S3 8p sportback

[Tomh182]

Thought i’d create a thread to document ownership of my recently purchased S3.

Bought this car to replace my RB which I recently sold.
Car has done 73000, FSH including haldex and DSG service. immaculate inside and out.

Such a great car to drive, thought I'd miss driving a manuel after owning the Clio but the s-tronic is fantastic.

Couple of photos from the first day of ownership.

 

[Darren61]

Like it, launches well and have great tuning potential.

Good on longer journeys and when needing to overtake. Terrible when thrown into a few bends.

 

[Tomh182]

After owning the car for a week, an rs3 grill was fitted. Mixed opinions I know, but I personally think it modernizes the front end.

recently decided to have it 'stage 1' mapped. car felt instantly quicker, more responsive. As many people have agreed, its how the S3 should have come out of the showroom. Whilst it was in for the map, a new DV+ diverter valve was replaced for piece of mind.

 

[Philip.]

Looks good and I really like these in red! DSG/Semi auto gearboxes are so the way forward, literally zero complaints and even better when mapped!

 

[Tomh182]

Looks good and I really like these in red! DSG/Semi auto gearboxes are so the way forward, literally zero complaints and even better when mapped!

Effortless driving! was worried I'd regret not buying a manual but it really is great.

 

[Darren61]

Personally think the understated looks of the S3 (including its original front grill) are what make it what it is. Blends in nicely with the TDI’s but has some proper go about it.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Looked great until you went all Bradford on the front grille 😂

 

[Tomh182]

Looked great until you went all Bradford on the front grille 😂

😂mixed opinions I know! not 100% on It either, may change it back in the future.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

😂mixed opinions I know! not 100% on It either, may change it back in the future.

Immediately FFS.

Cheapens it immensely.

Car looked absolutely cracking .. sort it out

 

[ChrisR]

The RS grill wouldn't look as bad if it had silver rings and trim around the edge rather than everything black.

 

[welshname]

Love these. Would like one as a replacement to the ED30 but can’t justify the cost difference to get a nice one

 

[roberto.]

Looks very nice, and would tend to agree regarding the grill. With it not being black edition, i think it needs some silver bits. Ive recently just got rid of my S3, I loved it! Whose mapped it?

 

[Tomh182]

Looks very nice, and would tend to agree regarding the grill. With it not being black edition, i think it needs some silver bits. Ive recently just got rid of my S3, I loved it! Whose mapped it?

Haha yeah, the grill doesn’t seem too popular! I did see yours for sale on here, would have snapped it up it was a 5 door! Was mapped by a local reputable company, just a generic map. Will head to R-tech in the future if i decide on more power!

 

[Speedo Gonzales]

Don't listen to these stupid old c***s, they wear bootcut jeans, they're just about hanging onto their hairline and still think women are attracted to them. Cretins 😂

The RS3 grille looks way better

 

[danward]

Looks great that. I like the RS3 grille, I'd maybe have silver rings but the rest looks good IMO.

 

[boultonn]

Very nice motor, I was never that sure about S3s until I started looking for something fast and comfortable and ended up buying one last year, gave me a greater appreciation for the older ones too. It really does everything and s-tronic is proper superb.

 

[davo172]

Once you drive a dsg car you will never want a manual again.
Great colour and the grill looks way better if I ever but an audi it will be a black edition the chrome looks too bradford and chintzy imo

 

[Willo40]

Car looks great mate, i think the grill looks nice to, but you can't listen to me as i have a white care with black wheels... 😂 .

I did look at these before i bought mine, but noise won out for me in the end, but i imagine they are a great daily, specially with DSG, i wouldn't have manual car again now i don't think.

 

[Djw John]

Don't listen to these stupid old c***s, they wear bootcut jeans, they're just about hanging onto their hairline and still think women are attracted to them. Cretins 😂

The RS3 grille looks way better

Careful, we can see your Bradford hanging out

 

[Martin_172]

We look after one of these for a customer at work, its on 160k and gets hammered everywhere and its been flawless other than wear and tear! even at those miles.

