A3/S3 8V Owners... your car history?

[Mark_86]

Hi all. It's come up in a few threads before, but curious to see what everyone has owned previous to their S3 and what cars they thought were awesome or complete and utter dogs.

I'll start.

My first car was a Renault Clio 1.2i - exactly like the one in the picture below. I was lucky enough that my parents bought it for my 18th Birthday. It was a soggy marshmallow of a car, but the ladies loved it (perhaps because I was the only guy that had a car lol). It got thrashed and about 3 years later, sold to fund the deposit for my next car. However, in between having the Clio. I also had a Ford Fiesta 1.25i Freestyle, which was an awesome little car - great chassis and you could throw it around like it was a go-kart.

My next car was a brand new Vauxhall Astra H 1.6i SXi Sporthatch. That was a fantastic car, had 6 miles on the clock when I picked it up and I sold it about 5 years later after having done 147,000! I was utterly reliable, never broke down and was really well screwed together. I had no creaks, rattles or anything. Again, it had pretty good handling, although a fair bit of understeer. It went across northern Europe, round the Nurburgring and looked pretty cool (not many around when I first bought it!). Images from a camping trip during the Silverstone GP in 2008!

I then swapped her in for a 2010 Ford Focus ST3... the money pit. It is proper rapid this car, after it had be 'played' with. It was also loaded with kit and handled quite well. The T5 lump at the front always made the car feel heavy and understeer wasn't far away. Until I fitted the diff and it became a complete monster and would simply drive away from many more expensive and so called 'faster' cars. I've had the car since I bought it from my local Ford dealer when it had covered 21,000 miles. She has a Mountune MP260 upgrade, RS clutch and flywheel, Quaife ATB differential, Mountune lower gearbox mount upgrade, Mountune Recric valve and a Mountune Cat back exhaust upgrade. All above upgrades were carried out by Mountune HQ in Essex.

And this is where it stands... I was looking for a new Golf R, but after being told in Sept you couldn't order one anymore, I made a move to look at the S3. Now I've ordered one (spec in signature) and can't wait!!!

So... that's me. Share yours?

[Mods - hope this is ok here...]

 

[phobos512]

I'm in the US so my list will probably have vehicles you're not familiar with but that's OK right?

My personal four wheel vehicles:

1998 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4
2004 Chrysler 300m Special
2004 Pontiac GTO 4AT
2008 Toyota Tundra SR5 Doublecab 2WD
2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport
2006 GMC Sierra SLE 4x4 Extended Cab (had this same time as the Mercedes as a utility vehicle)
2012 Toyota Tundra Platinum Crew Cab 4x4
2013 Ram 2500 CTD 6AT Crew Cab Short Bed 4x4
2014 Scion FR-S 6MT
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 6MT/DCC/Nav
2017 Audi S3

My motorcycles (don't have one anymore, probably won't going forward)

2005 Kawasaki EX500R
2007 Kawasaki ZX-6R
2011 Honda CBR1000RR


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[paradigital]

My history goes like this:

1995 Vauxhall Corsair 1.2 (2002-2003)
2003 (03) Citroen Saxo VTR (2003-2005)
2003 (53) Seat Leon Cupra R 225 (2005-2012)
1992 BMW 325i saloon (2007-2009)
2003 (52) BMW 330d M Sport Saloon (2008-2011)
2007 (57) Audi A6 2.0TFSI Avant (2011-2012)
2012 (62) Audi A4 2.0TDIe (2012-2013)
2013 (13) Audi A4 2.0TDIe (2013-2016)
2017 (66) Audi S3 Saloon (2016-????)

There was also a very very brief spell with a 1995 Volvo 850 2.5 5 cylinder estate, and an 2003 Alfa Romeo 2.0 Tspark GTV.

 

[Mark_86]

Nice guys. Any pics?

