Help needed

[chunky79]

Hi people.
I have just put a post in the B5 s4 forum regurding a dilemma me and the wife have encountered. We have decided to put our s3 up for sale and start looking at B5 s4 avants. Up until the last few day's thing's were going ok till the wife came across a lovely 03 plate s4 avant. I now need help deciding what to look for. I love the idea of owning a B5 and doing some mod's, but the V8 is such a stunning sound, the interior is a nicer environment and i think from doing a quick scan that it should actually be cheaper to run, i.e ownership.
Has anyone here changed from B5 to B6 and could you please help us with our problem?
The wife will be using this to drive everyday due to me having a works van, so is it easier to drive?
Any help would be great!
Cheers dunc

[BlingBling]

I have not owned a B5 but I would be surprised if the day to day running costs of a B6 is cheaper. The V8 does like the odd drink expect 20mpg max around town and up to 28mpg on the motorway. It also is likes the odd litre of oil. However, there are no belts to change unlike the B5. The std B6 is better than the B5 inside and out.

The B5 has plenty of mod options compared to the B6, full system exhaust and remap is your lot with the V8. The B6 can be a bit jerky when cold but once warm gear changes are smooth and the torque allows for and easy drive around town. But watch the petrol gauge. The B6 is a spuerb car but can be costly to run,.

[jvbates]

Pretty much as above really. As BlingBling says the B6 isn't as easily modifiable as the B5 as it's normally aspirated - but that does mean the engines' more reliable. Overall the chassis feels more capable, and the interior is that bit more modern. But biggest difference is the V8 soundtrack and the effortless power - makes it an effortless cruiser! Just don't mention the MPG!?

[chunky79]

cheers for the response guy's. I've heard that the MPG in the B5 isn't all that good so it's kind of equal there. I have done a little more looking into it and seen that the service's could be quite a bit more costly in the V8 due to the amount of oil. Mpg will be pretty shocking anyway cause the wife only does about 5 mile's a day and most of that is stop start

[BlingBling]

Not sure how the service costs are more on the B6. Yes it requires 9ltrs of oil but you can pick that up for about £70 delivered IIRC from Opie oils. Don't froget the B6 does not require any belt changes which could offset the amount of oil it uses. All swings and roundabouts really.

[Pete.S]

Remember the B6 is on AVS, meaning servicing only every 17k or so, whereas the B5 is every 10k, so costs will be dependent on mileage. As mentioned, the only real service cost difference is in the amount of oil needed for the B6.

If it's to be used solely as a short trip car, I'd seriously think about the B5 - more fun to drive round town because of the way the turbos kick in at such low revs (to really get the most enjoyment out of the B6 you need to be taking it up past 5k. The torque is good at low revs, but not monumental enough for quick cheap thrills . The B5 always used to put a smile on my face simply giving it a quick blip up to 4k).

Petrol consumption about 3mpg better overall on the B5.

Ride comfort's similar in both, though the handling & steering feel is much improved on the B6, but I actually thought the quality of the interior materials was better in the B5, even though it's obviously more dated.

The clutch is lighter in the B6, but as has already been noted can be a tad jerky to drive in traffic.

Pros & cons for both, I reckon for your situation it basically just comes down to whether you want a newer car or not!

[chunky79]

Cheers for that pete. I think from what you have said makes the B5 a little better in terms of fun for us due to there not being many long open roads to really let the V8 fly. The other good thing about the B6 is there are a lot more out there with good spec compared to the B5 which hardly ever come aroun with low miles and the right spec