Thinking about making the jump for a B7 A4 to a B8/8.5 S4 and could use some opinions

[Lastsummer]

As the title states, Ive been toying with the idea of making the move on either a B8/8.5 S4 but have been getting some mixed reviews from guys local to me who have them already. Raudiace was my go to guy for advice but would love to here from others who have them as well.
Opinions on what to look for. Do's and dont's. ETC...

Right now this one is high on my list but it lacks alot of what Id want with color DIS and some interior parts. Plus the mileage Im uncertain of.
http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/de...7582/overview/

Thanks in advance fellas.

[RudyH]

I would buy one for sure - however just keep in mind with getting the first year of the model...beware of the thermostat which is the only thing you likely will worry about

[The Fat Kid]

Five+ years old and 70k+ miles? Just make sure you can afford some expensive repairs if something goes wrong.

Regarding the S4 overall: It is probably the best bang for the buck when it comes to an AWD sporty sedan.

[Lastsummer]

Five+ years old and 70k+ miles? Just make sure you can afford some expensive repairs if something goes wrong.

Regarding the S4 overall: It is probably the best bang for the buck when it comes to an AWD sporty sedan.

Ive been checking out cars.com and several other classifieds and they are all getting up there in mileage for the 2010-2012's unfortunately. Its been really hard to find those years in manual as well, which is really what I want. Ive been told that the 10's you wanna stay away from because of the thermostat and the dsg trans. Aside from that, I dont know too many other things to watch out for. Unfortunately Ive gotta stay under the 28k range and thats making things a little harder.

[RudyH]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-PRICE-BLOWOUT!!!!

I would check out the forum too, be willing to make a road trip for something like ^^^, usually the enthusiasts here tend to look after their cars spot on. With the money saved, grab a warranty for it too

[A4SlineWA]

I just bought one a few weeks ago. It was from another forum member in CT. It had $5K in mods and he was asking $3-4K under value. 2011 S4 with 55k miles for $27.5. I live in WA so I had to pay $1000 to get it shipped. I wanted something that was under 13K miles a year and under book value. I've purchased cars out of state numerous occasions and found the savings and uniqueness of the car worth it. I used lemon squad a moble mechanic who diagnosed the car and sends a report back to you.

Post ownership: Man this thing eats gas lol. My previous cars being a B6 A4, 09 GT-R modded, 03 RS6 and a couple of modded evos. It honestly feels like this car is getting the poorest mpgs, 15 when I last checked. This is a mix of city/highway driving and occasional spirited driving. I have a stage 2 with a 93 tune and intake.

Another thing I noticed was man, I'm the previous owner had an extended warranty. He replaced the thermostat, he had issues with harsh down shifts and I'm trying to remember the other issue he had. He stated this and I also reviewed the mechanic receipts/notes. I have to review the rest of the maintenance past 56K but I'm sure if nothing major happens a am good mechanic can take care of scheduled maintenance without breaking the pockets.

Now for the goods. Car is quick! Simple mods and it can get u into low 12's without an exhaust. It's a head turner, especially with some rims. It's classy and refined. A great daily driver with a mix of luxury and speed. Overall, I'd prefer a 2011 with lower miles, don't be afraid to buy out of state if you get a good deal (look on the local for sale threads, great deals. Newer models, lesser miles and more mods.) Be prepared to pay more gas and I'd ask what previous maintenance work has been done and maybe, maybe think about extended warranty.

Hope this helps. Just wanted to give back to the audizine community! Previous posts have helped me so much b4 I bought mine as well as finding the perfect audi for myself.

[The Fat Kid]

Ive been checking out cars.com and several other classifieds and they are all getting up there in mileage for the 2010-2012's unfortunately. Its been really hard to find those years in manual as well, which is really what I want. Ive been told that the 10's you wanna stay away from because of the thermostat and the dsg trans. Aside from that, I dont know too many other things to watch out for. Unfortunately Ive gotta stay under the 28k range and thats making things a little harder.

I am not trying to dissuade you regarding the car, but even something like the clutch is going to be pricey; you will be maintaining/repairing a used $60k car, not a new $28k car.

