GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: Khare on 19 June 2011, 20:45
-
What are people's views on the Mk1 S3? They start off at about £3000, and they appeal to me a lot lately. Insurance is not that much more than what I'm currently paying so worth it in terms of power:value. Ideally I'm looking at 2001-2003 models as they're a bit more powerful and obviously newer. I've heard stories of Audi's feeling very numb around bends and I can confirm it from the Audi I'm familiar with, an A4 allroad 2.7 biturbo petrol, it's a heavy heavy old thing however the S3 is a hatchback. I went for a spin in an S3 last year and I loved it, the looks the build quality, power, presence, hence why I'm interested.
Anyone have any thoughts on them?
-
Yep, they're ugly as fook.
-
I have a mk3...
-
:grin: :grin:
I like em! :cool:
-
I dare say S3's are worse. :lipsrsealed:
-
Are you allowed to talk about Audi's on here :undecided:
-
S3 is a very good car.
-
Are you allowed to talk about Audi's on here :undecided:
:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: shall i lock it now then :laugh:
-
Great engines Khare :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
-
Yes!
:evil:
-
Are you allowed to talk about Audi's on here :undecided:
:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: shall i lock it now then :laugh:
I'll just unlock it :grin: :grin: :tongue:
Go for it, just be mindful they suffer the same problems as MK4's
-
window clips for a start................
If it breaks can you afford to fix it?
-
Not bad if sorted and not badly modded.
Nice wheels, subtle smack with the lowering stick :afro:
-
TBH for 3k it will be a bit of a dog or a high miles boy racer, you need to pay 5k + for a minter. and even then its hard to find one with decent miles. engine code to go for is AMK or BAM and these are only on later models
i am very fond of them
-
Leon Cupra or R ftw :cool:
-
Leon Cupra or R ftw :cool:
indeed :evil:
-
Appreciate the comments guys. I know £3k is what they start at so it'll be all the dogs but I'm not planning on changing until beginning of 2012, so who knows what prices they'll be at then?
If I do get it I do plan on keeping it relatively unmodified. Few subtle cosmetic things and then the typical 1.8T engine stuff to get it running at a nice power :smiley:
I know tax is a tad more than what I currently pay and fuelwise it'll be around the same as what I get now maybe a tad higher. Wayne has made this difficult by mentioning the Cupra R, which I love. However for some reason I seem to love the Mk1 S3 shape, quattro appeals to me and I've always wanted an Audi, they're an air to them.
-
fuel.... alot more mate.. as i am finding out lol :grin:
-
fuel.... alot more mate.. as i am finding out lol :grin:
I think that's the new car thing though, first month you'll always be heavy on the right foot :evil:
-
a 3k S3 will be an absolute dog of a car, always had people joining audi forums with a cheap S3, then little later the problems started. Theres not much difference in bam and amk, both remap to the same. Doubt youll notice 10bhp in a 1.5 tonne car. You'd want the suspension sorted.
-
Fuel's not as bad on the 1.8T engines, as long as you drive sensibly. The haldex system is a bit outdated and slow to react apart from that its on the same level as a mk4 in terms off issues except for the addition off the haldex system.
I'd be tempted to pay a bit more and get a better milage though. I have been humming about getting one for a while as well.
Only thing I found out is the centre console has two different layouts, one layout allowed a double din to be fitted the other didn't I remember asking the lads on the audi-sport forums quite some time back.
-
yeah some have a better sound system in, my mate has had 7 (yes 7) S3's
deffo use alot more fuel than a 1.8t golf believe me hehe had mk4 golfs and they were more similar to my old 8v fuel wise. the S3 lump uses more.. and that sin my lighter mk3 shell
-
Really? Would off thought not much difference as the k04 is only a tad bigger and characteristics low down are similar... Just a different ball game when pedal to the metal
-
iv not really given mine any beans except for the battle with a new focus RS on saturday (kept on its tail no problem at all)
its used alot more than i ever managed with the old lump, and that was around the same as the 3 mk4's that have been in my life
TDI mk4 that was mapped was still very good on fuel tho, and pretty quick too
Also worth mentioning, a friend has a 225 TT, and he finds it uses alot of fuel too
ill know more once iv lived with it more, but at the mo i cant check my MPG because my speedo and MPG computer is not working due to the plug on the gearbox not connected correctly.. im not really using the car till it is.
-
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2944762.htm
s3
OR....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CORRADO-2-9-VR6-K-reg-AQUA-BLUE-METALLIC-/280640733838?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item41577dc28e :tongue:
-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CORRADO-2-9-VR6-K-reg-AQUA-BLUE-METALLIC-/280640733838?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item41577dc28e :tongue:
Oh, Ding dong! :drool: :cool: I do say, that's a rather nice automobile!
