Audi S4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Richard1 · #1 02-17-2004, 09:27 PM

I drove the new s4 and I'm in love. Build quality appears to be good, the seats were more comfortable for me than MB, and the ride, performance are excellent.

I will miss you MB

pentoman · #2 02-18-2004, 07:21 AM

Hold that thought of course, as you know the 360bhp C55 is here in a couple of months.. it's currently said it's a fair bit better than the C32.

Not sure what I would take..

Richard1 · #3 02-18-2004, 10:58 AM

It's been snowing a bit in the VA area for the last two winters so the choice is easy. Also, I found a lot more good S4s out there than say a c43 or c32. I far prefered the s4 to the C43.

pentoman · #4 02-18-2004, 05:38 PM

Are you looking at current A4's or previous A4's (i.e. V8 or V6?)

IMHO previous A4's pretty nice, prefer it with a torquey engine and an auto. Only driven a 1.8T current A4.. was noisy. Otherwise pretty similar.

Gotta love Quattro, even in the dry

I'd probably take a C32 over a S4 V6 though.

good luck

Rusty

#5 02-19-2004, 12:16 AM

Ha! Thats too funny.

I also drove an 04 S4 and absolutely loved it. Car was amazing. Enough juice, tremendous grip and wonderful steering. Interior is also in a different league to the C32. Cant say I am ready to buy one yet, but wow, knock out car!

Am beginning to think that my optimal car portfolio is an RS6 combined with an S6 Avant for family hauling. But then again I am fairly well invested in MB... ;-)

farrukh

1994 E500, 59k, 040 Black
1995 E420, 64k, Sapphire Black, Special Edition
1995 E320T, 75k, Pearl Black, 500E suspension

Jim's500E · #6 02-19-2004, 03:14 PM

They are nice (the older generation ones are better albeit smaller)...but we'll see what you say after 6 months...many problems on the new Audis, some of which Audi refuses to stand behind. You'll be sorry. (This comes from a insider working in customer service for Audi !)

Best bet is too poke around the Audi S-list forum for real-life feedback. Best of luck man. Wait a year or 2 and you'll be able to get the RS6 for about the same as a new C-class.

Richard1 · #7 02-19-2004, 03:32 PM

Jim, you work for audi? I drove the new audi s4 and loved it, but the older V-6 S4s seem to have a hell of a certified warrantee. Also, you seem to be able to chip these and get up to 300 hp rather easily. However, I'll take your advice and look through the web-sites for issues. Thanks.

Jim's500E · #8 02-19-2004, 04:07 PM

Hi Richard

No, I don't work for Audi but a close friend does up here in CT. I take him at his word; as alot of friends I know also have the newer Audis, and are not that thrilled with thier reliability....I was even seriously looking for an S4 Avant (the old body version)...sorta still am but it would not be a daily driver for me. And yes, they are EASILY tunable to 300 hp for under a grand, that is so true. And a big draw for many folks...with good reason.

I'm not saying they are junk, they're not; but certainly not a great new car by todays standards. Not many new cars are either, from real world reviews but that's besides the point.

You may want to talk with Mark (new2mercedes) here on the forum ; he lives near you in VA and also works customer service for a euro-car dealer that sells Audis around Reston. He'd be happy to expunge their virtues to you from his first hand experience with the new Audis. Did you guys maybe talk before on a E500 in your area?

Of course, buying new gets you a warranty for a few years; something to be said for that I guess.

Richard1 · #9 02-19-2004, 04:15 PM

Haven't spoken with him but will send an email. Low mileage S4s (2001-2002) sell for around $30k and carry a 2 to 3 year warrany...that his a heck of a deal.

Jim's500E · #10 02-19-2004, 04:27 PM

Hmmm, yes....pretty good deal IF they cover what goes wrong. The problems I heard of that should of been taken care of under warranty weren't. But, I'm no owner and shouldn't poo-poo them that much without experiencing one myself. Having had a few,2,3 cars from their parent company (VW) I can say quality and reliability seems to have gone by the wayside recently. But I'm jaded; not much compares in quality in a regular car like an old W124 !!

I dig that old style body more but set up right the new ones can look mean...no doubt. Audi does have their style down.

Mark will be happy to talk with you, I'm quite sure. Hope it works out positively for you if you go that route. Hey, at least its still German !! Right on.

Richard1 · #11 02-20-2004, 02:13 PM

Jim, thanks for the advice. What I've found out since is that there were issues with the 2000 and early 2001 A4s, but this has been fixed, although if so, i wonder why they switched to a V8 for this year. I'm now a bit skeptical and still may go back to a C43...there are several starmarked C43s around for the mid-20s...didn't love it but it's practical.

#12 02-22-2004, 09:42 PM

Hmmm, well if thats the case, better buy nothing other than W124 MBs.

Even the new MBs have been plagued with issues- as we all well know! Close friend is service manager at large dealer in Pittsburgh. S, CL and new E have a variety of issues and spend considerable time in the shop.

Hence, I am not sure I would be dettered from buying an Audi because of their supposed reliability issues. I am pretty sure, however, that MB stands behind its product more than Audi does, once failures begin to manifest themselves....

pentoman · #13 02-23-2004, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Richard1
Jim, thanks for the advice. What I've found out since is that there were issues with the 2000 and early 2001 A4s, but this has been fixed, although if so, i wonder why they switched to a V8 for this year. I'm now a bit skeptical and still may go back to a C43...there are several starmarked C43s around for the mid-20s...didn't love it but it's practical.

I'm sure the reason for going to a V8 was somewhat a marketing reason not a technical one. New M3, C55 have V8s, and also Audi has made something of a pledge to use more N/A engines. Also, the next RS4 will need substantially more than the old one's 380bhp, hence the V8 (probably twin-turbo).

Jim's500E · #14 02-23-2004, 11:38 AM

I beleive the new bodied S4 is a much HEAVIER car now then previously...hence maybe the V8 power is welcome(?).

Also, in talking with the S-list guys...the new bodied cars have more problems (curse of 1st year models probably). The early car problems aren't as major and fixed (usually) under warranty. The guys around here with the early cars just mod the snot out of them (RS2 specs) when the problems arise. From what they've said; the problems can start around 40K. There is one fellow we see in the new S4 but it only had 5K on it when we met up last...(nothing bad to report from him).

If you can get ahold of Mark; he'll set you straight up with what he's been seeing at his dealership on the Audis.

There is no beating their Quattro system though, in any of their model cars. No arguing that one.

Richard1 · #15 02-23-2004, 11:04 PM

Jim, thanks. I loved the S4 but they certainly seem to have their share of problems. And, when I get print-outs of warranty work done on various C43s I've been looking at, Karramba! How many times does a seat have to be fixed? Doesn't anyone make a decent car these days?

My 560 SL....if only it didnt' have that vestigal back seat. Had I known, I would have had only one child instead of two.