THINKING ABOUT BUYING A AUDI S4 2004/2005
Discussion
Any advice? Yeah do it NOW! B6 S4 is muchos respected round these parts.
There are also plenty of threads running on running costs in this section. Basically apart from the fuel it's no more expensive thn any other Audi.
Over the past year and 30k miles mine has had 1 set of tyres, one set of front brake pads and a set of shocks (the car has just passed 90k so this was expected) None of the work was particularly expensive or specialist.
I f
king love mine. It's an '03 Reg Avant Manual with 90k on the clock and it still feels spot on.
There are also plenty of threads running on running costs in this section. Basically apart from the fuel it's no more expensive thn any other Audi.
Over the past year and 30k miles mine has had 1 set of tyres, one set of front brake pads and a set of shocks (the car has just passed 90k so this was expected) None of the work was particularly expensive or specialist.
I f
king love mine. It's an '03 Reg Avant Manual with 90k on the clock and it still feels spot on.Advice: they are pretty strong cars. Look out for aux rads weeping, and listen for a rattle on start up - it's the timing chain. A second or two is OK, and to be expected, but longer is a warning sign. Apparently oil changes every 6-12 months can help this.
Tyres, brakes, oil, and coil packs are all consumables with higher than average turnover (but then, it's not an average car).
The auto's gearing is supposed to be preferable to the manual, esp at motorway speeds, resulting in much lower revs and higher mpg. I've read that the shift points on the manual aren't ideal (so that you can end up driving around using 2 to 4 to 6), but I've no idea whether that's really true. There are plenty of manual-owning S4ers on PH, and they don't seem to complain about this.
SatNav is desireable, but can be retrofitted. Rear parking sensors can be retrofitted, but the retros sit about 1-2mm proud of the bumper, whereas the factory ones are flush. Front sensors can't be retrofitted, or if they can, I don't know anyone who's figured out how to. The memory option for the electric seats can be retro'd as well, but it looks quite a fiddly job.
I doubt (a lot) it's as mental as an Impreza, but if you're looking at the auto, maybe you've decided that that's what you want. The nose is quite heavy, in addition to the built-in understeer. Apparently you can fit the rear anti-roll bar from a B7 RS4 to a B6 S4, and it tidies up the handling nicely.
rs246.com is a good resource.
I've just acquired an 04 S4 Cab auto. I heart it big time.
Tyres, brakes, oil, and coil packs are all consumables with higher than average turnover (but then, it's not an average car).
The auto's gearing is supposed to be preferable to the manual, esp at motorway speeds, resulting in much lower revs and higher mpg. I've read that the shift points on the manual aren't ideal (so that you can end up driving around using 2 to 4 to 6), but I've no idea whether that's really true. There are plenty of manual-owning S4ers on PH, and they don't seem to complain about this.
SatNav is desireable, but can be retrofitted. Rear parking sensors can be retrofitted, but the retros sit about 1-2mm proud of the bumper, whereas the factory ones are flush. Front sensors can't be retrofitted, or if they can, I don't know anyone who's figured out how to. The memory option for the electric seats can be retro'd as well, but it looks quite a fiddly job.
I doubt (a lot) it's as mental as an Impreza, but if you're looking at the auto, maybe you've decided that that's what you want. The nose is quite heavy, in addition to the built-in understeer. Apparently you can fit the rear anti-roll bar from a B7 RS4 to a B6 S4, and it tidies up the handling nicely.
rs246.com is a good resource.
I've just acquired an 04 S4 Cab auto. I heart it big time.
Fort Jefferson said:
B6 S4 =
No turbos
No Cambelt changes
No DRC
No Fsi.
All the things Audi owners seem to complain about.
Check out the performance figures here.
PS, get one with three pedals.
!!!! Absolutly right !!!!No turbos
No Cambelt changes
No DRC
No Fsi.
All the things Audi owners seem to complain about.
Check out the performance figures here.
PS, get one with three pedals.
All this talk about the gear ratios being wrong is rubbish, they are so well match to the engine to extra teh most of the V8 torque. It may rev a tad higher on the motorway but fuel ecconomy is never going to be good with a V8 is it.
Just asume it will need 8 coil packs and a pair of Aux rads and adhear to the startup noise advise above and your golden.
And make sure its got a proper roof too.
If memory serves isn't the WR1 the one in lovely light blue that has 300 odd bhp? I would give my left and probably right nut for an S4 but might it not be a little sedate dare I say slow compared to a WR1? I've never driven either probably never will but I'm aware of the various sorts of performance figures they produce.
On the plus side you'll immediately appear classier in the S4 than the Scooby!
On the plus side you'll immediately appear classier in the S4 than the Scooby!
My 2p worth;
I came from a 2000 impreza turbo to a 55 black S4 tip convertible with 19k about 3 months ago.
S4 is definitely not as involving to drive as the subaru. However it is one of those cars which I feel is just inherently right. The interior is very well put together and I keep discovering new clever things it will do ( make sure you get one with as many toys as possible). Then on top of that you have this absolutely superb V8, I drive with the window open listening to it (sad).
People keep saying that it does not feel quick, I disagree, put in sport mode and drive it hard, it feels plenty quick to me!
Have to mention economy; piss poor is being kind. On my daily commute I manage 16-18mpg but I do like to hear the engine and it's worth every penny.
I came from a 2000 impreza turbo to a 55 black S4 tip convertible with 19k about 3 months ago.
S4 is definitely not as involving to drive as the subaru. However it is one of those cars which I feel is just inherently right. The interior is very well put together and I keep discovering new clever things it will do ( make sure you get one with as many toys as possible). Then on top of that you have this absolutely superb V8, I drive with the window open listening to it (sad).
People keep saying that it does not feel quick, I disagree, put in sport mode and drive it hard, it feels plenty quick to me!
Have to mention economy; piss poor is being kind. On my daily commute I manage 16-18mpg but I do like to hear the engine and it's worth every penny.
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff