B8 S4 Ownership
Discussion
silentbrown said:
Mine's not for sale!
At that stage they were offering Black Edition cars - rear tints, dark headlining, 19" wheels, B&O stereo, dechromed, so most 8.5s are that spec.
The only one of those options that I didn't actively dislike was the stereo...
Flat bottomed wheels comes with BE spec as well, from memory? I really disliked that when I test drove S4s, but my Golf GTI has it and I don't even notice now, 6 years later!At that stage they were offering Black Edition cars - rear tints, dark headlining, 19" wheels, B&O stereo, dechromed, so most 8.5s are that spec.
The only one of those options that I didn't actively dislike was the stereo...
Adrian E said:
silentbrown said:
Mine's not for sale!
At that stage they were offering Black Edition cars - rear tints, dark headlining, 19" wheels, B&O stereo, dechromed, so most 8.5s are that spec.
The only one of those options that I didn't actively dislike was the stereo...
Flat bottomed wheels comes with BE spec as well, from memory? I really disliked that when I test drove S4s, but my Golf GTI has it and I don't even notice now, 6 years later!At that stage they were offering Black Edition cars - rear tints, dark headlining, 19" wheels, B&O stereo, dechromed, so most 8.5s are that spec.
The only one of those options that I didn't actively dislike was the stereo...
Well, I've bought one. Not a lot of choice around at the moment but it seems to be a fair one, well optioned.
What did surprise me in the search was that all the ones I looked at had a mess of tyres on them. It was a common theme, the previous owner being skint.
Will now search for some 18" wheels for a nice set of all weathers.
What did surprise me in the search was that all the ones I looked at had a mess of tyres on them. It was a common theme, the previous owner being skint.
Will now search for some 18" wheels for a nice set of all weathers.
catso said:
Never understood the flat bottomed wheel, mine's got one (it is the black edition, though light headlining) and whilst I don't dislike it, I really don't see the point?
Because 'sporty'. Easier ingress and all that. Actually it does give a minor plus in giving you tactile feedback of the position of the wheel. DonkeyApple said:
Well, I've bought one. Not a lot of choice around at the moment but it seems to be a fair one, well optioned.
What did surprise me in the search was that all the ones I looked at had a mess of tyres on them. It was a common theme, the previous owner being skint.
Will now search for some 18" wheels for a nice set of all weathers.
They get like that!What did surprise me in the search was that all the ones I looked at had a mess of tyres on them. It was a common theme, the previous owner being skint.
Will now search for some 18" wheels for a nice set of all weathers.
Lovely car but definitely money pit potential. I think they're a car where having 7 previous owners (as mine did) is no bad thing. That's 7 honeymoon periods where they get the best care and attention before the owners decides enough is enough.
Enjoy it!
Yup, you never know. This one has had just two owners. The first will have been a three year rental and the servicing was by Audi and then the last 5 years has been a lady using an Audi indy for the last 4. Seems ok but going to take it for a clean and wax oil as the plan is to keep it as the workhorse for quite some years.
jimmyjimjim said:
Because 'sporty'. Easier ingress and all that.
You say that but, there is plenty of clearance between my legs and the wheel such that a round wheel would be just as good. I can understand in something like a Caterham where things are cramped.Given the choice I'd take a round wheel purely for aesthetics though it doesn't particularly bother me, I just find it pointless.
Years ago people laughed at the Austin Allegro for it's 'square' wheel, now it's a desirable feature...
It's a weird thing that will take a little getting used to. Letting the wheel self centre only to find it disappears momentarily is a bit unusual. You'd expect a much, much quicker rack such as that on a race car would be needed?
I've just assumed it is a result of 'because race car' combining with 'because diabetes'?
I've just assumed it is a result of 'because race car' combining with 'because diabetes'?
Cupramax said:
They wear the inside edges, I’ve done exactly the same on mine…
Top front suspension arms. The bushes go soft and sag, but often not to a degree that your MOT tester will notice or to bang/knock. They just make a mess of alignment and handling. Even if you get the static alignment correct because the bush then deflects so much under load it doesn't stay correct, your alignment is out, they handle badly, and the tyres wear in a strange pattern.I also noticed that on full lock the tyres scrub very hard. It's something you can feel strongly through the steering so clearly the correct geometry puts more wear on one edge of the fronts and it sounds like it's the inside edges?
The 18s are narrower tyres also which should reduce that, if marginally?
The 18s are narrower tyres also which should reduce that, if marginally?
