Audi S3 (2010ish) opinions or experiences

[SlowV6]

Hello All,

I was wondering if anyone had owned one of these. I have seen the one linked below just pop up on AutoTrader and confess I hadn't considered them before and know little about them.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...

What I like about this particular one is it is quite understated. Although it is white and has black windows it isn't the full Stormtrooper spec of modern Audi's (to my eyes anyway).

It would replace our E91 330D. We have the Mondeo estate for family duties so it doesn't need to be a load lugger. I like the understatedness, performance and auto gearbox of this.

So anyone have anything I should know? S-tronic, ageing 2.0 petrol turbo, haldex 4WD I guess may be popular topics. I can afford to run it, but not looking to shovel money at a car for the sake of it if a known money pit.

Thanks

[georgeyboy12345]

I haven't had an S3, but have had the closely related 1.8 TFSI S-tronic, based on the same 8P chassis.

They have several problems in common.

1. Water ingress into the driver and passenger footwells, either through the front scuttle, but is especially common in models with a sunroof.
2. They both use the same EA888 engine. In the S3, it's stroked out to 2.0 litres, has some upgraded internals, better turbo and intercooler. In the 2010 model, it will be the gen 2 EA888, which is widely regarded as the worst one of the three as it had problems with the timing chain guides and stretched timing chain, which can result in catastrophic engine damage.
3. Also relating to the engine, the gen 2 EA888 only had one fuel rail for the direct injection, which meant the intake valves would coke up, leading to piss poor fuel economy. My 1.8 TFSI got around 20-33 mpg typically, which I thought was poor for such an engine.
4. The engine drinks a bit of oil. About 1 litre every 2500 miles.
5. General interior fit & finish & quality I found to be poor, and that was coming from an Alfa Romeo 147! Lots of rattles, etc. I now have a 2016 8V A3, and the quality is a huge step up.

I can't comment on the haldex AWD system, but believe the oil needs changing every 3 years. I quite liked the DSG box, but I know a lot of people don't. They are supposed to have the oil changed every 60,000 miles on the 1.8 TFSI, might be the same for the S3, I think they are both the DQ250, which is the stronger 6-speed wet clutch.

Big power can be had from them, a stage 1 remap can get 360 bhp. Not sure how the gearbox, clutch pack and flywheel will cope with that though.

If you can get a garage to sort the timing chain guides, then the motor should be good for 200,000 miles. Get it de-coked while you are at it to restore the fuel economy. The water ingress is a pig to sort out though.

[georgeyboy12345]

Just had a read of the advert you posted, I'd check the claim they are making about the cambelt being changed at 61,000 miles, primarily because they don't have a belt, they have a chain, but it could be an honest mistake and they actually mean timing chain and guides, in which case that's quite a good thing. The alternative of course is that that are lying.

[The Cardinal]

I had a 2010 S3, along with two other 8P 2.0T Quattro models - see my Garage. I’d have liked my 8P S3 even more in the right colour and its package of modest-sized luxury, AWD and shove set a template that I’ve kept coming back to. You won’t be surprised to hear that I’m now running a 2018 S3, albeit in a different colour.

Head over to the 8P section of Audi sport.net for the lodown on these cars. You certainly won’t be getting 360hp from a stage 1 map - more like 310hp, probably confused with the 8V - but it’s certainly still a rapid car. The combination of gen 4 Haldex and DSG in the post 2009 facelift if very good and IMO a lot better than gen 2 in the earlier cars and Golf R32.

At 11 years old, I’d buy on condition rather than price. I personally feel the cabin is still very high quality, albeit dated.

[SlowV6]

Thanks for your reply's guys. I think I have gone slightly cold on this idea. For £11k I feel something newer and less complex might be a better idea. I have actually been quite attracted by the Astra Elite 1.6T, which would be a 2016/2017 car for around the same money.

Apologies for being a virtual tyre kicker!

thanks again.

[Belle427]

I think I'd still take the Audi, it's a nice car that will hold its value if cared for.
As long as it's been well looked after you shouldn't have many problems.

[SlowV6]

Thanks again - I have asked the garage whether the "Timing belt" change was a timing chain replacement.

Question - how do you think the ride quality would stack up compared to an E91 330D M-Sport, which is what this would replace?

[ZX10R NIN]

SlowV6 said:

Thanks for your reply's guys. I think I have gone slightly cold on this idea. For £11k I feel something newer and less complex might be a better idea. I have actually been quite attracted by the Astra Elite 1.6T, which would be a 2016/2017 car for around the same money.

Apologies for being a virtual tyre kicker!

thanks again.

There are some other options that are worth a look as well as the 1.6T Elite Nav 180.

308 GT 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106294...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110058...

Zetec S 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...

Leftfield:

V60 T6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110138...

[georgeyboy12345]

SlowV6 said:

Thanks for your reply's guys. I think I have gone slightly cold on this idea. For £11k I feel something newer and less complex might be a better idea. I have actually been quite attracted by the Astra Elite 1.6T, which would be a 2016/2017 car for around the same money.

Apologies for being a virtual tyre kicker!

thanks again.

