2001 Audi S3 quattro 1.8L turbo

Summary:

Good GT compact car

Faults:

2 ignition coils at 62,684 km (known issue).

Distress signal control module at 111,238 km.

Battery at 130,000 km (3 years 1/2).

Mass air flow sensor at 144,945 km (known issue - clean it may be!!)

Intake flap sensor at 176,628 km + something linked to Haldex (quattro).

Turbo secondary electrical water pump gone at 196,245 km.

Anti roll bar at 208,537 km (??).

Front left transmission axle at 209,758 km.

Some hoses for oil fumes recirculation at 228,600 km.

A 3rd ignition coil at 264,115 km.

Battery at 264,542 km.

Brake rotors + front left transmission axle + rear brake calipers + parking brake cable at 264,542 km (jeez).

One Xenon bulb at around 270,000 km.

Some hoses for oil fumes recirculation at 294,766 km.

Front right transmission axle at 299,387 km.

Pre-cat oxygen sensor + thermostat + 4 ignition coils at 304,200 km.

2 vacuum hoses (to the brake booster) at 305,000km.

General Comments:

The car is well equipped, it is nice looking and quite comfortable (for a car having a sports suspension).

Fuel economy is not bad for 210 HP and a heavy transmission (quattro) at around 9 liters per 100 km (26 MPG).

The car is not a rocket, but it is good in general, feels more like a GT car.

All the young people who buy them and boost the power (easy) start all of a sudden to blow parts; clutch, engine, gearbox... So keep it stockish and you will go over 300,000 km!!

Some parts were replaced, but not so many in fact. If you consider that quattro transmissions, turbo, exhaust systems, etc are from the factory, I think Audi did a good job here. Of course some other Audis will have more problems, but you never know... My BMW 525TDSA was not very good to be honest, same for my MB 300SE... so Audi is really OK I guess.

In any case, get yourself a VAG COM, because you will need it to read the fault codes!

One thing, quattro is great! Even on mud you cannot lose grip, even at full throttle!!! Launch start on mud is fun (but useless...). Crash tests are also good on the A3/S3 model, so you feel quite safe.

Another thing, Audi dealers are not all good, and in my case they completely forgot to do the oil changes on the quattro!!! This is really stupid, because they invented it, but can't maintain it!?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th January, 2012