S3 buying advice
Discussion
Hi all! I'm looking at upgrading my current 2011 A3 black edition TDI to an S3 (S tronic) of a similar age, just need something more fun to drive!
My budget is 12 to 15k which can get me a relatively high mileage S3 8P. I ideally want a 8V model but is slightly out of budget! Is buying one with around 80k on the clock a definite no no, even will FSH? What else do I need to look out for? How long do the turbos last?
Also re the running costs also very high?
Many thanks!
My budget is 12 to 15k which can get me a relatively high mileage S3 8P. I ideally want a 8V model but is slightly out of budget! Is buying one with around 80k on the clock a definite no no, even will FSH? What else do I need to look out for? How long do the turbos last?
Also re the running costs also very high?
Many thanks!
I've owned an 8P and 8V S3 (current car) and agree that the later car is a big upgrade. Nonetheless, the older model is still a nice package and should feel quite different from your late TDI.
8P S3s are going to be 10-15 years old and so it's going to be tricky to find one that works entirely as it should without creeping into 8V pricing territory.
Despite its popularity with the rude boy crew, my experience is that a high number of S3s are still chosen by mature owners with the pockets to keep it long term as a relatively discreet and comfy runabout without ever doing DSG launches etc.
I would have an open mind about what age and spec to buy, and concentrate instead on finding a car with the best documented history and provenance.
8P S3s are going to be 10-15 years old and so it's going to be tricky to find one that works entirely as it should without creeping into 8V pricing territory.
Despite its popularity with the rude boy crew, my experience is that a high number of S3s are still chosen by mature owners with the pockets to keep it long term as a relatively discreet and comfy runabout without ever doing DSG launches etc.
I would have an open mind about what age and spec to buy, and concentrate instead on finding a car with the best documented history and provenance.
AI1601 said:
The 8V is a much better car than the 8P which is on a dated platform. Have you considered a Mk7 GTI? They are within your budget and more fun to drive.
I need a 5dr and unfortunately the price of the 8V model is too much atm. I have looked at the MK7 GTI and just doesn't have the power I would want. I love my A3 so think I would enjoy the S3 of the same generation. The Cardinal said:
I've owned an 8P and 8V S3 (current car) and agree that the later car is a big upgrade. Nonetheless, the older model is still a nice package and should feel quite different from your late TDI.
8P S3s are going to be 10-15 years old and so it's going to be tricky to find one that works entirely as it should without creeping into 8V pricing territory.
Despite its popularity with the rude boy crew, my experience is that a high number of S3s are still chosen by mature owners with the pockets to keep it long term as a relatively discreet and comfy runabout without ever doing DSG launches etc.
I would have an open mind about what age and spec to buy, and concentrate instead on finding a car with the best documented history and provenance.
Thanks for the info. I would love the 8v but a 5dr model is just too expensive unfortunately. 8P S3s are going to be 10-15 years old and so it's going to be tricky to find one that works entirely as it should without creeping into 8V pricing territory.
Despite its popularity with the rude boy crew, my experience is that a high number of S3s are still chosen by mature owners with the pockets to keep it long term as a relatively discreet and comfy runabout without ever doing DSG launches etc.
I would have an open mind about what age and spec to buy, and concentrate instead on finding a car with the best documented history and provenance.
Did you have any major issues with your 8P? and is there really a major difference in performance from an 8P to 8V?
I would only buy an unmodified one with good history, hopefully meaning less chance its had bad owners!
My 8P S3 was a 2010 model that I had from 2011-13, so it was young at the time. That said, I previously had a 2006 A3 2.0T quattro with similar spec and then later in 2018-19 I owned another 2.0T as a stop-gap car, so I have an idea of how they age.
I had no issues with my S3 and they're generally robust. However, I think it's unrealistic to expect a 10-15 year old car to have none - problems I had on my older 8P 2.0T were just standard engine ancillary parts that needed a little diagnosis to identify. Audisport.net is probably your best source of information.
