RE: Audi S4 Avant: Review
Discussion
Deep said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes it would. As you say it's not diesel and has 4wd and is devoid of horrible run flat tyres.The only thing is that I currently own a (previous gen) c63 amg estate and fancied a change from that brand.
Cheers
Deep said:
I really don't understand some people's responses ie
1) Why don't you buy a Golf R? The Golf is a couple of 'classes' below. It doesn't look as good either inside or out. It doesn't have many of the toys or trinkets ie you can't even specify electric seats.
The engine, though nippy, is devoid of any character and is a 4 cylinder.
And yes I have driven one.
2) Why don't you buy a diesel BMW with xdrive? Because diesel engines are never fun no matter how powerful. And yes I have owned a 300 BHP diesel BMW in the past.
3) Why don't you buy a BMW 340i? Because it's not 4wd and I want 4wd. In addition I think the inside of the current 3 series looks dated and I hate run flat tyres.
4) Why don't you just buy a RS4? Because it'll cost at least £15k more and will have much higher running costs, ie insurance, VED and fuel.
I'll be test driving the s4 avant next week. I have no idea whether I'll like it but I know that I definitely don't want a diesel or 2wd car
Hmm. The list of great driving Audis is a fairly short one, and positive comments aside, I'm not sure this S4 is really up with the best.1) Why don't you buy a Golf R? The Golf is a couple of 'classes' below. It doesn't look as good either inside or out. It doesn't have many of the toys or trinkets ie you can't even specify electric seats.
The engine, though nippy, is devoid of any character and is a 4 cylinder.
And yes I have driven one.
2) Why don't you buy a diesel BMW with xdrive? Because diesel engines are never fun no matter how powerful. And yes I have owned a 300 BHP diesel BMW in the past.
3) Why don't you buy a BMW 340i? Because it's not 4wd and I want 4wd. In addition I think the inside of the current 3 series looks dated and I hate run flat tyres.
4) Why don't you just buy a RS4? Because it'll cost at least £15k more and will have much higher running costs, ie insurance, VED and fuel.
I'll be test driving the s4 avant next week. I have no idea whether I'll like it but I know that I definitely don't want a diesel or 2wd car
Some of the suggestions of Golf and BMW are not like for like, but perhaps similar bang for (less) bucks. Of course a Golf doesn't have the interior ambiance of an S4, but its arguably much better value for a 300PS wagon. And that might matter for some people...
E65Ross said:
You don't HAVE to run BMWs on run-flat tyres by the way....and the current gen of RFTs are significantly better riding than the older ones.
True, but can you actually order them without? Otherwise you're into additional cost of new tyres plus spacesaver/jack/etc - and hopefully there's actually a spare wheel well to put it in...?silentbrown said:
E65Ross said:
You don't HAVE to run BMWs on run-flat tyres by the way....and the current gen of RFTs are significantly better riding than the older ones.
True, but can you actually order them without? Otherwise you're into additional cost of new tyres plus spacesaver/jack/etc - and hopefully there's actually a spare wheel well to put it in...?Does the S4 Avant come with a spare as standard?
GTEYE said:
Hmm. The list of great driving Audis is a fairly short one, and positive comments aside, I'm not sure this S4 is really up with the best.
Some of the suggestions of Golf and BMW are not like for like, but perhaps similar bang for (less) bucks. Of course a Golf doesn't have the interior ambiance of an S4, but its arguably much better value for a 300PS wagon. And that might matter for some people...
I've never actually owned an Audi and have no idea whether I'll actually like the S4. But my point is that people like me who are interested in looking at this vehicle probably wouldn't consider the others for all the reasons I mentioned ieSome of the suggestions of Golf and BMW are not like for like, but perhaps similar bang for (less) bucks. Of course a Golf doesn't have the interior ambiance of an S4, but its arguably much better value for a 300PS wagon. And that might matter for some people...
1) They want a petrol and preferably not a 4 cylinder one
2) The Golf just doesn't have the prestige (what I really mean is interior fit/finish and toys)
3) They want 4wd
So the only two contenders, at the moment, for a 4wd, petrol estate with some decent poke (but not RS OR AMG) from a 'prestige' brand are the Audi S4 and the MB C43.
If 1),2) and 3) don't bother you then there are loads of choices
silentbrown said:
E65Ross said:
You don't HAVE to run BMWs on run-flat tyres by the way....and the current gen of RFTs are significantly better riding than the older ones.
