Audi S4. Worth the price?

[Cyrax91]

Hi guys,

I recently sold my 335i and ordered an e92 M3 Im looking for a daily driver and I found a 2005.5 Audi S4 with 60k miles and extended warranty to 86k miles for $18,500. Its an auto which kinda sucks, but its in excellent shape. It has the basics bose, satellite radio, etc. No nav. And it has aftermarket VMR RS4 style gunmetal wheels. Seems like a hell of a deal what do you guys think?

By the way ill be selling my Evo X if I buy this. The Audi will be about 10k cheaper than I owe on the Evo.

Thanks!

[808MGuy]

If you're going to get an S4 the current model with the SCd V6 is the one to get. The older one with the 4.2V8 is ok but I wouldn't get it. So you're going to have an E92 M3 and you want a DD. What are you looking for in a DD. Just something to drive or something more?

[Cyrax91]

I drive about 80 miles a day to and from work so I just want something basic and fun at the same time. Ive read alot of reviews and people seem to love it. I know the newer ones would be better, but the price seems great on this thing. I dont care about fuel consumption it gets around 20 which is fine. Thats about where my Evo is.

[wuzupfoo]

Audis dive in value b/c of the high cost of maintenance, cost of replacing random gadgets (its a german car whether it be Ingolstadt or Munich) and other random issues with them, well that and they like to refresh their look every 3 years or so which doesnt help either. With the warranty i think you are relatively safe but understand there is a reason for the price. Assuming its not been smacked or something of that nature.

Btw, Im a VAG fan and used to own a VW and my buddies all owned VAG products and such, so Im not just someone being a BMW fanboy talking down the other brand. I was actually going to buy a RS4 at a BMW dealership when I made the wonderful mistake of test driving a M3, which I fell in love with.

I say go for it as long as its a clean ride with a clean title. From what Ive heard that motor is pretty good though working on it is really expensive because of the lack of space which causes all shops to increase labor cost b/c doing almost anything short of changin the oil requires some dissasembly to access.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by wuzupfoo

Audis dive in value b/c of the high cost of maintenance, cost of replacing random gadgets (its a german car whether it be Ingolstadt or Munich) and other random issues with them, well that and they like to refresh their look every 3 years or so which doesnt help either. With the warranty i think you are relatively safe but understand there is a reason for the price. Assuming its not been smacked or something of that nature.

Btw, Im a VAG fan and used to own a VW and my buddies all owned VAG products and such, so Im not just someone being a BMW fanboy talking down the other brand. I was actually going to buy a RS4 at a BMW dealership when I made the wonderful mistake of test driving a M3, which I fell in love with.

I say go for it as long as its a clean ride with a clean title. From what Ive heard that motor is pretty good though working on it is really expensive because of the lack of space which causes all shops to increase labor cost b/c doing almost anything short of changin the oil requires some dissasembly to access.

The cost of maintaining an Audi is no different than maintaining any other german luxury car like BMW or Mercedes based on my past experience. The reason they dive in value is because the used car market for them is not that great. Its partially because of their past reputation of having many issues but as of the last 10 years, those issues have been addressed and they have been significantly more reliable. I will attest to the difficulty of working on the engine though. There is absolutely no space in there so a lot repairs require removal of the entire front bumper assembly and radiator.

[Red Bread]

Trading an EVO for a B6/B7 S4 would result in serious regret. The auto also changes the quattro bias from 50/50 to 90/10 f/r, boo! The B6/B7's understeer even in reverse, drink gas for no real benefit and have pretty poor interior build quality when compared to either the B8 or the B5. Look elsewhere.

[flyinb501]

That's a really good deal for the B7 body style...

[NFS13]

Originally Posted by dpavlakos91

I drive about 80 miles a day to and from work so I just want something basic and fun at the same time. Ive read alot of reviews and people seem to love it. I know the newer ones would be better, but the price seems great on this thing. I dont care about fuel consumption it gets around 20 which is fine. Thats about where my Evo is.

To get near 20mpg you will have to drive it like a VERY old lady, even on the highway! So what fun is that? Plan on 14mpg and drive it like a beater : )

[Cyrax91]

Thanks for all the opionions guys! Here's a pic of the car ive seen it and its in great shape. Ive had to deal with Audi repairs in the past so know what you mean by them. Im still considering it with my payment going down $180 per month from my Evo payment and saving $38 per month on car insurance. Plus I should be able to pay it off fairly quickly and just pretty much use it as a "beater" ha.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

The auto also changes the quattro bias from 50/50 to 90/10 f/r, boo!

