Hey fellow briskodians..

I have become obsessed with the idea of a 4wd car.. I love my fabia but I have spent the last month looking at the Audi S3 Quattro 1.8T 20v 8l and just can't get away.. do I shunt it away and stick with the Fabia for the remainder of my uni time? My fabia is 55 plate (2006) and just turned 80k. I am looking at coilovers and getting it remapped in the near future.

here is my thread

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/237182-taylor477-skoda-fabia-vrs-mk1/

I love the economy of the Fabia and it is the sensible, economical and practical option.. but I just want an S3 :p

Opinions?

I suppose my dilema is more about do I put the money into the fabia for the performance and handling.. or do I buy a car which has the performance to start with?

Cheers

I know this will probably be burned down in flames.. but I just need guidance!

I like the old S3 too. Nice car, but the inside is starting to look a little dated for me personally. Plus I suspect finding a good one is like a needle in a hay stack. That said if you can afford the running costs it's not a bad car by any means.

You are at uni...

I think you need to slap yourself and calm down

another legendary big jase quote!

I would definately just get a better car. The Fabia is great but with any car it is much easier, quicker, less hassle with insurance to just sell the car and get another one. Insuring a modified car will probably be more than just getting a faster one. Also you loose all the value of mods when you sell your car, in fact it can often lower the value of the car due to insurance costs.

A friend of mine had a standard Audi coupe mk2 quattro and it was a solid car and was fun on roundabouts etc due to its 4WD but it drank petrol and I would imagine you would go through tyres pretty quick if you power slide everywhere!

I would have a good look around at other options as well as the VAG stuff, eg a 330d if you are going to spend that sort of money.

RWD > 4WD. Personally though I'm not a fan of Audis, and as Matt said, the interior on that shape isn't the best in the world either.

A guy at uni had one and has got rid of it after saying he found it a bit boring.

I'm sort of in the same situation too atm - do I spend on the 330d, or wait a few months until I've graduated and (hopefully) got a job and then sell the Polo (and keep the d for commuting) and by an M3/RS Clio or something better to start with. . . For now, I don't need the stress of changing cars so I'm going to wait it out. I don't know what year of uni you're in, so that may not be a possibility/concern for you though.

Edited 29 January, 201313 yr by TriggerFish

Cheers for the input guys

I'm loving Big Jase's quote and he does have a fair point!

Hmm, that is true about the modding costs etc.. I suppose I just love the fabia for the economy, but I'm looking at upping the spec and putting in audi S3 seats for crying out loud so I just thought about an actual S3. I suppose the money I would save from not modding the S3 as it would already have the performance and handling that I want.. its just going to an 02-03 from an 06..

I'll give it some more thought

RWD > 4WD. Personally though I'm not a fan of Audis, and as Matt said, the interior on that shape isn't the best in the world either.

A guy at uni had one and has got rid of it after saying he found it a bit boring.

I'm sort of in the same situation too atm - do I spend on the 330d, or wait a few months until I've graduated and (hopefully) got a job and then sell the Polo (and keep the d for commuting) and by an M3/RS Clio or something better to start with. . . For now, I don't need the stress of changing cars so I'm going to wait it out. I don't know what year of uni you're in, so that may not be a possibility/concern for you though.

Just re-read this post and thought i'd reply properly (its late ah ha)

This is my dilema.. although the fabia isn't necessarily interior design genius.. the S3 doesn't really have anything above the fabia unless you get a well spec'd one. I am half way through my 2nd year of uni and I am just trying to determine whether I just wait another 2 years in which case the money I would spend on mods.. Coilovers, exhaust, remap etc.. I may as well put towards a car with these uprated already.. but then I wont get the MPG and low cost of the fabia.. such a tricky situation :p

I'm not really up for racing it about so the S3 isn't about that.. although I do a fair amount of driving but not as much as I used to as I have changed my part-time job.. so I'm justifying getting a good petrol.. hence the choice.

I have done it but the other way round. I had an S3 and sold it to get the Fabia. Don't get me wrong there are usually other external factors in why you change your car and in my case money was one of those. The best average mpg I could get on a tank was 27. The S3 is one of those cars that always shouts "go,go,go" to the little voice in your mind and its hard to be sensible. Petrol consumption is therefore woeful and the price of it isn't getting lower. Don't forget tax is more too. Insurance is still cheaper on the Fabia with a few declared mods than it was on the Audi though I haven't done any power gaining ones yet. It was a lovely car and it was fast but on a way I much preferred my mk1 Octavia vrs. The 4 wheel drive didn't make any better for what I was using it for at the time. That said I have children so 4 doors for practicality is something you may not have to consider. Sometimes you just have to do it to get these things out of your system.

Aaron, you will want to mod the S3 wether or not it is how youd like your vrs to be as standard.

Thinks its called the modding bug

Still, if you sell up, I have first dibs on everything, and I mean everything!!!!!!!

Oh and ill be having a go in the S3, show you how to drive it

I have done it but the other way round. I had an S3 and sold it to get the Fabia. Don't get me wrong there are usually other external factors in why you change your car and in my case money was one of those. The best average mpg I could get on a tank was 27. The S3 is one of those cars that always shouts "go,go,go" to the little voice in your mind and its hard to be sensible. Petrol consumption is therefore woeful and the price of it isn't getting lower. Don't forget tax is more too. Insurance is still cheaper on the Fabia with a few declared mods than it was on the Audi though I haven't done any power gaining ones yet. It was a lovely car and it was fast but on a way I much preferred my mk1 Octavia vrs. The 4 wheel drive didn't make any better for what I was using it for at the time. That said I have children so 4 doors for practicality is something you may not have to consider. Sometimes you just have to do it to get these things out of your system.

