B8 S4 Ownership

[mrdanbartlett]

Hi all,

Purely from a reliability point of view, if buying a 09/10 car with say 65-80k on it would you opt for a manual or a auto? I've read the DSG is generally good as long as fluid changes are done, but there is still the possibility for a huge bill. However I've also read that the manuals can have a slight know issue which requires alot of work too, plus the cost of the clutch & flywheel can be expensive.

I have my heart set on an auto, but finding one is proving very hard. Travelled a fair way to an auction this week to bid on one I liked the look of (right spec/colour etc) and it got withdrawn with no notice! It's back on this week coming but I'm away.

I've seen some ok looking manuals and my friend with a b8 S4 says he would get a manual as less to worry about, but I', not so sure.

Sorry to be one of those waiting to buy bores! I have the money sat here but waiting for the right spec/colour etc and at the right price as some seem rather over-priced and don't sell for ages.

[Hol]

Manual.

I feel like I have lost so much driver input, compared to the other 200bhp plus cars I have owned.


Some people understand what that loss feels like. Others will try and tell you the paddles are just as good, if not better than a stick, it isn't.

[mrdanbartlett]

Thanks but I mean purely from a reliability point of view.

I personally like the DSG box, driven a couple in anger at Spa and the Ring and I like it. I like a good manual, not driven an audi but the BMW manual in my old Z4 was so slick, v direct and precise. Just annoying in traffic/country roads when not 'on it'

[theboyfold]

So I've just test driven this car: http://www.audi.co.uk/used-cars/used-car-locator/a...

I'm looking to replace my M135i with something that's more adept with a family of 4. However, I've got a few questions as I wasn't 100% happy with the drive. The thing I wasn't expecting was that it's not that exciting to drive, which I might be able to live with. However, there were a few oddities

- If you are in manual, and floor it the gearbox kicked down, which I didn't expect as I would have thought it stayed in gear. (As my BMW does)
- The sat nav (I guess it was coming from that) seemed to want to warn me that everywhere was a 30mph limit, can this be disabled?
- Does the sports diff make it feel more rear wheel drive?
- If you add the suspension packages (damper control and drive select, does it firm things up a little)?
- Also, were the paddles behind the wheel updated, as the ones in the car above felt very plastic, whilst in newer cars they look different.

Thanks in advance, I was looking forward to really like the S4, but it wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be.

[Cupramax]

30k for a nearly three year old S4? Are you insane? You can get a brand new black edition for 33k via Broadspeed,

[mrdanbartlett]

theboyfold said:

So I've just test driven this car: http://www.audi.co.uk/used-cars/used-car-locator/a...

I'm looking to replace my M135i with something that's more adept with a family of 4. However, I've got a few questions as I wasn't 100% happy with the drive. The thing I wasn't expecting was that it's not that exciting to drive, which I might be able to live with. However, there were a few oddities

- If you are in manual, and floor it the gearbox kicked down, which I didn't expect as I would have thought it stayed in gear. (As my BMW does)
- The sat nav (I guess it was coming from that) seemed to want to warn me that everywhere was a 30mph limit, can this be disabled?
- Does the sports diff make it feel more rear wheel drive?
- If you add the suspension packages (damper control and drive select, does it firm things up a little)?
- Also, were the paddles behind the wheel updated, as the ones in the car above felt very plastic, whilst in newer cars they look different.

Thanks in advance, I was looking forward to really like the S4, but it wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be.

Try a 335i to make sure its the right decsiion, but as other have said you can get brand new S4's for 32-35k.
The S4 is always going to be more sensible than a BMW, not quite as driver focused. However the engine is a gem and remaps to well over 400bhp......which puts it into a next league up, just you may lose the warranty.

[DoubleSix]

theboyfold said:

- If you are in manual, and floor it the gearbox kicked down, which I didn't expect as I would have thought it stayed in gear. (As my BMW does)

Can someone confirm this? Sounds annoying.

[theboyfold]

Cupramax said:

30k for a nearly three year old S4? Are you insane? You can get a brand new black edition for 33k via Broadspeed,

No, I'm not insane. I've got a nicely specced order ready to go with 19% off. This was the closest one I could find to drive.

[theboyfold]

This is the spec I'm looking at

\

Although I think I will swap out the seats and put the sunroof in the spec instead

[silentbrown]

I think there's a change to the paddles for this model year (ie "Nav" editions) but I haven't seen one to compare.

