S3/Golf R: is there such a thing as "too risky" purchase?
Discussion
Hi, long term forum lurker/reader here
I know there are better, RWD/straight six options out there, but I have always wanted a Golf R or a S3. It's something that I want to use as a daily, to be able to access that power on my commute and at weekends and yet have good space for family etc.
The problem I'm having is, having researched forum posts on here, it seems you might as well point an arrow to your house and say "rob me".
Is this correct? Is the trade in theft-to-order and parts stripping so bad now that very few people take the risk of owning an R or a S3?
I live in a reasonably low crime part of Surrey and I'd like to think it would be safe enough on my driveway.
Yet after reading countless tales of stair-dominators, break ins through patio doors, relay thefts... is it just a matter of when not if?
It boils my blood a bit that there could be a whole category of car that hard working folk can't ever own because the police (who are now of course focused on far more important things!) are unable to get on top of vehicle theft.
Anyway thoughts welcome, thank you, as i am seriously mulling it over
I know there are better, RWD/straight six options out there, but I have always wanted a Golf R or a S3. It's something that I want to use as a daily, to be able to access that power on my commute and at weekends and yet have good space for family etc.
The problem I'm having is, having researched forum posts on here, it seems you might as well point an arrow to your house and say "rob me".
Is this correct? Is the trade in theft-to-order and parts stripping so bad now that very few people take the risk of owning an R or a S3?
I live in a reasonably low crime part of Surrey and I'd like to think it would be safe enough on my driveway.
Yet after reading countless tales of stair-dominators, break ins through patio doors, relay thefts... is it just a matter of when not if?
It boils my blood a bit that there could be a whole category of car that hard working folk can't ever own because the police (who are now of course focused on far more important things!) are unable to get on top of vehicle theft.
Anyway thoughts welcome, thank you, as i am seriously mulling it over
I had one for over a year and wasn't killed. I know people who have had them years without being killed.
If you live somewhere like Bradford it might be different, but the actual fact is that they're no more stolen than anything else, and as shown by multiple posts every time this oops up, they do not top the theft charts.
TL;DR:. You'll be fine. Get one if you want one.
If you live somewhere like Bradford it might be different, but the actual fact is that they're no more stolen than anything else, and as shown by multiple posts every time this oops up, they do not top the theft charts.
TL;DR:. You'll be fine. Get one if you want one.
Insure it properly (i.e. with GAP to make up any shortfall), leave the keys somewhere that an intruder can get to without threatening your sleeping family, and get on with your life.
I've had mine (S3 saloon) for 3.5 years now and not a single hint of an issue either at home or out and about.
It's a very capable daily also, I'd have no reservations having another (or even an RS model) in a heartbeat, well, if I wasn't going electric next.
I've had mine (S3 saloon) for 3.5 years now and not a single hint of an issue either at home or out and about.
It's a very capable daily also, I'd have no reservations having another (or even an RS model) in a heartbeat, well, if I wasn't going electric next.
https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-most-stolen-cars-...
From 2018 but first on Google. Looks like a Merc, BMW or Range Rover is more likely to be stolen.
From 2018 but first on Google. Looks like a Merc, BMW or Range Rover is more likely to be stolen.
Thank you all, as silly as it may sound it's very reassuring to hear positive ownership experiences. I've got a young family and the last thing I want to do is purchase something that means I have to freak out every time a car pulls up on the opposite side of the road and young blokes get out
Love the idea of a 3 door for the look, I wonder if they are less frequently stolen than the 5 doors?
Love the idea of a 3 door for the look, I wonder if they are less frequently stolen than the 5 doors?
Mercutio said:
Thank you all, as silly as it may sound it's very reassuring to hear positive ownership experiences. I've got a young family and the last thing I want to do is purchase something that means I have to freak out every time a car pulls up on the opposite side of the road and young blokes get out
Love the idea of a 3 door for the look, I wonder if they are less frequently stolen than the 5 doors?
With regards to the young family thing, it's the same for me here with my wife and 2 year old.Love the idea of a 3 door for the look, I wonder if they are less frequently stolen than the 5 doors?
In terms of 3 Vs 5 door, there are massively more 5 doors available (hence why the 3 door was dropped from the range). But the Saloon is the best looking (and all come with magride and a wider track/flared arches)
I spent a while looking at this a few months ago, and came to the conclusion that while it does indeed happen and is typically very visible, if it was actually the case that anything fast and 4wd would be stolen the moment I parked up my insurance quote would be £20,000 and it clearly isn't.
