Test drove an S3 - help please!

tommytinkle · 12 Apr 2011 at 20:30

Hey,

Went and test drove an Audi S3 today, just wondering if the actual experience of it was normal -

The car itself was lovely, however on the test drive the lag was unbelievable. It didn't really start pulling hard until around 5.5k rpm and obviously it was all over very soon after.

Is this normal? Any suggestions of what the fault could be if not?

Thanks

ganesh · 12 Apr 2011 at 20:36

If the turbo wasn't spooling properly until 5.5k then something is definately wrong, just walk away, there are plenty of other s3s to choose from.

Clarkey · 12 Apr 2011 at 20:37

no, that's obviously not right. Why bother yourself with fault codes on somebody elses knackered car?

tommytinkle · 12 Apr 2011 at 20:38

Hey,

Figured as much, just wondered what peoples opinions were for possible faults?

Minstadave · 12 Apr 2011 at 20:39

I've got an A3 with the same 2.0T engine the S3 is based on, spools around 2.5k so sounds like the S3 was a dodgy one.

Clarkey · 12 Apr 2011 at 20:42

It will be some kind of fault with the wastegate actuator.

MeEsH BaKkA · 12 Apr 2011 at 20:43

tommytinkle said:
Hey,

Went and test drove an Audi S3 today, just wondering if the actual experience of it was normal -

The car itself was lovely, however on the test drive the lag was unbelievable. It didn't really start pulling hard until around 5.5k rpm and obviously it was all over very soon after.

Is this normal? Any suggestions of what the fault could be if not?

Thanks

Was this a new shape S3?

The one I have driven seemed to be on full boost by just over 3k and it was about 2 months old when I drove it.

The engine is not quite the same as the A3 2.0T unit as the S3 has a bigger turbo (k04s I believe) and larger intercooler which can increase lag.

Tute · 12 Apr 2011 at 21:00

Either way, 5.5K is too late for the turbo to start working. I'd walk well away, could be anything really from a small fault like a leak to the turbo being totally knackered.

Out of interest, Mk.I or II?

tommytinkle · 12 Apr 2011 at 21:20

Tute said:
Either way, 5.5K is too late for the turbo to start working. I'd walk well away, could be anything really from a small fault like a leak to the turbo being totally knackered.

Out of interest, Mk.I or II?

Hey mate,

Was 2001 plated?

Maxeh · 12 Apr 2011 at 22:10

As echoed above, should not be that amount of lag on an S3.

Dealer/private job? Give us some more info chap.

tommytinkle · 12 Apr 2011 at 22:19

Maxeh said:
As echoed above, should not be that amount of lag on an S3.

Dealer/private job? Give us some more info chap.

Hey mate,

Was a private sale, also been and driven one at Richards Specialist cars, and it went a lot better than the private one! It was however, grossly overpriced.

Maxeh · 12 Apr 2011 at 22:29

Seems to be a bit of fluctuation in the prices of S3s at the moment, what sort of spec are you after and a rough price range?

Fr0dders · 12 Apr 2011 at 22:31

posting on forums isnt writing a letter you know.

You don't have to start every post with "hey" or "hey mate" as some sort of substitute for "Dear Maxeh"

we know who you're referencing because you quoted him

Xez · 12 Apr 2011 at 22:33

If it's a 2001 plate it'll be boosting at 2k and loosing it at 5k. It either has one mahoosive after market turbo or there's something wrong.

InvaderGIR · 12 Apr 2011 at 22:34

MrLOL said:
posting on forums isnt writing a letter you know.

You don't have to start every post with "hey" or "hey mate" as some sort of substitute for "Dear Maxeh"

we know who you're referencing because you quoted him

You also don't have to reply to every damn thread just because you feel it needs your input.

:/

Fr0dders · 12 Apr 2011 at 22:38

InvaderGIR said:
You also don't have to reply to every damn thread just because you feel it needs your input.

:/

good job that out of the 25 + threads on page 1 i've only posted in 9 of them then.

And 2 of them are the massive ones that have been here forever

tommytinkle · 13 Apr 2011 at 13:00

MrLOL said:
posting on forums isnt writing a letter you know.

You don't have to start every post with "hey" or "hey mate" as some sort of substitute for "Dear Maxeh"

we know who you're referencing because you quoted him

Thats nice dude, its being polite imo. You don't like it - so what.

Eitherway, no more S3's for the time being!

Tute · 13 Apr 2011 at 13:03

tommytinkle said:
Hey mate,

Was 2001 plated?

Old shape then. I'd walk away, there are plenty of them around.

LSPIII · 13 Apr 2011 at 14:50

Definitely something wrong with it. Spool starts at around 2k, is at it's strongest by 3k and then steadily drops until about 6k when it hits the cliff. There's loads of them around mate so I'd hold off. The tidy ones are starting to get difficult to find!

lookitsjonno · 13 Apr 2011 at 15:34

sounds dodgy to me, as above spool starts at around 2k, had an 08 s3 for 3 years.