Just fitted a non res scorpion and it sounds fantastic, quiet enough you could live with it all day long but a nice note on boost. highly recomended

 

[davo172]

We look after one of these for a customer at work, its on 160k and gets hammered everywhere and its been flawless other than wear and tear! even at those miles.

Just fitted a non res scorpion and it sounds fantastic, quiet enough you could live with it all day long but a nice note on boost. highly recomended

These engines are bullet proof if serviced correctly run big power on std internals and get quicker and make more power as the miles go on when std.

 

[davo172]

Get some decent security on it thou or I will soon dissapear.

 

[Speedo Gonzales]

Careful, we can see your Bradford hanging out

Whoops

 

[Tomh182]

We look after one of these for a customer at work, its on 160k and gets hammered everywhere and its been flawless other than wear and tear! even at those miles.

Just fitted a non res scorpion and it sounds fantastic, quiet enough you could live with it all day long but a nice note on boost. highly recomended

Good to hear Martin!
The plan was to keep in relatively standard but i think its crying out for a slightly louder exhaust! Nothing too Bradford though, ha!

 

[Tomh182]

Get some decent security on it thou or I will soon dissapear.

It Does seem like c**ts like to nick these! Will have to sort a clamp of some sorts!

 

[Darren61]

Whoops

View attachment 1519493

Greater Bradford? 😂😉

 

[davo172]

It Does seem like c**ts like to nick these! Will have to sort a clamp of some sorts!

Disklok and autowatch ghost or better still pandora mini bt

 

[Speedo Gonzales]

Greater Bradford? 😂😉

Technically I live in Queensbury...

Thats what I tell people anyway😭😂

 

[ChrisR]

Disklok and autowatch ghost or better still pandora mini bt

urgh not a Pandora, or anything Bluetooth

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OP is in Bournemouth? Wouldn’t think it’s a hotbed of car crime and wouldn’t be overly worried about it being pinched from there.

 

[roberto.]

I never worried about mine being stolen. It's a ten year old S3, just drive and enjoy it.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Good to hear Martin!
The plan was to keep in relatively standard but i think its crying out for a slightly louder exhaust! Nothing too Bradford though, ha!

Does anything change when you put it in sport mode ?

My B8 S4 made more noise.. I guess a valve opened somewhere..

 

[boultonn]

Does anything change when you put it in sport mode ?

My B8 S4 made more noise.. I guess a valve opened somewhere..

On mine you get more exhaust noice, heavier steering, faster shifts and it flicks it into sport gearbox for the longer gears

 

[Tomh182]

Only a small update. Again, not to everyones taste, but fitted a front splitter.

 

[Gally]

Love the car, I think the 8p was a good all rounder. The front grille detracts for what the car is, especially the classier softback. I had a guy with an S4 recently ask us to change the grille back to stock. The black looked completely out of place.

These grilles wouldn't be as bad if the rings were retained.

 

[davo172]

I never worried about mine being stolen. It's a ten year old S3, just drive and enjoy it.

I thought that with my 12 year old 172 I had from new that was knocked!!

 

[_Tom]

I think the splitter helps the grille really tie in.

 

[Willo40]

i think the splitter looks fine mate, as Tom says, it goes with the grill.

 

[Sj1782]

I always liked the sportbacks In red lovely colour!

 

[Tomh182]

I always liked the sportbacks In red lovely colour!

I think the red really suits them! followed your thread on your stage 2+. Was tempted to go down that route, but i think an 8p rs3 will be next. Need that 5 cylinder soundtrack!

 

[Tomh182]

Only a few small updates due to working overseas. The car recently undergone an oil/filter service along with the Cam follower.

I've recently had the wheels refurbed. Was planning to only go a little darker than the OEM silver as they were a nightmare to keep clean. They returned a lot darker than I was originally hoping for, but they're growing on me slowly and the finish is great.

Whilst they were off, the arches were given a good clean, fresh caliper paint, and fitted refurbed caliper retainers with the OEM S3 logo.