spook Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 I bought my 8L S3 new nearly 7 years ago, and have held onto it in eager anticipation of the new S3 being something special. Sadly, I share the views of many others on this forum in coming to the conclusion on the information available so far that it is not. I may be wrong, and it might drive better than some of the pundits are suggesting. However, even if it does (not likely in my view - Frankel of the Sunday Times and Autocar got it dead right first time about the 8L S3, so there's no reason to disbelieve him about the new one) there's no getting round the fact that it is still going to be hideously expensive to spec up the new S3 to a point where there is "clear blue water" between it and an S-Line. This has now got me thinking. I would be looking at spending upwards of £35k to spec a new S3 to the level I want (I'm a toys man ), and even then, it would still have a 4-cylinder engine (always hoped it would be a V6) and no DSG (big disappointment). Is this value for money? I have seen a 12 month-old A3 3.2 Q S-Line DSG, 40k miles but with a very high spec (including SatNav Plus, which is what I would put on the S3 at a ridiculous cost) for just over half of what I would be looking at for the new S3 with the spec I want. This 3.2 seems to me to be a lot of car for the money. What do people think? Does this make sense? Or am I jumping the gun? Could I live with an A3 after having an S3 for all this time? Or is the 8P A3, even in non-S3 form, so much better than the 8L that I won't look back? Also, I don't have a lot of knowledge of the 3.2, and would welcome the thoughts of anyone who has one, particularly the S-Line, who could tell me what I would be missing out on compared to my old S3. S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattSLine Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Although I love the 2.0T FSi engine in my A3 S-Line, the 3.2 just sounds awesome and in my opinion, all "S" cars should have V engines of some descrption. I nearly opted for the 3.2 but the missus just saw the 3.2 badge and thought "High Fuel Bills" eben though on paper it would be no more thirsty than her previous Zafira GSi which was 260bhp. Go for a specced up 3.2!!! Unless your into tuning then maybe the 2.0T would be a better option. Sub £30K should get you a new 3.2 S-Line with most options I would have thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Thing is which will lose the most as well. As you say 3.2 engines are not exactly frugal and fuel prices aren't going to go down anytime soon. The S3 whilst its had had a lukewarm reception is still the halo model of the range. Wait till the FULL reviews are out or have a drive of both before you decide IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattSLine Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Thing is which will lose the most as well. As you say 3.2 engines are not exactly frugal and fuel prices aren't going to go down anytime soon. The S3 whilst its had had a lukewarm reception is still the halo model of the range. Wait till the FULL reviews are out or have a drive of both before you decide IMO. [/ QUOTE ] Good point, I would have thought the new S3 will have good residuals. Look at a 3 year old 1.8 S3 compared to a 3 year old 1.8 T Sport Quattro, S3 is morth much more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mb Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Thing is which will lose the most as well. As you say 3.2 engines are not exactly frugal and fuel prices aren't going to go down anytime soon. The S3 whilst its had had a lukewarm reception is still the halo model of the range. Wait till the FULL reviews are out or have a drive of both before you decide IMO. [/ QUOTE ] Good point, I would have thought the new S3 will have good residuals. Look at a 3 year old 1.8 S3 compared to a 3 year old 1.8 T Sport Quattro, S3 is morth much more. [/ QUOTE ] If you go for a year or so old model the depreciation will probably work out a lot less than a new S3 over a few years as you seem to hang onto your cars - definitley wouldn't go for a new A3 3.2 at the moment ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeDesmo Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 [ QUOTE ] 3.2 engines are not exactly frugal..... [/ QUOTE ] Indeed....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdco2 Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 For Info.... 1) My 3.2 DSG is no worse than than the 2 ltr turbo I had previosuly... The Turbos are only more economical if you always granny them off boost . As soon as u light the lights then they chuck in the fuel to go with the greater air volumes... and who is gonna chug round grannying an S3... On a motorway run to london I managed to see over 30 MPG from home to the hotel in Kensington plus the average journey speed was respectable... On the flip side I dont know how the S3 will dpriciate But whoever traded mine after 18 months looks to have lost the thick end of 10k as totting the spec up the OTR price was 30k+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdco2 Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 oh.. alos forgot to say the V6 is lurvellyyyyy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 You have an average on all journeys over 32MPG then ? And can get 38mpg on a motorway cruise easy, peddling quick or not then ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdco2 Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 nope average on all journeys about 28... must be grannying it...