EddScott

Theres an Audi S4 saloon knocking about town for sale for quite a while now.

What are they like compared to Impreza? I could really do with an estate but I guess a test of the saloon qould give a good indication.

thanks

Andy M3

If it is the older 2.7 bi turbo, they are very good cars, but getting a bit dated IMO. They produce 270 hp and are potent to say the least, but i believe they weigh over 1500kgs and thus the acceleration is smooth but not blistering and the brakes and handling are great but not awesome. It is a good car, but a bit too grown up if being compared to the Scooby.

But - if you want tunning potential, look no further. I think you can achieve 500-700 bhp from the S4. [330+ from a remap]

foz01

Hmmm
310 from a remap- and the turbos will be on the way out pretty quickly afterwards.

The brakes are ****!

Handling is pretty ropey tbh, most happy on motorways and not something i derive any enjoyment out of hustling along backroads.

Power outputs- skys the limit- how deeps your pockets?!?

They aint cheap to run either- major service at VAG is £300+ thens there all the opther stuff that needs done

Oh and dont even think of takign it to a trackday, i would struggle to think of anything worse tbh.

They tow well, 306ft/lb on mine as std

webby v7 slipperwagon

iTrader: (2)

Very true, my brother had one for 3 weeks and got rid. To much like a barge in the driving stakes, and outrageous running costs. Plus the aftermarket specialists are a bunch of ****, if your not spending money, we dont give out advice, KIM COLLINS, QST...... I have and so do other people(quite a lot) on the S2 forum bad experience of this outfit........Stay clear...You would be loads better off with a leggy.

Veracocha

Hmmm, gotta say that although I have driven an S4 and it was very strong from low down all the way to the redline, they are not a drivers car so to speak. Great car if deceptive performnce and quality bild is what you are after.

Also having called Kim Collins for advice when I had a bent con-rod on the S3, I was offered good advice without being required to have any work done so those comments are a little harsh.

Senior_AP

I liked the S4, considered buying one until I realised that head to head against a e36 M3 Evo it's inferior in every respect.

Handles worse, brakes are worse, uses more petrol but is alot slower.

I don't know why anybody would own one over an M3 Evo other than just a personal preference on looks because as a car, the BMW is so much better.

EddScott

Well, the local car is up for £14K which I think is far to high anyway and I'm certainly not going to spend alot of money on a car that sounds a bit dull compared to a scoob. I just fancied something a bit bigger (I'd rather an avant/estate) and I assumed increased reliability considering the famous audi build quality. However a couple of people have mentioned iffy turbos and when I inspected the local S4 the brakes just from looking at them didn't inspire confidence.

May just stay with Subaru and find a decent STI wagon or similar.

Cheers

Senior_AP

".....sounds a bit dull compared to a scoob...."

Well, no. Unlike a scoob it doesn't sound like someone farting into an amplifier. The sound is a very powerful V6 growl. Grunty without the "Peco Big Bore" type mallarky one would get with a scoob.

S or even a T plate M3 Evo saloon, 40k or so miles can be had for 12-13k. Find a better car for the money..........!!!! No chance.

Andy M3

Have you considered a Volvo V70 ? I used to have an 850 T5, which was a fantastic practical car, with pleanty of punch. Mine had a £600 RICA map on it and in theory was over 300hp. It was a nice cheap alternative to a scooby with a high spec and quality fit and finish. I found a low millage V70R [range topper] on autotrader.

Any good to you ?

http://www.gtcs-ftp.co.uk/santapodv...ber19th2004.mpg

http://www.chesh.co.uk/santapodvids/850vintegra.mpg

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD...a?id=178524882

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD...a?id=178524888

997 * VOLVO V70 2.3 R AWD 5dr Awd Estate,
Petrol, 59,500 miles, . V70R top of the range in metallic gold. Superb condition with only 59,500 miles. All extras. 35k new. 8,995. £8,995.

Tel: 0771 1561025
Distance:* 104 miles
Price:* £8,995

Jeff Wiltshire

Well having read all of those comments I'm off to sell mine for a knocked down price and get a nice old M3.........

Get yourself across to http://www.rs246.com and ask the same question of people who own one....including number of ex-Impreza owners.

TheBigMan

"The Emperors New Clothes".


.....just kidding.

EddScott

cheers for the linky. Quite tempted by an RS2 now

Andy M3

RS2 have major reliabilty issues i believe. Personally i wouldn't.

Good luck.

Andy

Senior_AP

Like any older performance car. Stuff breaks over time.

Still keen to here what is better than an M3 Evo (e36) for 12k.

Jeff Wiltshire

Anything if you don't like BMW....

Senior_AP

Fair play if it's a general anti BMW thing. Though I did say on an earlier post:

"I don't know why anybody would own one over an M3 Evo other than just a personal preference on looks because as a car, the BMW is so much better".


Having owned a Porsche, and an Audi - what is it about BMW's you dislike????????

Jeff Wiltshire

Playing hunt the 3 series in the multi-storey....every thrusting young exec on the motorway who's convinced his 316/318/etc is faster than anything else on the planet..err I could go on....the totally 'Bling' look of the current M3

Strangley I think the last M5 was a stonking car....arn't some people weird !

Jeff Wiltshire

Last year I spent 20 mins playing with a current model M3 (a guy I know was driving) at Oulton Park, neither of us could pull away from each other however hard we tried....which says a lot about the old model S4 with a few tweaks.

Senior_AP

Last M5 (1998 - 2002???) is in fact my favourite real-world car. It has it all.

Though as much as some 3 series drivers are utter ********* to put it politely, I don't let that put me off what is otherwise (the decent variations anyway) a cracking car. M Coupe, M5, M3, decent top end sports 3 and 5 series etc. The new 6 series is lovely too. Looks are subjective but you can't question they are excellent cars.

Senior_AP

A few tweaks....Ahhhhh - that's different!!!

Jeff Wiltshire

He was really upset when it started raining....couldn't keep up then

Senior_AP

The quattro system does help there.

Careful Jeff, beginning to sound like a scoobyowner with this 4wd, raining busines. Any talk of twisties??

Jeff Wiltshire

The car was "only" running about 340 BHP then....it's now up to 390 BHP. The tweaks are RS4 suspension (£100 2nd Hand), Short Shift, KO4 Turbos and AmD remap & HiSpec 335mm Monster 4 Pot brakes.

foz01

Even so imo still a completely flawed track car, it weighs 500kgs too much for a start..

I loke mine, but its a comfay barge, and it tows my track car around just fine

Jeff Wiltshire

Every road car is a flawed track car.....that's why they are road cars. Not many modern saloons that weight 1000Kg (B5 S4 saloon is 1536Kg).

foz01

yes but you were making a point about its track performance.

Add all the options to that and am sure its well over 1600 btw

Jeff Wiltshire

Yes I was but you where the one that began that particular discussion. My point is that they (S4) are not as bad on-track as you would have people believe compared to what is considered to be the modern class leader in the segment that the B5 S4 is in. Comparing it to a 1000Kg track car (or a 500Kg car like a Caterham) is pointless.

webby v7 slipperwagon

iTrader: (2)

I had a bit of a play on the A41 to whitchurch,(long straights and lots of twisties), with a 54 plate M3. I was in my V7 STI Wagon ( TSL 333 conversion) and blitzed him. The conversion wasn't "audi priced" , either.

Jeff Wiltshire

Well done....

Senior_AP

Come on now.....!!

The S4 is a top motor, not a "track car" in it's strictest sense however, when modified seems to be more than capable. Owners comments are the ones I'd listen to. Jeff isn't a show off, just saying what he genuinely feels.....imo.