PETROLHEADS on a budget can pick up a hot hatchbach with plenty of oomph for a very reasonable price.
The surprisingly fast Audi S3 is a smaller, souped up version of the A3 family car with enough performance to even match certain Ferrari models.
The S3, which comes with 261 bhp and the famous quattro four-wheel drive system, once cost up to £33,370 from new – but can now be picked up second-hand for as little as £9,000 in 2024.
In fact, we were able to sniff out a 2011 model with just 90,000 miles on the clock for £8,995 on the Pistonheads website.
This example, that includes automatic drive and a 2.0-litre engine, comes complete with automatic headlights, cruise control, leather seats and parking sensors.
It also looks the business with fully refurbished alloy wheels.
Incredibly, this hot hatch boasts an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds, with a thrilling top speed of 155 mph.
To give that some context, its acceleration beats the likes of the Ferrari 328 GTS and the 348 TB, and it’s faster overall than a Ferrari 308 GT4.
It’s also pacier than many of its hot hatch rivals of the time, including the BMW’s 130i M Sport – which offers slower acceleration.
The Vauxhall Astra VXR also comes with less power at 240 bhp.
What’s more, the Audi S3 is fairly fuel-efficient – boasting a fuel consumption of 33.2 mpg.
Plus, it’s ULEZ compliant, meaning you can drive in low emission zones without any worries.
The Audi S3 has been around since 1999, with four generations of the motor produced in that time.
The current fourth-gen can be bought as a hatchback or sedan, and has been likened to the VW Golf Mk8 GTI.
This comes as Audi recent announced they were changing the name of one of its most popular models – sparking a nightmare if you want to sell one.
Elsewhere, Wheeler Dealers’ host Mike Brewer has recently picked out a very popular hot hatchback as a future classic – even claiming it will be “sought after” by enthusiasts.
