Brakes: Check operation of the brake sensor behind the brake pedal and the brake servo pipe, both known trouble spots.
Body: Check behind body strips where rust can form. Affected areas include the door bottoms, while easier to spot is rust on the roof rails and gutters. It’s a performance car, so check for fresh paint and filler and that the tires match all round and are worn evenly.
Inside: Check if the digital display has lost its pixels. Make sure that the air conditioning blows cold and that the glovebox hinges aren’t broken.
So worth knowing
You get more power if your S3 is a 2002 or 2003 model, but do you get anything else if you go for a later example? Well yes, indeed you do, because the facelift of 2002 also included new one-piece headlight/indicator units, different tail-light clusters and some minor upgrades to the interior trim.
Standard equipment across all model years includes 17in alloy wheels, electrically adjustable Recaro leather seats, climate control, electronic stability control and traction control.
How much to spend
£3000-£4999: High-mileage cars (often north of 150,000) from private sellers. Previous accident history, rough conditions and/or questionable modifications are likely, so pay attention and choose carefully.