Equipment
Turbo SE with 264hp, OZ wheels, store brand tires, power windows, factory cassette stereo, air conditioning, AutoMeter speedometer in place of the factory original.
Condition
#3 Good
Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.
386 miles showing on replacemente AutoMeter speedometer/odometer, so actual mileage is unknown. Numerous chips and small scrapes on the nose. A few light general scratches rough out but otherwise sound original paint. A few light scratches on the driver's side rub strip. Significant wear on the seats, but clean carpets and switchgear. Clean underbody. Passenger door does not close flush. A neat, appealing car and often cheap, but buying one of these on a whim can be a serious risk. This one at least appears to be screwed together well, but there may be mechanical gremlins under there, especially since the actual mileage is a mystery.
Market commentary
While it lacks the grunt of the later V-8 Esprits, the S3 Turbos, especially the 264-hp SE's like this one, are plenty quick enough and just as sharp-looking. A mid-engined European exotic for economy car money sure sounds tempting, but it's of course not always that simple. The Scottsdale bidders discounted this example's unknown mileage and unclear history appropriately. The buyer has gotten a lot of performance and style for little money, but it could quickly turn into an expensive car if something breaks.