True, but can you actually order them without? Otherwise you're into additional cost of new tyres plus spacesaver/jack/etc - and hopefully there's actually a spare wheel well to put it in...?HighwayStar said:
But... Not many cars come with a spare of any description now. My previous TTS only had what was on the road plus the canister of moose which was supposed to save the day... same with my current chariot.
Does the S4 Avant come with a spare as standard?
The S5 Sportback does (as I looked at the dealer the other day) so I would presume the S4 does.Does the S4 Avant come with a spare as standard?
TomScrut said:
HighwayStar said:
But... Not many cars come with a spare of any description now. My previous TTS only had what was on the road plus the canister of moose which was supposed to save the day... same with my current chariot.
Does the S4 Avant come with a spare as standard?
The S5 Sportback does (as I looked at the dealer the other day) so I would presume the S4 does.Does the S4 Avant come with a spare as standard?
Deep said:
I've never actually owned an Audi and have no idea whether I'll actually like the S4. But my point is that people like me who are interested in looking at this vehicle probably wouldn't consider the others for all the reasons I mentioned ie
1) They want a petrol and preferably not a 4 cylinder one
2) The Golf just doesn't have the prestige (what I really mean is interior fit/finish and toys)
3) They want 4wd
So the only two contenders, at the moment, for a 4wd, petrol estate with some decent poke (but not RS OR AMG) from a 'prestige' brand are the Audi S4 and the MB C43.
If 1),2) and 3) don't bother you then there are loads of choices
3 is the most important thing for me. When looking for cars this last time (with a view to leasing) my "requirements" were:1) They want a petrol and preferably not a 4 cylinder one
2) The Golf just doesn't have the prestige (what I really mean is interior fit/finish and toys)
3) They want 4wd
So the only two contenders, at the moment, for a 4wd, petrol estate with some decent poke (but not RS OR AMG) from a 'prestige' brand are the Audi S4 and the MB C43.
If 1),2) and 3) don't bother you then there are loads of choices
5s ish to 60
Not abysmal on fuel
4wd
That put Golf R, S3, S4, S5, A/CLA/GLA 45, C43, 335xd & 435xd on the list. The S5 Sportback was the best value of all these in my opinion but leasing is very different to buying. The C43 leases are over £100 a month more than what I am going to be paying for the S5 and I dont prefer it from what I know about them (but haven't driven either).
Deep said:
GTEYE said:
Hmm. The list of great driving Audis is a fairly short one, and positive comments aside, I'm not sure this S4 is really up with the best.
Some of the suggestions of Golf and BMW are not like for like, but perhaps similar bang for (less) bucks. Of course a Golf doesn't have the interior ambiance of an S4, but its arguably much better value for a 300PS wagon. And that might matter for some people...
I've never actually owned an Audi and have no idea whether I'll actually like the S4. But my point is that people like me who are interested in looking at this vehicle probably wouldn't consider the others for all the reasons I mentioned ieSome of the suggestions of Golf and BMW are not like for like, but perhaps similar bang for (less) bucks. Of course a Golf doesn't have the interior ambiance of an S4, but its arguably much better value for a 300PS wagon. And that might matter for some people...
1) They want a petrol and preferably not a 4 cylinder one
2) The Golf just doesn't have the prestige (what I really mean is interior fit/finish and toys)
3) They want 4wd
So the only two contenders, at the moment, for a 4wd, petrol estate with some decent poke (but not RS OR AMG) from a 'prestige' brand are the Audi S4 and the MB C43.
If 1),2) and 3) don't bother you then there are loads of choices
If might not be the best way to blow £50k...
As a counter, my local BMW dealer had a 66 plate 800 mile M3 saloon Performance pack for £51,500....yes not an estate, but much more appeal than an S4 IMHO.
GTEYE said:
It depends what you are prioritising - if you're looking for interior ambiance and toys, maybe the S4 will inspire. But I think you said you currently have a C63 wagon...in which case you might find the S4 a rather uninspiring drive...but over to you on that one.
If might not be the best way to blow £50k...
As a counter, my local BMW dealer had a 66 plate 800 mile M3 saloon Performance pack for £51,500....yes not an estate, but much more appeal than an S4 IMHO.
I'm not expecting the S4 to be as 'inspiring' as the C63, the former is in a performance category below.If might not be the best way to blow £50k...