-
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2944762.htm
s3
If I was in the market for an S3 right this second I'd be paying that one a visit. Looks great I reckon :cool:
-
I had one, fooking loved it.
Great build quality,
quite nippy,
had to sell it as after a tour of the isle of white with the wife, she point blank refused to ever get in it again!
replaced it with a sti....that will show her!
-
if i could id snap up the rado ASAP. :cool:
i would be a little worried about the miles on the s3. maybe its not a factor as such but it may have had a hard, redline life!!! :laugh:
something else that ive always liked. its German. its a coupe.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2904147.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2867730.htm
lot of car for your money!!! and if you mostly drive only weekends, not that expensive.
ive also been told that you cant go wrong with this motor. remapped, its meant to be able to keep up with mk5 GTI's :huh: :shocked:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2872582.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2911006.htm.
BUT.... the red S3 does look good :cool:
-
if i could id snap up the rado ASAP. :cool:
i would be a little worried about the miles on the s3. maybe its not a factor as such but it may have had a hard, redline life!!! :laugh:
something else that ive always liked. its German. its a coupe.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2904147.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2867730.htm
lot of car for your money!!! and if you mostly drive only weekends, not that expensive.
ive also been told that you cant go wrong with this motor. remapped, its meant to be able to keep up with mk5 GTI's :huh: :shocked:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2872582.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2911006.htm.
BUT.... the red S3 does look good :cool:
My grandma has that merc with every single extra available including cream leather, she'd had it since new and she's still sticking to it and I'm not surprised because it's an awesome car, I love it it's so nice to drive and so classy. However I don't think I'm in the market for that at the moment, maybe in a few years as a weekend posh ride but for now I'd like to stick to S3 :smiley:
-
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2944762.htm
s3
OR....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CORRADO-2-9-VR6-K-reg-AQUA-BLUE-METALLIC-/280640733838?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item41577dc28e :tongue:
I want that corrado :drool:
-
S3's are chav mobiles. All the thingy heads round here have moved from their Saxo's into S1 S3's. See a few about with tacky stuff stuck on, choooons booming out and a 15 year old GF in the passenger seat. Avoid if you have any self respect.
Nick
-
Because they are so cheap to buy. that red one with that many miles, you'd need to make sure it's had all the right work done on it, I wouldn't go near it tbh.
I'd want a facelift negaro blue one :cool: but they are like 6k plus for a decent one.
-
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2835463.htm
-
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2835463.htm
this is what you need to spend for a propper one.. even this has 70k - but its in the best colour too
I looked at buying a cheap one to break for its engine, cheapest i found was 2700 and it was a real dump, couldnt even find a good one for 3.5k (that i was happy with anyhow), so i ended up paying almost 2.5k on a engine with less than 40k on it which came out of a mint which had been damaged to its rear qtr
my pal just sold his blue one with 138k and in "ok" condition, he got 5.5k for it.. it was by no means mint..
-
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2897796.htm
I'd be looking at something like that, could haggle him down more to under 6k, and it's had it's suspension sorted, which if done properly would be close to 2k.
It's probably high miles and body condition that makes it cheaper.
That is a cheap s3, being a facelift 03 and the work it's had done. But could of been ragged around everywhere etc. Pot luck really.
-
Stir up the wasps nest..........
Seat build quality is woeful, dont go near anything except a mint low mileage one if you have to.
Engine is great if looked after, rest is pretty poor.
And they look cack.
Why not buy a new(er) car some cracking deals to be had atm all main brands are offering some good deals, you could then trade up as you get older and wiser :smiley:
-
Good enough cars standard...well made, reasonably swift...but dull as dishwater to drive.
But, they can be made to fly.
Don't believe all the horse-feathers of 275-280 BHP with a re-map...it's utter crap.
You can ger 275-280 BHP/330 lb-ft out of them on a K04 - I did - but it will cost you thousands...many thousands and not a Stage 1 map as many idiots will tell you.
Brakes are woeful...you can kill the standard brakes on a backroad.
LRC Brembos sort that.
Standard suspension is even more woeful than the standard brakes - Bilstein B8 dampers, H&R springs, Neuspeed ARBs and Forge/KW rear tie bars sort that out...but won't leave you with much chance from £1500-2000 fitted and set up.
But it will at least corner like it should.
They will eat suspension bushes when sorted though...and you really need 18" wheels to make the best of the set-up.
100 cell 'race' cats are a nightmare - they struggle to pass the MOT on emissions with those on. 200 cell are better.
If you can find one with any of the above already fitted...you are onto a winner.
I had mine 3 1/2 years and it averaged around 25 MPG...but made 275+ BHP and 330+ lb-ft for most of it, was utterly ballistic point to point (easily left my 911 sitting on a back road)...but was just dull to drive.