 

[Audi Bairn]

Here we go, don't laugh:

OWNED:
Ford Cortina MkIV 1.6 GL
Ford Escort 1.3 Bonus
Ford Fiesta 1.3 SX
Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 SRi

COMPANY CARS:
Peugeot 306 1.9 XRD
Peugeot 306 1.9 XRDT
Ford Escort 1.8 LX TDi
Ford Mondeo MkII 1.8 TDi
Peugeot 406 2.0 LXd

OWNED:
Audi TT MkI 1.8 quattro
Audi A3 Sport 1.9 TDi
Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6
BMW 320Ci M Sport 2.2
Audi A4 S Line Black Edition quattro 2.0 TFSi
Audi A5 S Line Black Edition Coupe 2.0 TFSi
Audi S5 Black Edition Sportback quattro 3.0 V6 Supercharged
Audi S3 Saloon quattro 2.0 TFSi

WIFES (since we met):
Rover Metro
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2
Mazda 323
Vauxhall Vectra SRi
BMW 320d Saloon 2.0
BMW 318Ci 2.0
BMW Z4 Roadster
Audi TT Sport MkII Coupe 2.0 TFSi
Audi TT MkII S Line Black Edition Coupe 2.0 TDi quattro
Audi A4 S Line Black Edition 2.0 TDi quattro
Audi TT Mk III S Line Coupe 1.8 TFSi

 

[Tom.H]

I started with a Peugeot 106 1.4 Aztec Si, had that for around a year then got a 2001 VW Polo GTi which I had for around a year and a half (had the front and rear rub strips smoothed, splitter colour coded, coilovers, interior retrim and a rather expensive audio install) then got a 2006 Golf R32 which I've now owned for nearly 9 years and taken over to the Nurburgring 3 times, even with it being my daily I only do somewhere between 4k - 6k a year.

 

[Mark_86]

@Audi Bairn Flipping heck mate! How many cars lol...

@Tom.H Nice VW's there buddy. Always liked how the R32 sounds...

 

[Tom.H]

@Tom.H Nice VW's there buddy. Always liked how the R32 sounds...

Thanks Mark, I'm only the second owner of the R32 (got it when it was 18 months old) I'm going to miss the sound, the S3 sounds nice but not a patch on the Golf in my opinion, won't miss the £500 a year road tax though haha

 

[Mark_86]

Thanks Mark, I'm only the second owner of the R32 (got it when it was 18 months old) I'm going to miss the sound, the S3 sounds nice but not a patch on the Golf in my opinion, won't miss the £500 a year road tax though haha

I know what you mean. Exactly the same with the ST, although it's only £295 a yr to tax that. Fuel economy is rather... poor shall we say. Average around 22mpg in that, so i'm expecting more from the S3 when she lands.

 

[Tom.H]

I know what you mean. Exactly the same with the ST, although it's only £295 a yr to tax that. Fuel economy is rather... poor shall we say. Average around 22mpg in that, so i'm expecting more from the S3 when she lands.

Exactly the same here as you can imagine, lost 40miles a lap at the Nurburgring and it's a 14mile circuit have emptied a tank in 177 miles before after a track day!

 

[palla1978]

Here's mine:

Nova 1.4 SR
Cavalier GSI
Escort RS1600i
Nova GSI
Cavalier SRI
Calibra 16v
Vectra SRI 150
Civic type r
Astra VXR



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[Mark_86]

Here's mine:

Nova 1.4 SR
Cavalier GSI
Escort RS1600i
Nova GSI
Cavalier SRI
Calibra 16v
Vectra SRI 150
Civic type r
Astra VXR



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Loving the RS1600i there!!

What was the Astra VXR like? I nearly bought one of those before the ST?

 

[Audi Bairn]

@Audi Bairn Flipping heck mate! How many cars lol...

Lol
I must admit, from my second car onwards they've been brand new (bar a couple) and I only keep them for 2 - 3 years max, some as little as 11 months. Bear in mind the last part of the list are my wifes too

Took me a wee while to get on the right track and then I had to do the same with Mrs Bairn when we met ha ha!

