Looking for S3

S

sportstractor

Chugger
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
2,698
Reaction score
38
Points
48
Location
North Devon
Hi all,

For a while iv been thinking of buying an S3, and recentely iv decided i want one. Been keeping an eye on pistonheads for a while now, and sometimes ebay and autotrader, But some people are such dreamers. wanting 7500 for a almost standard car with over 130k. Iv realised that alot of the right priced ones are snapped up by dealers, or are silver:faint:

So if anyone knows of any for sale, im not scared of a higher mileage one aslong at its got a good service history, and none of the AVS rubbish. Im really after a red, nargro blue, or maybe black car, preferably facelift with solid black leather seats. And I would also like the bose stereo. I plan to chip/remap one and fit better shocks and springs so if it already has this that would be ideal.

looking at spending between 5-6k, having to sell my gsxr600 to buy one:bye:

Should be able to pic one up for this shouldnt I? So if anyone is thinking of selling up, give me a shout.

Cheers
 
Hi
I would get one with suspension already done as its at least a grand for it,good luck with your quest:friends:
 
Last edited:
sportstractor said:
Hi all,

But some people are such dreamers. wanting 7500 for a almost standard car with over 130k.
Should be able to pic one up for this shouldnt I? So if anyone is thinking of selling up, give me a shout.

Cheers
Click to expand...
It is not people dreaming, but more of a realistic price for a sought after vehicle in good condition. The S3 is desirable car and indeed an expensive one second hand. 5k to 6k will get you an older one with high miles or an abused one. Either way you will end spending on it to bring it up to scratch. You also should be aware these vehicles are not a bargain to run either. They are an expensive car to own and you need to be sure you wish to fund such a car. That said I wouldn't give mine up.
 
I managed to by mine for £6K and it was a bog standard BAM 2002 (51) plate, with a few optional extras and a good service history. It had a lot of stone chips due to loads of motorway miles, and the closk was on 107,000 miles. I bought it knowing the front bumper and bonnet needed a respray due to the chips and the alarm was a bit dodgy, but it had just been serviced and brakes & tyres done all round.

There are some bargains out there.
 
chancer said:
It is not people dreaming, but more of a realistic price for a sought after vehicle in good condition. The S3 is desirable car and indeed an expensive one second hand. 5k to 6k will get you an older one with high miles or an abused one. Either way you will end spending on it to bring it up to scratch. You also should be aware these vehicles are not a bargain to run either. They are an expensive car to own and you need to be sure you wish to fund such a car. That said I wouldn't give mine up.
Click to expand...


I understand its an expensive car to buy and keep, which is also shown in its original selling price. But im afraid some people are dreamers, and will not sell their car, unless a complete idiot comes along. I wasnt trying to sound cheap, I expect to be looking at a 2000/2001 with over 100k for 5-6k. Thanks for the warning nevertheless
 
Mine fits the bill, but sadly it's on AVS servicing.
 
Not sure a forum of mainly S3 owners is the best place to ask about values, there always seems to be a collective tendancy of talking prices up.

Simple fact is that people do not pay much of premium for extras,modifications or something really shiny.

Not looking to sell myself, but if I was I would advertise at £4295 ONO and take £3800 on a 99V S3 dark blue with 88K,FASH,Revo remap,service overdue on time not mileage,scuffed alloys,chips on bonnet. That's on a straight car I have owned for 7 years. I have spent £700 in that time on none wear and tear items,seems like all the usual weak components. So can be cheap to run, that's on 5000 miles a year.

Don't forget people can adverise cars for any price they like.....and they do. Try and find strike prices by looking at completed listings on Ebay and checking with new buyers and sellers of straight vehicles on Autotrader at the lowest prices. You may be suprised how little they sell for.

Above all be careful, hard to believe the number of people that come on this site with serious problems on a car they have recently bought that the seller would definitely know about and a proper check/test drive/inspection would have definitely found.
 
CasperS3 said:
Above all be careful, hard to believe the number of people that come on this site with serious problems on a car they have recently bought that the seller would definitely know about and a proper check/test drive/inspection would have definitely found.
Click to expand...

Whilst I agree with you on this point, there are many people who have bought a used S3 with no problems, and as such, they don't need to join/post on this forum.

