RE: Audi S3 saloon: PH Carpool
Monday 15th August 2016
Name: Chris Lake
Car: Audi S3 saloon
Previously owned: Over 50 cars, from Minis to a Nissan Skyline GTST (R33) to a sensible Audi A6 and a Toyota RAV4.
The looks have won Chris over at leastWhy I bought it:
"I actually bought this out of desperation to get out of an Audi A6 I was driving at the time. I hadn't had the A6 long but it was too large for driving around a busy town and far too dull for someone in their mid 20s. The local Audi dealer offered me a good deal on this so I took it."
So what to replace it with?Costs:
"Not terrible, but not great. Insurance is cheap at £320 for the year. Fuel so far has been around 24mpg round town and 39mpg on the motorway (once!). I have also seen the computer say as low as 12mpg after a spirited drive."
Audi S3 saloon: PH Carpool
So how does the fast Audi recipe suit a four-door saloon? This PHer tells all
Car: Audi S3 saloon
Previously owned: Over 50 cars, from Minis to a Nissan Skyline GTST (R33) to a sensible Audi A6 and a Toyota RAV4.
The looks have won Chris over at least
"I actually bought this out of desperation to get out of an Audi A6 I was driving at the time. I hadn't had the A6 long but it was too large for driving around a busy town and far too dull for someone in their mid 20s. The local Audi dealer offered me a good deal on this so I took it."
What I wish I'd known:
"I wish I'd known how rubbish Audi aftersales is! There were numerous issues with the suspension, yet they persisted in saying it was a characteristic of the car. With my mechanical background I know this to be false, but I got there in the end."
Things I love:
"I love the look of the car. It's stunning from any angle. Typical Audi quality inside and the B&O stereo is amazing. It's a four-door car which can be nice and sensible but also be a bit of a menace off the line."
Things I hate:
"It has no soul! After owning a large number of cars I can't help but be underwhelmed every time I drive it. There is no connection between myself, the car and the road. Unfortunately this isn't something that you can get a sense of in a 30-minute test drive."
So what to replace it with?
"Not terrible, but not great. Insurance is cheap at £320 for the year. Fuel so far has been around 24mpg round town and 39mpg on the motorway (once!). I have also seen the computer say as low as 12mpg after a spirited drive."
Where I've been:
"A trip to Killin in Scotland. Did roughly 600 miles while there on some of the great roads round Oban and Fort William."
What next?
"I am ready to sell, but not sure what I am going to move to. I could reduce outgoings and go for a 1 Series. Or I could go for something like a Discovery Sport. Time will tell!"
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!
Discussion
Suspension problems on an almost new car? Blimey, must have been driven at speed over bumpy tracks all the time by the first owner or something. 50 cars under your belt in your mid 20s? Wow, that must be 5 a year or more? Owning an A6 in your mid 20s? Well, it was never going to be an exciting car. And that sure is cheap insurance at that age. Then again, I live in London so am used to expensive insurance. And I personally would never buy an standard Audi expecting it to be exciting...
MikeGoodwin said:
Complains about it having no soul or connection and then considers buying a 1 series or a range rover...... good thinking.
That's what I was thinking. If you really want a driver's car, you need to look at... driver's cars.That said, I imagine the 1-series will drive better than the A3 - but if you're looking for 'soul', you won't find it in a 1-series. In fact, I'd say 'soul' is very hard to get in a modern car without spending several thousands.
Not up to the the usual quality of PH carpool articles. In his mid 20's and has already 'owned' 50 cars, that's averaging around 6-7 cars per year (assuming he is 25). This guy sounds more like someone who buys cars to simply say he has owned one, rather than buying a car because he is passionate about it
As has been mentioned already, the most interesting point of this car pool (no offence to the author!) is that the owner has had 50 cars and is in his mid 20s!!! Why/how so many? I thought I was bad for changing cars, but that is Olympic Gold effort! Although, the article alludes to the author potentially working in the car industry, so this may be the explanation.
Also, that is an amazing price for insurance. Who is the insurer, out of interest?
As for the car, I did actually think of buying one a while a go as I quite like the idea of the S3 Saloon. Decided against it though.
Also, that is an amazing price for insurance. Who is the insurer, out of interest?
As for the car, I did actually think of buying one a while a go as I quite like the idea of the S3 Saloon. Decided against it though.
Wow, I knew this forum was full of negative miserable people hence why I have never actually signed up until today.
Those that have provided nice comments - thanks you!
To answer some questions/points;
Firstly no the write up is not the best. I am not a professional reporter so ... what did you expect?
The insurance is through Admiral now at the same price as Sheilas Wheels wanted to up the price when we renewed at the end of July. Quite cheap possibly because my Fiance is on the insurance too.
The suspension issues did indeed sound like someone throwing a hammer in the boot. Audi actually ended up changing my OSR shock absorber but it has since came out that there is a technical bulitin for them to change the mounts. (more info on some audi forums)
I have had so many cars because I was in the motor trade and had access to extremely cheap trade in's. I also had a decent amount of disposable income and when you're between 17-23ish with no responsibilities and your main interest in life is cars - why the hell not? I have calmed down alot recently and have only had 5 in the last 2 years!
