Sports Diff vs Audi MMI 3G

[flightlessgreeb]

Hey all - I've been on the hunt for a used S4 for about a month and a half now - this forum has been an tremendously useful resource in that time so thanks for that.

My dream car would be south of $30k, 6MT, have the sports diff and nav (for MMI 3G). And I'd prefer to avoid a black car (3 out of the last 4 cars I owned were black and I want to change it up). I'm having a tremendously tough time finding vehicles that can meet all 5 of those characteristics and I'm starting to wonder whether I should compromise or not.

I spend a ton of time in my car, be it traffic, or long distance commuting or using it in the field as a mobile office. One of the main regrets I have about my current vehicle is the lack of blue tooth streaming. I know the B8s don't have that feature by default either, but my research seems to say I can get something working as long as I buy a car that starts with MMI 3G or 3G+. I probably can't afford a B8.5 which has the feature by default.

I also like to throw the car around a bit from time to time and I've had varying opinions saying the sports diff is essential, basically what makes an S4 an S4, all the way down to 'if you don't have it, you won't miss it'. If I open my search up to cars that don't have the sports diff suddenly I can afford a 2013 instead of a 2011 and theres 4-5 times as many cars to choose from. Going down to no navigation aka the monochrome display also gets me about twice as many cars to look thru but the price difference isn't as stark.

Of course I could also just keep holding out for the Perfect Car. But I'd love to hear from people who have S4s with/without sports diffs or MMI 3G and how people would rank those features against each other. Thanks!

[Cooper993]

I have the sport diff and no Nav. Ordered it that way from the dealer.

You can add Bluetooth audio streaming for less than $100. There are a couple options out there.

So my vote is for the diff.

[isles1]

^ +1

[mgaman]

I'd rather wait for the right car and not compromise. It absolutely will eventually show up.

That much said it sounds like, from your description, the navigation and streaming will outweigh the occasional spirited driving where you'd really want the sports differential.

I personally wouldn't enjoy my S4 as much without the sports diff, but having not known how they drive without it I can't honestly say I'd miss it if I never knew it to begin with. I have the nav and color display too though, so again: I'd rather not compromise.

The b8 S4 didn't have bluetooth, I think I spent 70 bucks to remedy that? Not a huge issue imo, I'd still rather have the sports diff. Though I'll admit I can't stand the old red-pixel style center display that some of the other B8 S4's I've looked at had after having the color center display.

[sacandagaD]

"If it wasn't for duplicate threads, there would be no threads at all...." Ok, with my being a dick comment now out, I'll bite into this can of worms again.

Get the Sport Diff, you can always add Bluetooth, but you can't add the SD later.

[esimp2k]

"If it wasn't for duplicate threads, there would be no threads at all...." Ok, with my being a dick comment now out, I'll bite into this can of worms again.

Get the Sport Diff, you can always add Bluetooth, but you can't add the SD later.

Lol. Spoken like a true Ziner!


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[SteveYem]

Wait for the right car. It will come up somewhere in the country. If you really want the car and you are set on the features on your list, I think it would be wise to compromise on price if anything.

[theweebabyseamus]

Sounds like you've already searched on both subjects and have about the best answers you'll get already.

[skinnytirez]

3G+ MMI streams Bluetooth...

[EIAlfonso]

I can't believe you can't find one for less than 30K, are you including a large geographical area for your search, most of the US? I've found that helps more than anything, $200 one way trip and then drive back with a grin, one or two nights in a hotel depending how far it is.

If the choice is 2013 no diff vs 2011 diff, then I would go with the lower mileage newer 2013. You won't miss what you never had, but make sure you expand your search and include private sales

I paid 37.5K for my 2013 exactly 2 years ago with 15K miles on it, sport diff, Nav, DSG, this car would be about 26K now.

I bought Private seller and flew to the DC area to purchase and drove it back to Texas

[flightlessgreeb]

Thanks for all the replies and yea I figured this was well trodden ground but I'm also going a little stir crazy waiting for the right car haha

The combo of manual trans plus the high end options seems to be the kicker. Tons of DSG cars around as well as manual cars with the monochrome display or without the sports diff.

Any tips on where to search would be appreciated too! I've got a national search going on CarGurus atm and some stuff locally on Craigslist and of f course I check here regularly. Other good search engines are appreciated too and I am willing to travel nationally to find the right car. I figured holding out for the right thing would be the common advice but I suppose I needed to hear it again, so thanks!

