RE: Audi S4: PH Fleet
Thursday 13th July 2017
Hands up: if you're reading this expecting a tumultuous tale of a roller coaster relationship, with glorious highs and pitiful lows, this isn't the story for you. To be honest, expecting that from an Audi long-term report is naive - the S4 arrived as a good car that people liked and left as a good car that people liked, with little variance during its time with us.
And what of the blemish, the apparent Sport Diff failure? Nothing more than a spurious warning light, it turns out. The car went back to Audi, who tested it and found nothing awry. The warning was reset and the car was faultless for the remainder of its time with us.
The fuel economy never did improve, either. While it did have three people and camping stuff aboard, to get 32mpg at a cruise did seem disappointing when there's a claimed extra-urban of 46.3mpg. Truth be told 32mpg isn't the end of the world for a 350hp estate car, but it's funny how the official numbers can skew that perception, isn't it?
Audi S4: PH Fleet
S4 departs from the PH Fleet, might actually be missed a bit
Le Mans was the final big journey for the S4, one that should have played to its strengths of performance and practicality. For the most part it was very good, as well: you really appreciate how nice the interior is after many hours there, it's impeccably refined and the stereo/nav combination is excellent.
A few little issues did become apparent over the weekend though. First being that, well, it's not all that big in the back. The door aperture is a bit narrow for the rear and the boot only seemed adequate for what we needed rather than truly commodious. I know that tends to be the way with compact exec estates, but it's obviously far more apparent when you actually come to test it.
That didn't stop the S4 being an entirely pleasant and quite enjoyable car to cover any kind of journey in. Perhaps you could accuse it of lacking a bit of edge, though an ex-owner (of the V8 car) that I know put it well when he said, "I think the problem with the 'S' sub-brand is that people expect it to be a more affordable RS, whereas it's actually more of a hot tourer." Which is exactly the role the S4 fulfils, with tidier handling than you probably expect too.
And if you do want an RS? Well there's plenty to be encouraged by with the RS5, even if there's a lot that we have to hope doesn't make the cut too. The engine is more exciting, the gearbox improved and, well, imagine how good the RS4 could look in Sonoma Green. Sort the RS5's ride out while keeping all that is good about the S4 (and there is plenty) and the potential is there for a great fast estate.
FACT SHEET
Car: 2016 Audi S4 Avant
On fleet since: January 2017
Mileage: 9,214
List price new: £44,415 (As tested £49,770 comprising Misano Red paint for £645, Quattro sport with Sport Differential for £1,200, 19-inch diamond cut wheels for £550, Light and Vision pack for £750, Adaptive S Sport suspension with damping control for £900, Audi phonebox with wireless charging for £325 and on the road costs of £985)
Last month at a glance: Auf wiedersehen to the Audi Avant - bring on the RS4!
Previous reports:
Audi S4 arrives on the fleet
Audi S4: Review
Getting to grips with another AWD Avant
Hang on, an Audi with appeal beyond just the showroom?
What's the square route of S4?
Is the Sport Diff duff?
Discussion
Andy20vt said:
Okay so I get that most people seem to hire their cars nowadays, and that the S4 is a nice car, but why would anyone buy a new one of these when for £35k they could get a lovely low mileage used B8 RS4?
I think you've answered your own question. When you can rent a brand new S4 for under £300 a month (including the VAT) then you are not really comparing it to a lightly used B4 RS4. The real world alternatives are what else can I can for under £300 a month? A mid range Focus type vehicle, or a basic spec 'premium' SUV with a four pot diesel perhaps? Let me think about that for about 1/2 a second.Granted if more had £35k cash to drop into a car I'm sure the B8 RS4 would make a case for itself.
Andy20vt said:
Okay so I get that most people seem to hire their cars nowadays, and that the S4 is a nice car, but why would anyone buy a new one of these when for £35k they could get a lovely low mileage used B8 RS4?
As I am buying a B9 S4 I'll tell you 
First off B8 RS4 is a lovely car and well worth every penny, but it is too firm and that lovely V8 is too "frantic" for what I want from my fast estate, it also attracts quite a bit of attention which I don't want from my everyday car.
The S4 is very comfortable, the car is pretty stealthy while still looking nice, it has a lovely powertrain that is quiet enough when I want but can cough out a few notes when asked (even if it doesn't sing like a 4.2 V8), interior is utterly brilliant and I am a sucker for the new tech on-board.
Just to preempt the obvious question of why not a B8 S4, I can't find many in the spec I want (sport diff, adaptive cruise and pano roof) and I don't trust the DSG box fitted as it seems to frequently eat its own shoes.
Syndrome280 said:
Andy20vt said:
Okay so I get that most people seem to hire their cars nowadays, and that the S4 is a nice car, but why would anyone buy a new one of these when for £35k they could get a lovely low mileage used B8 RS4?
As I am buying a B9 S4 I'll tell you First off B8 RS4 is a lovely car and well worth every penny, but it is too firm and that lovely V8 is too "frantic" for what I want from my fast estate, it also attracts quite a bit of attention which I don't want from my everyday car.
The S4 is very comfortable, the car is pretty stealthy while still looking nice, it has a lovely powertrain that is quiet enough when I want but can cough out a few notes when asked (even if it doesn't sing like a 4.2 V8), interior is utterly brilliant and I am a sucker for the new tech on-board.
Just to preempt the obvious question of why not a B8 S4, I can't find many in the spec I want (sport diff, adaptive cruise and pano roof) and I don't trust the DSG box fitted as it seems to frequently eat its own shoes.
