Possibly joining the S4 community..

**Trxjw** · 07-15-2008 01:25 PM

Hey everyone. I'm a long time Audi fan and reader of the forums, want to thank everyone for the mass-amounts of information provided. But enough of the ass-kissing, here's my situation:

I've been tossing around the idea of 'upgrading' to an Audi for a while. Right now I drive a 2000 Jetta GLS 1.8t, but over the last year or so I've run into an enormous amount of 'gremlins' that have become quite the nuisance. My CEL light is perpetually illuminated and despite a dozen trips to 4 different dealerships it remains on and the code its throwing can't seem to be resolved. Couple that with periodic stalls due to some sort of electrical issue and... well, you see where I'm going with this.

So the other day my girlfriends Dad mentions to me that the son of his employer is looking to sell his A4. He doesn't know any details, but will ask if I'm interested. So I say sure, and go on about my day. Last night he calls me up and tells me it's not an A4, but an B5 S4, and tells me what the guy told him.

He didn't get much more info about it, but apparently it's a 2000 S4 with 54,000 miles on it. Needs a new battery because it's been sitting for a while (apparently the guys parents bought him an A6 recently to replace it before he sold the thing), has a few minor blemishes on the exterior and is chipped, though I don't know what brand/software it is. His parents want it out of their garage and he's knocking his asking price down to an even 10k for me if I want it.

So, I know there are some obvious things to look for as far as maintenance is concerned; Turbo's, timing belt, etc., and if there's no issue with them has he done the preventative maintenance such as the TBB, BPVs and the F-hose. My question to all of you is: Should I be looking for anything else specific to this model year?

I'm not particularly concerned about gas as I put 91+ in my Jetta anyway, and I don't drive enough to notice the lower fuel economy since I take public transportation to work every day and don't even have to drive to the trolley station.

Unless there's some giant dent in the thing, or the turbo's are shot and the car wont run, it seems like a pretty solid deal to me. Just wanted to know if there's anything else I should be asking him or anything I wouldn't notice when I took it for a drive/looked under the hood unless I was specifically looking to find it.

Thanks a lot.

**looseboost** · 07-15-2008 01:28 PM

10k sounds good for mileage in 50k Deff take a look at it

**mholme** · 07-15-2008 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Trxjw

My CEL light is perpetually illuminated

Sounds like you're ready for an S4 to me!

But seriously, I'll read the rest of the post in a minute..

**1997gtx** · 07-15-2008 01:43 PM

If you buy it for $10k, i'll buy it from you for $11k.

If you don't buy it, please let me know who they are, and i'll buy it.

Thanks!

--Adam

**mholme** · 07-15-2008 01:45 PM

If you like your girlfriend and her dad, I'd honestly look for another one. You can find another decent low mileage one. I'd be leary of a perfectly good S4 sitting, not be driven because the kid's parents bought him a new car...But maybe that's just me..

**1997gtx** · 07-15-2008 01:46 PM

^ That's just you!

A sitting S4 with 54,000 miles @ $10k is a crazy good deal.

Even if the turbo's are blown, it's a good deal.
--Adam

**S4Per** · 07-15-2008 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by 1997gtx

^ That's just you!

A sitting S4 with 54,000 miles @ $10k is a crazy good deal.

Even if the turbo's are blown, it's a good deal.
--Adam

2nd!

**Trxjw** · 07-15-2008 01:53 PM

Haha, yeah I'm thinking even if it needs some work, it's probably still worth it. Even if it needs a decent amount of body work, I'd still be coming out ahead price wise.

But nothing else I should really be on the lookout for? That isn't obvious of course.

**s42k5b** · 07-15-2008 02:02 PM

Great deal...i bought mine with 86k miles on it for 11k and i thought i got a great deal...Dont pass it up!

**mholme** · 07-15-2008 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by 1997gtx

^ That's just you!

A sitting S4 with 54,000 miles @ $10k is a crazy good deal.

Even if the turbo's are blown, it's a good deal.
--Adam

Assuming you got the means to fix it!

**1997gtx** · 07-15-2008 02:25 PM

^ LoL. True.

My next S4 will be one that has turbo's blown and is under $10k.

We're talking no more than $10k total to have a shop go Stage 3 on it.

Glorious.
--Adam

**JD797** · 07-15-2008 02:30 PM

I'd take it to a mechanic to get checked out just to see exactly what's wrong with it. While that price for that kind of mileage leaves room for things to be fixed, if something major is wrong with the engine or transmission it could be a big headache so it's worth knowing what you're buying. And I wouldn't worry about the timing belt stuff just yet, that tends to be taken care of closer to 70-80k miles. GL!

**Trxjw** · 07-15-2008 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by JD797

I'd take it to a mechanic to get checked out just to see exactly what's wrong with it. While that price for that kind of mileage leaves room for things to be fixed, if something major is wrong with the engine or transmission it could be a big headache so it's worth knowing what you're buying. And I wouldn't worry about the timing belt stuff just yet, that tends to be taken care of closer to 70-80k miles. GL!

I'll definitely take it to a mechanic first.

70-80k sounds good. With the amount of miles I put on my car per year, it'll take me about 3 or 4 years to put the next 15k on it.

Also, does anyone have a link to a site where I can check the options list for the 2000 models? He claims it has every option available on it as well. Forgot to include that part.

EDIT: Never mind, found a link here.