Certainly all of the articles I read about "the UK's most stolen" were utter gash - one of the most prevalent was based on vehicles which had a certain brand of tracker fitted, had been stolen and subsequently recovered which meant their total sample size was probably smaller than the number of Vauxhall Astras which get TWOCed in a single week. The other one I found from research by an insurance comparison site was pretty much a 1:1 mapping with the most common cars on British roads.
Things like S3s being stolen or having their interiors stripped are probably far more visible here because the forum owners of such a car are likely to post photos/stories to is an enthusiast's one: stories of airbag wheels ripped from everyday Focuses or catalytic converters sawn off Priuses are more likely to end up somewhere like Mumsnet or Reddit so while just as common don't get seen.
That said having nice things is certainly an elevated risk, and my local area has its fair share of cars with the classic comfort access and gigantic Disklok combo, but ultimately to gauge the risk I'd go by insurance premiums as those are the people who actually have the numbers on how likely it is to go missing in the night. (And if you're really paranoid, you can play around with getting quotes for garaged/on street/driveway with the knowledge that theft of a car from a driveway is generally twice as likely as from a random spot on the street, and 3x as likely as a locked garage. Certainly the majority of my insurance cost comes from the likelihood I'm going to drive like a mentalist and t
t into something than the odds someone else will pinch my car and do it for me.)
Certainly all of the articles I read about "the UK's most stolen" were utter gash - one of the most prevalent was based on vehicles which had a certain brand of tracker fitted, had been stolen and subsequently recovered which meant their total sample size was probably smaller than the number of Vauxhall Astras which get TWOCed in a single week. The other one I found from research by an insurance comparison site was pretty much a 1:1 mapping with the most common cars on British roads.
Things like S3s being stolen or having their interiors stripped are probably far more visible here because the forum owners of such a car are likely to post photos/stories to is an enthusiast's one: stories of airbag wheels ripped from everyday Focuses or catalytic converters sawn off Priuses are more likely to end up somewhere like Mumsnet or Reddit so while just as common don't get seen.
That said having nice things is certainly an elevated risk, and my local area has its fair share of cars with the classic comfort access and gigantic Disklok combo, but ultimately to gauge the risk I'd go by insurance premiums as those are the people who actually have the numbers on how likely it is to go missing in the night. (And if you're really paranoid, you can play around with getting quotes for garaged/on street/driveway with the knowledge that theft of a car from a driveway is generally twice as likely as from a random spot on the street, and 3x as likely as a locked garage. Certainly the majority of my insurance cost comes from the likelihood I'm going to drive like a mentalist and t
t into something than the odds someone else will pinch my car and do it for me.)Where do you live?
Central Birmingham? Don’t bother
The cotswolds. Yes get one.
If you’re worried there’s lots of other 300bhp plus cars out there that aren’t on the their radar and suit a family.
I love the s3 saloon, but may not be practical as a family car, the golf estate may be best, and don’t forget the Leon cupra estate is 4wd aswell, but not the hatch, and may well be cheaper.
I think if you got any of them debadged and in a sedate colour like silver, that would reduce any risk even more
Central Birmingham? Don’t bother
The cotswolds. Yes get one.
If you’re worried there’s lots of other 300bhp plus cars out there that aren’t on the their radar and suit a family.
I love the s3 saloon, but may not be practical as a family car, the golf estate may be best, and don’t forget the Leon cupra estate is 4wd aswell, but not the hatch, and may well be cheaper.
I think if you got any of them debadged and in a sedate colour like silver, that would reduce any risk even more
Edited by Nickbrapp on Saturday 21st March 13:05
I think it depends where you live. I’m within a getaway drive of a certain town in West Yorkshire, so both the S3 and Golf R that used to be on my estate have been nicked.
If you live in my area but can garage it with excellent locks that my change things, I don’t know. Both guys who had theirs nicked near me apparently had “easy” locks on their doors and the thieves were in and out very quickly.
If you live in my area but can garage it with excellent locks that my change things, I don’t know. Both guys who had theirs nicked near me apparently had “easy” locks on their doors and the thieves were in and out very quickly.
Ultimately make your own risk assessment on it, I would definitely advise you make sure your home security is up to scratch before buying one.
People will say make sure you have gap insurance etc and don't worry about it, I used to say the same until my house was broken into and my car stolen overnight while I was in bed asleep. I wouldn't buy either an S3 or Golf R personally. The feeling you have when you know someone has been in your house while you are asleep with your family is horrendous, I didn't sleep properly for weeks after, thankfully I managed to play it down for the eldest daughter and the youngest is too young to either know or care.
