05/06 S4 Avant - Good idea or not?

[Butter Face]

I possibly need to get a new car next year that’s a bit more practical (2 dogs, one 2 year old child and a wife that’s talking about another)

I’ve currently got a Supercharged Civic Type R which is great fun but only has 3 doors, the boot isn’t big enough.... but I’m used to 25mpg and £320 RFL so the thought of running a V8 doesn’t scare me too much.

I’ve been quite taken by the S4 (id love the RS4 but it’s out of the budget)

Are they a good idea? Manual or auto?

I’ve seen this on eBay which I love the look of..

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

I really fancy something other than black/grey/silver and I like the yellow and the blue also.

Any thoughts or input?

[Dr G]

Plenty of 'old car' stuff these days but the big thing that kills these is timing chain issues. Guides/tensioners go, they start to rattle, the timing goes out, they start misfiring, they sting you with a 5k bill. It's a well documented issue you can read about on here and all over the shop.

They're fun things and have plenty of personality but an engine fault more or less writes the car off. It's common to see them sold at the point the previous owner suspects issues.

I could point you to one that's just had the motor out for a chain rebuild, but it's black...

[JulianHJ]

Do people really scrap them when the timing chain issue becomes obvious, or do they just get sold on for pennies, fixed and live another day?

[blade7]

The chains and tensioners on the back of the engine are what spooked me when I thought I wanted one a few years ago. They sound lovely but I don't think they're all that quick for a 4.2 V8. You could probably go as fast in a modified 2.0Tq.

[Dr G]

We're talking ~15 years ago now.

Apples vs oranges - a brand new S3 would slaughter one.

[blade7]

Dr G said:

We're talking ~15 years ago now.

Apples vs oranges - a brand new S3 would slaughter one.

A modified B7 A4 2.0Tq could be 12 years old.

[junglie]

There is one on EBay for £5645 that has had an engine rebuild, assuming because of cam chain, that may be worth a look.

I had a go in one and really enjoyed it. It does rev high in 6th gear at mortorway cruising speed (around 4000 rpm at 0.8 leptons).

[Jambo85]

junglie said:

It does rev high in 6th gear at mortorway cruising speed (around 4000 rpm at 0.8 leptons).

Yes, I have one (2007) and that's one of my main beefs with it, and I'm sure why its mpg is woeful even when cruising. Hard to understand why they designed it that way. I seem to remember some VAG specialists sold a 6th gear modification kit but unless you're rebuilding the box anyway it hardly makes sense.

Also the combination of low mpg and small fuel tank can be an irritation, filling up every 200 miles is a PITA.

Excessive oil consumption with no other symptoms is common on them too, and I live in fear of the infamous timing chain rattle. Mine is now approaching the value where this would write it off.

That said I do love it, fantastic performance, lovely comfortable car and the only thing which it has ever needed in 5 yrs of ownership (beyond copious amounts of hydrocarbons) is a couple of ignition coils.

[Kell]

One thing I'd say which is A4 specific rather than S4 - is how little space you get in the back of one.

We had a B6 Saloon and then an Avant and rear passenger space was dreadful - less than in the MKIV Golf we also ran.

Not a problem if you're only ever sticking kids in there, but can become a problem if you ever find yourself having to travel in the back.

Also, weirdly, the boot in the Avant isn't as long as the Saloon's. We only found out after we sold the Saloon and found that our pushchair wouldn't go in length-ways or sideways and had to go in diagonally.

[seyre1972]

Had a B7 S4 avant for 2+ years - (57 plate which I bought 2014 ) loved it and did near 50k miles.

Reason for getting rid was front suspension going to cost about 1200, and knowing the Timing chain would need doing.

Swapped it for an A1 .... 😊 and then swapped wife’s family car for an Audi S3 Sportback. As others have said - the S3 is faster/more economical ..... But if I could I’d have the S4 back in an heart beat. Smiles per mile the S4 won hands down.

If you can find a good one - get one and enjoy

[J886ATV]

Kell said:

One thing I'd say which is A4 specific rather than S4 - is how little space you get in the back of one.

This, rather than the timing chain issue, led to budget creep when I jumped from a B5 to a B8 S4 Avant (Thanks Dr G!!)

