8L Goodwood Green Audi S3

[SiT]

So I have been out ‘readers cars’ for a few years, family life, house move and a daughter with an interest in horses meant an L200 Barbarian took care of daily duties.

I have bonded really well with it and in my 55 strong car history it’s the one that has stayed the longest. It combines family practicality, durable interior which when tending to horses on a daily basis is a god send! It has all the gadgets and gizmos that most German cars have and is generally a very practical family car.

I struggle to find a reason to move it on, however the petrolhead part of my brain just isn’t satisfied and with a little bit of money in my account, thoughts turned to a little ‘tinkering’ project I could keep on the drive and enjoy a drive out in with friends, few trips to some shows and hopefully not lose me a whole heap of money.

I looked at various different possibilities, looking at AutoTrader to see what performance cars were dropping in numbers but weren’t so fragile they would need to be kept in a garage/bubble and only used on sunny days.

I am not really sure how I stumbled upon my choice but I started to look at 8L S3’s, there numbers for sale nationally are nearly down to single figures, few videos cropping up on YouTube suggesting values might go the right way in time so it was a possibility. Condition and price varied massively and I really wanted a ‘unique’ colour so Imola Yellow, Nogaro Blue but when I saw this on eBay I knew it was the one.

Little geography issue led to some early negotiations and a deposit being paid on the basis that my GCSE Geography put the car in Wales. However post deposit being paid Wales turned into Northern Ireland and before I know it I am looking at flights to Belfast and Ferrys back to Liverpool.

Excited and nervous I booked it and found a willing friend to jump in with me.

So this morning we left Bristol airport at 07.00hrs, landed in Belfast at 08.15hrs, jumped in taxi, down to socks to meet seller (gent) for 08.50hrs, deal done and in the queue to load onto ferry at 09.10hrs!

It’s been a wicked day out, lots of presale stuff cleared out the way beforehand so just a case of having a quick drive, check over and away home we go.

The car is great and exactly what I was after, has enough cosmetic bits for me to be getting on with whilst enjoying it at the same time.

Some pics provided by the seller -















So will keep this build thread updated as I go along, looking forward to getting stuck into this.

Si

[mholt1995]

That's a lovely colour

[CB 987]

Love the colour, I really wanted a Goodwood Green example when I bought one. I went to view a green one, but the photos really flattered the condition, that was back in 2009!

I ended up with a Kingfisher blue example, still pretty rare.

I’ve always liked the slightly flared arches and Recaros, it just made them feel a bit more special. I felt the later 8P’s really weren’t that different from an S-Line spec.

[SiT]

Thanks chaps, love Goodwood Green especially with the light interior.

Lots of little bits to tidy as I go along and I have literally driven it 100m onto the ferry, although have a jaunt from Liverpool to Bristol awaiting me when we land.

Car is completely stock apart from a Stage 1 MRC map which early indications suggest helps it get down the roads pretty quick.

Si

[lewisf182]

That looks excellent condition and that green is stunning, what's the mileage on it? Think you'll be right as a modern classic to keep and not lose value on and hopefully get a bit of appreciation.

[SiT]

lewisf182 said:

That looks excellent condition and that green is stunning, what's the mileage on it? Think you'll be right as a modern classic to keep and not lose value on and hopefully get a bit of appreciation.

Thanks bud, colour changes a lot depending on the light - apparently it’s a pearl finish?!? Mileage is 120k which averaged out is 6k a year, lots of history and invoices and history which is nice to see.

Si

[cerb4.5lee]

A great choice and I've always absolutely loved these. I remember really wanting one years ago but I just couldn't afford to buy one at the time. I like so much about them for sure.

Enjoy it.

[simonsti]

I think that they are great cars, I had a very rare Tourmaline green one for about 6 years, I was told that it was the only one in the country in that colour.

Yours looks great by the way.

[RC1807]

Ooh, that's very clean!

I had an 8L S3 back in 2002 from new. I had the same, very light grey leather, interior as yours, but the (then) RS4 style 18" alloys and what was called Merlin Pearlesent paint (dark purple). I loved that car.

Edited by RC1807 on Tuesday 3rd August 16:10

[Batch 7.5R]

Absolutely lovely!

[Cascade360]

That colour combination is delightful, and it looks very clean. Well done.

[Bazzap8389]

That looks brilliant. Very clean!

[fantheman80]

Gorgeous, think these have aged so well, proper chunky. Now get some nice bronze dished alloys for the win (retreats to bunker...!)

[RammyMP]

That looks lovely! I was looking at S3s of that vintage a couple of days ago. Her in doors had a Avus silver S3 with black / silver interior when we got married in 2004. It was a great car, she only got rid of it when the lad came along as she was worried about getting car jacked.

[Swifty Boy]

Looks like a lovely example in a great colour. I always wanted a Nogaro blue one but ended up with a 2003 car in boring black with a two tone white/black interior. A lovely little car and I think you’re right that values will hold or perhaps creep up. ‘S’ and ‘RS’ Audis went a bit more mainstream after this era but the 8l S3 and B5 S/RS4 seemed special.

[okenemem]

one off my favorite colors

[Ella Jean]

I’ve never seen one in that colour before, it’s stunning.

Always had a soft spot for these.

[andrew-494ym]

Here is my old S3,very much non standard, it had the blue alcantara seats, but i cant find pics of the interior, OP, yours is lovely, they are great cars. I loved mine, except for the too stiff suspension.

[Andy665]

That looks like a very nice car - they have aged very well

[WCZ]

what happened to all of these? they used to be so common!