Audi S3 8P Review (2006-2012)
Audi S3 cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
Pros
Very quick, with the all-weather security of four-wheel drive
Comfortable and capable on a long journey
Subtle good looks
Cons
Not as exciting as a Ford Focus ST
Iffy reliability could lead to a big bill
Small boot means packing light
The CarGurus verdict
A used Audi S3 is a first-class crusher of long distances, be they on motorway or back roads, with speed and composure. It's perhaps not as thrilling as some rival hot hatches, but the S3 impresses with its sheer pace, not only that supplied by its gutsy 261bhp turbocharged engine, but also through the all-weather roadholding and stability from its four-wheel drive system.
The S3 isn’t without its problems, so don’t rush through the bank transfer before carefully inspecting your prospective purchase for pitfalls. Better still, pay for an expert to do it for you.
Buy a good example and you should enjoy a satisfying ownership experience, where meaty performance melds with a classy cabin and low-key yet premium looks. The S3 has a maturity that won’t suit all sports car enthusiasts, but it might well be the type of performance motoring that best suits you.
What is the Audi S3?
Having enjoyed a minor hit with its original S3, it was no surprise that Audi was keen to repeat and enhance the formula within the second-generation Audi A3 range. Also known as the S3 8P by aficionados of the model, it was launched onto the UK market in 2006, and like its predecessor, doesn’t visually advertise its potential as a hot hatch as blatantly as, say, either the Ford Focus ST or Honda Civic Type R might do. The S3 is very understated, and while its nose features extra grilles and its tail an under-bumper diffuser, it doesn’t look wildly different to other A3 models.
In 2013, the third-generation Audi S3 model came along, with a dose of extra power – not that this second-generation model was especially lacking in that department...
How practical is it?
The S3’s cabin is everything you’d expect of an Audi. Restrained yet stylish design. Top-notch materials throughout. A satisfying sense of build quality and solidity.
Practicality-wise, the driving position is excellent and four adults can be accommodated comfortably, although the comparatively small boot – just 281 litres in the three-door version and a still smallish 302 litres in the larger Sportback – means that they might have to pack light for a long trip away.
What's it like to drive?
Point-to-point, the S3 is extremely rapid. It’s blessed with prodigious grip, well-balanced handling characteristics, and thanks to that 265hp wallop from its turbocharged engine, can leap from standstill to 60mph in just 5.6 seconds. As important to its all-round performance, however, is the fact that it develops 258lb ft (350Nm) of torque all the way from 2,500rpm to 5,000rpm, making it exceptionally quick on stretches of road where you can’t use all the revs. There are complaints from some quarters that, despite its undoubted speed, the S3 isn’t as engaging or rewarding to drive as some rivals, and while this is true, it can also be argued that the car offers a mature driving experience.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
The S3 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged TFSI petrol engine, based on the 200hp 2.0-litre turbo found in other models, but with a bigger turbo, better intercooler and strengthened internals (conrods, pistons, gudgeon pins and bearings, and even a different grade of alloy for the cylinder head with greater heat resistance).
Four-wheel drive isn’t unique in this sector of the market, but Audi has popularised it with its quattro system. The S3 has what’s known as a Haldex system, which in pre-2008 examples is linked exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox. Following the car’s 2008 facelift, a six-speed dual-clutch S tronic automatic also became available as an option, while the quattro four-wheel drive system was updated at the same time. Also introduced with the facelift was the five-door S3 Sportback, which not only has an extra pair of doors, but is 56mm longer, too.
Audi S3 running costs
Despite its performance, servicing costs aren’t outrageous for the S3, although now that some of the early examples are a fair few years old, independent Audi specialists recommend you have your car serviced every year, regardless of what the service schedules might say.
Audi runs its own fixed price servicing plan for Audi models over three years old, which provides a good benchmark with which to compare prices at independent specialists. An interim service costs £200 at an Audi dealer, a major service £400, and you’ll be charged £60 to have your S3 plugged into a diagnostics machine to investigate any problems with it.
Beyond regular servicing there are other costs to be aware of. The TFSI petrol engine requires a cambelt change every 70,000 miles or five years, and it’s best to get the water pump renewed at the same time; that’ll be a £745 hit to your back pocket if using Audi’s fixed price servicing plan. To prevent serious issues with the S tronic gearbox, its transmission fluid and filter need renewing every 40,000 miles, at a cost of £225. And the four-wheel drive system’s Haldex unit needs a £99 oil change every 20,000 miles, and a fresh filter every 40,000.
A car this powerful can be hard on its brakes, and an Audi dealer will charge you £500 for a fresh set of front discs and pads. As with all the servicing and maintenance costs mentioned here, chances are that if you shop around, you’ll find that an independent specialist can save you hundreds of pounds.