 

[Mark_86]

Lol
I must admit, from my second car onwards they've been brand new (bar a couple) and I only keep them for 2 - 3 years max, some as little as 11 months. Bear in mind the last part of the list are my wifes too

Took me a wee while to get on the right track and then I had to do the same with Mrs Bairn when we met ha ha!

Haha. My wife has no interest in cars... which is rather frustrating when trying to explain why you 'need' a car with performance. But I must admit, we need to chop hers in this year (2009 Seat Ibiza Sport 3dr in Lime Green!) as it's getting long in the tooth and need something abit more robust for when we start to expand beyond the two of us. She won't want us to spend extra money on another Audi, so I'm sure we'll get something like a Nissan Qashqai for her next.

 

[Audi Bairn]

Haha. My wife has no interest in cars... which is rather frustrating when trying to explain why you 'need' a car with performance.

Look and learn lol

When I met my wife she agreed to go to the BTCC at Knockhill with me if I went to the Nutcracker Ballet ***!
She's been a petrol head ever since and loves her cars............... oh, and how many more ballet performances have I been at I hear you ask.......... none of course

 

[palla1978]

Loving the RS1600i there!!

What was the Astra VXR like? I nearly bought one of those before the ST?

Yeah, I'd always loved the RS1600i and the mk1 turbos, so when a decent 1600i came up I had to have it.

The vxr was a great car, I never had any of the many problems that many members on vxr online have ie gearboxes, boost issues etc etc. I replaced the rocker cover gasket and tyres in the 3 year I had it, I did look after it though

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[CHCCubs]

2013 BMW 328i xDrive
2009 BMW 328i xDrive
2006 Acura CSX
2003 Acura 1.7EL
2000 Acura 1.6EL
1992 Honda Civic EXV
1988 Chrysler Daytona

 

[phobos512]

I'm in the US so my list will probably have vehicles you're not familiar with but that's OK right?

My personal four wheel vehicles:

1998 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4
2004 Chrysler 300m Special
2004 Pontiac GTO 4AT
2008 Toyota Tundra SR5 Doublecab 2WD
2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport
2006 GMC Sierra SLE 4x4 Extended Cab (had this same time as the Mercedes as a utility vehicle)
2012 Toyota Tundra Platinum Crew Cab 4x4
2013 Ram 2500 CTD 6AT Crew Cab Short Bed 4x4
2014 Scion FR-S 6MT
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 6MT/DCC/Nav
2017 Audi S3

My motorcycles (don't have one anymore, probably won't going forward)

2005 Kawasaki EX500R
2007 Kawasaki ZX-6R
2011 Honda CBR1000RR


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Here are pictures. I guess my pictures from college aren't on my computer because that's when I had the Explorer, so no pic of it.

 

[Mark_86]

Love the Pontiac mate! Didn't you had to have front number plates in the US?


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[phobos512]

Love the Pontiac mate! Didn't you had to have front number plates in the US?


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The ones that didn't have front plates were only because I didn't have the plate yet when I took that pic. Some states don't require front plates but California and Maryland where I had all these vehicles both required them. The Pontiac was my baby, I've never had a car as long it spent as much on one as that. It was supercharged, full exhaust, tuned, transmission work...Just about 600 crank horsepower. I ordered custom plates for the S3 but don't have them yet - hopefully end of Feb but might not be till March they told me. I have a side mount plate mount for it though so it wouldn't be visible in that angle of pic anyway.


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[batch]

Ok....

1) Mk1 Fiesta XR2 rep in Subaru Sonic blue with mental 1740 crossflow, cage and lots of tricks
2)/3) whilst 1) being built, Mk2 XR2s in different blues with suspension/exhaust/filter
4) As a second car to 1), Alpine white 205 GTi 1.9.
5) Sierra XR4x4 2.9 in matte black. Shed!
6) Golf VR6 with a few tricks
7) Another Golf VR6, a shed but looked amazing
8) 8P S3 black edition, brilliant black, mapped/springs/intake
9) The current 8V S3 Sportback.