[skinnytirez]

This took me all of 15 seconds to find:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/332317227309

[FREEZE451]

Well I got mine for a hair over, $35k, and it's well worth it to have it all... I know it's over budget, but i would wait for sure. Mine came with Nav, sport diff, and the bluetooth streaming is awesome. What I need to research more is; mine says '2g' not 3g, so I'm not sure, I'll read into that.


Anyways, I would wait, just my opinion.

[jimrobbington]

3G+ MMI streams Bluetooth... That's the thing right there. I have a '12 Nav, and I almost never use it. But I can't stream fucking audio. Laaaaaaammmmmmeeeeee.

So in my opinion, 6MT, Sport Diff, and 3G+ are the only requirements. Color is what it is, and it doesn't make the car perform better.

Are you limiting your search by milage? Also, some may laugh, but seriously check carmax. My S4 was shipped from Tx to Co for free. They can ship cars from any dealer nationwide, and often times you can get a deal on free shipping, worst case, it's $800-1200, but that's nothing of it lets you find the perfect car.... most of the best cars I could find were in the new England area.

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[doug97gxe]

I have sports diff and no nav... i wish it was the other way around

[jimrobbington]

I have sports diff and no nav... i wish it was the other way aroundThat's insane! I thought you were one of the more performance minded folk we have around here!

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[doug97gxe]

That's insane! I thought you were one of the more performance minded folk we have around here!

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I am but sports diff doesn't make me feel better about not kicking the back end out on a 600 rwd car


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[flightlessgreeb]

Unfortunately $30k is a hard limit for me so I have my searches set to exclude cars over it. Even a 30k car I'd have to talk down to keep closing costs etc reasonable. Good thought on Carmax, I hadn't considered them!

[Dr GP]

I would not buy an S4 without sport dif and Nav. I would also want the B&O, but could live without it. My 2010 had Sport dif but no B&O or Nav. And I loved it. My next 2 have had B&0 , Nav and sport dif. I am not an audiophile so the standard radio would suffice for me, but the B&O is definitely a desirable upgrade. BTW, you can add Bluetooth to any Audi without it by purchasing a tune2air for less than $100. Works just like the factory installed option. I have it on my 2011.

[blackfunk]

Strangely I think the SD is mehh. Nice to have but not mandatory. With that being said though I'd take the SD over nav any day.

[VeeDubbinJetta]

Coming from an B8.5 A4 that didn't have nav, I knew I needed to have it on the S4, I don't use the nav itself all too often but the other features you get with it such as steaming audio, park aid, and backup cam make it completely worth it. Sport diff wasn't a must for me. I don't track the car, and I'm not throwing it into every corner I encounter, if my car had it when I bought it, would I have been happy? Sure, but am I still 100% happy with my purchase? Absolutely.

As others have said, don't settle if you don't need to. Get what you want as it will eventually show up. If sport diff is an absolute must for you, wait for a car that has it, because you will regret not having it after purchase.

[jimrobbington]

I enjoy my sports diff almost every day on the street. It's definitely a noticeable item, coming from a tuned A4. Imo, it's one of the must haves. Without it, it's like a v6 mustang. What's the point. Shouldn't even be offered

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[jimrobbington]

I would not buy an S4 without sport dif and Nav. I would also want the B&O, but could live without it. My 2010 had Sport dif but no B&O or Nav. And I loved it. My next 2 have had B&0 , Nav and sport dif. I am not an audiophile so the standard radio would suffice for me, but the B&O is definitely a desirable upgrade. BTW, you can add Bluetooth to any Audi without it by purchasing a tune2air for less than $100. Works just like the factory installed option. I have it on my 2011.Tune2air seems to work for many people, and it worked fine for me for a while too, but mine seemed to have shit the bed after just a few months as it would no longer connect for more than a few seconds at a time, and I didn't feel like giving it another shot at $80 a pop. Now I'm rocking a ghetto Amazon special cable that allows me to stream audio directly to the aux input, but I can't charge my phone at the same time because it introduces static into the feed. This is the kind of shit I shouldn't have to deal with on a $60k model from 2012.

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[MVR 155]

I understand setting responsible budget goals and I have done the same thing in the past when I was younger. I made some compromises I wish I hadn't over the matter of a few thousand dollars and didn't end up enjoying the car nearly as much. Because of this it had me looking to replace it sooner than I would have. I'm not telling you to be irresponsible but if spending an extra few thousand to get the car you want is the only thing in your way, don't let that stop you.

[wt219200]

This took me all of 15 seconds to find:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/332317227309

I guess you should've taken an extra 15 seconds and read the part where he said under $30k.

[isles1]

I guess you should've taken an extra 15 seconds and read the part where he said under $30k.And no black exterior.

