S4 saloon v avant?

[Gareth]

Quite fancy a S4 avant but can't help looking at the value offered by the cheaper saloon version. Avant tend to be around £38-42k but the saloons are £2/3k cheaper for a similar spec car.

Any views based on ownership and the day to day usage?

Prefer the look of the avant personally and feel it would be a better bet for the residual values...making the switch into the S4 cab next Spring less painful [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Cheers

[Riz_RS4]

Go for a saloon mate..... i would [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

Riz [img]images/graemlins/s3addict.gif[/img]

[JamesB]

I've got the saloon and am enjoying it very much. I test drove an Avant and would say there's not much between them in terms of driveability. The good lady wife already has an estate so I went for the saloon because I didn't need the estate and the saloon is a wee bit cheaper.

However, if you're looking to get rid of it within half a year and you've just bought an M3 CSL, cash obviously isn't a problem.

So why not buy one of each in different colours? [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Gareth]

I've got the saloon and am enjoying it very much. I test drove an Avant and would say there's not much between them in terms of driveability. The good lady wife already has an estate so I went for the saloon because I didn't need the estate and the saloon is a wee bit cheaper.

However, if you're looking to get rid of it within half a year and you've just bought an M3 CSL, cash obviously isn't a problem.

So why not buy one of each in different colours? [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Not quite that minted Doc [img]images/graemlins/<beep>_you.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/sloppy.gif[/img]

The CSL went today (2 months [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]) and the S4 saloon or avant will be my main car for a while. Well until the S4 cab comes anyway [img]images/graemlins/033102bigblink_1_prv.gif[/img]

You really like your Saloon then? Can you remind me of the spec/colour etc [img]images/graemlins/s4addict.gif[/img]

[JamesB]

Noggy blue, heated seats, solar sunroof (I'm a little biased about that after this summer), CD changer and Bose sound.
I'm not much of a Satnav man and come from that strange group of people who don't go for leather interiors.
I knocked about £2000 off list. [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]
My only concern is that it might feel a little slow after the CSL.

[JamesB]

I guess you've test driven already but if you haven't and you want a closer look, I work up towards Gerrards Cross so may not be too far from you. [img]images/graemlins/bigwave.gif[/img]

And I have written my longer thoughts in the 'any new S4 owners' thread. Wayne has put down a top write-up there as well. But I think you've read them already??

[Gareth]

Noggy blue, heated seats, solar sunroof (I'm a little biased about that after this summer), CD changer and Bose sound.
I'm not much of a Satnav man and come from that strange group of people who don't go for leather interiors.
I knocked about £2000 off list. [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]
My only concern is that it might feel a little slow after the CSL.

Cheers for that Doc [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img]

I went back and re-read your post about your car. I like the Nogaro myself but if you look at the current Audi site nearly all the saloons and avants are that colour which tells me that in the wider market it's not the most popular colour. As enthusiasts though we all know that it's a proper Audi sport colour but to the guy in the street it's more of an acquired taste I guess [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Like you I'm not fussed about Sat nav, especially as next year a new DVD based widescreen version will be available for the S4. I do prefer the look of the nappa though the alacantara is warmer when cold and grips you better than the nappa I would guess.

Not sure I follow your comments on the Solar sunroof [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Are you saying it's a good option or not??

As for the comparison with the CSL you could be right but a few well chosen mods should help a little [img]images/graemlins/s4addict.gif[/img]

[Gareth]

I guess you've test driven already but if you haven't and you want a closer look, I work up towards Gerrards Cross so may not be too far from you. [img]images/graemlins/bigwave.gif[/img]

And I have written my longer thoughts in the 'any new S4 owners' thread. Wayne has put down a top write-up there as well. But I think you've read them already??

Cheers for the offer [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img] Have already driven 3/4 avants now so I guess I need to get out in the saloon to make a comparison. Will do that at the weekend when I look into a couple of dealers [img]images/graemlins/boots.gif[/img]

BTW that £2k discount is pretty damn good [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img] I've matched it on a Red avant I'm looking at but am not sure in the Red is the right colour to go for. My ideal would be;

Moro Blue/Silver Nappa/Piano or Carbon trim/Bose/Symphony CD/HFS/FCA/Rear acoustic parking/EFM and Cruise.....need to get back on the 'phone to find it! [img]images/graemlins/bigwave.gif[/img]

[JamesB]

Not sure I follow your comments on the Solar sunroof Are you saying it's a good option or not??

It was great in the long hot summer. Not having to endure a sweaty start to any journey was fantastic. But if you're only going to have the car over the winter months, I can't see much point.

[Gareth]

Cheers for that [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img]

[runrowsam]

Does the solar sunroof only operate the aircon in cold then? I thought it just powered the aircon system as if the engine was running etc., so it would maintain 20 degrees for example. Is that the case? If so I'd think that during the winter months that'd be a nice option, as it takes a long time to warm up normally! Well, 6 minutes is a long time when it's COLD outside. Trust me, I've done my time in Canada in February [img]images/graemlins/033102bad_1_prv.gif[/img]

Rock on
Sam [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

[JamesB]

Does the solar sunroof only operate the aircon in cold then? I thought it just powered the aircon system as if the engine was running etc., so it would maintain 20 degrees for example. Is that the case? If so I'd think that during the winter months that'd be a nice option, as it takes a long time to warm up normally! Well, 6 minutes is a long time when it's COLD outside. Trust me, I've done my time in Canada in February [img]images/graemlins/033102bad_1_prv.gif[/img]

Rock on
Sam [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

As far as I was aware, it only runs the aircon at a low level and essentially seems to bring in a bit of external air. It doesn't feel anything like as powerful as when the engine running but was a blessing this summer. I keep the car garaged overnight so generally haven't had too many problems with the cold (or exposure to the sun of course [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]) but will pay closer attention from now on.

And I'm not sure there is anything passive that can cope with the Canadian winter. I was out in the Candian Rockies in Feb a few years ago - brass monkeys would have felt more than a little threatened!! [img]images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif[/img]