I can see it all happening now.. I buy an S3 and I can see myself wanting another economical diesel in 6 months, or I can see myself loving it. But 27mpg?! thats less than half what I'm getting now. I know they are thirsty but didn't think that bad.

the decisions..

Aaron, you will want to mod the S3 wether or not it is how youd like your vrs to be as standard.

Thinks its called the modding bug

Still, if you sell up, I have first dibs on everything, and I mean everything!!!!!!!

Oh and ill be having a go in the S3, show you how to drive it

Hmmm yeah probably :p But atleast it has the performance to start with..

Yeah I'll give you first dibs on everything.. i.e my whole car :p

I think its just the itch that I am able to afford it but I can see myself having it for 6 months then wanting a more economical car again..

Maybe I should just wait until after uni.. :/

I can see it all happening now.. I buy an S3 and I can see myself wanting another economical diesel in 6 months, or I can see myself loving it. But 27mpg?! thats less than half what I'm getting now. I know they are thirsty but didn't think that bad.

the decisions..

Hmmm yeah probably :p But atleast it has the performance to start with..

Yeah I'll give you first dibs on everything.. i.e my whole car :p

I think its just the itch that I am able to afford it but I can see myself having it for 6 months then wanting a more economical car again..

Maybe I should just wait until after uni.. :/

I just jumped from a 2.0 TSi Octavia to a new S4.

TBH I was expecting a drop in MPG, but it still comes as a shock. You kind of believe you can drive it like Miss Daisy and get decent economy. It doesn't happen. I'm getting about 27mpg :(

Was it worth it..........Hell yeah

I just jumped from a 2.0 TSi Octavia to a new S4.

TBH I was expecting a drop in MPG, but it still comes as a shock. You kind of believe you can drive it like Miss Daisy and get decent economy. It doesn't happen. I'm getting about 27mpg :(

Was it worth it..........Hell yeah

It is quite literally an itch on the back of my neck shouting at me to do it.. but half my brain is saying the running costs are too much etc and the other half is saying keep the fabia and complete my modifications which wont be saving me any money anyway.. might get a little bit back if I sell the mods after but is it worth it?

I suppose something else that bothers me is that I'd be looking at a 2002-2003 with anything from 73k to 112k.. My fabia is 2006 and is on 80k, so do I really wanna go for an older car?

It is quite literally an itch on the back of my neck shouting at me to do it..

Sometime these itches have to be scratched.

Just make sure the sums add up & you wait for the right car

It is quite literally an itch on the back of my neck shouting at me to do it..

Sometimes these itches have to be scratched.

Just make sure the sums add up & you wait for the right car

Sell the fabia.

I will have first dibs on strut brace and wheels.

Thank you

Sell the fabia.

I will have first dibs on strut brace and wheels.

Thank you

Ive already had dibs on the lot :p

A3 TDi Quattro S Line........

Best of both worlds ?

Do not buy the S3. It will be a money pit (maintenance and modding).

Had one for 5 years. Loved it at the time but spent a fortune on it (approx £4-£4.5k just on mods). Sold it on 153k and spent a fortune along the way with maintenance - they love to chew through suspension components.

Out of the box it is quickish in a straight line, but handles like a dog. 4WD equals traction but not handling. Even modded these cars are never going to set the world alight.

Keep the VRS, or depending on what you use it for, chop it in for something cheap and genuinely fun (clio 182? 172 Cup).

I have the VRS for legwork and a Clio 200 for fun. I've finally realised that it's nigh on impossible to have cars that serve both purposes. The clio is 10x the fun of the S3 - genuine hot hatch.

p.s. if you need a bigger car and can live with the looks my choice would be to chop in for a Megane R26 ideally or 225. Again out of the box these cars are so much better than the offerings from VW / Audi. No modding required.

p.p.s. when I say 'better' I mean smiles per mile specifically. If you care about badges or other such nonsense look elsewhere.

edited to say: you can't care about badges or you wouldn't have a skoda

Edited 29 January, 201313 yr by nicknameless

My first day if Uni the Head of Department said not to spend your money on cars. I did exactly that. Do I regret it? Not really as I'd have never found Brisky but choose wisely that's all. An old S3 wouldn't be my first choice and in Uni the Mk1 vRS was an ideal choice. I'd keep it for now until you see something really special.

Looked through my old photos and found this. It was a nice car but I was starting to think of modding it. My mate had a TT and pointed out a remap would produce about 265bhp. The urge doesn't go away!

I also found this which I took to demonstrate the mileage when I sold it. Only realised the mpg at the last minute so changed the picture to one showing average speed. That was just normal driving!

8L Tdi 130 Quattro Sport, mapped to 180 and loads of mods, bilsteins, changed the ARBs, forge rear adjustable tie bars, vented discs, Bose sound and uprated navi stuff, ... best car ever and it did handle well. I would have it back in a heartbeat. Have a look around teh AudiSport forum. Some very knowledgeable people on there.

Not quite an S3 but not too far away...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VERY-RARE-2002-52-LOW-MILEAGE-ONE-OWNER-AUDI-A3-TDI-130-QUATTRO-SPORT-/390532315652?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item5aed8a3a04

I'm not really up for racing it about so the S3 isn't about that.. although I do a fair amount of driving but not as much as I used to as I have changed my part-time job.. so I'm justifying getting a good petrol.. hence the choice.

Just what I was thinking when I bought my RX-8. 20MPG and £350 a month in petrol soon put an end to that! :( I don't know your circumstances, but will paying more for fuel put an end to social events etc? Just something to consider.