Hopefully you get lucky and find something in great shape

[Senseless]

Are you finding the manual cars to be less expensive, about the same or more than the DSG automatics?

[raudiace4]

Hey Derek, if you do decide to get a '10 try to get an extensive service and TSB/warranty parts replacement record. But don't be afraid to pull the trigger on a well maintained 10' if you do find one.
I'd tell you to get a 12' if you can, you can certainly find ones out there in your price range. Like others mentioned here, you might have to travel a bit, but you will find a good car in that price range. I'd also say get a 6MT if you can, less of a headache and less worries as the mileage gets higher. I don't trust the DSG longevity.

GL and pm me if you have questions/need to go check out a car.

[TMurt]

I just picked up a 2010 a month ago and it is at about 90k miles. In most cases, the thermostat and water pump issues happen in the first few years of ownership, from what I have seen. After researching for a bit, the only other issue I found out about was regarding the DSG gearbox. So if you want a manual, can afford to replace the clutch relatively soon and foot the bill for a 1-2k in maintenance costs each year, and find a good car with solid service history then I would go for it.

As for the specific car you posted. It looks to have had the maintenance performed, but be prepared to replace the brakes soon too as its approaching 80k miles. Also, I'd look into the fact that the car was last owned for only 2 months and also why they keep noting the color as green on the carfax

EDIT: I came from a B7 A4 3.2 and it was costing me a grand or 2 a year with multiple oil leaks and eventually had to have the thermostat and water pump replaced.

[Lastsummer]

Hey guys I really appreciate alot of the advice. As far as manual goes, I just like the drivers feel of it. I know that being around the suburbs of Chicago, DSG is really nice to have, I guess Im just old school like that. Im not opposed to traveling for a good find. My searches on cars.com and several other sites reach all the way out to the west and east coasts and southern states as well.
@Rudy - the guy with the PRICE BLOWOUT... I contacted him and never heard back, I definitely was interested.
Maintenance and such I can take care of and Rohit and several others guys around me have been kind of enough to share experiences with repairs as well. I get that Id be maintaining a car that was originally a higher dollar valued car, so I know the cost of ownership. With this brand, there is a price to pay. Ive learned over 2 builds already.

@senseless - there really isnt a price difference in manual vs dsg from what Ive seen, just harder to find.
@tmurt - thanks for that info on the car as well. Thats something that I wouldnt have found right away. If you dont mind me asking, why a 2010 with 90k? What gave you peace of mind in the purchase?

In the end, Ill be riding this one out for the right car to come along. Im in no hurry and really appreciate alot of you guys chiming in with some good info.

[Lastsummer]

Just checked that ad posted about the 2010 and it says sale pending. Definitely missed out there.

[jimrobbington]

Definitely look into Carmax. I s skeptical at first, but they were actually really amazing to deal with. I was in the same boat as you. Looking for just the right S4. Carmax had a deal going that they will ship any AWD/4WD to Colorado for free, so found my perfect car in Houston. Manual, sport diff, color dis, prestige, etc. They bent over backwards to get me this car. It was shipped and received within 3 days after being quoted 2 weeks. They held out under my name for about 2 weeks with no money down, or even a promise that i buy it. I could've walked away for free if i still didn't want it. They replaced all 4 tires because they "looked funny", and replaced them with oem PSSs. Very happy with the overall experience.

Coming from a B7 A4 for 8 years, i have absolutely no regrets on the upgrade. The car is reliable and strong. My A4 was FBO with JHM tuning, pushing 300 CHP, and i was still surprised at how much quicker and more powerful there S4 is.

The 10-12 years have a shitty clutch, so be ready for a hefty upgrade there. I had to take mine in at 35k and was told both my clutch and FW were shot. That's minimum $2500, but i decided to upgrade with the stage 3 JHM clutch with LWFW. Might actually get it back tomorrow or Saturday. Never wanted to spend that so quickly, but knew it was inevitable. Brakes will come very quick too, but those are really the only issues i foresee for you. FWIW, my A4 had stock clutch till 120k miles, even after 40k of being tuned. The S4 clutch is shit, but i heard they improved it 2013.