 

[deanshaw24]

I'm terrible... here it goes! If I can remember them all.

Passed my test in August 2007.
2003 Corsa dti 1.7
2005 Corsa sri 1.8
2008 Corsa vxr
2007 Astra cdti 1.9
2007 Astra vxr
2008 Astra vxr burg
2006 Focus st
2010 Focus rs
2008 Golf gt tdi
2010 Astra vxr racing
2010 Audi S3 be
2008 Golf gt tdi
2013 Scirocco r line tdi
2013 Audi A5 be
2007 Golf tdi
2000 Audi avant tdi
2015 Audi TT tfsi
2008 Golf tdi (same as the first one)
2002 Golf mk4 tdi (still own)
2016 Audi S3
2016 BMW m4
2017 Audi S3 be on order.

The scirocco and tt were company scheme cars when I worked for Audi and VW.

I am pretty sure I have missed one or two! As you can see the Golf has always been my go too car when It starts getting out of hand ha!

 

[vacant]

I was going to display my previous cars throught interpretive dance, but instead I thought I'd resort to a heart-warming collage.

Essentially my first few years were E36 Bmws (318->320->328->M3)

Then about 7 years of company cars (with an S2000 cheekily appearing before I had to buy a house)

Then a few random cars as 'second' cars before opting out of company car and buying Focus St->BMW M135i->A6 BiTDi-> S3 Didnt bother taking any pics of these though, aside from S3.

 

[AudiNutta]

I think I have had a pretty decent history, considering I have only been driving 3 years in June!

I started off with a 2001 (51) MK5 Zetec S Fiesta 1.6. Brilliant little car, went pretty well and handled like a go kart! It didn't last long, May 2014 it was purchased, passed my test in June and sold the car in August 2014. I used the usual tactic of man maths that I were going to spend money on it every month for the next few months and it never would have come close to my standard, so then came my first lease car! (Excuse the Ford Fair stickers, I were at a Ford Fair show this day haha.. awesome pictures were the result)








Next was my Fiesta EcoBoost (123hp, 1.0 Turbo).. incredible engine, good on fuel and goes really well for a 1.0! Still ran like a 3 cylinder, but much quieter than most.. Ford have upped their game in recent years, it was a very well built car! It was bought in August 2014 (as it is in the first two pictures), it became a labour of love and ended up like it did by the time it was passed on in July 2015. Still really sour about moving that car on, loved it to bits. I'd love to have another drive of it, even now I have the S3












Then after the Fiesta, in came the A3 S Line (1.4TFSi, 120hp.. then remapped to 156hp, it got an impressive 131hp standard). This was a very nice car, but it took me 12 months to fall for it like I did the Fiesta, which I found hard to believe because Audi's have always been my dream! I even went back and test drove an EcoBoost Fiesta a few months after the A3, the fun factor wasn't there as there was nothing I wanted to do to it aesthetically as it was already spot on. This was moved on in October 2016 for the S3, after a very difficult search for an RS3 which fell through. Sadly Audi would not finance me on an RS car at that age, Black Horse would but were valuing the cars much lower than they were on the forecourt which meant they were capping the finance and the deposit was up in ridiculous figures of like £7k for a basic example!! Audi also still have this for sale somehow, here we go..... http://www.monmotors.com/used-car-d...e-metallic-manual-petrol-id_138724553102.aspx





On 18th October I took delivery of the S3, which to this day I have to say I love to bits.. I hate selling cars, I felt sad about signing the A3 over until I started the S3 outside the showroom!! What is sad is how you always get used to all of the nice toys, like 6 months ago I would have killed over Audi lending me an S3 for the day and lost a nights sleep over it, now it is all normal but still amazing to have and I am definitely not complaining. But it has made me ask myself if I really need an RS when the next one is released, I much prefer the hatchback and have fallen in love with it.. a change to a saloon now I think would put me off. This is a quick car already and more than what anybody needs on a daily basis. The noise factor isn't quite there but when you'd drive it everyday, it is awesome.. until you hear an RS! I will still give the RS the change to win me over when it is released, but if I don't see a whole world of difference I can see me keeping the S3 till it is paid off and then move out from the parents, so I won't be able to afford the £50k cars anymore

