticed that mate, loads of them at 100k plus all had lists of parts done haha, starting to think that might be the way to go, saves a few pennies too because they're cheaper to buy as well haha
 
I have had my S3 8L 3.5 years now and found it to be a great and reliable car. I paid £6,500 for it and it had 4 owners and 65K on the clocks with full history.

I have spent a small fortune on the car but it has been by choice on modifications and upgrades - this is something I have always done on my cars.

As it's getting older now maybe things will all start to fail but so far so good
 
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