"Change:All S4 S tronic models. S tronic paddles - New smaller, chrome design"

You may need to get a hurry on: Rumours on audi-sport.net that some dealers have filled that allocation until the end of production this autumn...

[Bluesmurff09]

Hi

Sorry to hijack the thread.

Im looking to purchase a 2010 ish s4 and im looking for the following spec

Stronic

Grey silver,blue or imola red would be even better

Full service history

50k or less

20k budget

What options should I be looking for and what power gains are possible with remaps?

Thanks


Mat

[theboyfold]

silentbrown said:

I think there's a change to the paddles for this model year (ie "Nav" editions) but I haven't seen one to compare.

"Change:All S4 S tronic models. S tronic paddles - New smaller, chrome design"

You may need to get a hurry on: Rumours on audi-sport.net that some dealers have filled that allocation until the end of production this autumn...

Thanks, the dealer hasn't said anything about running out of allocation yet.

Also, reading around, the manual mode isn't a fully manual system. You can still get the car to kick down, so I wasn't imagining it.

Edited by theboyfold on Sunday 24th May 23:08

[jimmyjimjim]

theboyfold said:

silentbrown said:

I think there's a change to the paddles for this model year (ie "Nav" editions) but I haven't seen one to compare.

"Change:All S4 S tronic models. S tronic paddles - New smaller, chrome design"

You may need to get a hurry on: Rumours on audi-sport.net that some dealers have filled that allocation until the end of production this autumn...

Thanks, the dealer hasn't said anything about running out of allocation yet.

Also, reading around, the manual mode isn't a fully manual system. You can still get the car to kick down, so I wasn't imagining it.

Edited by theboyfold on Sunday 24th May 23:08

I've a feeling the 201415 model year paddles were bigger than the 2013/14 model year paddles...wonder if they've run out of stock and reverted.

Yes, you can get it to kick down - it caught me once unawares, when I floored it. I don't think it'll change up after that, though.

[theboyfold]

jimmyjimjim said:

I've a feeling the 201415 model year paddles were bigger than the 2013/14 model year paddles...wonder if they've run out of stock and reverted.

Yes, you can get it to kick down - it caught me once unawares, when I floored it. I don't think it'll change up after that, though.

The one I drove was a 12 plate, so it would be right that they are smaller.

I've found one with the diff that I can drive locally, so I'll set of that makes a difference.

[fastgerman]

I don't understand why anyone specs the bucket/rs seats if it's going to be a family wagon - have you tried to sit behind them? Not much space :-(. They look cool though

[GrahamC230K]

In manual the car will kick down if you press the kickdown button at the end of the throttle pedal travel and will also change up if you reach max revs.

[theboyfold]

fastgerman said:

I don't understand why anyone specs the bucket/rs seats if it's going to be a family wagon - have you tried to sit behind them? Not much space :-(. They look cool though

That's what I am thinking, I didn't realise how much space they took out until I compared like for like.

[Adrian E]

I don't think they make much difference to knee space - but they give the illusion due to the shape so they're defo more claustrophobic in the back as much harder to see through/round

[theboyfold]

Adrian E said:

I don't think they make much difference to knee space - but they give the illusion due to the shape so they're defo more claustrophobic in the back as much harder to see through/round

My tests were highly scientific I got the seats in the right position and wiggled my hand around, certainly felt like there was more room without the sports seats.

Driving a car with a diff next weekend, what should I look out for with it?

[Adrian E]

theboyfold said:

Adrian E said:

I don't think they make much difference to knee space - but they give the illusion due to the shape so they're defo more claustrophobic in the back as much harder to see through/round

My tests were highly scientific I got the seats in the right position and wiggled my hand around, certainly felt like there was more room without the sports seats.

Driving a car with a diff next weekend, what should I look out for with it?

They're standard fit on our S5 Sportback so you don't have the choice - from our test drives of S4s I don't find much difference in support so if the space is marginal I don't think you're losing much apart from appearance with the stock seats.

Diff to me seems to help maintain a tighter line than you can without it. But it's marginal - maybe a little more playful on the throttle on long bends/roundabouts. Stick it in dynamic or individual, after making sure individual for the diff is set to the dynamic setting, and see if you can notice it.

You get a bit of grumble from the diff on tight turns at low speed - nothing to worry about