Not sure where that comes from. The trans does not affect the center diff. Quattro is always 50/50 unless it senses excess wheel spin. The only quattro that's not 50/50 at static conditions is the RS4 and R8. Those have rear wheel bias to reduce the tendency to understeer.

[Red Bread]

I'd always heard that automatic equipped quattro cars lost the torque split. My ex had a couple of A4's, one was a manual and one was an auto, and it sure felt like it supported that theory too. I'm not saying I'm right, as I have no evidence to support it.

[Cyrax91]

All ive read from previous owners are good things. With the exception of some maintenance costs down the road, but you can say that about most cars. For what I want it for it seems like the right thing to do. Im not worried about handling and 50/50 weight distribution. I want an all wheel drive car that comfortable, decently quick, looks good, and fits 4.

[Artmasterx]

Originally Posted by dpavlakos91

I want an all wheel drive car that comfortable, decently quick, looks good, and fits 4.

Have you considered a 05-09 Subaru Legacy GT? It would surely be cheaper to maintain than the Audi and is by most accounts a good car. Not quite as fast or as nice, but good nonetheless. Can get it in manual or a mediocre auto.

There is also the Volvo S60R that is AWD and are really affordable with the killer depreciation they see. Not on the same level as the Audi, but also something to consider. Manual or auto.

Lastly, there is the Mazdaspeed6. Perhaps down another rung on the luxury ladder, but generally thought to be a good performer (similar to the Legacy GT). Manual only I think.

Just some other ideas since you don't seem to need the Audi brand. All of the above should be 0-60 in about 6 seconds and handle decently.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

I'd always heard that automatic equipped quattro cars lost the torque split. My ex had a couple of A4's, one was a manual and one was an auto, and it sure felt like it supported that theory too. I'm not saying I'm right, as I have no evidence to support it.

You sure one of those A4s wasn't FWD? Quattro is typically an option on A4s and A6s. The Quattro system itself has always been based on a 50/50 distribution. The only exceptions that were made were the ones previously mentioned to increase performance in a limited edition car.

[808MGuy]

To answer the OPs original question, if you're going to keep the car beyond the warranty and don't mind the maintenance, why not do it. If the maintenance will be an issue, don't do it. The Subaru suggested above is actually a good alternative.

[135GCL]

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

To answer the OPs original question, if you're going to keep the car beyond the warranty and don't mind the maintenance, why not do it. If the maintenance will be an issue, don't do it. The Subaru suggested above is actually a good alternative.

+1

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by 135GCL

+1

Funny sig! I came from a Sportec chipped B5 S4 myself. Can't resist the dark side of the force

[NFS13]

Originally Posted by tvrfan

pfff the "understeering big pig S4 b6" was 1 second faster around top gear track then e46 m3. and the track was dry. and nooo it was the stig that drives all two cars and not a grandma. bunches of idiots here. the older quattro system was basic 50/50 the newer one introduced in B7 RS4 is 40/60 now standard B8 A4 quattro and B8 A5 has this system, also A6 and A8 A7. TT and A3 uses haldex system which can sent 100 % power to the rear wheels. R8 using visco and can splitt 15/85 front rear.

What the hell is your problem? Not sure what post your info is directed at?

[Raine]

Originally Posted by NFS13

What the hell is your problem? Not sure what post your info is directed at?

the guy has to defend audi from unseen attackers

anyhow, why not? the s4 is a pretty good car, i'd just be worried after the ext. warranty

[Red Bread]

Nevermind that every source lists the B6 and B7 as significantly slower than the E46 M3, you little fluffed up Beetle driving ponce (kind of kidding, but kind of not). I've actually driven the B7 S4 and RS4, and both understeer like pigs, maybe not as bad as a first gen TT, but still, much more so than the EVO the OP mentioned he is considering replacing with this car.

[blue2fire]

It is a good deal for a car that still looks fresh but it could very quickly turn into an expensive paperweight if you use it as a daily commuter. We thought of one and it didn't really appeal, the biggest plus point was how the engine sounded and the biggest minus easily was the mileage (20MPG if you drive normally). Plus, don't really know about your particulars but Mitsubishi dealers are struggling to practically give EVO X's away, it might not be very wise to get rid of it.

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by tvrfan

i dont care if my car understeers i dont even push it to the limits on normal streets, because the money on the car i spent is to holy for me and the life of other humans too. here in germany especially in bavaria lives so many idiotics which are driving bmws. and they are thinking they are cool about drifting and that stuff. and 80 % of their people crashing their cars. all i can do is laughing about that.

Ironic for a TVR "fan".