Is the 8P s3 worth the money?

[s3dave]

that figure sounds very fictional.... I used to sell cars back in 2000 for a main dealer and what I saw was nowhere near 80%.... the figure will have reduced regardless as more and more finance packages become secured to the owner as opposed to the car itself.....essentially a personal loan which won't be an easy figure to collate or gauge

It maybe mate, i remember reading it in one of the tabloids years ago...there are a lot more cars on company lease

 

[s3dave]

my ex's Mini we sold on an 04 plate seems to have lost a couple hundred in two years since we sold it

But then they are the least depreciating modern car, or at least they were

Thats good to know my mrs has a mini 04 plate

 

[1animal1]

It maybe mate, i remember reading it in one of the tabloids years ago...there are a lot more cars on company lease

It could be right fella, only going from my own experience.... but yeah company leases, half hire and these stupid half purchase agreements are probably also going to skew the figs nowadays.......scary what some people get upto.

Thats good to know my mrs has a mini 04 plate

Yup yup, what model is it?

 

[s3dave]

Nothing special the 1.6 cooper...

 

[warren_S5]

OTR cost is a useful measure, but it's only part of the picture.

In retail there is a measure called 'CLV' or customer lifetime value. Whilst an S3 is circa£30k new, many get financed and therefore if you go full term with a reasonable in house APR they start to look very expensive, particularly when you add running costs.

However there is one redeeming point. My S3 was £26995 at purchase (ignore extras for now). After nearly 5 years I'm getting £14k trade in at a stealers, which iffy maths is right is still over 50% of original OTR.

Now compare depreciation to say a Brera? It's one area where an S3 of any kind makes a lot of sense. Very solid residuals in a world of heavy depreciation.

 

[1animal1]

Nothing special the 1.6 cooper...

Was just gonna say mate, mine had a One which we mapped to make 3-4 bhp more than a cooper... couldn't beleive how detuned the One was..... they really have hardly budged, especially if you have a decent spec



Warren...quite

 

[s3dave]

Yeah the whole depreciation thing has no argument, everything moving depreciates,

 

[s3dave]

Was just gonna say mate, mine had a One which we mapped to make 3-4 bhp more than a cooper... couldn't beleive how detuned the One was..... they really have hardly budged, especially if you have a decent spec



Warren...quite

Yeah pretty decent spec, quite fun to drive and feel a lot bigger than they are...certainly like to give it back though....

 

[1animal1]

oh they are definitely quality.....with hers i fitted the full S bumpers and skirts, few other bits too including retrofitting the full S exhaust..... sad to see the thing go after all that.

 

[MikeA3]

I've no doubt there much better to drive than the 8L (or anything based on the Mk4 floorplan for that matter) but they lack the syle of the 8L imo - most of the newer audi range seems to.

With 15K to spare, I'd be in a RS2

 

[rhubarb4]

Out of the 2 versions though I cant stand the S3 sport back I think it ruins the car turns it into an estate look, I was disappointed when I saw the RS3 it just doesn't look right as a 4 door bit of a fail in my eyes but thats just my view.

 

[1animal1]

you may not like me for this but I wanted the sportback purely for the rear LED lights....looks sooo much more upto date.....but yeah I know what ya saying

 

[rhubarb4]

you may not like me for this but I wanted the sportback purely for the rear LED lights....looks sooo much more upto date.....but yeah I know what ya saying[/QUOTE

are there no retro fit LED one's you can fit in the 8P or is it silly money prices.

 

[1animal1]

na they dont do LED's for the 3 door ,only sportback..... I'd not fit none OEM items personally

 

[rhubarb4]

thats a shame really as my first S3 was a pre-facelift but someone retro fitted the facelift lights into it looked loads better, I just looked at the LED ones there's no chance of fitting them to yours

 

[jojo]

I like the Sportback models, each to their own.

 

[fingermouse]

I actaually think the sportback S3 is the better one as it looks different as I don`t see many sportbacks around here.