As a counter, my local BMW dealer had a 66 plate 800 mile M3 saloon Performance pack for £51,500....yes not an estate, but much more appeal than an S4 IMHO.
I'm not sure what the relevance of the M3 is? Just because two cars cost the same doesn't make them comparable, and that was in part why I initially posted on the thread.
The M3 is NEITHER an estate nor 4wd and so is of no relevance to somebody looking for a 4wd petrol estate car.
We really need to compare apples with apples
silentbrown said:
HighwayStar said:
Does the S4 Avant come with a spare as standard?
Yes, a spacesaver, and I wouldn't be without one. Spacesavers aren't exactly fun to drive with, but I wouldn't trust the gunk to do anything much except bugger up a perfectly repairable tyre.Personally, if I preferred 1 car to another, yet the car I preferred didn't come with a space saver....I certainly wouldn't choose the other car based on that fact. Seems a bit daft to me.
silentbrown said:
Yes, a spacesaver, and I wouldn't be without one. Spacesavers aren't exactly fun to drive with, but I wouldn't trust the gunk to do anything much except bugger up a perfectly repairable tyre.
I much prefer having a space saver. I had a puncture about a year ago and it cost me a tenner to get mended as I could swap the wheel rather than pump it full of sludge.E65Ross said:
silentbrown said:
HighwayStar said:
Does the S4 Avant come with a spare as standard?
Yes, a spacesaver, and I wouldn't be without one. Spacesavers aren't exactly fun to drive with, but I wouldn't trust the gunk to do anything much except bugger up a perfectly repairable tyre.Personally, if I preferred 1 car to another, yet the car I preferred didn't come with a space saver....I certainly wouldn't choose the other car based on that fact. Seems a bit daft to me.
I can totally see why others prefer the reassurance of knowing that spare/skinny is back there should it be needed.
In fact, my old slag Golf daily has been on a get-you-home spare for nearly 2 weeks after getting a flat. Turned out to be the wheel not the tyre but that's another story.
E65Ross said:
Does the ability to have a spare tyre have that big of an impact on the car you choose? You may get 1 single puncture in what....maybe every 5+ years of driving? Just call the AA/RAC if it does happen and you don't like the gunk.
I've never had to call the RAC : Short of recovery, what can they actually do if you call up with a puncture but no spare? Their T's & C's used to say that callouts where you had usable spare were chargeable...Lack of a spare wheel is certainly a negative point for me, so given two identical cars but one has no spare, it's an easy call.
silentbrown said:
E65Ross said:
Does the ability to have a spare tyre have that big of an impact on the car you choose? You may get 1 single puncture in what....maybe every 5+ years of driving? Just call the AA/RAC if it does happen and you don't like the gunk.
I've never had to call the RAC : Short of recovery, what can they actually do if you call up with a puncture but no spare? Their T's & C's used to say that callouts where you had usable spare were chargeable...Lack of a spare wheel is certainly a negative point for me, so given two identical cars but one has no spare, it's an easy call.
http://www.rac.co.uk/breakdown-cover/how-universal...
https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/news/aa-mult...
HighwayStar said:
silentbrown said:
E65Ross said:
Does the ability to have a spare tyre have that big of an impact on the car you choose? You may get 1 single puncture in what....maybe every 5+ years of driving? Just call the AA/RAC if it does happen and you don't like the gunk.
I've never had to call the RAC : Short of recovery, what can they actually do if you call up with a puncture but no spare? Their T's & C's used to say that callouts where you had usable spare were chargeable...Lack of a spare wheel is certainly a negative point for me, so given two identical cars but one has no spare, it's an easy call.
http://www.rac.co.uk/breakdown-cover/how-universal...
https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/news/aa-mult...
Either way, seems absurd to rule a car out based on the fact it doesn't come with a spare tyre, even if that car is the one you prefer.
E65Ross said:
Either way, seems absurd to rule a car out based on the fact it doesn't come with a spare tyre, even if that car is the one you prefer.
??? Not sure I implied that, but if I did "rule a car out" I think that would mean I didn't actually prefer it...Anyway, when I get a puncture it's frequently most of
a: unrepairable
b: on a dead-end road miles from the nearest house
c: somewhere with zero mobile coverage
d: on a weekend
e: at night
f: with a tyre size that's not in stock locally unless I want a ridiculously overpriced DitchFinder™ 2000 Special
g: when the entire family's in the car
h: ...and we're a hurry to get somewhere important.
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