By Bigsimon
on 27th Mar 2005
Bigsimon's Ratings| Year Manufactured | 2000 |
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| Length of ownership | 3 Months |
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| Performance | 9/10  |
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| Practicality | 7/10 |
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| Reliability | 9/10 |
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| Value for money | 10/10 |
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| Overall value | 9/10 |
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 Bigsimon's recommendation |
Good Points
Top End Power, Top Quality Finish (Interior & Exterior), Comfortable, Reliable, Reasonable to run, Power & Luxury, Awesome BOSE sound system.
Bad Points
Front Leg Room - I am 6ft 3 and find that my left shin presses against the centre consol in the car which is slightly anoying but this didn't stop me buying the car, I would have amputated my leg first!!
Not enough tuning options for the car, there are not many different options out there compared with other makes and models. Exhaust isn't loud enough.
General Comments
Everyone thinks that it's a normal standard car until they see that Gleaming Red S3 badge at the back of the car as you've just roared past, they know that it's something a bit special that commands respect from other road users. This is how I used to view the S3 before I bought one, what I didn't realise was the pure class that this car has in abundance.
The Audi S3 for me was the car that stopped my spending spree trying to find something that keeps me happy (long-term, not just a few months). In the last year I have had 2 x Skoda Octavia VRS, 1 x Skoda Superb Deisel, 1 x Subaru Impreza WRX UK300, and now the S3. In simple terms The Octavia VRS was a beautiful car which I enjoyed driving but after a while wanted more power, I then went for the Impreza which was Awesome for the first two months but then the cost of running this car meant that I had to look elsewhere for something economical and this is where the Skoda Superb came in, a massive car with all of the gadgets that you would want and 57 MPG on a long trip was brilliant but in honesty it just made me realise that I have Optimax in my vains and that I needed a sports car that was very quick but didn't cost an arm and a leg to run. One of my friends at work had recently bought an S3 and I went to have a look at it and was so impressed I went out and bought one. The car that I bought was in Sliver on an X plate, full leather recaro interior which are the most impressive front seats that I have ever seen in a car.
If you are looking to buy an Audi S3 I will give you straight forward advice from my experiences.
The S3 has possibly one of the nicest Interiors that you will find in the market when looking at sports cars, the quality of the dash and trim is exceptional. The Red and White dials that greet you in the evening send a shiver down your spine the heated seats warming the small of your back on a crisp winters morning give you a special feeling about your car.
I said to my father only yesterday that the Audi S3 is a unique car that can be a Jekall and Hyde type character, on one side a loving car that has all of the luxury and comfort that you could wish for and on the other side it can be a hardcore sports machine that will not shy away from confrontation with the likes of a Subaru Impreza, the S3 Top End power will see you ahead of the Impreza on a motorway cruise but the handling on the Impreza is not forgiving so on a twisty road say goodbye unless you upgrade the suspension on the S3 to take on the Subaru.
If you are looking for a car that will provide luxury and sport together then look no further, if you want to drive a big go-cart and are just looking for driving thrills then you should look at the Impreza or Evo because the S3 is not designed to just be thrashed around a track, the S3 is car for everyday life that you can drive smoothly and relax in at the same time you have lot's of power at your Feet to have some fun.
I haven't mentioned the BOSE sound system, Wow! I can honestly say that the sound is superb, I have read other reviews that criticise the BOSE system but I can honestly say that I continue to be impressed with the quality of sound that this thing delivers.
Looks wise the S3 in my eyes is a very attractive and meaty looking car that looks mean with 18" RS4 wheels that I recently purchased for £660 with Toyo Proxes T1-S Tyres from Leigh Tyres in Southend. You have a decent choice of colours to choose from, my car is Silver which I love, when it's clean it looks like brand new, obviously you have the Red, Black, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple but I think that the S3 looks special in Silver but each to their own.
There is nothing more that I can say to help you but what I will say is go to a car dealer, not an Audi dealer and get a Test Drive alone and push the car (once the engine is warm) you will know when you get out of that car if it's for you. If it's not then no harm done, but I will warn you once you have driven the S3 you WILL be impressed !!