It's no problem, better to be a virtual tyre kicker than a real one - and for you, better to be a real tyre kicker than lumbered with an unsuitable car!

also, The Cardinal is correct about the remap - it'll be more like 300 bhp as these had 260 stock. I confused myself and thought these were 300 bhp stock - it's the next gen 8V model that is 300 stock.

If you do go to look it at, lift up the floor mats and give the carpets a good feel to make sure they are not wet, and give them a good shove and listen for squelching noises. Nothing worse than a leaky, damp car!

edit: to answer your questions on ride quality, I think it will be comparable with the E91 BMW you had. I think they both ride pretty hard. My A3 was an SE model, so I think it was a bit more softly set up though.

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Friday 15th October 16:59

[Trailhead]

Wow. Old S3’s are quite slow for a performance car. Only 7 secs 0-60?!

[SlowV6]

The ad is wrong. Autotrader is showing the stats for the 2.0TFSi not the S3, as that is what the (erroneously) car is being advertised as.

Edited by SlowV6 on Friday 15th October 17:12

[georgeyboy12345]

Yeah they are more like 5.5 seconds to 60

[Trailhead]

That explains it then!! Thanks

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Just had a read of the advert you posted, I'd check the claim they are making about the cambelt being changed at 61,000 miles, primarily because they don't have a belt, they have a chain, but it could be an honest mistake and they actually mean timing chain and guides, in which case that's quite a good thing. The alternative of course is that that are lying.

This is an 8P model which is an EA113 engine which uses a cambelt (plus a smaller chain between the cams). Also the high oil consumption is mainly on the 8V model (2013 onwards), that uses the EA888 lump.

eta
And about 265bhp stock.

I had one new in 2008 under the VAG company employee scheme....loved it but had to go back after six months.

Edited by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Monday 18th October 15:54

[georgeyboy12345]

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

Just had a read of the advert you posted, I'd check the claim they are making about the cambelt being changed at 61,000 miles, primarily because they don't have a belt, they have a chain, but it could be an honest mistake and they actually mean timing chain and guides, in which case that's quite a good thing. The alternative of course is that that are lying.

This is an 8P model which is an EA113 engine which uses a cambelt (plus a smaller chain between the cams). Also the high oil consumption is mainly on the 8V model (2013 onwards), that uses the EA888 lump.

eta
And about 265bhp stock.

I had one new in 2008 under the VAG company employee scheme....loved it but had to go back after six months.

Edited by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Monday 18th October 15:54

I stand corrected - you are right, this S3 does infact use the EA113, which de-risks it quite a bit. I thought this motor could have some issues with oil consumption, not enough to put me off though. I’d still be wary of water ingress into the cabin though!

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

Just had a read of the advert you posted, I'd check the claim they are making about the cambelt being changed at 61,000 miles, primarily because they don't have a belt, they have a chain, but it could be an honest mistake and they actually mean timing chain and guides, in which case that's quite a good thing. The alternative of course is that that are lying.

This is an 8P model which is an EA113 engine which uses a cambelt (plus a smaller chain between the cams). Also the high oil consumption is mainly on the 8V model (2013 onwards), that uses the EA888 lump.

eta
And about 265bhp stock.

I had one new in 2008 under the VAG company employee scheme....loved it but had to go back after six months.

Edited by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Monday 18th October 15:54

I stand corrected - you are right, this S3 does infact use the EA113, which de-risks it quite a bit. I thought this motor could have some issues with oil consumption, not enough to put me off though. I’d still be wary of water ingress into the cabin though!

I quite fancy getting one. I'd like a 8V but the EA888 puts me off so sticking to an 8P, the one in the OP looks quite nice.

The good thing about the 8P S3 is that it is an uprated EA113 so stronger than the Golf GTI version.

[SlowV6]

Hello All, I enquired about the timing chain (oops!) being replaced and whether this included the tensioner. That was all I asked. This morning I got this reply:

"Good day,
Thank you for your interest! The car just arrived in our inventory and has been verified by our mechanics. The car is a in a super condition, technically is in perfect condition. No visual and No technical defects.
Inspection is valid for the next 2 years. (includes winter and summer tires). If you intend to buy the car on company and pay the Net price we need the following details from you to prepare the external invoice.(Company Name, Address, VAT-ID). On the other hand if you want to buy the car as private person we need the following details to prepare the external invoice. (Full Name, Address and a copy of any of the following documents -
identity card, driver license or passport).
Please keep in mind that we sell all our vehicles with 12 months WARRANTY.
Regards,
AutoCare"

Which I thought was slightly odd. It might be English not first language, but I thought the reply might mention the actual car at some point. I may head over there later this week work permitting.

I do like the idea of an S3 and I had not previously considered one. I am slightly unsure if £11k on an 11yr old High performance Audi is a sensible idea.

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

Sounds like a scam, especially so as I've found another advert on Autotrader selling the same car..listed correctly as a S3.

[SlowV6]

It does doesn't it. Suspect the number isn't the real AutoCare 365 in Winton (local to me) I will report the ad.

Good detective work by the way!

[lee1610]

Had a couple of 8p’s, starting to feel slightly outdated now personally. I’ve currently got a 8v which I enjoy, quite reliable with a few common issues like water pump/thermostat.