Anyway, thats probably as much input as this forum will ever get from me. Bye
Those that have provided nice comments - thanks you!
To answer some questions/points;
Firstly no the write up is not the best. I am not a professional reporter so ... what did you expect?
The insurance is through Admiral now at the same price as Sheilas Wheels wanted to up the price when we renewed at the end of July. Quite cheap possibly because my Fiance is on the insurance too.
The suspension issues did indeed sound like someone throwing a hammer in the boot. Audi actually ended up changing my OSR shock absorber but it has since came out that there is a technical bulitin for them to change the mounts. (more info on some audi forums)
I have had so many cars because I was in the motor trade and had access to extremely cheap trade in's. I also had a decent amount of disposable income and when you're between 17-23ish with no responsibilities and your main interest in life is cars - why the hell not? I have calmed down alot recently and have only had 5 in the last 2 years!
Anyway, thats probably as much input as this forum will ever get from me. Bye
Chrislakes3 said:
Wow, I knew this forum was full of negative miserable people hence why I have never actually signed up until today.
Those that have provided nice comments - thanks you!
To answer some questions/points;
Firstly no the write up is not the best. I am not a professional reporter so ... what did you expect?
The insurance is through Admiral now at the same price as Sheilas Wheels wanted to up the price when we renewed at the end of July. Quite cheap possibly because my Fiance is on the insurance too.
The suspension issues did indeed sound like someone throwing a hammer in the boot. Audi actually ended up changing my OSR shock absorber but it has since came out that there is a technical bulitin for them to change the mounts. (more info on some audi forums)
I have had so many cars because I was in the motor trade and had access to extremely cheap trade in's. I also had a decent amount of disposable income and when you're between 17-23ish with no responsibilities and your main interest in life is cars - why the hell not? I have calmed down alot recently and have only had 5 in the last 2 years!
Anyway, thats probably as much input as this forum will ever get from me. Bye
Wow! I'm not often moved to post, but poor show. The article is an advert and this post is a shocker. Take it down.Those that have provided nice comments - thanks you!
To answer some questions/points;
Firstly no the write up is not the best. I am not a professional reporter so ... what did you expect?
The insurance is through Admiral now at the same price as Sheilas Wheels wanted to up the price when we renewed at the end of July. Quite cheap possibly because my Fiance is on the insurance too.
The suspension issues did indeed sound like someone throwing a hammer in the boot. Audi actually ended up changing my OSR shock absorber but it has since came out that there is a technical bulitin for them to change the mounts. (more info on some audi forums)
I have had so many cars because I was in the motor trade and had access to extremely cheap trade in's. I also had a decent amount of disposable income and when you're between 17-23ish with no responsibilities and your main interest in life is cars - why the hell not? I have calmed down alot recently and have only had 5 in the last 2 years!
Anyway, thats probably as much input as this forum will ever get from me. Bye
jimmy156 said:
I've been driving 11 years and only owned 3 cars! I must be doing it wrong.
Chris - How come you submitted a Carpool piece without actually being a member? Don't worry to much about the grumpy people, its all too common for people to confuse their opinion with fact
I read PistonHeads every day and there was an article asking for people to submit their cars. So I did just that. Unfortunately I struggle to ignore peoples opinions but I do try! Chris - How come you submitted a Carpool piece without actually being a member? Don't worry to much about the grumpy people, its all too common for people to confuse their opinion with fact
MikeGoodwin said:
He posted that on a public forum why wouldn't he get stick for it? Take the advice and do your research before buying a car and get one you're actually going to enjoy driving.
Easier said than done. Reviews are a very personal thing I guess. Just have a look on an audi forum. 50% will praise the car, 50% will slag it off. With dealerships only really giving an hour's test drive at most, its hard to judge. Also, I did not know audi's customer service would be so poor prior to actually experiencing it. I had an S3 Saloon. Competent car, and undeniably quick, but it was a revelation coming from the Golf R for all the wrong reasons.
The Golf had a certain something about it that made me giggle like a schoolboy every time I drove it, and made me take it out for 'a drive'. I never really gelled with the S3 though - it was as though it was the Golf R's lobotomised twin brother. Every ounce of character that made me love the Golf seemed to have been engineered out.
I replaced the S3 with a Superb 280. Now that's a car I genuinely loved, until a 38-tonner wrote it off on the M6 last week.
The Golf had a certain something about it that made me giggle like a schoolboy every time I drove it, and made me take it out for 'a drive'. I never really gelled with the S3 though - it was as though it was the Golf R's lobotomised twin brother. Every ounce of character that made me love the Golf seemed to have been engineered out.
I replaced the S3 with a Superb 280. Now that's a car I genuinely loved, until a 38-tonner wrote it off on the M6 last week.
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