Audi S3 - To buy or not to buy

[lasermatt]

Hi all, a question and some advice required. I have the opportunity to purchase a 2001 S3 (210 bhp) for approx £5.5k - £6k. Its generally tidy externally, done 60k miles. The problem is the interior is quite tatty. The seats need a good clean and some bits of the dash are broken or damaged, and some parts are missing. Also the electric seat on drivers side doesn't work.

I'm into detailing cars and quite fancy something I can tidy up if I can get it for the right price and the S3 seems to be a good solid car mechanically and fits the bill for what I'm after (Basically a quick small hatch). My budget is up to £10k really but this obviously would be some way under that and allow some funds for tidying up (The other thing is availability of all the parts - Could I get them from Ebay or breakers?) So the quetion is should I take a flyer on this car or buy one that's already tidier etc? Or should I just blow my budget and get a Mk 4 Golf R32??

Cheers

[pad58]

Love the mk4 but i'm thinking of an s3 myself after the summer.

[missing the VR6]

Given the fact it's 01 and only done 60K if it's tatty inside it suggests that it's had a pretty tough life and given the cost of S3's new the previous owner/s must have really abused it or it's been owned by someone rich enough not to care how he/she treats it. Either way sounds like a car I'd stay away from. My old A3 1.8T sport was a 99 and I sold it with 124000 miles on it and the only thing wrong inside was a small hole in the drivers carpet.
As for the R32 a friend has an S3 and I think they're a bit disappointing, go ok but they're just not powerful enough as standard cars. Maybe a remap might make it the car it should have been from the factory. Also if the steering is anything like my old one, coming from a Elise you'll hate it, totally devoid of feel even with decent tyres made absolutely no difference.
As for the R32 never been in one but by god do they make a great noise! Just by one of them!
Leon Cupra R?

[angryS3owner]

Has the cambelt been done (and water pump)?
Has the haldex been done at the correct intervals?
Can you prove the mileage?
Can you take it for a long test and ensure there are no creaks or clunks from the suspension?

If the answer is no to any of the above I'd run a mile, they're not cheap to run and even worse when things break.

[bazking69]

With 60k on the clock I'd expect it to be near immaculate inside and out. Anything other than near immaculate suggests like it has had a life in the hands of someone who doesn't give a monkeys.
I'd walk away from any car where the condition isn't consistant with the mileage and or price, let alone one that could fast become a potential money pit.

[lasermatt]

As I thought really, but part of me thought there was a bargain in their somewhere. Just to clarify I'm going from a Mk3 golf gti 16 valve - I sold the lotus a while ago so sharpness of steering etc is not an issue.

Now that its been mentioned there was some knocking on full lock - I assume a driveshaft?

Anyway thanks for the responses - My first instinct was to walk away, but was tempted at being able to tidy it up, but definitely don't want a money pit!!