Hi,

I was just wondering how long you guys intend keeping your cars for?

From all the threads I've seen you guys seem to have put quite a bit of time/effort/cash into your cars, and I was wondering if you guys use the cars as everydayers or weekend toys?

The reason I ask is that I'm wondering if I should just keep my S3 for a while and keep adding things to it to make it a more accomplished car, instead of looking to sell it and replace it with something which will be less competent (for the price I will get for mine).

No use rushing into selling the car, but the new S3 will be on my shopping list (if it's good enough!)

Hi Jason

I've recently got my RS2. It's a second car (main car is an A4 Cab 3.0).

Cars like the S2/RS2 are pretty expensive to maintain and time consuming. If I'd had to dedicate the time, effort and money I've put into my RS2 in the pre-purchase and first month of ownership into any almost any other car, I would have dumped it faster than I bought it.

The point I'm trying to make is that in the case of a car that is really special to you, the time it consumes becomes a source of fulfillment and the cost an unfortunate reality that you budget around as best you can. Remember that insurance can also be a lot higher on imported or limited models, so it is not just a matter of parts and labor.

Thankfully knowlege is something you can acquire reasonably quickly through web sites and advice is readily available on forums like this one. Parts are also a lot cheaper through alternative sources (eg. VAGparts.com) and things that the dealer just cluelessly replaces can often be reconditioned.

I'm not sure what the cost of parts and servicing of the S3 is like after motorplan expires, however, it is still a relatively new car with many parts being shared with other current and past VW/Audi models, so I'd imagine it would be significantly cheaper to maintain then an S2/RS2.

So my advice to you is to go with whatever car you love and adore (obviously within budgetary constraints). If that's your S3, keep it. If not, take as many test drives of as many makes and models as you need to before making a decision and if need be, be prepared to wait for the newer models. Cars are an expensive investment and the happier you are with whatever you have, the less likely you are to incurr costs associated with changing it (depreciation being the key issue on new cars).

Hi

I have a 1995 urS6 6spd manual with 180km on the clock which I use 7 days a week. I drive to a different client all over JHB from Mon to Fri and use my car on the weekends as well.

If you like your car...keep it.

Cheers

Willem
urS6

Thanks for the replies. ; )

The maintenance cost of my S3 has been pretty high, considering the FWP expired at 50K.

So far I've had to replace the lambda sensor, timing chains and chain tensioner at my own cost, a sum total of about 11K. The 75K service is fast approaching too...

I absolutely enjoy my car (I've kept it for 3 damn years!) and don't really see the point in downgrading to a Golf GTI or BMW 1 series; the only car I continuously keep on my shopping list is a Scoob STi, preferably the new spec model as I wasn't too impressed with the feedback of the current iteration.

Greg has summed it up pretty well.

My S2 was a daily car in its early years, but know only when I get the time to drive it. I have had it since almost new and the serves have cost me an average about R1500 per year. It know has 85000km and the RS2 bits which has cost a fair bit to add. I suppose it is a car I doubt I'd ever part with.

I purchased the RS2 a few months ago and spent lots of time and money on services and minor repairs. I currently use it daily to work and weekends as well.

I get great enjoyment of owning , repairing and driving these cars.

I have to agree with Shane as well. My S2 was not in fantastic condition when I got it, but I have slowly being getting it right. I use it every day, not much on the weekends as it's a bit small for the family.

When I bought it I was specifically looking for a practical high performace car that would not cost an arm and a leg to run (or buy). I initially looked at a Lancia Delta, but, while fairly cheap to buy, the parts are really scary and it's not all that practical as a everyday driver (IMHO). The S2 on the other hand has rock solid running gear, well proven reliability, is not overly complex and has freely available(and affordable) parts. By parts I also include body parts, interior etc since the S2 shares plenty in common with the cabriolet (which even has the S badge on the steering wheel here in SA). There are also many many V6 Coupe bodied cars in the UK where other parts can be got if needed.

I doubt I would ever part with mine unless it was to buy Shane's

Hi

I agree with many of the comments above, but I have to say that I have a bit of a love/hate thing going with my S2 (love it when its running, hate it when I hear anything that sounds funny . At the end of the day though I always come back to one point; If I sold it what could I buy for the same money that:
a) is absolutely stunning
b) good kick-in-the-backside performance
c) very comfortable with all mod cons
d) sounds awesome, not like these new sewing machines
e) corners like its on rails

Then I put away the Autotrader and go for a drive...

Craig

Craig, that's my feeling as well. ; )