 

[vacant]

Ecoboost Fiesta are genuinely brilliant to drive, the 140ps one is better than the St imo

 

[AudiNutta]

Ecoboost Fiesta are genuinely brilliant to drive, the 140ps one is better than the St imo

I went back and drove the 140, didn't get a good run in it though. Hopefully I will get to drive one again.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

AudiNutta......where were the pics taken of the S3?...... love the composition and setting of the last photo.

 

[Mark_86]

View attachment 113795 I was going to display my previous cars throught interpretive dance, but instead I thought I'd resort to a heart-warming collage.

Essentially my first few years were E36 Bmws (318->320->328->M3)

Then about 7 years of company cars (with an S2000 cheekily appearing before I had to buy a house)

Then a few random cars as 'second' cars before opting out of company car and buying Focus St->BMW M135i->A6 BiTDi-> S3 Didnt bother taking any pics of these though, aside from S3.

Nice. Would've been curious to see the Focus St


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[pburv]

Mitsubishi Colt Sigma 1.6
Mini Clubman 1275 GT
Mk2 Escort 4 door
Mk3 Astra 1.3
Fiesta Bravo 1.3
Another mk3 Astra 1.3
Cavalier 'E' reg
'J' reg mk4 Astra 1.4 SI
Mondeo 1.8 with a factory fitted RS bodykit
Audi A4 1.8 quattro Sport (my first Audi)
Audi A3 2.0 Sline petrol (had it for only 6 months)
Audi A4 Special Edition 2.0 Quattro petrol (nice car)
'11' plate Astra Elite 2.0 diesel (not good at all) only had that for 8 months 5 of which the missus drove...lol
A3 8p Black Edition 2.0 quattro ( right lemon) Long running post on 8p forum a couple of years back
A3 S3 saloon
In between those cars the missus has had Opel manta GT, Astra Belmont (astra with boot),Audi A3 1.6 Technique,Seat Leon Sport 11 plate, Seat LeonFr 14 plate, another LeonFr 16 plate(rejected and replaced with a 66 plate LeonFr

 

[mike price]

literally could not remember all my cars, im 33 and had over 250 cars easy

First being a nova sr and last being a Audi s3 fl

 

[Mark_86]

Mitsubishi Colt Sigma 1.6

Mondeo 1.8 with a factory fitted RS bodykit

Used to love these when I was a kid. Shame Ford never gave it the fire power to back up the looks.

 

[Col Simpson]

I've had a fair few over the years as well ranging from a bucket of a mini (first car) that needed a bump start to Mark 2,3, Escorts & XR2's, XR3's, Sierra and Escort Cosworth. (Think I may have been a Ford nut back then when I was a lad) Better also throw in some Vauxhalls, a BMW, a Renault 19 and the random one of the lot, a Fiat of some sort, cant really remember what it was.
My all time favorite (apart from the S3) had to be my 1993 Mallard Green Escort Cosworth which had the twin headlight conversion. Wish I still had it, be worth a fortune now.

 

[Rayner_1704]

Started off with a 206 quicksilver 1.4 8valve struggled to get to 70 if it was windy
Honda Civic 1.6 sport type R rep when I was 18
19 I bought a civic type R and ended up supercharging it, that was a proper little weapon 306bhp and like a gocart
Then bought a S3 8P at 21 took that to stage 2+
Now waiting on my facelift S3 to be delivered in march

 

[pburv]

Used to love these when I was a kid. Shame Ford never gave it the fire power to back up the looks.

Agree..The Mitsubishi is rare these days Still has a 'cult' following though..

