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As an avid reader of this forum I feel obliged to share my recent loss with my fellow S4 owners. Until last week I was the proud owner of a 2001 B5 on a 51 plate - a car which I had dreamt of owning ever since I realized that I had to combine the practicalities of impending fatherhood with the need for a comfortable vehicle with speed and power at the right price. After 2 years of joyful ownership I parted company with the car last week in circumstances that I never dreamt possible. Whilst collecting my 18 month old son from his grand parents after work 4 masked blokes with base ball bats burst into the lounge threatening to kill us if I did not hand over my keys. Needless to say I did not argue and they sped off in my car no doubt laughing to themselves at what an easy steal it was. According to police and CCTV at the office I had been followed and they obviously wanted the car for a bank job or something similar.

This experience has left me bitter and shaken. If you are not already I urge you all to be extra vigilant as this has been a violent reminder to me of what a desirable car the S4 is and the fact that we are never safe. If I had a tracker they may well have recovered the vehicle, but as I didn’t I am not expecting to see it again nor would I have it back if it turns up. Now I am faced with a dilemma. Logic (and the wife) are steering me towards a more sensible (read less desirable) vehicle yet my heart is saying f**k ‘em and get another one with a tracker.

The S4 met all my requirements from a vehicle and now I don’t know what to do – your comments and advice on similar experiences would be appreciated.

Fvcking hell mate - that's awful! What a bunch of absolute c*nts - I hope the law catch up with them. Main thing is you, your son and grandparents are safe (but no doubt seriously shaken) ...

... haven't got any advice I'm afraid - just condoloncies and commiserations ...

Sorry for your loss and I hope they get caught...it's the type of activity which made me sell my Impreza. My insurance company insisted on a Tracker when I took out the policy orginally.

Well put SAT4N and don't let the B******s get you down, get another S4 and as you say "f**k ‘em"

That is the conclusion I keep coming to - nothing else even comes close for the £'s for performance stakes !

happened 2 my mate not long ago, get another S4 "F**k EM" cant let u life b ruled by scum!

jesus!, glad to here the family are ok, tho very shaken up, there is some nasty <beep> in this world, they seriously need to be caught, and delt with, tho justis is crap IMO in the UK at the moment!

That is terrible news mate, like others said the most important thing is that you and your family are ok. I always thought the S4 was a very understated car so didnt really grab the attention of such thieving scum!!
I can see your dilemma as the safety of you and your family must come first. Was your car a saloon or avant?

I think the avants look very understated and to the untrained eye look like any other 6 year old Audi estate so perhaps thats what you should get and then de-badge it or badge it TDI

tho justis is crap IMO in the UK at the moment!

Justice in this country doesn't even rate as highly as "crap" - it's non-fuckin-existent! For threatening a guy with his baby and the grandparents these robbing fuckers need beating to death with sledgehammers.

what a bummer tho at least you are ok. it could have easily gone tits up...

i have always debadged my car, although just to stop people stealing it for parts.

i am pretty paranoid about looking in the rear mirror, and not just for traffic cars... if you are not certain drive round the block. if you are still uncertain drive straight to the local nick

i reckon you should buy another s4, and debadge it, or even better the "tdi" option! sure you are upset and worried now, but fvck them in the long run

i rarely wash my car either, less break ins (sunny glasgow)

Sorry to here that. Nightmare! I'm gonna agree with Si, get another and rebadge it as a tdi.

Glad to hear you're all OK; really that's the important thing.

Bad luck on the car though.

FWIW, I yanked off the S4 badge on the front of my recently acquired (and second) S4 and mounted A4 and 1.9TDi badges on the back. Not sure it fools everyone but I like the increased stealth...

All the best.

P.S. My car has a tracker but I haven't bothered activating it; your post has made me think about doing this...

I like my car, but I just don't think of the B5 S4 as that desirable. Maybe because of the age I think.

I think of newer cars, new S and RS Audis, BMW M cars and Range Rovers as the sort of csrs that people would take at gun point.

Perhaps it's the stealth of the B5 that makes it appealing for use in crime, but I can't believe the value is high enough to make it worth stealing via such tactics for any kind of resale.

Really sorry to hear about this...as we know there are some real scumbags out there. My advice, replace the car with another car, debadge it and perhaps consider fitting an anti jacking alarm system (Clifford do one I think). If only you could get a personal plate that says F**k U or similar.

Good luck, and it is so unlikely to ever happen again to you.
Do you want to post full vehicle details in case any forum members spot the car? A quick recovery could help insurance payout?

Paul

follow your heart and dont let the basids rule your life. do what you want to do, chances are, it will not happen again.

i've considered the b5 to be relatively safe from this, as compared to say the RS4 b5 or the new B7 RS4's.

if someone really wnats your car that badly, let them have it, but they could have done the same with a merc 4x4, or range rover, or whatever.

as has been said, glad your ok, but dont let the basids grind you down