[Whitee]

90k miles on this car isn't much, these engines are bullet proof. I wouldn't hesitate either if the price was right and it had proper maintenance records.


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[Lastsummer]

Definitely look into Carmax. I s skeptical at first, but they were actually really amazing to deal with. I was in the same boat as you. Looking for just the right S4. Carmax had a deal going that they will ship any AWD/4WD to Colorado for free, so found my perfect car in Houston. Manual, sport diff, color dis, prestige, etc. They bent over backwards to get me this car. It was shipped and received within 3 days after being quoted 2 weeks. They held out under my name for about 2 weeks with no money down, or even a promise that i buy it. I could've walked away for free if i still didn't want it. They replaced all 4 tires because they "looked funny", and replaced them with oem PSSs. Very happy with the overall experience.

Coming from a B7 A4 for 8 years, i have absolutely no regrets on the upgrade. The car is reliable and strong. My A4 was FBO with JHM tuning, pushing 300 CHP, and i was still surprised at how much quicker and more powerful there S4 is.

The 10-12 years have a shitty clutch, so be ready for a hefty upgrade there. I had to take mine in at 35k and was told both my clutch and FW were shot. That's minimum $2500, but i decided to upgrade with the stage 3 JHM clutch with LWFW. Might actually get it back tomorrow or Saturday. Never wanted to spend that so quickly, but knew it was inevitable. Brakes will come very quick too, but those are really the only issues i foresee for you. FWIW, my A4 had stock clutch till 120k miles, even after 40k of being tuned. The S4 clutch is shit, but i heard they improved it 2013.

Just one of the people I was looking forward to see chime in. I know we talked a lot about your car in the B7 forum and valued what you had to say. I have a friend here who picked up a 2012 and had to have the clutched replaced right at the dealer. From what I remember it was roughly in the $2200 range as well.
I would really like for my fiance to be able to drive the car from time to time as well, so DSG is not out of the picture just yet.

@whitee - you say that these motors are bullet proof, are there any known issues with oil consumption?

[jimrobbington]

Just one of the people I was looking forward to see chime in. I know we talked a lot about your car in the B7 forum and valued what you had to say. I have a friend here who picked up a 2012 and had to have the clutched replaced right at the dealer. From what I remember it was roughly in the $2200 range as well.
I would really like for my fiance to be able to drive the car from time to time as well, so DSG is not out of the picture just yet.

@whitee - you say that these motors are bullet proof, are there any known issues with oil consumption?

Yeah, dealer gave me a rough quote of $2500 for the whole clutch/flywheel job with OEM parts. I wasn't about to put that shit back in my car, and asked if i could just have them put it back together so i could go elsewhere. They agreed to install my parts instead. Lol.

I test drove a DSG at first, everyone always raves about it. The didn't like it. It's still an automatic. I don't need to shave tenths off my 1/4, i need to feel engaged with the car. I'm really happy about my decision to get a manual, just wish the OEM clutch wasn't such shit. Lol. You read through the B8 forums enough, you realize half the complaints about the car are weird issues with DSG software, and unfixable quirks with DSG tunes. You get more RPMs for free with a manual too. I'd rather Rev match downshift with my feet than with a tall of a paddle.

Regardless, you are going to end up spending at least $1k on either transmission to upgrade it. Get the one you really want. You could always go cheap and do a stage 1 clutch and resurface your DMFW for near the cost of one of the top DSG tunes.

[Lastsummer]

Yeah, dealer gave me a rough quote of $2500 for the whole clutch/flywheel job with OEM parts. I wasn't about to put that shit back in my car, and asked if i could just have them put it back together so i could go elsewhere. They agreed to install my parts instead. Lol.

I test drove a DSG at first, everyone always raves about it. The didn't like it. It's still an automatic. I don't need to shave tenths off my 1/4, i need to feel engaged with the car. I'm really happy about my decision to get a manual, just wish the OEM clutch wasn't such shit. Lol. You read through the B8 forums enough, you realize half the complaints about the car are weird issues with DSG software, and unfixable quirks with DSG tunes. You get more RPMs for free with a manual too. I'd rather Rev match downshift with my feet than with a tall of a paddle.