 

[1animal1]

thats a shame really as my first S3 was a pre-facelift but someone retro fitted the facelift lights into it looked loads better, I just looked at the LED ones there's no chance of fitting them to yours

no mate different back ends

 

[Gops]

To me, i see it as opinion.. I love the 8L but wish it was as easy to tune as the 8P. I do think audi got lazy with the design on the 8P (such as the arches) they could of made it so much better, but overall its a new car and its updated! The 8L with those gorgeous front arches stand out a mile from an A3! 8L or 8P S3, im ****** proud i have one

 

[beanoir]

Well in answer to the original question, and having "been there and done that" with an 8P S3 and now having an 8L S3 I have to say I feel like I'm not missing out on very much at all, and when comparing the cost £30k that I paid for the 8P vs. £4.5k for the 8L I really then struggle to wonder if the extra is worth £25k.

The 8P S3 is not a bad car and it does a lot of things very well, but from the day I first bought it I knew it was just not enough car for the money in my opinion, and couldn't wait to get rid. Horses for courses, others may see the benefit in the extra bit of power and heated seats as standard, and some may not mind paying that much money for a car, be it monthly payments or lump sum.

I'm more than happy that the 8L does everything I need for a fraction of the cost, and save the 8P dosh for something special.

 

[finesse]

Oh btw wasn't the 8LS3 thought to be overpriced?

 

[finesse]

Great post, very insightful.


which is better

Well in answer to the original question, and having "been there and done that" with an 8P S3 and now having an 8L S3 I have to say I feel like I'm not missing out on very much at all, and when comparing the cost £30k that I paid for the 8P vs. £4.5k for the 8L I really then struggle to wonder if the extra is worth £25k.

The 8P S3 is not a bad car and it does a lot of things very well, but from the day I first bought it I knew it was just not enough car for the money in my opinion, and couldn't wait to get rid. Horses for courses, others may see the benefit in the extra bit of power and heated seats as standard, and some may not mind paying that much money for a car, be it monthly payments or lump sum.

I'm more than happy that the 8L does everything I need for a fraction of the cost, and save the 8P dosh for something special.

 

[warren_S5]

How much was the S3 8L (225 spec) by the time it ended it's life?

The Leon Cupra R 225 1.8T which stole it's engine was £18015 at the time they shelved it (dealer RRP), and the Golf R32 was way over £21k as I looked at a second hand one at that price, so the S3 must have been up there in the early to mid twenties. If it was anywhere near 25, then the 8P came out with the 2.0T at £26995 from new (early days pre flat bottom steering wheel & nav).

The reason it looks very expensive now is that FBMFSW (originally a £250 option) / Sat Nav (originally a £1700 option) / and Bluetooth (originally a £200 option) have been added as standard, and with the facelifting and exchange rates it's gone up to £30k.

The 2 wheel drive Leon Cupra R Mk2 265PS is now £26k which is the price the S3 8P started out at, so against it's VAG peers I don't think on reflection it's heanously expensive, I just think £30k is too much money for a shopping trolley with trinkets.

I paid £16100 for my last LCR 225 Mk1 with dealer discount, and there is no way the S3 is twice the car, I just think the exchange rates have knackered any sense of value from cars. A Polo GTi with some options is nigh on £24k, and an A1 can be specced to nearly £30k, so it seems the dealers will just jack up the prices on the low end cars and those who can pay will, and those who won't (who have some sense!) will wait for 2nd hand.

 

[beanoir]

How much was the S3 8L (225 spec) by the time it ended it's life?

The Leon Cupra R 225 1.8T which stole it's engine was £18015 at the time they shelved it (dealer RRP), and the Golf R32 was way over £21k as I looked at a second hand one at that price, so the S3 must have been up there in the early to mid twenties. If it was anywhere near 25, then the 8P came out with the 2.0T at £26995 from new (early days pre flat bottom steering wheel & nav).

The reason it looks very expensive now is that FBMFSW (originally a £250 option) / Sat Nav (originally a £1700 option) / and Bluetooth (originally a £200 option) have been added as standard, and with the facelifting and exchange rates it's gone up to £30k.

The 2 wheel drive Leon Cupra R Mk2 265PS is now £26k which is the price the S3 8P started out at, so against it's VAG peers I don't think on reflection it's heanously expensive, I just think £30k is too much money for a shopping trolley with trinkets.

I paid £16100 for my last LCR 225 Mk1 with dealer discount, and there is no way the S3 is twice the car, I just think the exchange rates have knackered any sense of value from cars. A Polo GTi with some options is nigh on £24k, and an A1 can be specced to nearly £30k, so it seems the dealers will just jack up the prices on the low end cars and those who can pay will, and those who won't (who have some sense!) will wait for 2nd hand.

