Another what car thread...

[Curt]

You don't need to get a BAM, they're not the be all and end all. They're all very similar. The only real difference is 20mm wrist pins over 19mm, but that's not the only engine to have them. AGU has a large port head so is good for going BT (mine's AGU), but they're the earlier engines which you don't get in S3s. All 1.8Ts have forged cranks and pistons, it's the rods that go.

All S3s will map the to the same regardless whether they're 210 or 225.

Possible power figures on stock internals vary greatly,but 350 is definitely pushing it.

[Tom]

Browsing ebay pistonheads autotrader etc, come across this one i like...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/a...?logcode=p

Theres plenty more i like but i havent got them open atm. Trying to find a standard/reasonably standard one. Even though one someones already started modding might save me some money.

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http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/u...iment=true

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/u...iment=true

Couple other nice ones there. The full history is something i really want. A replacement clutch would be nice around 100k aswell. Cambelt goes without saying, they're 70k i think.

[C.A.R.]

Were you ever familiar with Iain on theywhoshallnotbenamed? He went 306 XSi > GTi6 conversion > Gen 6 Celica > Audi S3. He is happy with his but it's not problem-free and from what he says it's pretty uneconomical to run, but he may be able to offer some pointers.

Curts 1.8T looks stunning IMO, doesn't carry the heavy 'not-really-a-Quattro' drivetrain about and is probably just as quick 90% of the time wouldn't you say Curt?

Obviously the S3 has the bodykit, fancy seats, bigger brakes etc but is it really worth the extra weight and costs (not least insurance?)

[Curt]

I'm happy with mine for the most part, and I'd say has more useble power more of the time with the smaller turbo and minimal lag. Once it has the KO3S and accompanying mods it'll be significantly quicker than a standard S3 and probably close to a mapped one.

Haldex does have its benefits when it comes to the fact that if the grip is there, all the power will be going to the front wheels. But when it needs it, you do have 4WD and the extra grip that goes with it. You can also get Haldex controllers to change the split of power and remap the specific ECU to what you want.

It's not just a body kit however, the S3 has wider wings and quarter panels which is what gives it its look. There's many other things as well, which makes them pretty desirable.

Most things are very different on the S3 compared to A3, but the brakes are easy to convert. All you need is carriers and discs. Although the general consensus is that it's not a worth while upgrade and to go for Cupra/R32 Brembos.

I love my A3, but I will be getting an S3 one day.

[Tom]

Looking here there and everywhere for a nice one of these still, found one on ebay, and the guy had the cheek to say hes not open to offers, so back to looking around. Cant sort my insurance until 29th of this month so im in no rush, just going to carry on saving and looking around

[Toms306]

Months soon disappear. Trust me, it'll be the 28th and you'll think 'oh shit' and buy the first dog you see. Not that that's from experience or anything....

[Tom]

Im going to be prepared :p Having second thoughts on what to buy constantly, the seats with the 1.8 turbo engine are way cheaper than an S3

[Toms306]

Octy VRS will be cheaper too. Depends what you're after though, personally I like good spec and a good interior....the lower VAGs won't beat the Audi for that... However if you're not fussed by that, go for once of the cheaper cars with a cheaper interior...

[Curt]

Nothing in the range looks as good or will be as quality as the 8L. The benefit is there's less chance of anything else going missing as I'll have to steal an S3...

[THE_Liam]

Octy VRS will be cheaper too. Depends what you're after though, personally I like good spec and a good interior....the lower VAGs won't beat the Audi for that... However if you're not fussed by that, go for once of the cheaper cars with a cheaper interior...

DONT get an Octavia. Utterly shite cars.

[Toms306]

Octy VRS will be cheaper too. Depends what you're after though, personally I like good spec and a good interior....the lower VAGs won't beat the Audi for that... However if you're not fussed by that, go for once of the cheaper cars with a cheaper interior...

DONT get an Octavia. Utterly shite cars.

I said they were cheap (comparatively), not necessarily good.

I'd still go for the Audi myself lol, the extra cost really does show.

[Niall]

Octy VRS will be cheaper too. Depends what you're after though, personally I like good spec and a good interior....the lower VAGs won't beat the Audi for that... However if you're not fussed by that, go for once of the cheaper cars with a cheaper interior...

DONT get an Octavia. Utterly shite cars.

I wouldn't agree with that. My old one was a right trooper. Just would not give up and believe me if you saw how i treat my cars, you would be surprised lol

[THE_Liam]

Octy VRS will be cheaper too. Depends what you're after though, personally I like good spec and a good interior....the lower VAGs won't beat the Audi for that... However if you're not fussed by that, go for once of the cheaper cars with a cheaper interior...

DONT get an Octavia. Utterly shite cars.

I wouldn't agree with that. My old one was a right trooper. Just would not give up and believe me if you saw how i treat my cars, you would be surprised lol

Wasn't yours a mark 2?

[Niall]

Octy VRS will be cheaper too. Depends what you're after though, personally I like good spec and a good interior....the lower VAGs won't beat the Audi for that... However if you're not fussed by that, go for once of the cheaper cars with a cheaper interior...

DONT get an Octavia. Utterly shite cars.

I said they were cheap (comparatively), not necessarily good.

I'd still go for the Audi myself lol, the extra cost really does show.

Lol it really doesn't. The interior of my Octavia was basically the same as a Audi A4. Same engine as the older ones. Your paying for a badge.

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DONT get an Octavia. Utterly shite cars.

I wouldn't agree with that. My old one was a right trooper. Just would not give up and believe me if you saw how i treat my cars, you would be surprised lol

Wasn't yours a mark 2?

Yeah good point. Ive never been in a Mk1 in all fairness so don't know what the quality of them was like.

[THE_Liam]

Shite, everything breaks and costs 4 grand to fix, and they smell like stale glue.

[Pebbles167]

Lolvo S60r? Great car to be honest. Massively capable!

[Toms306]

Ah, I was also thinking mk1 (neighbour had one), don't know about the mk2 interior. I doubt they got the dual zone electronic climate and stuff like the newer Audis do though?

[Ruan]

Another car that I think you should try would be a Celica GT-4, if you can find a decent one in budget. Cracking cars, I will own one.

These are pretty epic, mate had one and the acceleration was nuts and could hold its own in the corners. That said he blew two engines and then broke it for parts in less than a year

EDIT: From Midnightclub, f*cking Emma.. ¬_¬

3S-GTEs are sadly an amazing engine destroyed by poor design.

[Ruan]

Lolvo S60r? Great car to be honest. Massively capable!

Amazing car, love it, would have one in a heartbeat...

Insanely expensive to run, maintain and fix... You will more than likely have Haldex issues and the blocks crack for fun being based upon the 2.5l rather than the T5 block.

[Pebbles167]

Yep, haldex issues are a big problem. So too is the 2.5 engine.

Possibly a 2.4 with a modest bit of work would be better? (in terms of cost/performance mix) No 4wd to go wrong and a tougher block?

[Ruan]

Aye so back to a T5, bet you FourC won't be working properly after 100k or so either... But sadly to get a T5 handing like a 3k e46 would cost you another 3k and you'd still be roasting the inside wheel out of every corner...

2.4 vvt me7 on a getrag box, in a 240 saloon... Now we're talking...

[Curt]

Liam, I know you had a bad experience but you had bad luck. You can't tar them all with the same brush, and they're all essentially the same car underneath so it's not just Octavias.

Oh and Audis are built better than the alternatives... I do have some experience in this area.

[lewisdmz]

Older Audi S4's are silly cheap now, 6 cylinder turbo, not exactly 'nimble' but, they serve a purpose....

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/u...iment=true