bern11

iTrader: (13)

Any thoughts or advise on the Audi S4? prob will be around the 2003 model

Thanks guys

bighead

iTrader: (1)

get the Rs4 ...S4 are for wimps

neilwrx

iTrader: (7)

nice cars if a tad pricey for what they are but bullet proof audi as always and bit basic inside.

SRSport

They are words that I would not use to describe Audis, especially not a 2003 model.

neilwrx

iTrader: (7)

how do you mean? I looked at a few v8 models and all were in the 6-8k mark and didn't impress me inside at all infact the centre dash is much the same as the 2.7 bi model.

Brun

He means that Audis are far, far, far away from being bullet proof

Matteeboy

The V8 S4 sounds good and is quick but handles like a large ship. Horribly nose heavy and understeery.

The newer v6 version is way better but still not as good to drive as it should be.

SRSport

Warranty direct labelled the 2002-2011 RS6 the most unreliable car in 15 years. I know its the S4 the OP was looking at but this is just indicative of the marque as a whole.

Brun

Yep - I do like Audi's but I could never own one

SRSport

I would go so far as saying I do like German cars but they are fast becoming the new Italy. BMW, Mercedes, VW and Audi are all going down the pan in terms of reliability and true build quality.

Brun

Oooooo don't say that - 3k miles only into BMW ownership

SRSport

The 3 series convertible came bottom for every car sold in the last 3 years. The 5 series came in at around 5th. (which?)

My Mercedes is junk and I have learnt a lot about the Mercedes marque that is kept well hidden from the public. I really dont have a good opinion on German cars.

bern11

iTrader: (13)

Thanks guys...hmm S4 or M3? Some more advise would be very much appreciated

SRSport

Would you get same MY and milage for the same budget? I would have thought that the RS4 would be a closer match to the M3.

Matteeboy

Fear not. Had ours almost give years and its been faultless. Best built car I have had.

I don't think BMW is in the same category as Audi and Merc, both of which used to be rock solid but are now pretty average.

Saxo Boy

Like?

SRSport

I have been told by the parts department that they design parts to fail at certain ages, typically around 5 years. They also skip on quality control issues to save a few pennies, e.g. on the quality of steel and dipping process, hence why the majority of Mercs rust quickly

stilover

Nice cars. AWD and a V8 engine. Might not be the last thing in handling, but just depends what you're after?

Jamz3k

I work in a Scania service centre and I hear this all the time from customers "in the know".

SRSport

I heard this from the Mercedes service centre. I was the customer who has not heard this before.

bighead

iTrader: (1)

no contest there really is there ?

nik52wrx

Parts designed to fail at 5 years, sounds like utter bollox to me.

Nik

SRSport

You would think/hope wouldn't you, however I was told this, "they are not made to last more than 5 years" - referring to my shock absorber. Funnily enough the other front shocks failed shortly after.

Graz

I thought about the whole RS/S thing before buying this car. Initially I was quite keen on an S4 but I was basing my decision on having another car for the commute (40 miles/day) as the fuel consumption is not good. I was put off the RS4 as they sound really expensive to run (1k for a set of discs/pads) but on most of the forums it was reported that the S4 was just as bad so you might as well have the RS. I could have afforded one but it was really stretching the budget.

I also felt I need something a bit bigger and for a while entertained the idea of an RS6, super car quick but can also easily generate super car sized repair bills and had a number of weak links so again no-go.

I think some of the newer variants where they've gone back to forced induction sound interesting but way too much second hand for now....

So then started looking at BMWs, they don't make an M3 estate, thought about the 335i/d estates are rare in petrol form and even rarer with a manual. Then decided I needed a bigger car, M5 estate hmmmm, but again costly to run, finally a bit of sense prevailed and I went for the 535d tourer. Been great so far and economic enough (just) to use daily. I'd love an M5 but it was just too much

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

5 years out of a set of shocks can hardly be regarded as sub-standard can it? How long do you want them to last? I'm sure Merc could build cars that last 20 years but how is that good economical sense for them?

Plus, they know that the typical merc owner wouldn't keep their car more than a few years anyway.
Yes, they have started to scrimp on quality, but they must have realised that by over-engineering everything, they were just throwing money down the drain.

Matteeboy

Graz - I went through similar thoughts. The issue I have is not the maintenance costs (although they are a pain) but the range between fuel stops.

We whizz up to London fairly often and use the BM - it'll do well over 400 miles on a tank so ONE fuel stop there and back (just over 550 miles in total) and it does that very quickly and comfortably. An AMG C63 estate, RS4 Avant and even worse, an M5 Touring needs around THREE stops if making progress. The trip takes around 4-5 hours each way. A fuel stop takes flipping ages, you get battered on fuel prices at motorway services and it's time not driving there and back.

I'm struggling to find a good replacement because although the uber petrol estates are undeniably very nice, the performance gain just doesn't justify the dire range. They don't seem to fit bigger fuel tanks with thirstier engines; an M3 does less than half the mpg than our 335d yet has the same sized fuel tank. Yes it's quicker, sounds nicer, handles better but as a mile muncher that also does "fun" it doesn't quite work - mates with them are getting sub 200 miles from a tank.

It's all very well being able to "afford" the low mpg and running costs but millionaire or not, tiny range is a massive PITA. Unless you like service stations?!

Fairly set on an M135i as a next motor - range is okay(ish) at around 300 miles per tank but they have a lot of performance. Sadly a "proper" LSD costs an arm and a leg but would make the car a proper M3 basher.

EddScott

If you could get an E46 M3 then that would be my choice. As you can't, a B7 S4 Avant would be where my money would go.