Dr G said:
Cupramax said:
They wear the inside edges, I’ve done exactly the same on mine…
Top front suspension arms. The bushes go soft and sag, but often not to a degree that your MOT tester will notice or to bang/knock. They just make a mess of alignment and handling. Even if you get the static alignment correct because the bush then deflects so much under load it doesn't stay correct, your alignment is out, they handle badly, and the tyres wear in a strange pattern.I'm not particularly clued up on the world of wheels due to having no great interest. I seem to be failing to self educate myself via google on what the standard 18" wheels were for 2014/15 S4 estates.
Would someone smarter than me be able to post a picture of the design(s) I'm looking for or if they had name(s)? My aim is to find a refurb set of used oems that the car would have come with as standard.
Would someone smarter than me be able to post a picture of the design(s) I'm looking for or if they had name(s)? My aim is to find a refurb set of used oems that the car would have come with as standard.
Cupramax said:
All valid but I had a full geometry check as a result and everything was absolutely to manufacturer spec. I think it’s worse with 20’s that I have. It’s done it on all three sets of tyres I’ve had since the car was new and is very easy to miss as even with the wheel turned on full lock I missed it.
Can't factor for usage, but that doesn't sound right.They're nose heavy so if you lean on them you'll usually do the outside edges first. To be wearing the insides excessively from new (and there's no guarantee alignment is correct with a new car) is unusual.
8V RS3s do exactly this, but B8 platform I've only seen do that with saggy suspension.
The car was dropped off this afternoon and it's now done around 100 miles nipping over to Oxford and back.
I should have bought this estate instead of the 340. The 340 was better on paper and certainly a nice car but it was too insulated from the outside world for my preferred style.
In standard setting there's no lag from the auto box when you coast up to a junction and then press on. The way BMW program their ZF units is infuriating as they just assume you must be stopping so when you don't it gets completely confused. They also, unless in sport, have a clear throttle lag meaning you don't get the throttle you want at your apex. All works perfectly in sport but not in comfort.
The Audi box is spot on for my style of driving in its standard setting.
The real appeal is that you can feel the tarmac through the steering wheel. You felt nothing with the 340 and I just couldn't drive it. It felt like a video game as opposed to what I'm used to on the road. You can actually feel the tyres wearing which is so unusual with modern steering racks.
Now for the first negative: the piped engine noise is comically bad. I've no issue with modern piped noise. I don't really want to be making a load of noise outside but again, my style of driving requires me to be able to hear the engine so I know where I am on the torque curve etc. The noise appears to come from the bulkhead as if it's carb indication as opposed to over your shoulders from the exhaust system.
Next step is to see if it has any usb sockets.
I should have bought this estate instead of the 340. The 340 was better on paper and certainly a nice car but it was too insulated from the outside world for my preferred style.
In standard setting there's no lag from the auto box when you coast up to a junction and then press on. The way BMW program their ZF units is infuriating as they just assume you must be stopping so when you don't it gets completely confused. They also, unless in sport, have a clear throttle lag meaning you don't get the throttle you want at your apex. All works perfectly in sport but not in comfort.
The Audi box is spot on for my style of driving in its standard setting.
The real appeal is that you can feel the tarmac through the steering wheel. You felt nothing with the 340 and I just couldn't drive it. It felt like a video game as opposed to what I'm used to on the road. You can actually feel the tyres wearing which is so unusual with modern steering racks.
Now for the first negative: the piped engine noise is comically bad. I've no issue with modern piped noise. I don't really want to be making a load of noise outside but again, my style of driving requires me to be able to hear the engine so I know where I am on the torque curve etc. The noise appears to come from the bulkhead as if it's carb indication as opposed to over your shoulders from the exhaust system.
Next step is to see if it has any usb sockets.
Welcome to the club...
https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/sound-actuat...
For music/navigation, I generally just use bluetooth audio from the phone.
DonkeyApple said:
Now for the first negative: the piped engine noise is comically bad. I've no issue with modern piped noise. I don't really want to be making a load of noise outside but again, my style of driving requires me to be able to hear the engine so I know where I am on the torque curve etc. The noise appears to come from the bulkhead as if it's carb indication as opposed to over your shoulders from the exhaust system.
Pull the sondaktor fuse https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/sound-actuat...
DonkeyApple said:
Next step is to see if it has any usb sockets.
No, but it may have SD card slots in the dash. (If it has AMI in the glovebox, you can get a USB cable).For music/navigation, I generally just use bluetooth audio from the phone.
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff