On the market for an S3

[Steevo]

I've decided to look for a Lancia Delta Evo project car as it will be more straight forward to tune than the S3 (assuming I can find one without significant crash damage) so I'm interested in selling my Imola 8L S3 mentioned here:

http://www.vask.org.nz/index.php/topic,5761.15.html

It has 121k on the clock and has been dealer serviced during my ownership by Southern Motor Court in Dunedin.  However, the car is now based in Christchurch given I'm helping with the earthquake reconstruction.  I've also had the following maintenance done:

Replacement cracked rear offside light (left by previous owner)
Replacement offside CV front joint (after boot split)
Replacement haldex precharge pump
Replacement alarm boot sensor

One wheel (offside front) was kerbed by the previous owner and I'll get it painted before the ownership is changed over.

Full 120k service was carried out by SMC in July which including cambelt, filters, suspension, fluids etc. 

FSH log book and receipts all available.  Feel free to call Mike Brammall at SMC and ask about the imola yellow S3, he'll know which car it is.   The car is honest and has nothing to hide.

The car is currently valued by AMI at $16k so $16k seems a fair asking price.

EDIT: BTW, I saw an identical car to mine just past the big fruit while driving through Cromwell July last year.  Drivers and partners-of-drivers both did double takes.  Just curious to know if it might have been someone here...?

[tumeki]

Hi Guys,

Sorry I've been AFK for a bit overseas and have just got back recently - Steevo thanks for the offer but my brain is finding it hard to mull over driving a bright yellow S3, i keep seeing it as painting a target on the back of my head. Mr Plod would love that.

So still on the market for an S3, seen a few pop on trademe but most of them seem to have more km's than i would like or my expectations are a tad too high.
I've decided I'd like an 02 or 03 model around 100k's as they appear just a little more impressive with the update light flashing's and the silver mirrors like total pro .

I rung up TradinPost in Auckland who have the 2003 Black S3 done 68 k's but they salesperson seems a little off-side with the details and was more interested in telling me how anal-rentive his mate who owned it was and that Audi have the full service history but couldn't tell me when the cambelt or the haldex was serviced.

Tried discussing price but doesn't seem interested in coming down from $19k - kinda hard really when i live in Wellington.

Is it true that cambelts are done at 120k - audi specifications? Or was i just believing a car dealer... :/

Anyway - i'll keep checking in here if anyone have their S3 still for sale

Cheers

[ranton-inc]

Oh Full Service History - I think the Fast 4's one has a history from Giltrap, but the fact fast 4's have this car doesn't bode well.

Red one from Palmy is from Armstrong Dealer, so assuming it has full history

IK know the car at Fast Fours its silver right AGMXXX?

the car is very well serviced... the previous owner was one meticulous mofo...

The guy went to buy a new car apparently and Fast Fours were the wholesaler (ie who gave giltraps the cash for the trade)

[Trofeo]

Cambelts are 100kms or every five years whichever comes first.

[Steevo]

Hi Guys,

Sorry I've been AFK for a bit overseas and have just got back recently - Steevo thanks for the offer but my brain is finding it hard to mull over driving a bright yellow S3, i keep seeing it as painting a target on the back of my head. Mr Plod would love that.

I had the same concerns initially.  So I chatted to a couple of mates who are po-po before I bought it and they said car colour doesn't factor into what they look for.  Of course they didn't tell me what they DO look for but at least it wasn't colour.  In the two and a half years I've owned it I've never been subject to unsolicited attention, apart from excitable small kids who love the colour for some reason, and nods of recognition from boy racers who know their motors.

The high visibility is also a safe colour, other drivers clock it long before other duller colours.  The yellow says the car is special too.  I've come up behind slower drivers on long runs and they let me pass without delay. 

Don't worry about being singled out, its a fun colour to own and always looks fresh.

[tumeki]

IK know the car at Fast Fours its silver right AGMXXX?

the car is very well serviced... the previous owner was one meticulous mofo...

The guy went to buy a new car apparently and Fast Fours were the wholesaler (ie who gave giltraps the cash for the trade)

Sorry i wasn't referring to the silver S3 - it was the black S3 on trademe currently for $19k. That silver one was around 130k 2001 and priced at 16k

Is that black really worth $20k? I'm heading to Auckland for Xmas and planned to test drive it and offer him a rude $15k - hoping that it been on the lot for over 6 months he might get rid of it! - Wishful thinking i know

Cheers

[RS4]

That black one is mint, 63 odd kms, one owner, the old owner was fastidious and it was remapped by Giltraps last year.
Was a guy in his 40's. Well loved.
You wont find a car like that for mid-teens

[tumeki]

Well it started on trademe 6 months ago as $24k, then $22k and now $19k

Plan is to take it for a test drive, take it to the dealer to go over with a fine tooth comb and then haggle him down. What's an acceptable offer without pissing in his pool? I was thinking $17k

Cheers

[RS4]

$24 is too much , but under 20 is about right. hard to find a 1 owner car done so low kms. 18500-19000 is the money.

[tumeki]

Thanks RS4

I'll go talk turkey with him at Xmas time.

[tumeki]

So whilst i ponder round for an S3, what can people tell me about the MK5 Golf GTi turbo - i've always been a manual man but this DSG business looks kinda cool.

Are they reliable?, responsive? What should i be looking for when i take one for a test drive? Does the gearbox last?

Cheers

[RS ZWEI]

So whilst i ponder round for an S3, what can people tell me about the MK5 Golf GTi turbo - i've always been a manual man but this DSG business looks kinda cool.

Are they reliable?, responsive? What should i be looking for when i take one for a test drive? Does the gearbox last?

Cheers

Mk5 GTI's are great cars. If you are a committed driver DSG is average and has its faults. It costs more to service and has more issues compared to a proper manual.
Personally Id has a manual Mk5 GTI over a first shape S3, but the GTI is more money.

[tumeki]

Hmm - i need to test drive both out really. I've always been a manual driver so going to an automatic seems kinda boring, although the paddle shifting seems kinda cool; suppose the novelty wears off after a while.

Hard decision, need a new car but stuff all S3's round and the MK5's GTI turbo's are a bit out of my price range.

Decisions Decisions

[tumeki]

Anyone else selling their 8L S3's?

After an 02 03 model, looking around and keen to get in touch with people who are interested to sell.

Cheers

[tumeki]

What are people's thoughts on S3's that appear to have been sitting around a car yard for months on end?

I have found an S3 which has been sitting on the lot for close to 9 months now - it's done under 100k's and Giltrap have confirmed they have never serviced or done a cam belt but did give it four new tyres and a pollen filter back in Feb 2012. The dealer has confirmed that prior to sitting on the lot, the owner had it sitting in his garage for about a year as he purchased an 8P apparently.

Dealer has come back with a price which i turned down because you just don't accept offers over the phone. I'm willing to stretch the money because it's a nice very nice model at face value but im considering a counter offer and asking them to have Giltrap complete a full service before i take ownership - is that a reasonable request or am i pissing in their pool?
before id o go that far - i'll be in Auckland at Xmas time to take it for a test drive and find a local spnner man to give it a pre-purchase inspection, say someone like Qualitat.

Any advice would be appreciated, i'm at that point of making a firm decision

Cheers