Problems are only highlighted due to members only posting problems with their cars, how many threads have you seen of owners writing about the good reliability of their car? Not many, as they are too busy driving the thing. :racer:
 
I'm sure most people would think i'm a dreamer saying this, but i was offered £9500 for mine as a trade in.

03 plate BAM. Noggy blue.

I'm sure the spec had a bit to do with it, but it is mint & only done 53k...
 
audi upgrades
im very tempted to sell mine its an 02 black heated leather bose etc etc its got 97.6k on the clock .inside is like new outside few stone chips otherwise very clean i want around £6500 for it no less.
been told a few times thats to much money am i dreaming lol what do you guys think?
 
I would say £6500 is pretty near the money for an 02 on that mileage. If I was selling your car I would hold out for close to that amount if the car is clean and straight and £6000 for a very quick sale.

As for the guy who claims he was offered £9500 on an 03 !!! ... sorry mate you either dreamt it,met a clinically insane trader or more likely you are talking about an offer against a vastly inflated dealer screen price.
 
Keep the bike or you will regret, i paid 8500 for my 2001 S3 2 years back, only had 30k on, it came with all options bose,heated seats etc, was already mapped with exhaust and alloys etc, its only got 50k on to date ive thought about selling but there is no point, i simply would not be prepared to give this car away for a silly price i could not afford to loose
3k upwards and what else would i get with the money?? The bike wiil bring a bigger smile to your face!
 
I think the reason we all put high prices on our S3 because we get very attached to them and realise that they are a lot of car and feel they should sell for higher than the traders books say.
 
No worrys there mate, Iv decided to keep the bike and dive into my savings instead, for the moment anyway. Its also not really the right time to be selling. Sounds like you got a deal though Andy.

Sorry all, didnt mean to spark a debate over how much your cars are or are not worth. Just trying to buy the best spec'd car I can with my budget.
 
i think £6500 is a good price its as straight as the day i bought it 4yrs ago
 
The way i always look at things when buying a car what you get is what you pay for .. there are some bargains out there just got to keep visual and be quick..!!!!
 
More then likely, for a good example you will pay good money for it..but just because its priced high doesnt necessarily mean its a minter.

S3 are a good all rounder and I find very very cheap to run ;)
 
I paid £9300 for my Black 02 plate S3 5 months ago,with 40k on the clock,Bose,sunroof,black leather etc.
I agree with S3BAM,you get what you pay for.

Good luck with the search.
 
I looked at around 30 cars and started with an idea of around 5.5k but it became apparent that the car I wanted was not going to happen for that money. I am not disputing you can get them cheap. Just be prepared to spend some to get the car as you want it.As for being cheap to run..they are not. By that I mean any car is cheap to run if you get one that does not go wrong. When something goes wrong (eg Clutch) compare what the relative price of repair is to a standard car...much more
BTW all that said they are still worth it in my opinion. If you don't want to spend all your budget, you could get a later model A3 and have it mapped and some nice wheels. Don't be put off the S3 but do be wary of bargains
The car you linked to is a good example of what people mis sell. The car is Y reg so although face lift it will likely not be 225BHP but the 210. Most people advertising them don't even know how to check
 
Last edited:
I travelled from Cornwall to Grimsby Audi to buy mine last november, it was a red S3 8l 2001 plate with 42K on the clock, cost 9 grand. And I dont regret it one bit! Dont be put off by having to travel a bit, because now I have an S3 :)
 
I'm travelling to Teeside from Portsmouth this Sunday to buy mine. 9 hour journey on National Express! Like already said, if you see a good one, be prepared to travel, they don't come up all that often.
 
I think your best bet of getting a bam for £6kish will be to aim for one that has a full service history and has done a lot of motorway milage. This way you get a car that has not had much strain on the clutch/gearbox, shocks, and engine hasn't been highly reved but will be cheaper due to its milage.

My car was owned by a guy who had a house in manchester and another house in London and he was covering a lot of miles up and down the country, this was highlighted by the milage on each MOT certificate.