Tyres are another consumable to budget for, but the good news is that prices aren't too bad; check out the popular online retailers and you should find a selection of high quality brands available from around £85 to £115 per corner. As for fuel economy, many owners report an average of about 26mpg, rising to a best of 31mpg on a long, steady motorway run.
Being a high performance car the S3 attracts relatively high rates of Vehicle Excise Duty – between £305 and £330 depending on specification – and it sits in group 36 of 50 for insurance.
Audi S3 reliability
Numerous reliability issues afflict the S3. Some of them are easily and cheaply remedied, others not so much. The most talked-about villain on the forums is the fuel pump cam follower’s tendency for premature wear, which in extreme cases can see it wear right through and score the camshaft, which means new cams and fuel pump. Unless there’s evidence that the cam follower has recently been replaced, make it the first job you have done when you buy your S3: this pre-emptive action is one of the cheap and easy fixes.
There’s another one at the opposite end of the engine. The oil pick up in the sump can get clogged up and starve the engine of vital lubricant, so many enthusiast owners recommend removing the sump on a regular basis and replacing the pick up pipe (£35-40 for the pipe). And on the subject of oil, the S3 can use an awful lot of it, so check the oil level at least every 3,000 miles, or better still, every 1,000 miles, and be prepared to top it up.
Rough running and idling can be signs that the coil packs are failing – they’re roughly £100 for a set of four – but it could also mean that there’s a hefty build up of carbon deposits in the induction system, which will need cleaning out by a specialist for £200 or so. Still with the engine, keep an eye on the coolant temperature during your test drive, which should sit at 90ºC. Higher or lower than that could mean that the thermostat is on its way out. The part itself is only about £30, but because you have to dissemble large chunks of the engine bay to get at it, the bill can run to hundreds of pounds.
On your test drive, make sure the S tronic automatic shifts quickly and smoothly. Its mechanicals are generally robust, but its complex internal control module, known as Mechatronic, is infamous across all Volkswagen Group cars for failing, landing owners with a bill in the region of £2,500 to replace it.
Less catastrophic, but annoying all the same, is that the electric window regulators in the doors are known to fail, and within the doors the wiring loom is prone to breaking, which messes with the windows and the door locks.
- Look inside an S3 and you may spy racy-looking sports front bucket seats with pronounced ‘wings’ at shoulder-level. When the car was new these were expensive options, so if the example you’re looking at has them in it’s a bonus, especially if they also boast leather upholstery. However, because of their bulk, these seats delete the side airbags in the front along with the Isofix child seat mounting on the passenger front seat. The standard front seats are excellent, though, and are heated.
- While the S3 is low-key in the looks department, there are a couple of paint options that do give it much greater street presence, namely Solar Orange and Imola Yellow. These are rarities on the UK market, though, so you’ll have to search hard to find a flamboyantly-hued S3. Through Audi's Exclusive personalisation programme, original owners could also have ordered their S3 in a range of pearl-effect colours, colours from other models in the Audi range, present and past, or even have a custom colour mixed up specially for them.
- The S3 suffers a range of potential mechanical problems that we'll go into in more detail shortly, but some of them won’t be easy to spot even when you’re forewarned. If you’re buying a very cheap example of the car then it may be worth the gamble of not getting it checked over by an expert before parting with your cash, but if you’re considering a pricier late model S3 then a pre-purchase inspection by an independent Audi specialist is advisable. They know what to look and listen for on this very complex machine.
- If you want the greatest choice: In essence there really is only one Audi S3, but if you’re prepared to forego having the S tronic automatic transmission and the extra doors and body length that comes with the Sportback version, then there are plenty of standard three-door models with manual gearboxes out there. However, we do recommend you keep your eyes peeled for an example with the excellent (and optional) bucket seats, and perhaps the upgraded satnav and sounds systems.
- If you have small family: Lucky are the parents who get to use an Audi S3 as a family wagon, as it should make the school run more entertaining. Be sure to buy a five-door Audi S3 Sportback model, though, as trying to get little ones in and out of child seats in the back of the three-door is hassle you don’t need.
- If a lot of your miles are urban miles: Driving in heavy traffic is a bore and a chore, making an automatic more attractive. From the summer of 2008 (as part of the car’s facelift) the S3 was available with an optional six-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox called S tronic. Provided it’s well maintained, S tronic works smoothly and quickly, and for those days when you can roar around on deserted country roads it allows you to change gears manually using paddles behind the steering wheel.
- If you want an even quicker S3: Cars from the VW Group stable are favourites of the aftermarket tuning industry because they’re comparatively easy to achieve good results with. The S3 is no exception and 300bhp can be attained by simply reprogramming the ECU (though you do need to upgrade the clutch, too). With a few other hardware modifications, 360bhp shouldn't overly stress the engine. At this point, however, you might be better off with Audi’s own 331bhp RS3, sold between 2011 and 2012.