If you go with the S-Tronic, then I think the powertrain is pretty similar to the current 8V S3 (with the 8V having gen 5 rather than gen 2 or 4 Haldex and later 8Vs having 7-speed DSG). As standard the 8P 265hp compared to 300-310hp in the newer model, but I ran my old (and new) one mapped. I wouldn't personally have any problems with a sensible remap, although none of these cars are exactly lacking in performance.
I had no issues with my S3 and they're generally robust. However, I think it's unrealistic to expect a 10-15 year old car to have none - problems I had on my older 8P 2.0T were just standard engine ancillary parts that needed a little diagnosis to identify. Audisport.net is probably your best source of information.
If you go with the S-Tronic, then I think the powertrain is pretty similar to the current 8V S3 (with the 8V having gen 5 rather than gen 2 or 4 Haldex and later 8Vs having 7-speed DSG). As standard the 8P 265hp compared to 300-310hp in the newer model, but I ran my old (and new) one mapped. I wouldn't personally have any problems with a sensible remap, although none of these cars are exactly lacking in performance.
Edited by The Cardinal on Tuesday 16th November 11:33
The Cardinal said:
My 8P S3 was a 2010 model that I had from 2011-13, so it was young at the time. That said, I previously had a 2006 A3 2.0T quattro with similar spec and then later in 2018-19 I owned another 2.0T as a stop-gap car, so I have an idea of how they age.
I had no issues with my S3 and they're generally robust. However, I think it's unrealistic to expect a 10-15 year old car to have none - problems I had on my older 8P 2.0T were just standard engine ancillary parts that needed a little diagnosis to identify. Audisport.net is probably your best source of information.
If you go with the S-Tronic, then I think the powertrain is pretty similar to the current 8V S3 (with the 8V having gen 5 rather than gen 2 or 4 Haldex and later 8Vs having 7-speed DSG). As standard the 8P 265hp compared to 300-310hp in the newer model, but I ran my old (and new) one mapped. I wouldn't personally have any problems with a sensible remap, although none of these cars are exactly lacking in performance.
Cheers for the info. I would definitely get a stage one remap on a 8P down the line to get it around 300hp. I presume the S3 can easily handle a stage 1 map. I had no issues with my S3 and they're generally robust. However, I think it's unrealistic to expect a 10-15 year old car to have none - problems I had on my older 8P 2.0T were just standard engine ancillary parts that needed a little diagnosis to identify. Audisport.net is probably your best source of information.
If you go with the S-Tronic, then I think the powertrain is pretty similar to the current 8V S3 (with the 8V having gen 5 rather than gen 2 or 4 Haldex and later 8Vs having 7-speed DSG). As standard the 8P 265hp compared to 300-310hp in the newer model, but I ran my old (and new) one mapped. I wouldn't personally have any problems with a sensible remap, although none of these cars are exactly lacking in performance.
Edited by The Cardinal on Tuesday 16th November 11:33
I don't expect and 10 year old car to be perfect, but if they are anything like my current car, which I have had for 2 years, and touch wood has had no issues at all, does give me a lot of confidence in a S3. I also bought it with 89K on the clock.
I found the 8P Sportback S3 pretty wooden to drive, when I tried one a few years ago. I have vague memory that the gearing on the s-tronic was rather short too.
I ended up with a Mk7 GTI Performance Pack 5 door, which is bloody marvellous. I wouldn't rule it out without trying one - just check there's no smell of coolant around the engine bay of anything you're looking at. The bill for a new water pump and thermostat housing when (not if!) it cracks is quite punchy, even from an indy specialist
I ended up with a Mk7 GTI Performance Pack 5 door, which is bloody marvellous. I wouldn't rule it out without trying one - just check there's no smell of coolant around the engine bay of anything you're looking at. The bill for a new water pump and thermostat housing when (not if!) it cracks is quite punchy, even from an indy specialist
I have a 2014 S3 Sportback in Monsoon Grey and only 34K miles. It's a quick car and with so many speed traps and unmarked police cars around, I don't feel the need to get it mapped. I'm quite happy with the performance and I'm getting an average of 28 to 29mpg and that's mainly journeys of 3 to 25 miles.
