Re: S3
 

Yeah, the audi technology is pretty complex and it would be hard to
troubleshoot a lemon.

Unfortunately you seem to be turning to all the wrong marquis. If it's
reliability you want, then Toyota/Lexus, Honda and Suberu have better
reputations than the Germans. And can't even be compared to the American and
British.


"Paul Norris" <paul.pn@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:m8v8t1d6mqgcqaq8euaa4gsnjcsvaiktt0@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 21:14:56 +1100, "LiFe" <lifers4@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Hehe, you thought Audi was unreliable and then you tried Jag?
>>
>>lol
>
> The diiference was that at least Jag knew what the problem was
> staright away, a water leak, whereas Audi could could not diagnose the
> problem after 10 months. The S3 was so complicated that it was
> defeating their own technicians.
>>
>>
>>"Paul Norris" <paul.pn@virgin.net> wrote in message
>>news:g04cs1luftvbunek4j6eb0vrag83pgcbtj@4ax.com. ..
>>> On 11 Jan 2006 08:46:31 -0800, dan_martland@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
>>>
>>>>vw-stuff wrote:
>>>>> Hello
>>>>> Looking to change by VW Golf GTi for an Audi S3. Would really
>>>>> appreciate
>>>>> your comments on the S3 regarding reliability/performance etc.
>>>>> Is there really a difference between the 210 and 225bhp models?
>>>>>
>>>>> TIA
>>>>
>>>>Hello,
>>>>
>>>>I have just sold my MY2000 S3 last week. There are three 'types' of S3
>>>>available:
>>>>210bhp Pre-Face Lift,
>>>>210bhp Post-Face Lift, and
>>>>225bhp Post-Face Lift.
>>>>
>>>>The face lift involved primarily a change to the lights and the dash
>>>>board of the car IIRC. My car was 210bhp and pre-face lift. My
>>>>experience with the driver community for S3s is that there is very
>>>>little difference between the 210bhp and 225bhp cars in the real world.
>>>> The history behind the cars is that Audi wanted to make the TT
>>>>'faster' than the S3 and so originally the TT had 225bhp whilst the S3
>>>>had 210bhp.
>>>>
>>>>I bought my car at 6 months old, with 2k miles on the clock. Over the
>>>>5 years or so that I had the car I upped the mileage to 95k miles
>>>>(mostly motorway) with no reliability issues. Just make sure that the
>>>>car has a full service history (from an Audi dealership or independent
>>>>specialist) and has had the cam belt changed at 80k miles if
>>>>applicable.
>>>>
>>>>The standard S3 is not as quick as some other hot hatches or an Impreza
>>>>WRX, but is IMO the most refined hot hatch available. It blends
>>>>performance, luxury, practicality and prestige with discrete styling.
>>>>
>>>>If you want the S3 to really be a performance car then you need to get
>>>>it modified. There is a thriving modification community for the S3
>>>>(and other VAG cars with similar mechanicals). Over the life time of
>>>>my car I spent £4500 on having it enhanced, with an engine remap,
>>>>sports exhaust, uprated brakes and suspension. These mods raised the
>>>>car from excellent to outstanding. I had my car modified when it had
>>>>55k miles on the clock and there was no reduction in reliability and no
>>>>reduction in motorway fuel economy. I can certainly recommend the
>>>>modification route if you have the funds to do it correctly - the best
>>>>improvements to the car were suspension and brakes (which were also the
>>>>most costly changes too).
>>>>
>>>>As an upgrade from a Golf GTi, I think the S3 would be hard to beat.
>>>>It takes all the qualities of the GTi and turns the dial up to 10,
>>>>whilst actually being a more discrete car to own as only enthusiasts
>>>>usually recognise it.
>>>>
>>>>I would suggest checking out www.audi-sport.net as a thriving Audi
>>>>community.
>>>>
>>>>Cheers
>>>>Dan
>>>
>>> I had a post face lift S3 225BHP model. I leased it for 18 months and
>>> over a 10 month period it broke down 4 times with engine management
>>> failures. That is all the warning lights came on and car would not do
>>> more than 20mph - very scary on the outside lane of a motorway in the
>>> wet. Audi had the car for over 6 weeks trying to find the fault but
>>> kept returning the car as No Fault Found. That was even after Audi
>>> sent on of their ADTs (Audi Dedicated Technicians) out to the last
>>> breakdown to diagnose the fault at the roadside. All they could do was
>>> reset the engine management system. I cancelled the lease in the end
>>> because neither my wife or I could trust the car and AUDI paid me some
>>> compensation for the 6 weeks off the road.
>>>
>>> I had liitle faith in Audi or their dealers to actually understand
>>> these cars. Remember that Which said the TT 225BHP was the most
>>> unreliable car they ever tested with a one in four chance of a
>>> breakdown in the first year.
>>>
>>> The performance was good but the handling was a bit dead with very
>>> little feedback through the steering. It was hard to feel the car
>>> through bends which didn't inspire confidence.
>>>
>>> I tried an 3.0 X-type Jag after that but it brokedown on the test
>>> drive!! I used to drive Alfas and went back to them as they proved to
>>> be more reliable and much more fun to drive. I drive around 40,000
>>> miles a year.
>>
>