A good friend of mine is a salesman for VW and his house has been broken into twice with people looking for car keys, he lives in a decent area too, he now won't take a Golf R home.
Not trying to put you off, you have clearly read up on the risks and you make your own choice.
People will say make sure you have gap insurance etc and don't worry about it, I used to say the same until my house was broken into and my car stolen overnight while I was in bed asleep. I wouldn't buy either an S3 or Golf R personally. The feeling you have when you know someone has been in your house while you are asleep with your family is horrendous, I didn't sleep properly for weeks after, thankfully I managed to play it down for the eldest daughter and the youngest is too young to either know or care.
A good friend of mine is a salesman for VW and his house has been broken into twice with people looking for car keys, he lives in a decent area too, he now won't take a Golf R home.
Not trying to put you off, you have clearly read up on the risks and you make your own choice.
Edited by Jamescrs on Monday 23 March 09:06
Firstly, I'll always love Golfs. Had loads of them. Particularly like the R.
I'm not going to go into statistics, only relay past experience.
Back in the day, I owned a Golf VR6 which I guess the Golf R is a modern day equivalent.
3am, the house alarm goes off. Downstairs are several intruders hunting around for the keys. I can confirm that this was a sphincter moving experience, alarm blaring and the thought of an unknown number of people in my house - my son (who was 1 year old at the time) and my partner my main priority.
Luckily, by the time I went downstairs, they'd f***ed off. I shouldn't have even gone downstairs!!
Ok, they didn't get the car, but they did violate the house. It never felt the same. So, the ongoing psychological effects weren't great.
The house was in a very nice village in the Cotswolds - so there's no guarantee that living in a nice safe area will offer protection - car gangs travel and if they have access to a nearby dual carriageway, they can be long gone in minutes.
Anyway, would I buy another performance car.........of course, I've had many since.
I currently drive a C63 (205) and I had to think long and hard before buying it.
Like others have said, it's a numbers game and the chances are you won't be impacted by it, but you should be aware that if it does happen, it really isn't a pleasant event.
I am a strong believer that if someone has gone to the trouble to break into my house, let them have the keys and leave my family well alone.
Good luck whatever you decide.
I'm not going to go into statistics, only relay past experience.
Back in the day, I owned a Golf VR6 which I guess the Golf R is a modern day equivalent.
3am, the house alarm goes off. Downstairs are several intruders hunting around for the keys. I can confirm that this was a sphincter moving experience, alarm blaring and the thought of an unknown number of people in my house - my son (who was 1 year old at the time) and my partner my main priority.
Luckily, by the time I went downstairs, they'd f***ed off. I shouldn't have even gone downstairs!!
Ok, they didn't get the car, but they did violate the house. It never felt the same. So, the ongoing psychological effects weren't great.
The house was in a very nice village in the Cotswolds - so there's no guarantee that living in a nice safe area will offer protection - car gangs travel and if they have access to a nearby dual carriageway, they can be long gone in minutes.
Anyway, would I buy another performance car.........of course, I've had many since.
I currently drive a C63 (205) and I had to think long and hard before buying it.
Like others have said, it's a numbers game and the chances are you won't be impacted by it, but you should be aware that if it does happen, it really isn't a pleasant event.
I am a strong believer that if someone has gone to the trouble to break into my house, let them have the keys and leave my family well alone.
Good luck whatever you decide.
My advice would be stop worrying about it, if you really want a Golf R or S3 go out and buy one, seriously, you can't live your life thinking about what might happen or else you'd never leave home. By all means start by upgrading your home security first with the basics if it helps to put your mind at rest but don't let it dictate what you drive.
I've owned all sorts of VAG hot hatches over the last 20+ years, most of that time spent living in a south Manchester suburb, if you listened to some of the scaremongering on the internet you'd think I'd have to park them in a secret underground bunker with armed guards on surveillance to sleep at night. I've had Golf GTi's, R32s, S3, RS3, 2 x 7R's and currently a Clubsport parked in plain sight on my drive or out on the road and never had a single problem with any car at my home address......I've been more concerned when parking them in the multi-storey at work because it's out of view from my office.
I've owned all sorts of VAG hot hatches over the last 20+ years, most of that time spent living in a south Manchester suburb, if you listened to some of the scaremongering on the internet you'd think I'd have to park them in a secret underground bunker with armed guards on surveillance to sleep at night. I've had Golf GTi's, R32s, S3, RS3, 2 x 7R's and currently a Clubsport parked in plain sight on my drive or out on the road and never had a single problem with any car at my home address......I've been more concerned when parking them in the multi-storey at work because it's out of view from my office.
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