Warren - Have you got Revo on yours...?

 

[warren_S5]

So disappointed was I with the S3 on arrival it was treated to a remap at 198 miles.

 

[beanoir]

Clearly that joke was wasted....

I have to say, it makes a massive difference on the 8P S3 even at stage 1. I wouldn't not get it on a car now (if it was FI).

 

[warren_S5]

Clearly that joke was wasted....

I have to say, it makes a massive difference on the 8P S3 even at stage 1. I wouldn't not get it on a car now (if it was FI).

First day back after a long weekend!!! But the million dollar question is; can you tell which one!

 

[Dane]

Sooo this is quite interesting, I just had a cheeky look after eyeing up B5 RS4's and these are no longer mega bucks for nice ones, I found buckets, fbmfsw and rnse of c.50K for 14,995, now thats getting to be more like it!

 

[S3 Nattie]

Well in answer to the original question, and having "been there and done that" with an 8P S3 and now having an 8L S3 I have to say I feel like I'm not missing out on very much at all, and when comparing the cost £30k that I paid for the 8P vs. £4.5k for the 8L I really then struggle to wonder if the extra is worth £25k.

The 8P S3 is not a bad car and it does a lot of things very well, but from the day I first bought it I knew it was just not enough car for the money in my opinion, and couldn't wait to get rid. Horses for courses, others may see the benefit in the extra bit of power and heated seats as standard, and some may not mind paying that much money for a car, be it monthly payments or lump sum.

I'm more than happy that the 8L does everything I need for a fraction of the cost, and save the 8P dosh for something special.

Could not have said it any better.

I can fully see why people love the 8P S3 because for some it ticks all the boxes and is a pretty good all rounder but for me its not enough of an upgrade to justify the extra cost over a 8L S3.

Just wondering, could the 8P S3 owners tell me if the S3 has double wishbone suspension on the front.

 

[Ads]

I've never understood why people compare an 8L S3 with an 8P S3 (apart from the obvious... i.e. naming).
Stock performance wise the 8L S3 is on par with the 8P A3 2.0T.
The 8P S3 fills the gap that was at the top of the 8L range.


But is a brand new 8P worth the money? Nah.

 

[JoeD]

8P will be a bargain once you can pick them up for under 10k, but wouldn't consider one until they fall to the value.

 

[warren_S5]

I think a lot of this comes down to where the owner perceives the term 'value'.

A friend has one of the new Fucus RS's, and whilst his car is white, winged, pumped and bonkers, whenever he gets into the S3 he admits immediately that it's a much better place to be sat than the Ford as the Audi quality shines through in the interior build, materials and finish.

We'd both admit his car is a true hot hatch, loud, fizzy, full of drama, kerb appeal, head turning, sharp, but the S3 is a completely different animal.

When I first bought it I spent the first week chastising myself for being an utter **** and ordering a 30 grand car I'd never even driven. But with the remap, and some miles behind the wheel it somehow started to slowly make sense.

I have to ferry clients about, many of them senior execs in the later parts of their careers, and not once has any of them assumed it's a boy racer car (like my old Leon R), so it works in that scenario. If you drive it half way across Europe it's a perfectly mannered cruiser. If you go out in the depths of winter on partially worn summer 19's it performs it's duties of keeping you on the straight and narrow whilst others sit stranded. Whether you park in Holland Park or Lidl car park the S3 seems to blend perfectly without pretention or assumption. It does everything without fuss, noise, hassle, and I think you've got to have reached a certain stage of your life to find that appealing. I know when it starts to rain and the Fucus is lighting up its front rubber it makes all the sense in the world.

Now I'm about to trade in the car I set out hating for another one (partly because I'm too tight to fork out for the RS I'd actually prefer!), and whilst I agree with you lot, it's not great VFM, I can't find a single other 'NEW' car to stack up to it's potential all round ability. And I'm trading in the '07 for £14k. Now for £14k that's a lot of car for the money, shame the dealer will have it up at £17k in the blink of an eye!

 

[jojo]

A lot of member's will snap your arm off for your S3 @£14k Warren, I think as a used buy, it's got to be worth the money! Just too expensive to buy brand new, but everyone's different in terms of income and what they would spend/can afford on a car.