Discussion
I've been really quiet on here of late, started a new job a few months ago and the need for my E91 320d ( Readers' Thread Here) was no longer given I was only commuting a few miles a day and I didn't want to start using an older diesel on such short journeys. So the E91 will be going up for sale in the near future because even as big a hoarder as me can't make the man maths work to keep it! 
Back to the thread, I had a list of criteria which I needed/wanted the replacement to cover:
- A bit quicker than the E91, no need to be tyre shredding fast, just a bit more poke for safer B-road overtakes.
- Xenon/LED headlights
- DAB radio (OE or retro-fittable)
- Hatch/Small Estate
- Achieve ~25mpg average or better
- Petrol
- Able to get in/out of local ULEZ without being charged
- Budget of ~£10k
Started plugging my requirements into the classifieds and nothing really jumped out at me. Aside from the odd curveball and Ford Focus, it was mainly VAG stuff that I was looking at. I know that'll disgust some on here but, while most of them aren't the last word in driver excitement/feel, I've found them to be great daily drivers in the past.
There were some ageing 2014-era Seat Leons, Golfs, Focus' that I considered.. briefly looked at MK4 Golfs but decided they were a bit too old, the MK5 GTi for sale seemed to be pretty high miles and fairly poor spec and I was struggling to find an Octavia vRS in petrol that I liked. All the Audi S3 that I saw were poorly modified and/or high miles, so I was a bit scunnered at that point.
I've not actively searched for a car on eBay since I got absolutely screwed over in 2004 with a 205 GTi, but decided to have a look on eBay one evening having exhausted Pistonheads, Autotrader and the Facebook Owners Pages... and this car popped up, which I immediately messaged the seller about.
2010 Audi S3
6spd Manual
Audi Exclusive Java Green Paint
Leather/Alcantara
Full Service History inc. a folder with all supporting paperwork
3 Previous Owners
37700 miles
Audi Navigation System
Bose Speakers
'Adaptive' Xenon Lights
Auto Dimming Interior/Exterior Mirrors
Folding Mirrors
Heated Seats
Flat Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel
Cruise Control
Parking Sensors Front and Rear
Full Trip Computer
Bluetooth Phone Connectivity
Factory Privacy Glass
A few more pictures and a walk around video later I was booking my travel from NE Scotland to just south of Bristol... with a ~4am start to get through to Glasgow Airport for the only flight south I could find on the date agreed.
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Arrived in Bristol with it north of 35c and enjoyed a wander out to the main road to be picked up.
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
After the usual 'I hope it's not a sh!tter' thoughts on my way down and then the short drive from the airport over to their house, this is what I was greeted with.
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
The car was absolutely as described; 4 matching Continentals, no heinous bodywork/mechanical issues, all paperwork in order and it drove very well.. the relief washed over me, although even the AC was struggling to keep me cool.
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
So the deal was done, money transferred over and I set off to get something to eat/top up the tank before heading for home.. obligatory first fill-up photo.
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
I had a wee poke around while I was stopped to check the pressures in the tyres too, discovered it had a Tune2Air Bluetooth connection attached to the Audi Multimedia Interface plug which meant that I could stream my DAB radio stations/Spotify without needing to chuck in an aftermarket headunit. Result!!
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Then a couple of photos taken on a back road while I ate my meal deal before joining the motorway. How decadent.
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Car was good as gold on the way home, sat on cruise control quite happily at motorway speeds and covered the ~500 mile journey without any problem at all. I'm no audiophile, but to me the Bose stereo is absolutely fantastic and easily on par with the HK in my F80.
...car even managed a reasonable average MPG despite a couple of 'see what it can do' blats up the road, this was taken during a pit stop on the M6 but it didn't change much by the time I got home.
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
After having the car for a couple of weeks or so, I decided to take the wheels off to get them refurbished since it was the only part of the car which needed attention. I had a set of 19" BBS CH-R which I had bought for my old MK7 Golf R sitting in my garage (remember I said I was a hoarder.. ) so thought I'd chuck them on the S3 and see what they looked like.
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
I think they look brilliant!
Apparently the Facelift 8P S3 sat higher at the front and there is an Eibach suspension kit which comes with just front springs to rectify this, so if the BBS' stay on longer term then I'll maybe look into that to level up the arch gaps.
