Old shape Audi S3 ............

[g1zmo26]

Hey, looking for any owners past and present for advice on what to look for and stuff

Thanks Stuart

[Shug]

As in Audi?

[g1zmo26]

Yep bud as in Audi lol thanks

[Shug]

Elaine had one for something like 4 years and the worst that went wrong with it was a boot switch, from memory - oh, and a Lambda sensor. Dunno when they are getting to this age, standard stuff I presume - check turbo isn't blowing out blue smoke, find an empty carpark and drive in decreasing circles slowly, both directions, to hear for 4WD grumbles (a Boag tip) Steering is a bit numb, but they all are. Should pull like a train when it hits boost. Is it the later 225 model (from memory, there were two versions of this - the 225 was the later one)? Can't remember the exact differences, but I seem to remember it revolved round a facelift (although that could just be S8 - I'm getting confused in my old age)

[douglasgdmw]

I don't know if it affects the Audi's but we hada Leon Cupra (which is more or less the same with shared VAG components) and it had issues with the Ignition Coils.

Its a relatively simple fix but you ended up buying the whole lot as they would fail pretty close to each other.

George

[Shug]

Coils were an issue on that engine since almost day one I believe - although I seem to remember there was an uprated part that finally solved it (you'd hope would be installed by this stage) Elaine's never gave a hint of that issue though, so was by no means universal. Point well raised though and important to ask the seller if they know about it.

[Doc883]

I have a 2002 Audi A4 Avant which has suffered badly with corrosion on both front wings. Audi know it as edge/fold and dependant on which Audi garage you report it to and even down to individual warranty managers some acknowledge it as a claim under the 12yr anti-corrosion warranty and others will do their level best to fob you off. I was half and half with Edinburgh West VW/Audi (when they were Audi authorised) rejecting my claim twice for the off-side wing then a few months later Edinburgh Audi approved my near-side wing for exactly the same thing, go figure Ended up getting a new n/s/f wing under warranty and had to pay for the o/s/f myself as I had a temp repair at a non-approved bodyshop in Bathgate.
A friend at work has a 2001 S3 and she has really bad corrosion along the roofline on both sides (rain gutter) pretty much the full length of the car. I told her to get it along to Audi but she is relucatnt to do so. Apart from that it had been reasonably reliable and she has had the car from new now with about 90k miles.
Is it a black S3 in Bishopbriggs by any chance ?

[g1zmo26]

Nice one guys. Yeah shug it's the 225 one. And it's not your old age your right there was a 210 one and then they face lifted it as at first they didn't want to piss on the tt prade! it's proving hard work trying to find a nice one but am in no rush but want one what kinda mpg did you get bud as am getting lots of different answers.

Thanks Stuart

[g1zmo26]

Thanks doc and yes that's one on the radar still to go and see it. Do you know anything about it?

Thanks stuart

[Shug]

Nice one guys. Yeah shug it's the 225 one. And it's not your old age your right there was a 210 one and then they face lifted it as at first they didn't want to piss on the tt prade! it's proving hard work trying to find a nice one but am in no rush but want one what kinda mpg did you get bud as am getting lots of different answers.

Thanks Stuart

I didn't drive it much - but she drove it like she stole it and I think (hazy memory) average sat at about 25.

[Doc883]

Thanks doc and yes that's one on the radar still to go and see it. Do you know anything about it?
Thanks stuart

Hi Stuart, no knowledge off the car but had seen the advert on pistonheads but seems at the higher end price-wise for that car/age. Saying that find a good one and you'd probably have very little depreciation. MPG I'd be reckoning on low 30's with mixed driving and a light right foot

[g1zmo26]

Thanks doc and yes that's one on the radar still to go and see it. Do you know anything about it?
Thanks stuart

Hi Stuart, no knowledge off the car but had seen the advert on pistonheads but seems at the higher end price-wise for that car/age. Saying that find a good one and you'd probably have very little depreciation. MPG I'd be reckoning on low 30's with mixed driving and a light right foot

Yeah it's a bit high up the price scale but if it's clean then might be worth it. Plus your right one of the reasons am looking for one because I think it will depreciation very little. Plus for some strange reason I have an itch for 4wd.

Thanks stuart

[Mike Scib]

I ran one for 14 months Stuart which is pretty impressive for me

Loved mine as a road car once i had it mapped by Star performance running 250/250 with peak power coming in at 5300rpm IIRC, almost diesel like in its power delivery! Handling was super safe, no fuss, no drama.... probably the fastest B road car i have had. However with the handling being so safe it was a bit boring on track with no tail out action because it runs a Haldex 4 wheel drive system. Driving in circles to hear grumbles as Shug said will not work as its front wheel drive until the fronts start to spin then it will only transfer up to 50% of the power to the rear. You can buy a Uprated haldex controller however its pretty expensive at £500 plus but will then transfer up to 70% i think it was. Once mine was mapped i upgraded the brakes to 4 pot Brembo's which where a good improvement over standard.

Pretty sure mine was getting about 23mpg which wasn't great. Never had any problems with mine in 15k.

I would buy a S3 everytime over a Scooby/Evo

Will be starting my own hot hatch thread soon as thinking about changing again.....

[H8OAG]

I have had a couple of these and agree with most of what has been said already

Disagree with MikeScrib.........

Driving in ever decreasing circles will not only show up bearing noises........it will also demonstrate if the 4 wheel drive/Haldex is working
My cousin drove one for a year on two wheel drive..........and didn't notice
Haldex oil needs changed and ECU's sometimes play up resulting in two wheel drive only

They are good allrounders but at that age you have to start looking at the following in no particular order:-

The paintwork was never wonderful (water based paints) and some of the early ones had to get repainted under warranty (mine included)
Look for rust along the roof rails and bottom of the doors

All pipework/hoses under the bonnet as they get brittle with age and the heat of the turbo
(There is a mod to remove a lot of the vacuum pipes.........but I never carried it out)

Electronic Dash Display can be problematic and can also lose pixels in the display

Coil Packs - as previously stated

Suspension bushes - ARB's will be pretty shagged on a car of that era

Last but not least - A lot of high miler VAG group cars suffer clutch problems and it can be down to a failing/failed slave cylinder.
Not a huge job but give the clutch a serious workout to determine its condition

I did 70,000 miles in a 2001 Model and averaged 31mpg on the motorway - 27mpg around town

[Mike Scib]

Disagree with MikeScib.........

Driving in ever decreasing circles will not only show up bearing noises........it will also demonstrate if the 4 wheel drive/Haldex is working
My cousin drove one for a year on two wheel drive..........and didn't notice
Haldex oil needs changed and ECU's sometimes play up resulting in two wheel drive only

Driving slowly in circles as Shug said will not generate any wheel slip from the front so the Haldex will not activate, therefore no noises from the 4 wheel drive system will be heard