For the price of a small new city car you can have fun with a used sports car, still valiant. Focus on the fourth model in our selection with the 2nd generation Audi S3 (2006 – 2013) available on the second-hand market from €16,000.
This second generation of the one that was, in 1999, the first sporty premium compact plays the card of chic and discreet sportiness, leaving high performance to the RS3, which appeared at the end of 2010 and is powered by a 340 hp 5-cylinder.
It is “content” with the renowned 4-cylinder 2.0 TFSi, produced at Audi, thoroughly revised to deliver 265 hp and 357 Nm: large-caliber turbo, with air-air intercooler, blowing at 1.2 bars, connecting rods and reinforced pistons , improved cooling, etc. Available in 3 and 5 doors (Sportback), and restyled in the spring of 2008, it remains sober and discreet, hardly distinguishing itself from its sisters except by more clumsy shields and fenders, 18” rims, a double exit of exhaust and brushed aluminum retro shells.
Supported, as desired, by a manual or automated S tronic dual-clutch transmission, this mechanism highlights the rigor of a chassis offering excellent traction thanks to its non-permanent Quattro all-wheel drive (Haldex coupler). Enough to give it an efficient and ultra-versatile behavior, more than really sporty. Very fluctuating odds depending on the mileage, often high.
Reliability rating: 3 stars
Good reliability despite some sometimes quite serious failures.
The most recurring problems
- Engine
- rare connecting rod bearing defects
- faulty fuel pump
- coils replaced.
- Transmission
- fairly average endurance of the clutch, which can fail around 80,000 km, with the flywheel
- Haldex coupler pump failures; sometimes hissing manual gearbox (especially in 5th gear).
- Air conditioner
- loss of efficiency, related to problems with the compressor, pressure sensors or evaporation