I like to keep a journal of my ownership for my cars, so I'll continue to add my pictures and updates on here when I get a chance... well done if you managed to read through everything and get this far!!
Back to the thread, I had a list of criteria which I needed/wanted the replacement to cover:
- A bit quicker than the E91, no need to be tyre shredding fast, just a bit more poke for safer B-road overtakes.
- Xenon/LED headlights
- DAB radio (OE or retro-fittable)
- Hatch/Small Estate
- Achieve ~25mpg average or better
- Petrol
- Able to get in/out of local ULEZ without being charged
- Budget of ~£10k
Started plugging my requirements into the classifieds and nothing really jumped out at me. Aside from the odd curveball and Ford Focus, it was mainly VAG stuff that I was looking at. I know that'll disgust some on here but, while most of them aren't the last word in driver excitement/feel, I've found them to be great daily drivers in the past.
There were some ageing 2014-era Seat Leons, Golfs, Focus' that I considered.. briefly looked at MK4 Golfs but decided they were a bit too old, the MK5 GTi for sale seemed to be pretty high miles and fairly poor spec and I was struggling to find an Octavia vRS in petrol that I liked. All the Audi S3 that I saw were poorly modified and/or high miles, so I was a bit scunnered at that point.
I've not actively searched for a car on eBay since I got absolutely screwed over in 2004 with a 205 GTi, but decided to have a look on eBay one evening having exhausted Pistonheads, Autotrader and the Facebook Owners Pages... and this car popped up, which I immediately messaged the seller about.
2010 Audi S3
6spd Manual
Audi Exclusive Java Green Paint
Leather/Alcantara
Full Service History inc. a folder with all supporting paperwork
3 Previous Owners
37700 miles
Audi Navigation System
Bose Speakers
'Adaptive' Xenon Lights
Auto Dimming Interior/Exterior Mirrors
Folding Mirrors
Heated Seats
Flat Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel
Cruise Control
Parking Sensors Front and Rear
Full Trip Computer
Bluetooth Phone Connectivity
Factory Privacy Glass
A few more pictures and a walk around video later I was booking my travel from NE Scotland to just south of Bristol... with a ~4am start to get through to Glasgow Airport for the only flight south I could find on the date agreed.
Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrArrived in Bristol with it north of 35c and enjoyed a wander out to the main road to be picked up.
Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrAfter the usual 'I hope it's not a sh!tter' thoughts on my way down and then the short drive from the airport over to their house, this is what I was greeted with.
Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrThe car was absolutely as described; 4 matching Continentals, no heinous bodywork/mechanical issues, all paperwork in order and it drove very well.. the relief washed over me, although even the AC was struggling to keep me cool.
Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrSo the deal was done, money transferred over and I set off to get something to eat/top up the tank before heading for home.. obligatory first fill-up photo.
Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrI had a wee poke around while I was stopped to check the pressures in the tyres too, discovered it had a Tune2Air Bluetooth connection attached to the Audi Multimedia Interface plug which meant that I could stream my DAB radio stations/Spotify without needing to chuck in an aftermarket headunit. Result!!
Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrThen a couple of photos taken on a back road while I ate my meal deal before joining the motorway. How decadent.
Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrUntitled by Grant F, on FlickrCar was good as gold on the way home, sat on cruise control quite happily at motorway speeds and covered the ~500 mile journey without any problem at all. I'm no audiophile, but to me the Bose stereo is absolutely fantastic and easily on par with the HK in my F80.
...car even managed a reasonable average MPG despite a couple of 'see what it can do' blats up the road, this was taken during a pit stop on the M6 but it didn't change much by the time I got home. Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrUntitled by Grant F, on FlickrAfter having the car for a couple of weeks or so, I decided to take the wheels off to get them refurbished since it was the only part of the car which needed attention. I had a set of 19" BBS CH-R which I had bought for my old MK7 Golf R sitting in my garage (remember I said I was a hoarder..
) so thought I'd chuck them on the S3 and see what they looked like.Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrUntitled by Grant F, on FlickrI think they look brilliant!
Apparently the Facelift 8P S3 sat higher at the front and there is an Eibach suspension kit which comes with just front springs to rectify this, so if the BBS' stay on longer term then I'll maybe look into that to level up the arch gaps.
I like to keep a journal of my ownership for my cars, so I'll continue to add my pictures and updates on here when I get a chance... well done if you managed to read through everything and get this far!!
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