I've been tempted by an S3, does anyone have experience of them or opinion on how they are in general as an ownership experience?

I'm looking at a 6 month old one.

Figured this is a good place to ask as I am already a member here and many of the members have a good knowledge of VAG products.

ask on the mk5 GTI forum. quite a few guys on there have them now or have had hem in the past.

Brother-in-law has a 3.2 Quatro with DSG.

He's a hooligan in it, but it's never let him down & he's never needed any warranty work either. Only modifications are 19" wheels, Bilstein shocks with Eibach springs & Brembo disc & callipers.

I've driven it a few times and love it. Only fly in the ointment from my point of view is the none existent boot space!

I'm looking at getting one very soon and have been having a good look around for one with the spec that I want.

I'm looking at getting one thats about a year old that has already lost its new value if you know what I mean, from what I have seen an 08 plate can be had for about 22k which has lost 10k in 2 years there are plenty of very low milage 07 plates for around 18k which is nearly half price to what they are new

I guess it depends on what spec you want

I haven't driven one yet but have read plenty of reviews and they have all been good, must get down to the dealer for a drive

Thanks for the replies.

I went for a test drive and it just didn't do it for me. Nice and fun, but no character and the novelty will rub off quick as 95% of my driving is the daily commute.

So I'm trading the five year old Rangie in for a two year old one. Gone for the TDV8 which can get to 62mph in about 8.5 seconds, not bad for 2700kg and I get a better view.

Range Rover and Audi S3 are not even similar :S

Also.. how is a V8 Range Rover that does 0-62 in 8.5 seconds good for commuting either, you sort of invalidate your own argument!

Finally the S3 does 33mpg and the Rangie does 25mpg.. some seriously flawed logic there.

Range Rover and Audi S3 are not even similar :S

Also.. how is a V8 Range Rover that does 0-62 in 8.5 seconds good for commuting either, you sort of invalidate your own argument!

Finally the S3 does 33mpg and the Rangie does 25mpg.. some seriously flawed logic there.

He said commute, nothing about mpg :S

He said commute, nothing about mpg :S

I guess he did.. even so, i think most people who were looking for a car to commute in would consider mpg an important factor?

Probably just my negativity towards Range Rovers coming out :p

I guess he did.. even so, i think most people who were looking for a car to commute in would consider mpg an important factor?

Probably just my negativity towards Range Rovers coming out :p

You may be surprised (many are) to know that I average 31mpg on my current 3.0 Diesel Rangie. The TDV8 is supposed to be similar, just a lot more efficient.

Yes, it is faster, so can keep up with the traffic better, old straight six was 13 seconds to 62mph, but unless I boot it about I should still get 30mpg.

The official figures are 25mpg, but I've never averaged less than 29mpg per week in traffic and mixed driving.

I think it's partly my driving and partly the road conditions as I used to average 52mph out of a Ford Galaxy.

I wanted something fun and nippy... but realised after driving a few that I was better of sticking with a Rangie due to the type of driving I do. It just does everything so well (but at a cost) that I need and the view is good too. I don't like looking at the exhaust pipes on other cars.

S3 is just a 4 cylinder turbo, like the golf R.. do you need 4 wheel drive? a remapped TSI vrs will put out similar power to the S3 and cost a LOT less - gearbox, suspension etc are all the same. Admittedly the S3 interior is nicer, but the price premium is massive (and s3 has a much smaller boot).

My father looked at the s3 but bought a mk5 R32 instead - nicer sound (v6) and very similar interior, 4wd, boot space etc but cheaper to buy. After 2 yrs he realised the 4wd really isnt' required for his general driving so he swapped for a new mk5 Pirelli (like ED30) golf - stock it has 230ish bhp, only 2wd but lighter so just as quick (unless its snowing!) and remappable if you want to 300bhp at stage 1.

HTH.

Interesting outcome to a question about S3s. I would never have bet on the answer being a Range Rover

Hope you enjoy it

Steve