03 Audi S3...pro's and con's

[ALFAHOLIC]

Me and my mate completed our HONS last year in CT...he said with his first job he'd get an 03 S3...so he did, I said I'll get an 04 147 GTA...so I did, well kinda...I got a 147 2.0 TS (that killed a Polow GTi - that's another discussion) coz at that time me needed a car direly and no GTA's sprung up for the right amount.

At my wedding in April my mate came up in his S3...and I ahd the nerve to take him on...needless to say you know what happened, I guess when you have your new car you think its sooo bloody fast, but it aint (remid me to tell you about the 323 with EGi motor that demolished me the first night I got my little TS) anyway, I got to ride shotgun in his S3...it pulled off like a jet! not like an 09 Frieling S3...but nice!

I'm seeing these cars on the odd accasion and I'm licking them. My wifey made a point on Saturday...we drove past a black S3(boootiful) and I asked her opinion, whipped husbands do that, and she liked it more than a 147 GTA imagine the shock and horror...she said I already have a 147, what's the point in getting a 147....GTA? And I couldnt give her a definative answer, only, that it has broader bumpers and a 3.2 and some edgy bucket seats...THAT's it!

I'ma get my mate to give me his rendition of how the S3 is...

what's ya'll take on it...pro's and con's aseblief...

I see some for nice prices but at little high mileage like 120 - 140 000km's

 

[HapticSimian]

I'm seeing these cars on the odd accasion and I'm licking them.

My take? Don't lick cars... :erm:

S3 is brilliant. As long as you get one that hasn't been raped too badly, you wouldn't have anything to worry about. If I stayed at the coast, I'd take a Golof R32 over the S3 for its pretty narrow-angle V6 noises, though.

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

My take? Don't lick cars... :erm:

S3 is brilliant. As long as you get one that hasn't been raped too badly, you wouldn't have anything to worry about. If I stayed at the coast, I'd take a Golof R32 over the S3 for its pretty narrow-angle V6 noises, though.

LOL sorry, spelling mistake, supposed to be like them!

Ya, my mate is in CT and says its a blast, he only changed clutch and brakes so far, going to do the cam belt change as well, aparently very exp.

I hear they are notoriously expensive to maintain, look these cars are out of waranty...so...still a good buy? I know everything about buying Alfa's in or out of waranty, they still gona be at the machie! How bout these Audi babes? And the quattro system...I'd immagine someone heard something somewhere from some dude that it gives problems???:erm:

 

[bboy]

well , it can be expensive, the last year models had more power as well. I had a look at one for a friend, it was ok but you can get more car for the money. I'd stay away cause of the costs of s3 spares in case you break anything

 

[HapticSimian]

Audi's been doing AWD for how long? I think the Quattro-setup is probably the last thing you should worry about.

Small boot - the rear diff seriously cuts into your pram-conveying space... It's obviously not going to match a Corolla in maintenance costs, but then you wouldn't expect it to. I doubt you'll be in for more costly maintenance than with a GTA.

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

Yep...I agree, no, boot space is not VITAL...no kid at this stage...so rear seats also double as boot space...I always wanted a turbo car, and it don't look like MiTo is gona be released in a GTA version...so, S3 is closest thing for me now...

Look, I've spent lots on a bloody 147 clutch only in the last 8 months, having it replaced now...other than that no probs THUS FAR...

Any horror stories with S3...

 

[DukeofHouse]

Buddy of mine got a 2nd hand '04 S3..
Brilliant at first, but maintenance was insane... The turbo was leaking so they had to replace it with a new wiring harnesses and what not.. Ended up paying about R60k to replace it with some other bits and pieces.

My opinion on these performance cars is that people who buy them WILL take advantage of the power.. If you're buying 2nd hand, be prepared to get a bit shafted..

You could also try getting one of those bolt-on maintenance plans just as added security.

 

[Dolby]

Well you're comparing a Toyota Corolla type car speedwise ... against an Audi S3 ... ?

 

[JK8]

03 165kw, hard to find one in good condition, I wanted one, was pressed for time...couldnt wait...

 

[Fudzy]

If I stayed at the coast, I'd take a Golof R32 over the S3 for its pretty narrow-angle V6 noises, though.

Or the A3 3.2 (if you can find one), get all the goodness of the R32 in a much sexier body.

 

[Gaz{M}]

All you will ever need to know about the S3:

www.audiclubsa.org.za/

 

[Sensorei]

Or the A3 3.2 (if you can find one), get all the goodness of the R32 in a much sexier body.

Plus the A3 3.2 is MUCH cheaper 2nd hand.

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

All you will ever need to know about the S3:

www.audiclubsa.org.za/

oooooh danke

 

[Sapcat]

ALFAHOLIC

At my wedding in April my mate came up in his S3...and I ahd the nerve to take him on...

Instead of your wife?

 

[Smooth Criminal]

You guys are advising a man who went racing on his wedding day, and who then had to shotgun his place in somebody else's car.

 

[JK8]

You guys are advising a man who went racing on his wedding day, and who then had to shotgun his place in somebody else's car.

Lol, show Alfa drivers a well engineered car that looks good and doesnt break, they get all excited, even on their wedding day!

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

Lol, show Alfa drivers a well engineered car that looks good and doesnt break, they get all excited, even on their wedding day!

OOOOhhhhh lol...it was the day before the wedding...lol.

And oooh, I love me that S3, but at lunch time me mate sent me piccies of his black 147 GTA...ag nee wat...just seeing it come up to pick me up for a joy ride is something else...

now it looks moer nice coz he resprayed the front end...stone chips and 147's are best friends!

I'll need to get a test drive in an S3 soon

 

[Ziym3]

the fact that it is a turbo car out of motorplan is a concern! so if you find 1 with low kms then go for it! my gf wants the same car!

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

But what about those Motorite extended waranties...lol

having issues with my IRB waranty now for my clutch...I spacifically told the salesman I want one that covers teh full clutch, engine etc...now I wana claim for my clutch and they telling me I've got the wrong plan, the one I have only cover hydrolic parts on the clutch..LOL you gotta love warranty/insurance companies!

 

[Naks]

S3 is brilliant. As long as you get one that hasn't been raped too badly, you wouldn't have anything to worry about.

+1.

the problem with hot hatches is that the previous owner probably put foot all the time, so wear and tear on the mechanical bits could be more advanced than the mileage suggests.

However the Audi A3 range as a whole is very reliable, make sure you have an extended warranty+motorplan on it.