Regardless, you are going to end up spending at least $1k on either transmission to upgrade it. Get the one you really want. You could always go cheap and do a stage 1 clutch and resurface your DMFW for near the cost of one of the top DSG tunes.

You are like me, the drivers feel of a manual and feeling more in control. My current car has a southbend stage 3 clutch/lwfw so if I went the manual route, thats where Id wanna end up again. It really has been a good upgrade. I know Rohit (raudiace) had some some issues with his DSG tune if I am correct and for $1k, idk if thats worth it.
If you dont mind me asking, what mileage and price did you pick yours up for? In my searches lately Ive found alot of cars identical in the package offered, with similar mileage and could have a price difference of $1200-$2500.

[jimrobbington]

I picked mine up in July with 26k miles for 39k.

[Lastsummer]

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/5293426375.html
Ive tried contacting this guy but the rebuilt title interests me. Hoping maybe it was error in the ad.

[TMurt]

Hey guys I really appreciate alot of the advice. As far as manual goes, I just like the drivers feel of it. I know that being around the suburbs of Chicago, DSG is really nice to have, I guess Im just old school like that. Im not opposed to traveling for a good find. My searches on cars.com and several other sites reach all the way out to the west and east coasts and southern states as well.
@Rudy - the guy with the PRICE BLOWOUT... I contacted him and never heard back, I definitely was interested.
Maintenance and such I can take care of and Rohit and several others guys around me have been kind of enough to share experiences with repairs as well. I get that Id be maintaining a car that was originally a higher dollar valued car, so I know the cost of ownership. With this brand, there is a price to pay. Ive learned over 2 builds already.

@senseless - there really isnt a price difference in manual vs dsg from what Ive seen, just harder to find.
@tmurt - thanks for that info on the car as well. Thats something that I wouldnt have found right away. If you dont mind me asking, why a 2010 with 90k? What gave you peace of mind in the purchase?

In the end, Ill be riding this one out for the right car to come along. Im in no hurry and really appreciate alot of you guys chiming in with some good info.

No problem! In my case, the previous and only owner was a family friend so I knew the history pretty well. It had been predominantly highway driven and had a full service history from the local Audi dealer with no issues apart the the thermostat issue. He also gave me a fantastic price and that combined with the 6MT and Imola Yellow had me sold.

As long as you're patient, I am sure something will pop up. Definitely look closely at the service history and for any quick exchanges in ownership as it could signal some problems with the car

[Lastsummer]

No problem! In my case, the previous and only owner was a family friend so I knew the history pretty well. It had been predominantly highway driven and had a full service history from the local Audi dealer with no issues apart the the thermostat issue. He also gave me a fantastic price and that combined with the 6MT and Imola Yellow had me sold.

As long as you're patient, I am sure something will pop up. Definitely look closely at the service history and for any quick exchanges in ownership as it could signal some problems with the car

Definitely a great pick up there having known the previous owner. I know that mileage can be different from car to car with how its been driven, so I do pay attention to it, but dont just turn away from higher mileage cars. Im being patient right now as Im planning a wedding, so its all about timing for sure. With that being said, that does put me in a better position because then I wont rush a purchase.
Ill be sure to get more extensive into the background of ownership now. Any recalls that I should look out for? Like the B7s have the cam follower up til 08.

[The Fat Kid]

Just one of the people I was looking forward to see chime in. I know we talked a lot about your car in the B7 forum and valued what you had to say. I have a friend here who picked up a 2012 and had to have the clutched replaced right at the dealer. From what I remember it was roughly in the $2200 range as well.
I would really like for my fiance to be able to drive the car from time to time as well, so DSG is not out of the picture just yet.

@whitee - you say that these motors are bullet proof, are there any known issues with oil consumption?

My B6 A4 was a manual and I loved it. My wife got pregnant and had no hope of safely driving manual, and I was not comfortable with the idea of me somehow not being able to drive and we are all stranded. Anyway, I was also an anti-auto transmission guy but really enjoy the DSG. No, it is not as engaging as a manual, but I drive exclusively with the paddles and it is a blast.

