Adam C
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Jan 07
Location: Cornwall UK Drives:Arden Blue Gsi T
User status: Offline
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Well Insurance runs out on the Gsi in a couple of months time, and have been considering parting ways with Vauxhall for another brand.
Looked at a few cars such such as Type R's, MK4 Golf's and Ibiza Cupra's etc but noticed that Audi S3's are also in my price range.
Couple I have spotted online are both '99 plates and in yellow
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Picture to give you an example.
I know there is a few owners and ex-owners on here so just wanted to know what they have been like to live with and run, any common faults to look out for and check etc.
Also noticed the few Ive seen in my price range are on around 90k - 120k motorway miles, having a guess that these engines are pretty reliable even with this sort of mileage?
Cheers for any info
My Arden Blue Astra GSi MK4 on BBS LM's Project Thread
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Ian W
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Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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Mines on 111k now, given me no real problems and I do about 15k a year.
Good car, does everything well imo.
My mates has a MK4 Astra Coupe and the S3 wins hands down in terms of quality and comfort.
If you have a MK4 GSi then I assume you will be used to lowish mpg which is the the only real downside.
Oh there expensive to mod, lowered mine about 2 years ago and it came to about £900 once you have bought rear tie bars and decent shocks and springs.
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Joe
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Registered: 20th Jun 04
Location: Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
User status: Offline
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Great cars imo. Love mine.
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Adam C
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Jan 07
Location: Cornwall UK Drives:Arden Blue Gsi T
User status: Offline
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The S3 seems to offer everything I wanted in the Astra and more, Im used to the poor Mpg so thats not a problem.
And like you say Ian its a similar case with the Astra, yes you can get a cheap coilover kit for less than 200 notes for the Astra but if I wanted coil overs on the Astra I would want something decent like kw and they are priced around £800 also iirc.
I pressume there is plenty of parts and tuning companies around aswell?
My Arden Blue Astra GSi MK4 on BBS LM's Project Thread
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Ian W
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Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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Yep, plenty of tuning stuff around, S3 uses the same 1.8T used across the VAG range at the time so no end of tuning options as far as i'm aware (although never really looked myself).
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Joe
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Registered: 20th Jun 04
Location: Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
User status: Offline
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Check out audi-sport.net mate. So much info on there.
Main faults are coil packs and water pump impellors dropping off. Not many other faults that are too common I don't think.
Repairs can be dear, cambelts and clutches are pretty big jobs. Maintenance itself isn't too bad and they are easy to work on if you are fairly competant.
Alot of people do/will slate them but I'm happy with mine as are most other S3 owners. Take a drive and see what you think.
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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S3
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Adam C
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Jan 07
Location: Cornwall UK Drives:Arden Blue Gsi T
User status: Offline
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Ideal, cheers for the advice
My Arden Blue Astra GSi MK4 on BBS LM's Project Thread
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MarkM
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Registered: 11th Apr 01
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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I like the newest shape one.
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Corsa Sport Gav
Member
Registered: 12th Feb 03
Location: Durham, County Durham Drives: A6 Allroad
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by Joe
Great cars imo. Love mine.
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Corsa Sport Gav
Member
Registered: 12th Feb 03
Location: Durham, County Durham Drives: A6 Allroad
User status: Offline
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keep an eye out for rust on rear arches and roof rails
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SAL
Premium Member
Registered: 19th Dec 05
Location: Radlett, Hertfordshire
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joe's looks nice, they are rly good cars ! should of got one over my gsi
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antnee
Member
Registered: 30th Dec 07
Location: Cov Drives: Clio 197
User status: Offline
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MAF's are another thing which are common to go on the 1.8T's
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Mark.W
Member
Registered: 3rd Jan 07
Location: County Durham
User status: Offline
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What kind of mpg do you get out the 1.8 turbos?
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antnee
Member
Registered: 30th Dec 07
Location: Cov Drives: Clio 197
User status: Offline
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Usual is around 25mpg I think, I know of people who have had high 30's though
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Mark.W
Member
Registered: 3rd Jan 07
Location: County Durham
User status: Offline
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Not bad then,sounds like there better on fuel than the gsi's.
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Adam C
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Jan 07
Location: Cornwall UK Drives:Arden Blue Gsi T
User status: Offline
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I was getting around 23-24mpg around town in the Gsi after my front bcs and map sensor where replaced, its gone back down to 18mpg after the eml came back on though
My Arden Blue Astra GSi MK4 on BBS LM's Project Thread
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DERV-POWER
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Registered: 13th Sep 09
Location: Greenfield, Flintshire
User status: Offline
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make sure rear diff has had oil and filter changed, and make sure steering has no play in common problem and will need new steering rack
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adiohead
Member
Registered: 28th Sep 01
User status: Offline
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I was gonna shop my LCR in for one, but now my car is fixed I don't want to.
do like S3's though and would be better in the winter than my car.
Since having my EGT sensor fitted I now absolutely love my engine 
[Edited on 02-06-2010 by adiohead]
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stubbsy05
Member
Registered: 23rd Oct 02
User status: Offline
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Seriously have a look at LCRs too!
Love my LCR210 rempapped to 265bhp.
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belton
Member
Registered: 23rd Jul 09
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
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My mate had an s3 (08) and it wad the most comfortable car ever, certainly got him alot of respect. Very grown up car. And incredibly quick. I think it was 265 standard or sumin. But chopped it in for another VCR for a few months as it just got too boring
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Corsa Sport Gav
Member
Registered: 12th Feb 03
Location: Durham, County Durham Drives: A6 Allroad
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by wooly101uk
What kind of mpg do you get out the 1.8 turbos?
i get around 22mpg for general driving, on a motorway run ive had mine to 38mpg
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Joe
Member
Registered: 20th Jun 04
Location: Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
User status: Offline
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Mine's been stuck on 23mpg for as long as I care to remember.
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Ian W
Member
Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by Corsa Sport Gav
quote: Originally posted by wooly101uk
What kind of mpg do you get out the 1.8 turbos?
i get around 22mpg for general driving, on a motorway run ive had mine to 38mpg
Ye, probably about the same on mine.
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adiohead
Member
Registered: 28th Sep 01
User status: Offline
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Do the S3's have Brembos?
they cost a lot to replace (calipers, i mean) 
my last service/repair bill was shocking
[Edited on 02-06-2010 by adiohead]
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