My old S3

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.

As to the Clio 172, they are great cars and are great fun to drive but although I'm looking for a more exhilarating car.. I have just always had a soft spot for the S3.. I've been looking all over the internet today looking at other cars but the S3 just gets me, and my brother is looking to buy a Megane R26R so he would probably want to kill me if I got the same one :p

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.

That's what they said to me on my first day too.. I do know of a few people in money problems and they don't even run a car.. but I have two quite well paid part time jobs as well so I'm doing alright which I suppose is contributing to the itch for a more powerful car.. It just depends if I'm going to find it worth it in the end..

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!

Lovely S3 buddy.. except the MPG I know that doesn't bother me at the moment but it could do 6 months down the line.. But even so.. such a great car IMO hence the wanting for one :p

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.u...=item5aed8a3a04

I did consider this but then I think it kind of defeats the point in me getting rid of the Fabia to get another diesel.. I'm not it would be worth changing to an audi 1.9tdi just for the 4wd..

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.

Thank you for your opinions guys

I'm still stuck 50/50.. I could just wait another year or so until I get a full time Job.. but it may not be in the right circumstances but then I guess that would be part of life. My desired mods for the Fabia if I didn't sell up would be Coilovers, full turbo-back exhaust and a remap.. so I could just get them over and done with a perhaps the new found power should keep me satisfied for another year.. maybe :p

An easy decision for some.. but its always impossible for me to decide on anything car related..

8P

That is all.

Have you actually worked out the running costs?

As you are at Uni I'm guessing you are young(ish).

Insurance etc...

There is no way I could afford to run an S3 at that age.

I'd have spent all the money I was saving up to buy my first house on a car!

The running costs won't be worth the performance and being in Uni the money won't last long. If you bought the car you'd probably have to sacrifice nights out and time with mates whereas the vRS is cheap to run. I managed to do both, although my nights out stopped in the 3rd year but not because of money. I had the intention to save it all up and buy a house and while I could have done that who knows if I'd ever have another opportunity at another nice car. I do regret it a bit though and saving for a house now. If I hadn't bought both vRSes and got something cheaper there's a good chance I'd have a house by now but then lots of other things would have been different.

As to the Clio 172, they are great cars and are great fun to drive but although I'm looking for a more exhilarating car.. I have just always had a soft spot for the S3.. I've been looking all over the internet today looking at other cars but the S3 just gets me, and my brother is looking to buy a Megane R26R so he would probably want to kill me if I got the same one :p

Sometimes you just have that urge. Been there done that. You're comparing chalk and cheese there though - R26R one of the best, if not the best performance hot hatch of all time, and a lardy cruiser that understeers like the QE2. I was suggesting the R26 not R26R (still £15k plus for a good example of the latter) - very different cars.

Sounds like you're set on the S3. Be warned - map it and it will feel good in a straight line, but that is all - it's a modding pit once you realise how inadequate everything else is (brakes, suspension), maintenance will be expensive and suspension components on these cars if not already renewed will need doing (track rods ends, wishbone bushes, balljoints, shockers etc. etc.).

If I had one car decision back it would be my rash purchase of an S3!

This > S3

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-COUPE-2-8-V6-QUATTRO-BLACK-CLASSIC-VERY-VERY-RARE-CAR-MAY-PX-W-H-Y-/261161402051?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cce6ebec3

Life is simple, you make a decision and don't look back.

Life is simple, you make a decision and don't look back.

Until you are 50, still driving a nice car and living in your parents basement...

Sorry.

In actual fact it's all about priorities.

Once you decide what yours are it's a simple choice.

Agree with jase kick in the teeth!! Nice cars but Ffs keep the Fabia finish uni .

1.8t's have big problems unless sorted pik pumps water lumps turbos gearboxes if 6 speed are massively expensive running costs insurance tax

Just say no!! At least till u finish mate nice cars but expensive

This > S3

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3cce6ebec3

Will sound soooo much better as well. Last of the Audis I liked too.

Plus, it's got a wooden dash! No S3 can match that!

Until you are 50, still driving a nice car and living in your parents basement...

Sorry.

In actual fact it's all about priorities.

Once you decide what yours are it's a simple choice.

I didn't actually say the s3 was the correct decision, just referring to whatever decision and direction he decides to go in!

I'm in a similar position to you!

My hearts saying get a mk5 ed30 but head says keep the Vrs an save for a house

I have done my calculations for all the insurance, servicing, fuel, social life etc and I could afford it but I'm just gonna stick with the Fabia...

..for now anyway..

I do love my trusty Fabia and it is very economical and much more suitable for my current situation.

If I'm still feeling the itch in 6 months then I may have to reconsider it then but for now I am happy with my Fabia and especially since I have just paid hundreds on it in fixing bits, I will continue my modifications in the hope they will relinquish my S3 lust for now. A good remap should see me satisfied and saving pennies on fuel

Thank you everyone for your opinions and helping me in my decision

Now to sort out Coilovers, Exhaust and Remap

I hate to revive threads.. but somehow I am back at this square 1 again!

Some basic info from me.. no longer travelling 500 miles a week whilst at uni.. I am a graduate (2.1) and living 4 miles away from work, therefore I feel the need for change again. 

 

A year and a half on and I feel my urge for the Audi S3 8l again! The problem being that they are over 10 years old now & most over 100k milage, is this an issue? 

 

My fabia has been great to me but I just feel the need for change.

I hate to revive threads.. but somehow I am back at this square 1 again!

Some basic info from me.. no longer travelling 500 miles a week whilst at uni.. I am a graduate (2.1) and living 4 miles away from work, therefore I feel the need for change again. 

 

A year and a half on and I feel my urge for the Audi S3 8l again! The problem being that they are over 10 years old now & most over 100k milage, is this an issue? 

 

My fabia has been great to me but I just feel the need for change.

 

Ok, but do you have a budget in mind?

Stick a GTB1756 turbo on the Fabia and forget about the S3. The fuel saving from not getting the s3 will pay for this!

Ok, but do you have a budget in mind?

Hi Sepulchrave, yes I am thinking about £5-6k 

 

Stick a GTB1756 turbo on the Fabia and forget about the S3. The fuel saving from not getting the s3 will pay for this!

I have thought about this but the problem with the fabia is that I just feel that the car isn't as solid as it should be.. and ideally I would want an LSD if going for that kind of power and then the price has just doubled.