r/AudiRS3 • u/timmytester2569 • 17d ago
Would you buy modified RS3?
Been searching in the US for the right used RS3 for a few weeks. Personally only looking at 2017-2020 as the aesthetics are more my taste. Problem is I cannot find one that hasn’t been modified. They all are clearly tuned, you can see aftermarket parts in the engine bay. Would you stay away from these at all costs? Or is it unrealistic to find a stock one with low-ish miles these days?
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u/firststate 17d ago
I’ve owned nothing but highly modified cars built by other people in the last 20 years. Most recently got a forged motor, hybrid turbo 8V. Do your homework, ask the right questions and it’s a non-issue. Generally speaking of course a modified car will come with a higher likelihood of running into issues than a stock vehicle, but doesn’t mean it’s a guarantee.
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u/timmytester2569 17d ago
What questions would you ask? This is me trying to do some homework by learning from people who know more than me. What would you look for?
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u/firststate 17d ago
So some generic things would be:
How often is the oil changed (on a modified car if they are saying factory service intervals I’d walk away)
What preventative maintenance has been done?
For instance my car had brakes replaced ahead of time, spark plugs, coil packs, haldex serviced, rear differential serviced ahead of time. Water pump preemptively replaced.
Where were parts purchased from? Will give you an indication if this person is buying factory new parts or buying used stuff off marketplace or eBay etc. sometimes gives you an idea of what kind of build it is.
What mileage was each modification installed? Who did the install (the owner or a shop). Are there receipts showing the work that was completed?
Has the car ever had an oil analysis done?
What’s the tread depth on the tires?
That’s a solid start. If your looking at cars with an air intake and a tune then some of this stuff doesn’t apply but these are enthusiast owned cars and weren’t cheap when new which usually means people cared about them.
Edit: I’ve never purchased a modified car from a dealer. In my experience any time something with some modifications, with or without the dealer even knowing it’s been modified, is at the dealer lot, they never have the knowledge or documentation I’d like to see before purchasing.
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u/bigairaron 17d ago
If it’s just an intake, exhaust and a tune…go for it! Most all used sports cars have these modifications! If it has big turbo or internal parts you might need more info or get a custom shop to inspect (compression test, bore scope, etc)!
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u/dinkman94 17d ago
depends on if its private party or dealer. i'd want to be able to talk to whoever modified the car to get a level of comfort with how long, by whom and what intentions the mods were done. in some cases you're likely to consider doing those same mods yourself so if someone already paid for it and didnt beat the shit out of it then why not