∙Good condition inside and out
∙Recently serviced with new cam belt and water pump
∙Ready to be enjoyed with a couple of jobs to do

Audi had been out of the small car business since the late seventies but a trend towards downsizing in the nineties led them to move into the Golf-sized market with the A3. Their aim was to bring the refinement and interior design that characterised their larger models to a smaller platform and, when they launched in 1996, the consensus was that they had achieved their objective. The interior in particular came in for widespread praise for its robust build quality and comfort.

Inevitably an S model followed, in this case the first of the line to feature a four-cylinder engine but mated as always to a ‘quattro’ four-wheel drive system. Initially the power output of the 1.8 litre engine was pegged slightly below that of the TT, presumably to avoid eclipsing the more expensive coupe, but following the restyle in 2002, the wick was turned up to a TT-matching 225bhp. With five valves per cylinder, the revised S3 was good for 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds though this perhaps understates the performance a little as the first three of the six gears are quite short. Accompanying the racier engine were revised chassis settings which Evo magazine for one were sufficiently impressed by to recommend it over its slinkier brother, the TT 225.

Since then the Audi S brand has grown to be a phenomenon in its own right with signature visual cues including quad exhaust pipes and the aluminium-capped door mirrors that were an option back when this example was built. In fact the visual bling that now adorns fast Audis makes this one look subtle and understated which may help to explain why it’s developed something of a cult following as a modern classic.

This example has had a light couple of years as the previous owner took a job abroad and, although now back on these shores, is doing big mileage in a diesel car and hasn’t been using the Audi. Consequently, he offered it to his former colleague, the current owner, who has been putting the work in to bring the servicing up to date but doesn’t have the space to keep it and is offering it for sale. It has just received a full service, new timing belt and water pump and a service of the Haldex four-wheel drive, all using the genuine Audi service kits, and will be sold with a full year’s MOT.

All the manuals and the service book are present, with the records showing main dealer stamps every year for the first six years and independents thereafter, when it becomes less frequent. Recent receipts confirm that genuine parts have been used for the cam belt and Haldex service while both keys remain with the car.

Audi’s fit and finish always felt like it was built to last and so it proves here with an interior that still feels well-screwed together eighteen years later. The lovely leather Recaros which are very similar to those found in the B7 RS4 remain extremely comfortable and have a slightly lived in look but no rips or stains. The rear seats are in similarly good condition and the headlining is clean and sag-free. The dashboard displays are all present and correct and the Audi Concert hi fi is all working as it should, while the only real sign of wear on the switchgear is around the rotary switch for the headlights. Glove Box hinges can be a weak point in these cars but there’s no sign of that here with the only reported issues being a non-functioning driver’s window which will need attention and a missing lug on which to locate the nearside parcel shelf cord. The boot is clean and houses an unused space saver spare wheel under the floor.

The black paintwork is in good condition, with a recent blow over of the front end dealing with some stone chips on the bonnet. There are no rust bubbles and notably there is no sign of rust under the roof rails, which can be a problem on A3’s of this age. There are a few tiny dents on the doors and tailgate which it’s not been possible to capture in the photographs, and nothing that a paintless dent-removal service couldn’t deal with. Three of the wheels are generally in good condition, while the fourth has a significant kerb mark but the tyres are all Bridgestones with good tread. Underneath there is some surface rust as you would expect on a car of this age but nothing more.

Under the bonnet, there’s little doubt about how many valves per cylinder the engine has (five, in case you don’t have the picture to hand) but while there’s little to look at other than the plastic covers, it’s all neat and tidy. The engine starts first time every time and the current owner reports that the car drives beautifully with no untoward noises from the engine, transmission or suspension. The gear change is smooth and it pulls well with the turbo spun up. The handling remains tight and the brakes are strong. Mechanically, it’s good to go.

When the S3 was first launched it lived in the shadow of the TT coupe, and though it delivered on the ‘luxury on a smaller scale’ element of the brief, the handling wasn’t rated as highly. To some degree that reputation lived on but was undeserved as the revised version very much turned the tables. As such, the S3 with the 225 bhp engine has long been under-appreciated. Add to that the fact that later versions were more obviously ‘showy’ and what you have here is a rapid and capable modern classic that flies under the radar. It obviously hasn’t gone completely unnoticed though as it’s increasingly hard to find good unmodified examples.

This low mileage car is mechanically ship-shape and, although it needs a few items attended to in order to bring it up to the standard of the very best, can be enjoyed straight away. Smart enough to take anywhere and quick enough to keep up, it’s a discreet performance hatch that will be very easy to live with, whatever the weather. So if you want some subtly quick luxury without going for a large car, then get your bid in now.

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