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 The highest I saw on my test drive of a 3.2 was 21mpg I liked it though. Very quick, and DSG is great (although it would take a little getting used to, to get the best out of it). However, as CarMad has quite rightly said, wait a while until the S3 is around for a proper drive and there's some proper reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 What about chipping a 2.0T Sline? You'll get around the same power of the other 2 with the economy of the turbo. We get low 30s out of ours and both of our turbo cars work better at higher speed, its town driving taht kills them! Price will be much lower than either and if you think the S3 is not that much better than the lesser models then you'll not be losing anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliAUDI Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 S3 every time! Our car arrives (black and black) in november some time, and Ill be roadtesting it very soon. 3.2 is stunning, but S3 has better economy, better performance, better looks, and better manners.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Welcome to TSN. Report back when you have had a drive. Look forward to seeing the pics of yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeDesmo Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Mine avearges about 23 - 24mpg but I don't do many long runs. On a recent long journey (mostly m'way) I got around 30mpg but that was without A/C as it was broken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 I have a DSG 2.0T Sportback and mine is averaging 32mpg from when I bought it. It often gets thrashed within an inch of its life. On a motorway journey it car easily get 35 and I've seen 41mpg in heavy traffic on the motorway doing 60-70ish. Have to say thats impressive in my book of a car that has 200bhp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiller Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 [image]www.tyresmoke.net/gallery/album378/new_audi[/image] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted September 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Forgot to say, the car I'm looking at has half-leather sports seats without heating (bummer ). Does anybody know whether seat heating can be retrofitted? Sorry if this is an old chestnut, but I recall it once being said that these seats have the heating elements in them and just require the relays and dash switches to make them work. Is this correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdco2 Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Well Spook u deffinately re-ignited the age old argument cc's vs Turbo's this time polarised round the S3 or the 3.2 ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted September 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Well Spook u deffinately re-ignited the age old argument cc's vs Turbo's this time polarised round the S3 or the 3.2 ..... [/ QUOTE ] Controversial is my middle name. I note that a lot of old S3 owners have got tired of waiting for the new S3 and switched to the 3.2 - there must be a message there somewhere.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 S3 or 3.2DSG I think I would go for the 3.2 especially high spec, even if it does have 40k, at least you know it's been used very regularly and must have been all motorway miles for those miles in that time. used to get around 30 mpg overall out of my S3 (35mpg on a long motorway main road route, with 50+mph averages) We ( her indoors anyway)may end up with a Sportback 2.0T quattro ( or even 170 TDi quattro) but really would prefer DSG. Disappointed by S3 and not on her list, and a recent comment by Audi that there will be no more speedy TTs than what are already available may indicate that there is unlikely to be a 'better' S3 ( no RS3 ?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleyadam Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 New S3 anytime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin275 Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Isn't there an option C? From what I've read about the A3, it doesn't seem to offer a huge amount more than the A3 3.2. However, you should never base a decision on other peoples opinions because we all have different requirements and different tastes when it comes to cars (the way they behave, interiors, styling, 'feel good' factor etc). Out of those 2 I would buy an ex demo 3.2 because it would be better value, you could have DSG or a Sportback and most importantly, it will have a 6 cylinder engine. However, there are a number of better alternative available for £30k and not all of them have a BMW badge on the bonnet. Go on, widen your horizons, you can always buy an Audi if the competition doesn't appeal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdco2 Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Intresting point... had a chat witha guy today at a friends wedding who has done similar to me... gone reom a 2.0 Turbo (another scooby) to a V poser audi.... lucky sod managed to streach to an S4 though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliAUDI Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 with respect to an earlier comment. you can retro fit heated seats, but they are not the official audi fit-however, the work is warrantied through them i think. if you want details. mail me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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