Off to Audi Saturday to test drive and maybe order one with exactly the same reasonings, and some of the options required haha
Can't find a B8 s4 with sports diff and adaptive cruise, RS4 is a great car but would like some stealth too
Helicopter123 said:
I think you've answered your own question. When you can rent a brand new S4 for under £300 a month (including the VAT) then you are not really comparing it to a lightly used B4 RS4. The real world alternatives are what else can I can for under £300 a month? A mid range Focus type vehicle, or a basic spec 'premium' SUV with a four pot diesel perhaps? Let me think about that for about 1/2 a second.
Granted if more had £35k cash to drop into a car I'm sure the B8 RS4 would make a case for itself.
It's a bit misleading to quote the monthly payments and not the x amount of months upfront required. Yes, they could be had for around that, but not until you handed over around £3600 as an upfront payment. I believe these were very limited at that price aswell, similar to that of the S5.Granted if more had £35k cash to drop into a car I'm sure the B8 RS4 would make a case for itself.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
talksthetorque said:
Jonno02 said:
Helicopter123 said:
They were £287.99 a month (inc VAT) on 10k p.a over 2 years for the saloon with no extras.
£2400 deposit?it was £3600
WokkaWokka said:
Show me this deal for £300 and I'll have one tomorrow.
More like £800 once you've added a few bits and 20'000 miles per year.
20k is high, but even that wouldn't be anything like £800, unless you take the first deal offers to you.More like £800 once you've added a few bits and 20'000 miles per year.
All the cars a level above (M3 CP, C63s, Alfa QV) are £600-650/mth with a sensible spec and 15,000/yr. (ETA: business lease figures)
Back to the review - seems spot on for Audi - a Ronseal job; although interesting a software glitch on this wasn't given the same hype as the software glitch on the Alfa you tested
My neighbour had a bug on his SQ5, something to do with the 'Drive Select System'. They gave him the same response, (nothing found, the error was in the message), he then discovered it had a catalogue of parts replaced. All about the PR?
Andy20vt said:
Okay so I get that most people seem to hire their cars nowadays, and that the S4 is a nice car, but why would anyone buy a new one of these when for £35k they could get a lovely low mileage used B8 RS4?
Some people just want a new car. To be honest I wouldn't fancy driving a RS4 out of warranty!WokkaWokka said:
So £3600 on a contract hire. I don't mind finance at all but £3600 down the drain and then two years give it back, not a good deal at all. In fact a terrible deal and on a 3 year finance deal that would be an extra 40,000 miles (for me personally) over the period. Your £287.99 is more than double.
Just over £10k to borrow a spanking new £44k car for two years.The questions are -
a) Can you get that car for cheaper by another method?
b)Can you get a better car for you for that money by the same or another method.
c) Do you like the car
d) Is it in your budget
If you can answer no, no, yes, yes, why wouldn't you?
"better" may be a better second hand car for you.
talksthetorque said:
WokkaWokka said:
So £3600 on a contract hire. I don't mind finance at all but £3600 down the drain and then two years give it back, not a good deal at all. In fact a terrible deal and on a 3 year finance deal that would be an extra 40,000 miles (for me personally) over the period. Your £287.99 is more than double.
Just over £10k to borrow a spanking new £44k car for two years.The questions are -
a) Can you get that car for cheaper by another method?
b)Can you get a better car for you for that money by the same or another method.
c) Do you like the car
d) Is it in your budget
If you can answer no, no, yes, yes, why wouldn't you?
"better" may be a better second hand car for you.
WokkaWokka said:
talksthetorque said:
WokkaWokka said:
So £3600 on a contract hire. I don't mind finance at all but £3600 down the drain and then two years give it back, not a good deal at all. In fact a terrible deal and on a 3 year finance deal that would be an extra 40,000 miles (for me personally) over the period. Your £287.99 is more than double.
Just over £10k to borrow a spanking new £44k car for two years.The questions are -
a) Can you get that car for cheaper by another method?
b)Can you get a better car for you for that money by the same or another method.
c) Do you like the car
d) Is it in your budget
If you can answer no, no, yes, yes, why wouldn't you?
"better" may be a better second hand car for you.
Helicopter123 said:
WokkaWokka said:
talksthetorque said:
WokkaWokka said:
So £3600 on a contract hire. I don't mind finance at all but £3600 down the drain and then two years give it back, not a good deal at all. In fact a terrible deal and on a 3 year finance deal that would be an extra 40,000 miles (for me personally) over the period. Your £287.99 is more than double.
Just over £10k to borrow a spanking new £44k car for two years.The questions are -
a) Can you get that car for cheaper by another method?
b)Can you get a better car for you for that money by the same or another method.
c) Do you like the car
d) Is it in your budget
If you can answer no, no, yes, yes, why wouldn't you?
"better" may be a better second hand car for you.
Anyway the S4 is an extremely refined package and it even seems they have been able to dial in a bit of excitement with the sports differential although I imagine it is somewhat lacking in comparison to most BMW options although that is purely anecdotal as it's a while since I had a BMW.
talksthetorque said:
WokkaWokka said:
So £3600 on a contract hire. I don't mind finance at all but £3600 down the drain and then two years give it back, not a good deal at all. In fact a terrible deal and on a 3 year finance deal that would be an extra 40,000 miles (for me personally) over the period. Your £287.99 is more than double.
Just over £10k to borrow a spanking new £44k car for two years.The questions are -
a) Can you get that car for cheaper by another method?
b)Can you get a better car for you for that money by the same or another method.
c) Do you like the car
d) Is it in your budget
If you can answer no, no, yes, yes, why wouldn't you?
"better" may be a better second hand car for you.
But I actually quite like these. I think the last S4 was probably a better all rounder than the RS4 TBH, The most recent RS Audi models have become quite aggressive , compared with the earlier Q Car type ones such as the original B5 RS4, whereas the S4 just slips under the radar and provides more performance than you will ever need on the road.....
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