I ended up with a 2002 BAM engined car with full service history that only need a bumper/bonnet respray due to motorway stone chips for £6K. It had just had 4 new Bridgestone Potenza tyres and TT discs and pads all round. The bargains are out there.
 
I don't think james is particularly bothered about getting a BAM car at all, afterall, there is no advantage what so ever is there, and the added road tax is most definately a downside.....

he just wants a facelift with black leather and Bose
 
thing is by getting a BAM you make sure you get the fully updated facelift..... not major differences but i noticed when going to Jims in 08? that his X reg facelift had chrome interior handles whereas mine are like an opaque smoked silver....things like that....brings into question though what else was newer on the BAM's
 
Prawn said:
he just wants a facelift with black leather and Bose
Click to expand...


HAHA you make me sound like such a tart

To be honest im gettin fed up of looking, and its making me sick of them, so much better if some just offers me one now. Im no longer holding out for a red one, considering any colour, except imola yellow, and not into the colour coded seats either. Still fixated with the BOSE though, although not essential, also quite like the nonleather recaros.

Chancer, I was thinking about an A3 a while back, just not as special though, and I would just end up selling. Not worried about unexpected costs, as I do like a challenge, after all it will only be my weekend car.
 
Mate you can have mine for £5,995. Facelift Nogaro, full black heated leather, Bose (it's *****), armrest. 113k on the clock, FASH, on AVS though. Cambelt, water pump, turbo, MAF, N75 valve all changed by previous owner in Summer '08! It's completely bog standard aside from some 5000k xenon bulbs and a forged aluminium diverter valve. Mot until December and tax until end of May. Just getting its thermostat and rear coil spring done along with some other work to get it running 100% again.

DSC02239.jpg
 
sportstractor said:
HAHA you make me sound like such a tart

To be honest im gettin fed up of looking, and its making me sick of them, so much better if some just offers me one now. Im no longer holding out for a red one, considering any colour, except imola yellow, and not into the colour coded seats either. Still fixated with the BOSE though, although not essential, also quite like the nonleather recaros.

Chancer, I was thinking about an A3 a while back, just not as special though, and I would just end up selling. Not worried about unexpected costs, as I do like a challenge, after all it will only be my weekend car.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on the colour coded seats. I don't see the appeal of them. In my opinion, simply they look cheap ! I would defintely be looking at heated black leather seats as my number 1 absolute must have ! Knowing what I know now I wouldn't touch BOSE with a bargepole. i would add my own replacement stereo - having bose just makes it a lot more difficult. Black is most defintely the ideal colour too - in all conditions day or night ! ah, but I wish......
And if the majority was like me then having the options I said would command a a hefty premium.....hold on a minute....they do ! add a low mileage to the car and it's obscene money.
 
Last edited:
Decent facelift ones are 6-7k at the moment. Nearer 7! Thats what mine would go up for now if i were selling (i've considered it too!)

They are holding their values it seems as i paid 6.5k for it a year ago with 70k miles on it, full leather, bose, 18's etc from a dealer!
 
golf i think my misus is looking up from the original suggestion of a 2-3k A3........... will mail ya once we've sold the Mini fella
 
bought mine for 5500 last year with full audi service history, and a bundle of receipts, even the original delivery slip. 4 months later gearbox went, so far ive had to rebuild the box and front diff replace the clutch and fly-wheel, replace all coil packs, both rear calipers, the DV, a vacuum pipe after days of searcing, all the front wishbone bushes, all the tires (my own fault so cant really class those) and the power steering pump, oh and both light ballasts. all in it stands me at around 8k if not more and its got 120+ k on the clock, on a 2000 reg looked like a straight and well looked after example as all work carried out at the main audi dealership so didnt mind paying the money, now its running good with all major work done its spot on, but very expensive in the long run. still puts a ****** great big smile on my face though every time i climb into it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Looking for an S3
Replies
3
Views
882
jojo
jojo
W
looking for an S3
Replies
5
Views
731
DJ_Troopa
D
E
Looking For An S3.......
Replies
35
Views
3K
grathies
grathies
Scuba79
Looking for an S3
Replies
31
Views
2K
jojo
jojo
A3-20VT
Looking for s3 front bumper
Replies
0
Views
421
A3-20VT
A3-20VT
Top
Back