Looking for newish S4... auto vs manual???? Any advice?

[Gekko]

In my search for the right colour and spec, there's more manual cars around that fit the bill. I've only ever driven an auto-tip S4 saloon, which I loved. It was just the right amount of controlled thrill that I could handle. I did have the honour of thraping an RS6 auto once which scared the sh*t out of me and I felt nauseus afterwards!

Anyway, basics I'm after are a 55 reg, brilliant silver or any grey metallic, < 10k on the clock, DVD Sat Nav & ideally 19" wheels. Anything else is a bouns. All in for £36k.

There are very few auto's in the colour I want but plenty of manuals. My thinking is that these cars are great with auto boxes to enhance a more effortless and cruising drive as opposed to the new RS4 or 911-type drives?

I prefer manual in smaller hot-hatches (eg. Golfs) and my wife's car is an A3 3.2 DSG which takes a little time off the mark but is lovely mid-range. I assume a car bigger than that probably feels nicer not having to manually change gears?

Over to the owners and experts....

Oh, one more thing. The whole point of me getting an S4 over my imminently arriving RS4 is to draw less attention.... can you chaps confirm that less people stare and drop their jaws when you cruise past????

[BenCole45]

I wouldn't have said attention would be much of a problem in any A4 based car as they all pretty much look the same including S4/RS4.

I picked Nogaro blue to help differentiate my car from cooking models, but it still attracts nowhere near the attention my Boxster did.

Personally I wouldn't go auto for a sporting car such as this. Especially since the clutch and box are so light and pleasant to use.

[djbs4]

In my search for the right colour and spec, there's more manual cars around that fit the bill. I've only ever driven an auto-tip S4 saloon, which I loved. It was just the right amount of controlled thrill that I could handle. I did have the honour of thraping an RS6 auto once which scared the sh*t out of me and I felt nauseus afterwards!

Anyway, basics I'm after are a 55 reg, brilliant silver or any grey metallic, < 10k on the clock, DVD Sat Nav & ideally 19" wheels. Anything else is a bouns. All in for £36k.

There are very few auto's in the colour I want but plenty of manuals. My thinking is that these cars are great with auto boxes to enhance a more effortless and cruising drive as opposed to the new RS4 or 911-type drives?

I prefer manual in smaller hot-hatches (eg. Golfs) and my wife's car is an A3 3.2 DSG which takes a little time off the mark but is lovely mid-range. I assume a car bigger than that probably feels nicer not having to manually change gears?

Over to the owners and experts....

Oh, one more thing. The whole point of me getting an S4 over my imminently arriving RS4 is to draw less attention....

can you chaps confirm that less people stare and drop their draws when you cruise past????

Ohhhhh behave!!!

[Merlot]

Why 19" wheels? The 18s look great and grip well. I would guess retro 19s might kill the ride (which isn't great BTW).

Manual is the only way to go.

No one really notices S4s but if it bothers you then take the badges off.

[Pete.S]

I've seen a lot of pics of B7 S4s with 19" RS6 alloys fitted - whether this is/was a factory option, I'm not sure. Certainly nearly all the Sportline A4s have them. I had 19" RS6 reps on my B6 originally - looked the bollox, but they did mean driving over potholes needed a trip to the osteopath afterwards, although normal cruising wasn't too bad. I agree with Merlot - the standard 18" Avus, though nothing particularly special to look at independently, just seem to set off S Audis perfectly, they ride ok for a sports saloon & the handling is superb.