Sorry to say not mine..lol
The mondeo I had was a great car. It was lacking in performance though only a 1.8 engine..

 

[pburv]

Mitsubishi Colt Sigma 1.6
Mini Clubman 1275 GT
Mk2 Escort 4 door
Mk3 Astra 1.3
Fiesta Bravo 1.3
Another mk3 Astra 1.3
Cavalier 'E' reg
'J' reg mk4 Astra 1.4 SI
Mondeo 1.8 with a factory fitted RS bodykit
Audi A4 1.8 quattro Sport (my first Audi)
Audi A3 2.0 Sline petrol (had it for only 6 months)
Audi A4 Special Edition 2.0 Quattro petrol (nice car)
'11' plate Astra Elite 2.0 diesel (not good at all) only had that for 8 months 5 of which the missus drove...lol
A3 8p Black Edition 2.0 quattro ( right lemon) Long running post on 8p forum a couple of years back
A3 S3 saloon
In between those cars the missus has had Opel manta GT, Astra Belmont (astra with boot),Audi A3 1.6 Technique,Seat Leon Sport 11 plate, Seat LeonFr 14 plate, another LeonFr 16 plate(rejected and replaced with a 66 plate LeonFr

Forgot to mention I had a 2.5 Vectra SRI inbetween the Mondeo and the A4 sport...lol

 

[Scottyg]

literally could not remember all my cars, im 33 and had over 250 cars easy

First being a nova sr and last being a Audi s3 fl

250 cars?? You a millionaire??

 

[Scottyg]

Here goes,
1.3 Escort Laser 1985
1.6 Renault 19 1990 (total dog)
1.4 Rover 200 1997
1.6 Saxo VTR 1997
1.8 Shogun Pinni (had it 6 weeks) 2001
1.6 Xsara VTR 2002
1.8 Vectra SXI 2004
1.6 Focus Zetec 2005 (had it 4 weeks)
2.2 Vectra SRi 2005
2.5 BMW M-Sport Auto 2008
2.7 LR Discovery SE 2007
2.0 BMW MotorSport Edition 320i 2008
2.0 520d Msport Auto 2009
2.0 Scirocco GT DSG 2009
2.0 Insignia SRi on 20s 2011
1.6 Mini Countryman 2013
1.6 A3 Sport 2015

Had use of Cavalier 1.8 GSi, Ford Escort RS1600i and Golf VR6 when younger.

Wife's cars
VX Corsa SXI
VW Polo
BMW 116i
Mini First
Mini One
Mini One

No where near 250 cars though!

 

[Audi Bairn]

literally could not remember all my cars, im 33 and had over 250 cars easy

First being a nova sr and last being a Audi s3 fl

Holy Car Lot!
That's an average of 15 cars a year every year assuming you were 17 when you passed your test - impressive

 

[mr gee]

Mine and the missus'

1970 Mazda 1300 Coupe
1971 Escort Twin Cam
1972 Skyline 2000 GT-B
1973 Mazda RX-2
1979 Mitsubishi Colt GLX
1980 Mazda 323 GT
1984 Citreon BX
1982 VW Beetle
1987 Daihatsu Charade GTTi
1989 Renault 21 GTS
1993 Honda Civic Hatch ESI
1993 Honda Civic Saloon VTI
1994 Mercedes C-180
1994 Subaru Impreza WRX
1995 Nissan March
1996 Mercedes E-230
1996 Nissan March
1999 Toyota Echo
2000 Nissan Maxima
2001 Toyota Echo Sportivo
2005 Suzuki Swift-415
2007 Honda Civic Sport FD2A
2007 Audi TT
2009 VW Golf 118TSI
2011 VW Golf GTI
2012 VW Scirocco R
2012 Toyota Prius C
2013 VW Beetle Fender Edition
2015 Audi S3 8V
2015 Audi TT Mk3 8S

 

[pburv]

250 cars?? You a millionaire??

He didn't say he owned them..........'twocer' I think......
Only kidding @mike price ...lol