Audi S3 - any good?
Discussion
I have heard they are quick, same engine as the TT 225, but not a very inspiring driving experience.
Can be made quicker by adding a chip, kicking the power to around the 280bhp mark, I read somewhere. Probably can be made quicker still by allowing your car to fail roadside emissions tests
Can be made quicker by adding a chip, kicking the power to around the 280bhp mark, I read somewhere. Probably can be made quicker still by allowing your car to fail roadside emissions tests
Very good if a little adonine (speeling?)
Face lifted in 99/2000 previously 210bhp then upped to 225bhp the difference is unnoticable.
Recaro's and SatNav+ are the options to have.
Nice in Black, Gunmetal, Dolphin
Yellow ones get a residual battering as you would expect.
Very very tuneable, 300bhp is about £2K and you will find loads on the market that have had this level of power upgrade and a much needed brake upgrade often using big reds off a 993TT
Face lifted in 99/2000 previously 210bhp then upped to 225bhp the difference is unnoticable.
Recaro's and SatNav+ are the options to have.
Nice in Black, Gunmetal, Dolphin
Yellow ones get a residual battering as you would expect.
Very very tuneable, 300bhp is about £2K and you will find loads on the market that have had this level of power upgrade and a much needed brake upgrade often using big reds off a 993TT
Plotloss said:
Very good if a little adonine
anodyne since you asked
I think they're an unsung performance hero, it's a TT not in drag - its got proper seats in the back and doesn't make people go all maxwell house on you... I'd have one tomorrow if I had space in my life for two cars...
The S3 is a proper car, it has plenty of power where you need it, and delivers it well. 4 Wheel Drive is useful, and the interior is just lovely (those leather recaro's are as nice as anything this side of a 911).
I personally love the yellow one's, and think if it we're my money it'd be either yellow or black. Black interior is a must.
Spend a little bit of cash and 0-60's in the 5's are highly possibly, as is 155mph (or even higher).
I personally love the yellow one's, and think if it we're my money it'd be either yellow or black. Black interior is a must.
Spend a little bit of cash and 0-60's in the 5's are highly possibly, as is 155mph (or even higher).
My neighbour had a chipped one a few years ago and absolutely loved it. He went on about it so much I almost bought one too. The only thing I didn't like was the high(ish) seating position, but other than that it was a cracking car and at <£15K today they're good value.
I'd put one on my shortlist of next car if the bodykit and badges weren't so 'nickable'
I'd put one on my shortlist of next car if the bodykit and badges weren't so 'nickable'
An S3 is definitely on our shortlist for a single car to replace both the Corrado and Cupra. A trip down to AmD for 275bhp in exchange for £500 notes will be factored into the purchase cost.
We saw a gorgeous blue example with part leather / part blue alcantara interior at Fontaine last year that looked particularly lovely.
We saw a gorgeous blue example with part leather / part blue alcantara interior at Fontaine last year that looked particularly lovely.
fishtek69 said:
4 Wheel Drive is useful
Shame it's the modern quattro rather than a real Quattro.
It's FWD until it decides it needs to shuffle power backwards. Which is usually about half a second after you've had to get out of the throttle to deal with the understeer.
Nice car though. My boss had one for a while.
We had an S3 as a practical companion to the TVR.
They're a wonderful posh hatch. As mentioned, the main weak spot is the front brakes, which are saddled with discs which are too small and single-piston sliding calipers. Not suitable for a 1450Kg car with over 200bhp if you ask me.
The facelift in late 2000 changed from front and rear light clusters, badges, and interior - new climate control and some instrument changes, also more sophisticated ESP in place of simple traction control.
They're very well spec'ed as standard, with fabulous leather or alcantara Recaros, Xenon headlights, etc. The Bose stereo upgrade is well worth looking for, as are heated front seats.
Upgrade to 280bhp is yours for about 500 quid, regardless of whether you start with the 210 or 225 bhp version. It's quite a strange driving experience without it, as the turbo boost backs off with revs to keep the torque curve completely flat. Very rapid through the gears though.
Despite the 4WD being the VW Syncro system, rather than proper Quattro (electronically actuated centre clutch rather than torsen diff) I think it's pretty effective. Keep your foot in around a tight corner and there's a whiff of understeer before you feel the torque directed to the rear wheels to push you around. I've practically never had the traction control light on, put it that way!
Overall, it's nothing like as involving to drive as a modern hot hatch or a Japanese rally replica, but it's in a different league in terms of quality and feel good factor.
Pete
They're a wonderful posh hatch. As mentioned, the main weak spot is the front brakes, which are saddled with discs which are too small and single-piston sliding calipers. Not suitable for a 1450Kg car with over 200bhp if you ask me.
The facelift in late 2000 changed from front and rear light clusters, badges, and interior - new climate control and some instrument changes, also more sophisticated ESP in place of simple traction control.
They're very well spec'ed as standard, with fabulous leather or alcantara Recaros, Xenon headlights, etc. The Bose stereo upgrade is well worth looking for, as are heated front seats.
Upgrade to 280bhp is yours for about 500 quid, regardless of whether you start with the 210 or 225 bhp version. It's quite a strange driving experience without it, as the turbo boost backs off with revs to keep the torque curve completely flat. Very rapid through the gears though.
Despite the 4WD being the VW Syncro system, rather than proper Quattro (electronically actuated centre clutch rather than torsen diff) I think it's pretty effective. Keep your foot in around a tight corner and there's a whiff of understeer before you feel the torque directed to the rear wheels to push you around. I've practically never had the traction control light on, put it that way!
Overall, it's nothing like as involving to drive as a modern hot hatch or a Japanese rally replica, but it's in a different league in terms of quality and feel good factor.
Pete
Vee said:
I think that the aluminium wing mirrors identify the car as a later 225bhp version.
Nope, pretty sure these are a bling optional extra. I think they get pinched quite often as well. My 03 s3 does not have them and is a 225bhp model.
They are rapid quality hatchbacks but are in no way an engaging drive.
It complements my chimaera very nicely.
Not 100% reliable it has required a replacement Xenon headlamp unit and some suspension parts replacing. Both jobs would have been pretty expensive if it was out of warranty.
I have the Silver (v light grey) Recarro leather interior and it is BEAUTIFUL. The Bose stereo is superb, taking 6 cd's directly into the player.
Overall, I've had mine for two years and have no intention to sell as I can't think of another hatchback that looks better with similar performance.
Mr E said:
4 Wheel Drive is useful
Shame it's the modern quattro rather than a real Quattro.
It's FWD until it decides it needs to shuffle power backwards. Which is usually about half a second after you've had to get out of the throttle to deal with the understeer.
Nice car though. My boss had one for a while.
15 degrees of slip at the front wheels before it does it's thing assuming it is the same as the R32 version. Lower transmission losses whilst traction is good help both fuel economy and the ability to leave gt4 drivers for dead
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff