s3 - where do I go from here?
Discussion
I've had my s3 for 9 months and despite a few teething problems I love it to bits. The bits I love about it are the size, the look, the sound, the removable roof, the oversteer and the ease of maintenance. The things I don't like are the lack of a LSD (I really love oversteer) and, er, that's it. The only thing that is really missing and prompting this change of car is power... I want it to be more responsive, I want more oversteer and I want more acceleration. I don't care about handling to be honest, I love the fact that you can drift the car a bit and muck about and that's much more important to me than A->B speed.
I tend to use it for commuting for about half of the year when I'm not using my motorbike. This tends to be in the colder and wetter months.
I have 3 cars in mind and would appreciate anyone who has gone the way of these 3 commenting on them. I haven't driven any of these and must do but would like some advice and pointers too...
Westfield - probably with a 2.0 cosworth engine for about 9-10K. Light weight, loads of power... surely must be fantastic fun. Don't care about the lack of luggage space but will it leak and leak and leak?
Griffith 500 - love the looks but out of my price range right now but if it's the car to have I'll wait. The thing that concerns me is that it may handle so well that when the back end breaks free it will be a case of catching it if I can rather than enjoying it - is that true?
V8s - I really love my s3 and this seems like a logical progression to be honest. How much would I have to pay for a nice one (not immac. as it will get plenty of use).
Finally, any idea what the going rate for my 1990 s3 with fsh with 83K on it be worth, roughly (picture in profile)?
Thanks very much.
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Mark
I tend to use it for commuting for about half of the year when I'm not using my motorbike. This tends to be in the colder and wetter months.
I have 3 cars in mind and would appreciate anyone who has gone the way of these 3 commenting on them. I haven't driven any of these and must do but would like some advice and pointers too...
Westfield - probably with a 2.0 cosworth engine for about 9-10K. Light weight, loads of power... surely must be fantastic fun. Don't care about the lack of luggage space but will it leak and leak and leak?
Griffith 500 - love the looks but out of my price range right now but if it's the car to have I'll wait. The thing that concerns me is that it may handle so well that when the back end breaks free it will be a case of catching it if I can rather than enjoying it - is that true?
V8s - I really love my s3 and this seems like a logical progression to be honest. How much would I have to pay for a nice one (not immac. as it will get plenty of use).
Finally, any idea what the going rate for my 1990 s3 with fsh with 83K on it be worth, roughly (picture in profile)?
Thanks very much.
--
Mark
Mark (there seem to be lots of us!),
I have seen S3's from £3k to £9k recently, so it is very dependant on condition.
I think from your post, the V8S is where you want to go. They are rarer and the best price I have seen is £11k.
If you are considering a kit car try the below
www.specialistsportscars.com
www.fishersportscars.co.uk/
both are light(ish) weight but less open to the elements (based on similar chasis). I believe hard tops are in design too!
they both sell turnkey cars with bike engines for £10-11K. A bit more for a Ford Zetec. Second hand are £5k up.
Good luck
Sparks
Edited by Sparks on Monday 5th November 15:04
I have seen S3's from £3k to £9k recently, so it is very dependant on condition.
I think from your post, the V8S is where you want to go. They are rarer and the best price I have seen is £11k.
If you are considering a kit car try the below
www.specialistsportscars.com
www.fishersportscars.co.uk/
both are light(ish) weight but less open to the elements (based on similar chasis). I believe hard tops are in design too!
they both sell turnkey cars with bike engines for £10-11K. A bit more for a Ford Zetec. Second hand are £5k up.
Good luck
Sparks
Edited by Sparks on Monday 5th November 15:04
3K!?
Thanks for the links. I ride a w2k fireblade when I'm not in the car so something with a bit of torque makes a nice change from the insane rpm of the bike. This is the only thing putting me off the westfield at the moment... I do like v6s so surely I must *love* v8s
(the sEight westfield looks ghastly though).
I'm not so keen on hard tops for cars... we used to have an mg midget with a hard top for the winter (the soft top leaked plenty) but there's always loads of days when it's dry so you want to take the roof off but because there's no where to stow a big hard top you can't. I love that versitility with the s3.
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Mark
Edited by mhibbins on Monday 5th November 15:12
Thanks for the links. I ride a w2k fireblade when I'm not in the car so something with a bit of torque makes a nice change from the insane rpm of the bike. This is the only thing putting me off the westfield at the moment... I do like v6s so surely I must *love* v8s
(the sEight westfield looks ghastly though). I'm not so keen on hard tops for cars... we used to have an mg midget with a hard top for the winter (the soft top leaked plenty) but there's always loads of days when it's dry so you want to take the roof off but because there's no where to stow a big hard top you can't. I love that versitility with the s3.