[doug97gxe]

So 16 seconds then? [emoji23]


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[Charles]

When I was shopping, nav was a must for me. Pretty much since week 1, I've never even used it. I have a phone mount and use Waze. BT, definitly, but like it was said, that's an easy aftermarket add on. Back up cam...honestly, I still just look left and right and use the rear view mirror. Backup cam makes me uneasy. Learned how to parallel park when I was 15. ;)

[dave1078]

I enjoy my sports diff almost every day on the street. It's definitely a noticeable item, coming from a tuned A4. Imo, it's one of the must haves. Without it, it's like a v6 mustang. What's the point. Shouldn't even be offered

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It's like having 300hp instead of 435? :O

[flightlessgreeb]

I understand setting responsible budget goals and I have done the same thing in the past when I was younger. I made some compromises I wish I hadn't over the matter of a few thousand dollars and didn't end up enjoying the car nearly as much. Because of this it had me looking to replace it sooner than I would have. I'm not telling you to be irresponsible but if spending an extra few thousand to get the car you want is the only thing in your way, don't let that stop you.

I definitely understand that, my original budget was actually $25k but it quickly became apparent that wasn't enough to get the job done. I pushed it up to $30k but that's really scraping the limit of what I'm comfortable doing. Luckily I just found another prospect today! https://tinyurl.com/y9695kqk (hopefully linking to a CarGurus ad is acceptable, if not let me know and I'll edit it out.) This will be my 3rd attempt at closing a deal on one of these in the last month - hopefully I can get things done before someone else swoops in!

[EIAlfonso]

Thanks for all the replies and yea I figured this was well trodden ground but I'm also going a little stir crazy waiting for the right car haha

The combo of manual trans plus the high end options seems to be the kicker. Tons of DSG cars around as well as manual cars with the monochrome display or without the sports diff.

Any tips on where to search would be appreciated too! I've got a national search going on CarGurus atm and some stuff locally on Craigslist and of f course I check here regularly. Other good search engines are appreciated too and I am willing to travel nationally to find the right car. I figured holding out for the right thing would be the common advice but I suppose I needed to hear it again, so thanks!

cars.com, not sure about sports diff or carfax condition

Used 2013 Audi S4 3.0T Premium Plus quattro
Save $29,800 Mileage: 85,418
View Price Comparison Tool
Exterior Color: Estoril Blue Interior Color: Black
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual Drivetrain: AWD
Free CARFAX Report


Used 2013 Audi S4 3.0T Prestige quattro
Save $29,500 Mileage: 62,788
View Price Comparison Tool
Exterior Color: Estoril Blue Interior Color: Black
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual Drivetrain: AWD
CARFAX Report

32 Photos 1 Video
Used 2013 Audi S4 3.0T Premium Plus quattro
Used 2013 Audi S4 3.0T Premium Plus quattro
Save $27,895 Mileage: 56,192
View Price Comparison Tool
Exterior Color: Monsoon Gray Metallic Interior Color: Black / Silver
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual Drivetrain: AWD
Free CARFAX Report


Used 2012 Audi S4 3.0 Premium Plus quattro
Save $26,750 Mileage: 37,825
View Price Comparison Tool
Exterior Color: Gray Interior Color: Black / Red
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual Drivetrain: AWD
CARFAX Report

[arad85]

It's like having 300hp instead of 435? :O

Goodness, how do people get by with 435hp in an S4/5? Closer to 500 is where it's at [;)]

[flightlessgreeb]

Thanks for looking out EIAlfonso! Cars.com had 3 more cars that meet all my reqs, all of them gray for some reason.

[4DOORFUN]

Not sure about the MMI, but I will give you my thoughts on the sports diff. My past three cars were RWD manual trans. cars. I could kick the rear end out at will on these cars and have "fun" when nobody when was around me. My S4 with sports diff. does not feel anything like a RWD car. I can feel the sports diff. activate when I accelerate out of a turn. It's noticeable, but not to the point that the rear end takes over. I realize that's not the design of the sports diff., but I'm addressing numerous comments I've read in various threads about how the sports diff. makes it feel RWD. That's just not true. I don't know, maybe my tires are too new or a I need a tune to overpower the tires on this car. The amount of grip is impressive so it depends on what you are after. I wish the sports diff. activation somehow made the car even more rear wheel biased. That would equate to more fun.

You should also consider that the sports. diff. is another expensive repair should it fail down the road.

[EIAlfonso]

Thanks for looking out EIAlfonso! Cars.com had 3 more cars that meet all my reqs, all of them gray for some reason.

Grey is where its at [drive][race]