S4 buying tips?

[jeffw]

Not another Scooby refugee..... [img]images/graemlins/bigwave.gif[/img]

Go for the AmD re-map....makes a vast differences...

[ammwhite]

I guess it is a fairly logical progression from a scooby to the S4 - same turbo power [img]images/graemlins/thumb.gif[/img], same AWD secure handling [img]images/graemlins/thumb.gif[/img], but a bit more class and quality, plus it's a bit more discreet [img]images/graemlins/sekret.gif[/img]

cheers,
Andy

[DJG]

Replying to the original post.

Bit long winded I'm afraid.

This is exactly where I was last August. Had been watching the market for a while and finally decided to take the plunge after getting bored with my W reg A4 2.8Q I had before. Didn't have as much deposit as I would have liked due to my tidy 2 year old 2.8Q being only worth £13.5K trade in after 2 years and 27K miles. Strewth £30K to £13.5K in 2 years. [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]Thought I had been smart buying it at 12months old with 9K miles for £18K. And Fontain would only offer me £11K [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img](no leather mate!).

Printed all the Audi approved cars out. Wanted leather, multi-CD, Bose and a sun-roof.

Only one car matched at the time. 40K miles (bit higher than I wanted) 99 on an S plate (bit older than I wanted), Nogaro blue, with black/blue seats (bit flash, but quite liked it).

200 mile round trip to Listers Worcester, really liked the car, AA inspection and a week later it was mine.

8 months and 10K miles on I still really like the car. Apart from at the old Audi-Sport Windsor meet I have hardly seen another S4. Only seen Carlos's on the road twice and he lives about a mile from me.

But at 4 years old and 50K it is getting on a bit (Also have a MKI GTI that is 20 this year, but that's another story).

Have had a battery, new dash and some suspension parts under warranty. Still have a front end clunk which will have a 3rd go to get sorted while under warranty.

Routine servicing costs reasonable.

But this year I will have to replace front and rear brakes (Min £700), 4 tyres (£450) and the bracket on my silencer has just broken so at the least will need a new silencer.(£300). All pretty reasonable things to have to change on a 4yr 50K car, but not nice all at once.

Facelift Vs non-facelift. Doesn't bother me from the cosmetic point of view, but the fact there may be some changes that help engine/turbo life does and maybe should have researched this better in advance.

So what am I trying to say.

Be aware that consumables such as brakes and exhausts are pretty expensive and there may not be any choice than Audi other than expensive performacne upgrades.

If looking at an earlier car, balance the purchase price against planned maintainance (brakes exhaust etc).

But do buy an S4 [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Thanks for listening. [img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img] Beer makes me ramble!