A3 Sportback Quattro

Sugar Free · 8 Apr 2010 at 14:11

Is a 4-ish year old Audi A3 Sportback Quattro 2.0 TFSI/TDI Sport/S-Line for around £10k a horrifically bad idea for someone who wants a bit more oomph than a Golf 1.9 TDI and something with four driven wheels?

starfighter · 8 Apr 2010 at 14:32

S3 money there.

[TW]Fox · 8 Apr 2010 at 14:34

starfighter said:
S3 money there.

No its not, an 8P S3 starts at about 17k!

starfighter · 8 Apr 2010 at 14:44

[TW]Fox;16323892 said:
No its not, an 8P S3 starts at about 17k!

Obviously not the new model.

It is a serious suggestion, 4WD and petrol would be a nice upgrade but if you don't mind an older car the 8L Audi S3 looks very good for its age.

Maybe I just want one, only an opinion after all.

[TW]Fox · 8 Apr 2010 at 14:52

I dont understand why you think he should get a much older 3 door version of a previous generation car to the one he is after which is barely any more powerful?

Perhaps you can explain?

starfighter · 8 Apr 2010 at 15:03

You are probably right, I suppose the older S3 doesn't perform as well as it looks.

zain · 8 Apr 2010 at 15:13

10k is a good price providing it hasn't done high mileage and everything checks out, if you want just a bit more power I would get a remap as the running costs on a 2.0TQ will be quite a bit more.

The S3 performance isn't really any higher than a 2.0TQ but modified an 8L S3 can be as fast as an M3!

LSPIII · 8 Apr 2010 at 15:19

zain said:
10k is a good price providing it hasn't done high mileage and everything checks out, if you want just a bit more power I would get a remap as the running costs on a 2.0TQ will be quite a bit more.

The S3 performance isn't really any higher than a 2.0TQ but modified an 8L S3 can be as fast as an M3!

Now I'm a big defender of the 8L S3 for obvious reasons. But on a par with an M3, modified or not, it is not...

Firestar_3x · 8 Apr 2010 at 15:22

LSPIII said:
But on a par with an M3, modified or not, it is not...

Would be if you chucked 20k at it.............

LSPIII · 8 Apr 2010 at 15:33

Firestar_3x said:
Would be if you chucked 20k at it.............

Now you're just being silly

zain · 8 Apr 2010 at 16:31

I say what I see...an RS6 engine in an 8L S3 sold for about 19k a few months ago. The car was on Pistonheads but no longer is.

I'm not comparing it or anything, simply stating the potential of such a motor.

Participant · 8 Apr 2010 at 16:35

zain said:
I say what I see...an RS6 engine in an 8L S3 sold for about 19k a few months ago. The car was on Pistonheads but no longer is.

I'm not comparing it or anything, simply stating the potential of such a motor.

Well you can modify a Vauxhall Nova to be faster than a Mitsubishi Evo. So what is the question?

Sugar Free · 8 Apr 2010 at 16:40

The older S3 isn't a bad looking car, it's held up quite well in that regard but other than having 25PS over the 2.0 TFSI what else do you get for something that would be around 3 years older?

Siliconslave · 8 Apr 2010 at 17:33

Assuming you want/need 5 doors and 4wd (ish) then its not a bad option. The old a3/s3s were 3 door only, the VW/Seat versions are FWD only...

10k can buy allot of car, a properly thought out spec me thread would probably have been a better way to go

andicole0 · 8 Apr 2010 at 17:35

You would get a nice Scooby for that money.

Andi.

LSPIII · 8 Apr 2010 at 17:36

Sugar Free said:
The older S3 isn't a bad looking car, it's held up quite well in that regard but other than having 25PS over the 2.0 TFSI what else do you get for something that would be around 3 years older?

Now ask yourself what the difference is between an older M3 and a newer 335. It's the same principle! The older S3 outperforms the newer A3 in... I'm not even going to waste my time...

That said, the OP wants something with more grunt than his diesel. I personally think the newer TFSI would suit better bearing in mind the little info gleaned from the post.

[TW]Fox · 8 Apr 2010 at 17:38

LSPIII said:
Now ask yourself what the difference is between an older M3 and a newer 335. It's the same principle!

No, it absolutely is not! The S3 is held up by some as being some sort of M3 equivilent. It isnt. The difference between an M car and a regular BMW and an RS series Audi and a regular Audi is far greater than the difference between an S3 and a normal A3.

The S3 was a 'sporty' high end A3. A decent car, but its not quite the tarmac weapon that its owners will have you beleive.

The S3 8L is inferior to an 8P 2.0T FSI Quattro S-Line in as many ways, if not more so, as its superior.

Stop putting the car up on a pedestal on which it does not belong.

In terms of concept/execution an A3 2.0TFSI S-LIne and an 8L S3 are far, far closer than 8L fanboys will have you beleive.

Infact I'm waiting for a list of ways in which the S3 is vastly superior, please.

LSPIII · 8 Apr 2010 at 17:57

[TW]Fox;16324995 said:
The difference between an M car and a regular BMW and an RS series Audi and a regular Audi is far greater than the difference between an S3 and a normal A3.

I'll concede that point... The RS is the equivalent of ///M division. But... Did I not say in like 3 post previously that the S3 is not the equivalent of the M3? :rolleyes:

Why not read the thread and not a single post?

The 8L S3 v the 8P A3 is a tough argument. I've already stated I think the A3 will fit better in this scenario. The S3 will be faster on a point-to-point than the A3, suspension and brakes make that difference. The S3 does have a better standard kit list. The S3 will cost more to run. There are more differences than you would have us all believe.

I'm normally in agreement with you over most matters, but your response was pure provocation.

Want me to sound really screwed up? The 3-Series would be a better buy than an A3 or an S3...

[TW]Fox · 8 Apr 2010 at 18:09

LSPIII said:
I'll concede that point... The RS is the equivalent of ///M division. But... Did I not say in like 3 post previously that the S3 is not the equivalent of the M3?

You brought the M3 back in - I'm not comparing the S3 to the M3 but you seem to think it stands alone in a class of its own in the context of the rest of the A3 range. It doesn't.

The 8L S3 v the 8P A3 is a tough argument. I've already stated I think the A3 will fit better in this scenario. The S3 will be faster on a point-to-point than the A3, suspension and brakes make that difference. The S3 does have a better standard kit list. The S3 will cost more to run. There are more differences than you would have us all believe.

Why not educate us? Am I right in thinking the S3 doesnt have exotic brakes at all, infact only the Leon Cupra R got the brakes you'd expect a real flagship to have?

LSPIII · 8 Apr 2010 at 18:32

[TW]Fox;16325198 said:
You brought the M3 back in - I'm not comparing the S3 to the M3 but you seem to think it stands alone in a class of its own in the context of the rest of the A3 range. It doesn't.

We're both talking about it :confused:

And yes, the S3 does stand out from the A3?!? Why wouldn't it? Different suspension, brakes, track, steering, body panels, engine. I mean... What else do you want to change?

[TW]Fox;16325198 said:
Why not educate us? Am I right in thinking the S3 doesnt have exotic brakes at all, infact only the Leon Cupra R got the brakes you'd expect a real flagship to have?

They're not as good as the Cupra R, no, but you asked me to compare the S3 with the A3 not the rest of the cars on Earth. Brembos they ain't, granted, but the S3 brakes are better than the A3.

When it comes to BMW, I will gladly put my hands up and concede I don't know enough to argue, but you've given me nothing to indicate you have the same level of knowledge on the VAG range.

Any more questions?