Content creator bought a damaged Audi RS3 at a fraction of the price before discovering hidden info that makes it a lot less of a bargain

Car mechanics are always looking for a bargain, but this Audi RS3 primed for a restoration gave one new owner the shock of their life.

Getting a damaged car always comes with a gamble, given you can sometimes never predict the unseen drawbacks.

But if done right, it’s a goldmine, selling on fixed-up cars that only needed a bit of TLC.

Unfortunately, this recent effort to flip an incredibly cheap Audi RS3 has come back to bite the new owner with a hidden flaw.

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Audi RS3 restoration hits major snag

Sometimes, Audi can come in clutch when it comes to restorations; one restorer spent just $10 on a part from the company which actually went under the hood of his Bugatti Veyron, which would have cost thousands if bought directly from the supercar manufacturer.

But, there wouldn’t be such a fairytale story this time.

YouTube personality and car dealer Chris Slix bought an Audi RS3 which has been in a rear-end crash, although it was described as ‘running and driveable’, meaning its engine should have been in good condition.

However, the job was instantly heightened as the content creator went to fire up his broken car and ripped the rear bumper off.

Instead of bursting into life, the engine wouldn’t start due to a blown pyro fuse from the crash. To pile on the woes, the team found a gearbox malfunction after making a temporary bypass to start the car.]

Pushing the Audi RS3 off the trailer, instead of driving it, was indicative of how much harder (well, more expensive) this job had become.

RS3 restoration build final costs

This restoration should have been quite straightforward as Audi RS3 rear parts can be sourced from other models like the A3, unlike the front end, but it ended up costing a small fortune.

The content creator documented the rebuild on his YouTube channel, where he showed the mechanics use of replacement parts, maintaining the structural integrity, and welding the new pieces together.

With the final touches being added, in the four rear lights, the Audi RS3 was primed to be given to the body shop.

Overall, the project cost £19,900 ($25,000), excluding paint (estimated at another $2,000), which was ‘not too bad’ for a 2019 RS3 with 40,000 miles, in the YouTuber’s eyes.

The Audi RS3 might not have been as fruitful for this mechanic, but the car model continues to serve a much bigger purpose by lending its engine to other supercars.