There wasn't too much left standard on mine...so I have a good idea what works and what's internet myth...get in touch if you want specifics.
Mine was an AMK engine...makes no difference when mapped, as already said.
Just a note...it's like driving a diesel once you really start pushing the K04. You can run 1.8 bar peak boost, and 1.3 sustained with good enough ICs...but that's over 90% duty cycle on the injectors and the EGTs are rocketing by then. But, with the traction of a well set up S3, you can use 320 lb-ft daily, on full throttle, easily....by 330 lb-ft it struggles and I found the car actually slower point to point, so swapped back to a standard N75, back down to 320 lb-ft and stopped fighting the car.
It doesn't drift or power slide naturally...but by f**k it grips and goes.
Good cars...really very capable once sorted (the lad I sold mine too used to bait M3s and WRX STIs at wet trackdays) but ultimately little fun to hussle hard...just a typical Audi - efficient, but dull.
I'm biased, but I'd say Nogaro Blue would be the best choice, with the blue/black Alcantara/leather interior, LRC brakes and BBS wheels...
Just like this one in fact:
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z72/Ess_Three/Audi%20S3%20quattro/DSCF0726.jpg)
It's still about on audi-sport.net somewhere...on it's 4th or 5th owner...still going strong.
I wish I'd not sold it...it was probably the best road car I have ever had. Subtle and effortlessly f'in quick wet or dry.
I'd have it back in a heartbeat.
-
I'd want a facelift negaro blue one :cool: but they are like 6k plus for a decent one.
A wise choice! :grin:
-
Stir up the wasps nest..........
Seat build quality is woeful, dont go near anything except a mint low mileage one if you have to.
Engine is great if looked after, rest is pretty poor.
And they look cack.
Why not buy a new(er) car some cracking deals to be had atm all main brands are offering some good deals, you could then trade up as you get older and wiser :smiley:
If straight line speed is your thing, then S3s struggle with LCRs...the same engine, the same power etc...the LCR is lighter and has less driveline losses.
...you will struggle to pass a LRC out on a straight road.
However, the LCR is an understeering chariot no matter what you do to it...whereas at least you can make an S3 stop understeering...and you can then use the torque and traction to leave LCRs dead on backroads...I never found much that was faster than my S3 on proper backroads....Evos/STIs/911s etc included...the K04 when mapped gives so much low down torque that you can dump well over 300 lb-ft down and really pull hard out of tight corners. No fuss, no wheelspin, no problem. Try that in a LCR.
-
Glen, I never knew your car history before and therefore wanna put you on the spot!
My do you have a Mk 3? (and doing to it what you are?)
-
Glen, you say the Audi is dull, but you also say you wish you hadn't sold it, as it was the best road car you ever had???
-
Glen, you say the Audi is dull, but you also say you wish you hadn't sold it, as it was the best road car you ever had???
It made a perfect everyday car, comfortable, refined, fast, good handling, no drama way of getting from A to B daily with little effort, in all weathers. A perfect daily driver.
But, it was no thrilling drive...if I still had it, I'd have something silly for the weekends.
My S3 was bloody quick...but you got out at the end of a challenging drive and thought 'was that it'...and I wanted something a little more challenging...so I sold it for the C4S.
-
Glen, I never knew your car history before and therefore wanna put you on the spot!
My do you have a Mk 3? (and doing to it what you are?)
It's a hobby.
It keeps me busy on my 3 weeks off, keeps me out of the pub, and stops me spending silly money tuning new, expensive cars!
Despite that, I still managed to spend well over £6k on bits for the Mk6...most of them before I'd even collected the damn car.
But that's it now...the Mk6 is as I want it...and I tinker with the Mk3.
BTW, a Mk5 or Mk6 GTI is a vastly better drive than a S3...but I miss the traction of quattro/4-Motion!
-
Yes but why a Mk3? I mean I'm biased and chose a Mk3 over a Mk2 due to aircon and ABS.
But everybody says a Mk2 is easier to go fast in as it handles better!
-
Yes but why a Mk3? I mean I'm biased and chose a Mk3 over a Mk2 due to aircon and ABS.
But everybody says a Mk2 is easier to go fast in as it handles better!
I like the Mk3 Golf...I think it's still the prettiest.
I've had two...and when I had the 8v, the Anniversary was announced and I wanted one. I couldn't afford it, so my Dad bought one, and I bought it off him a few years later.
Interga Type-R, S3, 911 C4S and Fabia vRS have all come and gone...but the Mk3 16v Anniversary remains.
I suspect it'll still be in my garage once the Mk6 GTI has gone too.
-
:cool:
There aint another marque I like better either!
Although I quite fancy a Mk1 sleeper!