Discussion
It's 210/225bhp, but It's bollox, they are fine even I know loads of people that have been running remapped cars (~260bhp) for years without any problems. I also know a chap with 330bhp on the stock internals (of a 1.8t not even an S3) that's had no problems in thousands of miles that relate to the power.
There are common problems, things like coil packs, air flow sensors (MAF), divertor valve, none are very expensive to fix and all are DIY.
There can be annoying suspension issues (creaks etc) but they aren't too bad, mainly centre around the ARBs / bushes or joints etc.
Not wanting to piss off Ted etc... but audi-sport.net is a good place for information on the S3.
yes my name is angrys3owner because my engine went bang, but I think that was down to bad luck more than anything else
There are common problems, things like coil packs, air flow sensors (MAF), divertor valve, none are very expensive to fix and all are DIY.
There can be annoying suspension issues (creaks etc) but they aren't too bad, mainly centre around the ARBs / bushes or joints etc.
Not wanting to piss off Ted etc... but audi-sport.net is a good place for information on the S3.
yes my name is angrys3owner because my engine went bang, but I think that was down to bad luck more than anything else
I'm going the other way, I'm thinking of selling up and getting a nutty car. Be warned though I wouldn't expect an S3 to be a cheap car to run, fuel is ok ish, even driven hard I'd expect to see an average over 25mpg. I have seen 400miles out of a 60l tank on a very long 60mph joruney. Servicing at Audi will cost a fortune, so don't, there are good independants around.
I just realised I never said how much I actually like my car in my first post, I've done over 65,000 miles in mine in 3 years and I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else - the interior is great. I also can't think of a car that is a better all round for the money. It's practical (although getting in the back can be an arse, it'll take 4 adults) boot is big enough. It'll sit at very silly speeds without any complaints on a motorway. It's hugely surefooted on crap british roads in any conditions if a little unhappy going over bumps very fast.
And over the last month has just about kepy up with a loonatic in a Griif 500 on a long journey, and was bloody good fun trying to keep up with Tony H's 360cs on the way down to the sunday service the other weekend.
I should have left it at, "I like it" shouldn't I? oops.
y2blade said:
one owner has come forward to tell you his has blown up !! not looking very good is it boobles
any idea what other cars you may be considering?
any idea what other cars you may be considering?
Yes and there are probably hundreds of owners over on Audi-Sport that have standard or rempapped cars without a problem, so I'm hardly representative am I, which I why I don't make that big a deal out of the problems I've had.
angrys3owner said:
y2blade said:
one owner has come forward to tell you his has blown up !! not looking very good is it boobles
any idea what other cars you may be considering?
any idea what other cars you may be considering?
Yes and there are probably hundreds of owners over on Audi-Sport that have standard or rempapped cars without a problem, so I'm hardly representative am I, which I why I don't make that big a deal out of the problems I've had.
fair enough
boobles said:
y2blade said:
one owner has come forward to tell you his has blown up !! not looking very good is it boobles
any idea what other cars you may be considering?
any idea what other cars you may be considering?
Maybe an M3 or 350Z.
get an M3
if i didnt need a estate to carry the dog i'd buy one no question
Edited by y2blade on Tuesday 27th February 15:23
boobles said:
Just not sure if i want to join the BMW crowd. (no offence)
honestly boobles im a big M3 fan have been since i first drove my mates ones a few years back..one (mark) had a E36 M3 convertable the other (alan) had a E36 M3 coupe
more recently my mate andy had a E46 M3 convertable
i'd deffo buy an M3 if i was in the marked for a coupe
y2blade said:
one owner has come forward to tell you his has blown up !! not looking very good is it boobles
any idea what other cars you may be considering?
any idea what other cars you may be considering?
Mine's been remapped for the last 18 months now and it's been great. I think angrys3 is the exception rather than the rule.
I thought about an M3 but couldn't live with the image and heard lots of nasty things about VANOS. 350z supposed to be very good but it's not really much quicker than my remapped car, it costs more to buy, I doubt it will get 33mpg average like I do in mine and it's only 2 seats and 2 wheel drive. Interior not as nice either.
It's your choice but there isn't really anything else that will do what the S3 does.
If you get an S3 get the cam belt changed when you buy it and then again every 30-40K maximum. I didn't, it went in for a 60K service and I specitically asked if it was a belt change service and was told by a main dealer "no sir, not needed till 120,000" after it snapped at 79600 I phoned the same main dealer and was told "belt change has been reduced every 80,000" great thinks I, I've got a claim here "or every 5 years" "and your car is 5 years and 2 months so tough you're on your own"
boobles said:
Im hearing more & more bad points about either the car itself or main dealers. Surely Audi isnt that bad? is it?
The main dealers are pretty shit unless you get to know a good one / person in my opinion. Can't fault the chaps at Plymouth Audi though, honest, helpful, etc.
I hear that they are still better than most of what BMW and Merc can manage around here.
In fairness I wouldn't slag the cars off either, the S3 is a superb bit of kit and does everything you could want well, dealers are stealers but that ain't audi specific either, all in all if someone asked and the S3 fitted the bill I say yes get one. I replaced mine with an S4 so I must have been impressed (I only went for an S4 becasue it didn't have a cam belt 
)
)boobles said:
Im hearing more & more bad points about either the car itself or main dealers. Surely Audi isnt that bad? is it?
They are great cars but the dealers just don't seem to know what they are on about. I'm not exactly a 'car-bible' but it narks me when buying a car that I seem to know more than the pimple who wants to sell it to me. As for the service dept, well everything seems to stump them for a few days, everything seems to involve calling Germany, and there's a general air of blagging it a lot of the time..
Except of course, offering me oil and washer fluid top ups... they seem exceptioanlly fine at that.
They seem to rely on Mr Fleet Driver dropoping the keys off and at the end of the day signing a company docket for the 'work' that's been done.
I've found a good Inde and I'm sticking with him.
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