The car feels extremely well built and looks great (imho) and looks very similar to The Cardinal's S3.
The car feels extremely well built and looks great (imho) and looks very similar to The Cardinal's S3.
Adrian E said:
I found the 8P Sportback S3 pretty wooden to drive, when I tried one a few years ago. I have vague memory that the gearing on the s-tronic was rather short too.
I ended up with a Mk7 GTI Performance Pack 5 door, which is bloody marvellous. I wouldn't rule it out without trying one - just check there's no smell of coolant around the engine bay of anything you're looking at. The bill for a new water pump and thermostat housing when (not if!) it cracks is quite punchy, even from an indy specialist
Been looking at reviews of the GTI, to be fair everyone seems to rave about them. I'm just not sure it's what I want, I like the idea of the quattro and the higher hp on the S3. Does there seem to be a big difference in power between the two? I certainly will try one!I ended up with a Mk7 GTI Performance Pack 5 door, which is bloody marvellous. I wouldn't rule it out without trying one - just check there's no smell of coolant around the engine bay of anything you're looking at. The bill for a new water pump and thermostat housing when (not if!) it cracks is quite punchy, even from an indy specialist
Hjb92 said:
Been looking at reviews of the GTI, to be fair everyone seems to rave about them. I'm just not sure it's what I want, I like the idea of the quattro and the higher hp on the S3. Does there seem to be a big difference in power between the two? I certainly will try one!
I think the 7/7.5 Golf GTI is just a really good everyday car. Yes there are alternatives that are more focused, more dynamic, more whatever metric is a higher priority. But as a car to do most things, mostly very well, theGolf GTI of those eras is very good indeed.I've got a supercharged S5 for 4 wheel drive occasions, and yes in absolute terms it's 'faster', but it's definitely not more fun to drive.
I think if the decision was between the newer S3 and the Golf, there'd probably be more of an argument for the S3. If you end up looking seriously at a Golf GTI with the Performance Pack, make sure the LSD oil has been changed (it's due every 3 years)
The 8V S3 is is sub 5 sec to 60 so quite faster than a Mk7 GTI but every iteration of the Golf over the years has been better to drive than the equivalent A3. Interior wise the GTI might be a bit more plasticky but I think it's aged better than the S3 - Audi decided to stick with the red interior lighting in the pre facelift (which dates it for me) whereas the Mk7 golf from launch had white.
If you do decide to go for the 8P S3, then there are quite a few preventative maintenance bits that need to be done like the diverter valve, pcv, pickup pipe, cam follower not to mention haldex service.
If you do decide to go for the 8P S3, then there are quite a few preventative maintenance bits that need to be done like the diverter valve, pcv, pickup pipe, cam follower not to mention haldex service.
AI1601 said:
The 8V S3 is is sub 5 sec to 60 so quite faster than a Mk7 GTI but every iteration of the Golf over the years has been better to drive than the equivalent A3. Interior wise the GTI might be a bit more plasticky but I think it's aged better than the S3 - Audi decided to stick with the red interior lighting in the pre facelift (which dates it for me) whereas the Mk7 golf from launch had white.
If you do decide to go for the 8P S3, then there are quite a few preventative maintenance bits that need to be done like the diverter valve, pcv, pickup pipe, cam follower not to mention haldex service.
What kind of price do you reckon for all the preventative bits you have mentioned? About 1k with fitting?If you do decide to go for the 8P S3, then there are quite a few preventative maintenance bits that need to be done like the diverter valve, pcv, pickup pipe, cam follower not to mention haldex service.
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