[danj3000]

I have a B6 S4 Avant and it's a lovely thing to cruise around in. I find the power can be a little deceptive as to really feel it you need to wind the engine out, which to be fair is a lot of fun. This does hammer the economy though! General urban driving you never need to get above 2k as there is a good waft of torque.

I would expect with a B7 this would be slightly less of an issue due to it being slightly newer, but I would treat the timing chain as a serviceable part once north of 100k-120k and it being more than 12 years old.

Having recently been through the process of having all the chains and guides replaced on mine, it is a fair expense but seeing as these cars have near enough hit their depreciation curve and if you plan to keep for a few years, I think it can make sense to just get done.

I thought I'd done due process on mine, buying one with full service history, regular oil changes since new. But once my nearby specialists stripped the engine down it was very clear how the plastic guides used just aren't up for the job, particularly if the intention originally was for these to be for life (whatever that means). For reference I had the engine stripped after it throwing a couple of cam adjuster related codes, no overt rattle or rough running.

[danj3000]

And as said by a few others, it's not the roomiest car in the back but still practical enough. We have our two daughters with large car seats in the back and have never had any issues fitting all the accoutrement that comes with that!

[Jambo85]

blade7 said:

Isn't that just beautiful though. I'll be really happy if I never see mine, but all the same...what a lump of engineering.

[Dr G]

blade7 said:

Dr G said:

We're talking ~15 years ago now.

Apples vs oranges - a brand new S3 would slaughter one.

A modified B7 A4 2.0Tq could be 12 years old.

...which when compared to the S4 has about as much personality as a wet sock.

Since when did a PHer need to justify wanting a sensible estate car with a stupid engine???

[craig r]

I have a grey 06 plate S4 auto saloon, and I LOVE IT! The noise is great when you give it the berries, but is quiet when pootling around town.

As others have said there is not much room in the back seats, but the boot in cavernous. I read somewhere that the auto is geared differently to the manual so motorway cruising is at slightly lower rpm, not sure if that's true though. MPG is woeful, I once got 28.4mpg on a steady 50mph/60mph cruise from Wiltshire to Northampton, more normal is quite a bit lower.

I too live in fear of the timing chain death rattle.

[blade7]

Dr G said:

...which when compared to the S4 has about as much personality as a wet sock.

Since when did a PHer need to justify wanting a sensible estate car with a stupid engine???

[Granfondo]

Butter Face said:

I possibly need to get a new car next year that’s a bit more practical (2 dogs, one 2 year old child and a wife that’s talking about another)

I’ve currently got a Supercharged Civic Type R which is great fun but only has 3 doors, the boot isn’t big enough.... but I’m used to 25mpg and £320 RFL so the thought of running a V8 doesn’t scare me too much.

I’ve been quite taken by the S4 (id love the RS4 but it’s out of the budget)

Are they a good idea? Manual or auto?

I’ve seen this on eBay which I love the look of..

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

I really fancy something other than black/grey/silver and I like the yellow and the blue also.

Any thoughts or input?

Why not PCP a new one?

[Butter Face]

Granfondo said:

Butter Face said:

I possibly need to get a new car next year that’s a bit more practical (2 dogs, one 2 year old child and a wife that’s talking about another)

I’ve currently got a Supercharged Civic Type R which is great fun but only has 3 doors, the boot isn’t big enough.... but I’m used to 25mpg and £320 RFL so the thought of running a V8 doesn’t scare me too much.

I’ve been quite taken by the S4 (id love the RS4 but it’s out of the budget)

Are they a good idea? Manual or auto?

I’ve seen this on eBay which I love the look of..

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

I really fancy something other than black/grey/silver and I like the yellow and the blue also.

Any thoughts or input?

Why not PCP a new one?

Cash is king, only mugs PCP, etc etc etc

Is that what you wanted to hear? Did you get a little boner?

[Granfondo]

Butter Face said:

Cash is king, only mugs PCP, etc etc etc

Is that what you wanted to hear? Did you get a little boner?

Your wife should send you to the enlargement clinic if she's not satisfied!

But serious question why not PCP with all the advantages it gives
New car warranty
No capital tied up and opportunity costs
GFV so you can hand back if worst happens
And best of all your neibours will think you are doing very well!

Edited by Granfondo on Saturday 13th January 12:30