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Mark
Edited by mhibbins on Monday 5th November 15:12
Mark,
Fisher Fury can take V6 or V8. The weight should be around 600-750kg, depending on engine, which with a 190hp & V8 torque will be a little quick!
Clarkson loved it when he drove one.
I am saving for an 'S' but I think it will be some time before I have the cash (the wife seems good at spending it!).
I would go for the V8S if I could find one.
Sparks
Fisher Fury can take V6 or V8. The weight should be around 600-750kg, depending on engine, which with a 190hp & V8 torque will be a little quick!
Clarkson loved it when he drove one.
I am saving for an 'S' but I think it will be some time before I have the cash (the wife seems good at spending it!).
I would go for the V8S if I could find one.
Sparks
Sparks, I take your point about the fury but I just don't like the look of it as much as the s3/v8s, griffith or westfield. Also, I can't find a picture of one with a roof.
Paul, I've been done the modification route before with an old shape nissan 200sx and I don't fancy doing it again. We put on a hybrid turbo and a big bore exhaust system which certainly made it faster but the car became an absolute pain in the arse to drive because it was so peaky. The money spent is also never recovered when reselling. However, the main problem was the insurance where any mods just pushed the insurance through the roof. This was especially a problem where a new chip was needed to take advantage of the turbo and the exhaust and the other stuff I planned to do.
Thanks anyway,
--
Mark
Paul, I've been done the modification route before with an old shape nissan 200sx and I don't fancy doing it again. We put on a hybrid turbo and a big bore exhaust system which certainly made it faster but the car became an absolute pain in the arse to drive because it was so peaky. The money spent is also never recovered when reselling. However, the main problem was the insurance where any mods just pushed the insurance through the roof. This was especially a problem where a new chip was needed to take advantage of the turbo and the exhaust and the other stuff I planned to do.
Thanks anyway,
--
Mark
quote:
Sparks, I take your point about the fury but I just don't like the look of it as much as the s3/v8s, griffith or westfield. Also, I can't find a picture of one with a roof.
......
The hard top is being developed at the moment, I haven't seen pictures either.
I prefer the V8S too, not sure I prefer a westie over a stylus/fury though.
Sparks
Get yourself a big wedge (for not a lot of wedge). You will not regret it!
Mike
www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk
Mike
www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk
mhibbins - why not look at the Griff featured for sale in the for sale section - K14TVR. I don't know the guy but he has been trying to sell this for yonks. It has a £3k sound system included (not the exhaust!) and is pre cat V8. Also appears to be a cherished car from a tvr club member. Got to be worth an offer?
quote:Thanks but I'm in research mode at the moment and won't be in a position to do anything about it until early next year. Besides, at the moment the griffith is the least favourite option and I'm leaning towards a v8s or possibly a wedge.
mhibbins - why not look at the Griff featured for sale in the for sale section - K14TVR.
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Mark
quote:The v8s because I love the feel and the size of my s3. The wedge because the 400se looks superb and very retro coupled with a big noisy engine which sounds like an ideal package.
Any particular reason?
I appreciate a griff or a chim would be newer, probably more reliable and handle better but I'm a sucker for older cars that go sideways when you want. Also, griffs and chims are a bit, dare I say it, 'common' around berks
and I'd like something different. Needless to say I'll have to drive these things to make up my mind and when I do I'll certainly find a griff to have a go in. I'll probably go back to adrian blythe who sold me the s3 although he never has any wedges in so I guess that would be a private buy.
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Mark
Edited by mhibbins on Tuesday 6th November 15:02
There are quite a few Chimps around in Berks, there were two residing in the lane where I live at one point. It was great to see/hear the beasts rumbling by.
I don't see many Griffs around though. The only one I know of was driven by a lady who worked in the local garden centre.
In Northampton, my current temporary residence, I see only a few Chimps and not a lot else. With Aston down the road there are a few of those buzzing about.
Boy with a demon Astra estate passion wagon.
I don't see many Griffs around though. The only one I know of was driven by a lady who worked in the local garden centre.
In Northampton, my current temporary residence, I see only a few Chimps and not a lot else. With Aston down the road there are a few of those buzzing about.
Boy with a demon Astra estate passion wagon.
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