As others have mentioned, the DSG can have expensive problems, but it is worth taking one for a test drive. Put everything in "dynamic" and drive it in manual mode with the paddles; perfect rev-matching downshifts are fun

[roadawg]

Definitely a great pick up there having known the previous owner. I know that mileage can be different from car to car with how its been driven, so I do pay attention to it, but dont just turn away from higher mileage cars. Im being patient right now as Im planning a wedding, so its all about timing for sure. With that being said, that does put me in a better position because then I wont rush a purchase.
Ill be sure to get more extensive into the background of ownership now. Any recalls that I should look out for? Like the B7s have the cam follower up til 08.

There was a fairly recent recall with the fuel rail seals leaking. I don't recall the exact specifics but if affected most early build S4's I believe. I got lucky as hell because my tstat failed in May, and under rare cases the tstat is replaced as part of that recall. At 53K miles, out of warranty, my local Audi dealership in this area fixed everything no charge under the recall so that saved me a $1200 + tstat replacement bill

Just a heads up in case you come across this in the future.

That's the only recall that I know off but there is probably more.

[jimrobbington]

There was a fairly recent recall with the fuel rail seals leaking. I don't recall the exact specifics but if affected most early build S4's I believe. I got lucky as hell because my tstat failed in May, and under rare cases the tstat is replaced as part of that recall. At 53K miles, out of warranty, my local Audi dealership in this area fixed everything no charge under the recall so that saved me a $1200 + tstat replacement bill

Just a heads up in case you come across this in the future.

That's the only recall that I know off but there is probably more.

That's probably what's going on with mine. There was a light unburnt fuel smell in the cabin and under the hood usually. Dealer noticed it and said the history shows a fuel recall already done, but they think it wasn't done right and they are doing it again.

[jimrobbington]

Keep in mind, 2016 looks like it will be the best year for the B8 tuning wise. 034 has stuff in the works looking really promising. I also saw a thread over on AR talking about JHM doing some testing publicly and hit an 11.66 in alpha stages. Time to get in while the getting is good!

[raudiace4]

Keep in mind, 2016 looks like it will be the best year for the B8 tuning wise

Lol wut

[jimrobbington]

Lol wut

Apr and giac dont have shit on what 034 and JHM should be able to do.

[raudiace4]

Apr and giac dont have shit on what 034 and JHM should be able to do.

LOL

[Lastsummer]

While I do appreciate what JHM does, I wanna know for certain that what they are offering, is going to be offered and not in 2 years.
To my understanding though, the B8/8.5 take really well to tuning and can pull alot of power out of the motor. I dont know if Ill be going down that route of modding right away, but laugh typing that out because I know that will quickly change.
I do really appreciate all of the info that you guys have offered up today, keep it coming.

[Cr099]

I suggest you expand your search into Canada too, and take advantage of the weak Canadian dollar. Instant 25% Black Friday sale! Toronto is a big city and is pretty close to Chicago! GL

[PinoyS4]

I went from b5 s4 stage 3's to b8 s4 stage 2 and love it. B8 s4 is easy to make fast!

[Lastsummer]

Ive been noticing a lot of the 2011/2012 S4s coming with the red and black interior. I cant say that Im the biggest fan of it, but for the right car I might settle. My question to you guys is... how well is that color holding up as far as sun fading and wear?

[onlyaudis]

I have the red and black Napa interior on my 2012, and it still looks like new.

[IanCH]

coming from another high mileage old S4 owner, its going to be staring down the barrell of 4k+ repairs over the next 2 years... I would not buy an S4 again unless it was CPO.

[Senseless]

Ive been noticing a lot of the 2011/2012 S4s coming with the red and black interior. I cant say that Im the biggest fan of it, but for the right car I might settle. My question to you guys is... how well is that color holding up as far as sun fading and wear?

My 2012 red and black Nappa interior still looks new, also. I think it's easier to clean the old sweat out of than the alcantara.