Interested in a 4.2 V8 S4 - any owners/experiences?
Discussion
I bought a 2004 S4 last year. I had to sell my Tuscan prior to the arrival of our first sprog 3 years ago and had been hankering after an RS6 ever since.
However, the RS6's were still too expensive, the only affordable ones were quite old with high mileages.
Anyway, love the car, great engine, great noises (even with standard exhausts) and decent space inside. Great looking car IMO despite the growing number of S-line pretenders!
Only downside is thirst - average 21mpg, but I get loads of Nectar points!
However, the RS6's were still too expensive, the only affordable ones were quite old with high mileages.
Anyway, love the car, great engine, great noises (even with standard exhausts) and decent space inside. Great looking car IMO despite the growing number of S-line pretenders!
Only downside is thirst - average 21mpg, but I get loads of Nectar points!
I've got one and can't fault it, it's my daily work horse but will still show a pair of clean heals to most other things on the road, but I struggle to see mpg ever the smillie side of 20, I would say got for tiptronic and satnav as must haves as dealers struggle to shift any that don't have these. As for missing the VX i ran support vehicle to Le Mans at the weekend with a pair of elises and a VX220 turbo, the S4 simply romps away from the elises and is a close run with the VX (and that was fully and I do mean fully loaded) you won't be disappointed with how they perform (actually apart from the brakes which can boil easily) and they really are the ultimate street sleepers, if anything the every other model with an S Line kit fad boosts the sleeper factor as they just blend in (especially de badged) it's just a shame the millteks give it away.
I like the S4, I must drive 2 or 3 a week, not an ownership experience but knowledge none the less. They don't go wrong much, roofs on Cabs play up but usually just need resetting. They get though brakes a bit quick, some people have discs and pads every 20K miles, even less for tyres. And the servicing is expensive. The car itself is great value for money, not a great deal slower than An RS4 and £20k cheaper (new price).
Dont get a triptronic get the 6 speed manual. "dealers cant shift manuals" (true) but that means if you can find one its gonna be cheaper and so much better to drive than a slushbox, and save you 3 or 4 mpg. If you put it in 6th at 30mph and floor it you'll still pull away smooth and put it in 2nd at 35 and floor and and look out here comes the horizon. The ratio are just perfect as you go up the gears used the engine power and torque perfectly.
Full MMI screen with nav is a good option, and there are some really nice recaro seats which I dont think are standard, someone here will know. With the full MMI you can even put you MP3s on a memory stick behind to screen which flips down, looks the business.
We have a customer who spent about £1800 on a cat back stainless exhaust, didn't sound as good as standard one, no need to change stuff like that.
Dont get a triptronic get the 6 speed manual. "dealers cant shift manuals" (true) but that means if you can find one its gonna be cheaper and so much better to drive than a slushbox, and save you 3 or 4 mpg. If you put it in 6th at 30mph and floor it you'll still pull away smooth and put it in 2nd at 35 and floor and and look out here comes the horizon. The ratio are just perfect as you go up the gears used the engine power and torque perfectly.
Full MMI screen with nav is a good option, and there are some really nice recaro seats which I dont think are standard, someone here will know. With the full MMI you can even put you MP3s on a memory stick behind to screen which flips down, looks the business.
We have a customer who spent about £1800 on a cat back stainless exhaust, didn't sound as good as standard one, no need to change stuff like that.
Tame Technician said:
I like the S4, I must drive 2 or 3 a week, not an ownership experience but knowledge none the less. They don't go wrong much, roofs on Cabs play up but usually just need resetting. They get though brakes a bit quick, some people have discs and pads every 20K miles, even less for tyres. And the servicing is expensive. The car itself is great value for money, not a great deal slower than An RS4 and £20k cheaper (new price).
Dont get a triptronic get the 6 speed manual. "dealers cant shift manuals" (true) but that means if you can find one its gonna be cheaper and so much better to drive than a slushbox, and save you 3 or 4 mpg. If you put it in 6th at 30mph and floor it you'll still pull away smooth and put it in 2nd at 35 and floor and and look out here comes the horizon. The ratio are just perfect as you go up the gears used the engine power and torque perfectly.
Full MMI screen with nav is a good option, and there are some really nice recaro seats which I dont think are standard, someone here will know. With the full MMI you can even put you MP3s on a memory stick behind to screen which flips down, looks the business.
We have a customer who spent about £1800 on a cat back stainless exhaust, didn't sound as good as standard one, no need to change stuff like that.
What he said.Dont get a triptronic get the 6 speed manual. "dealers cant shift manuals" (true) but that means if you can find one its gonna be cheaper and so much better to drive than a slushbox, and save you 3 or 4 mpg. If you put it in 6th at 30mph and floor it you'll still pull away smooth and put it in 2nd at 35 and floor and and look out here comes the horizon. The ratio are just perfect as you go up the gears used the engine power and torque perfectly.
Full MMI screen with nav is a good option, and there are some really nice recaro seats which I dont think are standard, someone here will know. With the full MMI you can even put you MP3s on a memory stick behind to screen which flips down, looks the business.
We have a customer who spent about £1800 on a cat back stainless exhaust, didn't sound as good as standard one, no need to change stuff like that.
1st AVS for me was £313 and 2nd AVS for £509. 4x tyres every 18-20,000 miles
I have also done the RS4 front caliper and disk upgrade plus braded hoses which for me, was the only minor let down (apart fromt the exhaust tone) on the S4.
The S4 is a very usable, practical and supremely quick car, and very reliable. Only fault I have had in 45000 miles and 2 1/2 years of ownership is a corroded auxiliary radiator which was replced FOC under warranty. B6 S4's do really need a Milltek exhaust upgrade, B7's not so much son unless going for full system with sports cats. Coupled to a remap it makes mine good for 380+bhp and 360+ ft.lbs over 339 and 292 standard respectively. Plenty enough to keep up with a B7 RS4 and not let it get away.
DVD nav system is excellent plus SD card usage for 50+ album storage, coupled to bluetooth and there is no need for a phone cradle. If you want a stealth S4, B6 is better in shape, the B7 quad exhausts give it away slightly more. Thirst wise, mine over the last 10,000 miles has returned 22.9mpg and that includes a track day, so more relaistically 23-5mpg and most of my jounrey are short commutes, however i do know the remap and exhaust conversion have improved economy.
If you go for one you won't rgeret it. I still smile every time I get in the car and still go for a drive just for the sake of it.
I have also done the RS4 front caliper and disk upgrade plus braded hoses which for me, was the only minor let down (apart fromt the exhaust tone) on the S4.
The S4 is a very usable, practical and supremely quick car, and very reliable. Only fault I have had in 45000 miles and 2 1/2 years of ownership is a corroded auxiliary radiator which was replced FOC under warranty. B6 S4's do really need a Milltek exhaust upgrade, B7's not so much son unless going for full system with sports cats. Coupled to a remap it makes mine good for 380+bhp and 360+ ft.lbs over 339 and 292 standard respectively. Plenty enough to keep up with a B7 RS4 and not let it get away.
DVD nav system is excellent plus SD card usage for 50+ album storage, coupled to bluetooth and there is no need for a phone cradle. If you want a stealth S4, B6 is better in shape, the B7 quad exhausts give it away slightly more. Thirst wise, mine over the last 10,000 miles has returned 22.9mpg and that includes a track day, so more relaistically 23-5mpg and most of my jounrey are short commutes, however i do know the remap and exhaust conversion have improved economy.
If you go for one you won't rgeret it. I still smile every time I get in the car and still go for a drive just for the sake of it.
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