Anybody need a clutch replacement / upgrade?

[kidyamlo]

Selling my South Bend clutch for the B6 S4. Bought from JBS Auto last year but never installed. New in box. eBay link: http://bit.ly/hIGXWI

[kidyamlo]

Bump. Re-listed, 50 off... http://bit.ly/hQfBiG

[kidyamlo]

Hi, I have re-listed this on eBay at a much lower price if anybody here is interested? Will most likely be selling the car soon, hence the clutch sale. I've had a few enquiries on eBay already, mostly questioning authenticity and reason for sale etc, which I can totally understand, but it's a genuine sale and if any of you guys are interested it might be easier to ask any questions here rather than trawl through eBay email system?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 560wt_1141

I've also got brand new calipers and caliper carriers for all corners that I was going to get powder-coated but probably no longer. I will most likely let them go for a very good price. Let me know. And finally, if you're interested in a sound 04 silver Avant with 55,000 on the clock I can supply more details. To be replaced with? A Defender. Feel free to take the piss

[MattS5]

Can I ask why you bought it and never installed it?

(i'm not being rude, just curious)

[kidyamlo]

Hi, of course! Bought as much for backup as for performance upgrade. Don't trust Audi clutches (having had a few go in quick succession on a B7 RS4) and had been reading how S4 clutches can *potentially* kick the bucket around 60,000+ (depending on driving etc). Car is currently on 5,000 less than that and still going strong with OE (was waiting on first signs of slippage before splashing out on labour) and now thinking about selling the car. Could throw the kit on with the sale but this would only likely appeal as an incentive to a very small group of people. In hindsight it wasn't the most financially sensible decision... but you know what it's like when you get carried away with bloody mods... sorry to ramble, I've been in eBay question-answer-justification mode for the last few days!

[kidyamlo]

Which reminds me... also got a skid pan, brand-new... sitting in the box. Only ordered recently as part of group buy with xyber. Will learn my lesson one day! Better stop dropping sales stuff in here now. Excuse bad manners! I'll stick an ad up soon in the proper place. Question now is what to replace the S4 with... wanted a Defender for a million years, which is obviously a world away from a V8 Audi (in fact after driving one a few months back it's more of a solar system away) but now starting to chicken out and think about Golf Rs and the like... but they're frickin' overpriced. ANy suggestions?

[kidyamlo]

"Only ordered recently as part of group buy with xyber. Will learn my lesson one day!"

That didn't read very well! Just mean lessons in general

[MattS5]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply.
I understand fully why you bought it, I would be considering the purchase for exactly the same reason. I've had my car for the past 4 years and covered 40k of the 70k miles now on it.
I'm wary of the clutch "possibly" needing replacement anytime now as people do seem to comment they go at 60-70k.

However, in my pursuit of constantly buying stuff on a whim(like it seems you do too!), I really think I need to wait till I need a replacement, as opposed to be pre-armed with one.

In regards to what you replace the S4 with, I'm constantly thinking the same question.
I'd love an RS4, but my top budget would be £25k, and at that age, I could be starting to pick up larger bills. Discs and pads seem to come in around £1k and tyres at £1,200 from what I've seen.

Comparing that to the OEM discs I've just fitted to my S4, £200 parts and £50 labour and 4 x Goodyear Asymetrix 2 235x40x18 tyres at £600, the extra performance of the RS4 seems to be out weighed by the costs.

MPG is crippling if you worry about it on these V8's. A 1k round trip to Cornwall last week (400 miles there and back + 200 miles touring whilst there) resulted in an average 21mpg, average speed of 54mph and £300 petrol bill.....! (I do cruise at 85-95 on the motorway though)

Sure, I could have taken the wifes GTI, and got the petrol bill down to £200 through the 30mpg we may have achieved, but the engine is soul-less compared to the V8 of the S4.

To get a diesel would kill my driving soul, sure, I may get 35-40 mpg, and possibly halve my fuel bill from an average £240 a month to £120 per month, but my S4 is paid for and owes me nothing. To get a reasonable diesel will cost me another £5k on any sale of my S4, and I could then look forward to depreciation of probably £200 per month just through driving it.
On those maths (and this is how I justify it to myself!), i'm actually financially £100 a month (and (aurally) better keeping the S4!

Wow, what a ramble, but you started it.....

[MattS5]

And whats a skid pan?

Maybe I can waste some money on that instead ? lol

[R33]

I'd be up for the skid pan if it would fit my B7 Avant and of course depending on price

[kidyamlo]

Matt: Man, now you've got me doubting my decision... I know I'll miss it, but I get bored very easily... but you're right re depreciation or replacement. I paid off my S4 earlier this year (to carry on paying would have been financially stupid over the long term, and I was lucky enough to be able to do so) and I wonder what I'll get for it if selling now... probably not as much as I'd hope. It's got a few mods (KW V3s, VMR rims, Miltek res) so I'd rather it go to an "enthusiast" rather than on part ex. No dealer will give a crap about the Milltek, wheels or suspension... in fact I would bet a grand on it only giving them an excuse to offer less. I would also like to get back into an RS4. I had it for about a year and got rid of it due to so many things going wrong but also couldn't reeeeally afford the monthly payments at the time... plus fuel. Not that the S4 is much better in that regard! I don't know, if I replace it then it will - if not to be big engined - have to be something with character. I also had a 1985 230E saloon a year back but offloaded it due to not driving it much. It was very reliable, looked cool (in my opinion - and even though there are still plenty around) but I don't think I would want to rely on one as my daily driver over the long-term.

R33: I'll let you know, as and when.