Thinking about future moves...

[mjames]

I have promised myself I am going to purchase an M4 in the next year to two years. I came from an E46 M3 that I loved dearly, but couldn't live with its high maintenance after 100k miles.

So my dilemma is what to do with my S4 when it's time for a new car. What are your thoughts on keeping the S4 as a daily driver (I drive 40-80 miles a day for work)? Then I could use the M4 as a weekend car and not rack up miles on it. I have a third garage so I'd be good there. My fear with this is would I be an idiot to keep the S4 into its high mileage days as a DD? It's been very reliable up to 71k miles now. It's a great DD, I just need some more raw and fun like an M4. I worry about DDing an M4.

The other thing is by the time I get a new car, my S4 will have like 90-100k miles on it, and despite being in great condition, it won't be worth much for re-sale. So another point there for keeping it as a DD.

Thoughts?

[Batman0424]

I have often contemplated a similar move, but, for me, it would be hard to resist driving the newer car more often. That said, a properly maintained S4 would be great as a DD.

[BJYorko]

My 2010 S4 has 92k miles, tuned to stage 1 (soon stage 2) and runs great! just keep up with oil changes and it should run for a while. It's a fantastic DD car and puts a smile on my face every day!

[Dr GP]

C&D just did a road test on the new M2. They loved it. Advised buying the M2 instead of the M4 and saving $16,000. Why couldn't either M cars be your daily driver as well as your week end car? Some have claimed that both will soon be available with x drive. Not sure you need it in SC. I think you may be surprised what an S4 with 90k miles might be worth. But really, I would want my daily driver to have less mileage on it even though the S4s have been unusually reliable.

[AKPS4]

Many people here have high mileage S4's with no indication of any major issue. I don't be pretty confident getting 150k plus out of this car without dumping s ton of money into it.

[TMurt]

I have promised myself I am going to purchase an M4 in the next year to two years. I came from an E46 M3 that I loved dearly, but couldn't live with its high maintenance after 100k miles.

So my dilemma is what to do with my S4 when it's time for a new car. What are your thoughts on keeping the S4 as a daily driver (I drive 40-80 miles a day for work)? Then I could use the M4 as a weekend car and not rack up miles on it. I have a third garage so I'd be good there. My fear with this is would I be an idiot to keep the S4 into its high mileage days as a DD? It's been very reliable up to 71k miles now. It's a great DD, I just need some more raw and fun like an M4. I worry about DDing an M4.

The other thing is by the time I get a new car, my S4 will have like 90-100k miles on it, and despite being in great condition, it won't be worth much for re-sale. So another point there for keeping it as a DD.

Thoughts?

With your list of options, at 90k miles you should be able to get 18K on a trade and probably 20kish private a year or so down the road. If the car has been solid so far, I wouldn't be too concerned about it suddenly popping up problems. I definitely wouldn't daily an M4 with the amount of miles you would be putting on it. If reliability becomes a concern, just buy something cheap and reliable (japanese) and then take the M4 on weekends or when you just feel like taking a fun car to work.

[mmm def]

I wouldn't want an S4 and an M4,too much of a GT car even if it's amazing on paper. I say keep the S4 as a DD since they are pretty reliable and pick up a dedicated toy like a Cayman S or something.

[carlosvjr92]

I'm hoping to go into an m3 in a couple years and keep the s4 as a daily. Or maybe trading in the s4 for something like a Q5

[roadawg]

^^^ waht mmm def said.

I'd love me an M but not in the same stable as my S.

Keep the S or the M, then get like an S2000 or Cayman for the weekend toy stuff.

You're blurring lines too much with these two cars.

I also think you are also underselling what the S would be worth at around 90K miles. It should still have considerable value.

[mojangles69]

That's a tough decision. Like many have mentioned, if you maintain the car properly, i think you'd be good and have no surprise or major expenses before 125k-150k.

That being said, I'd honestly look into getting a CPO A6 3.0T with approximately 40k miles. For example:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=28262&endYear=2017&modelC ode1=A6&showcaseOwnerId=0&makeCode1=AUDI&startYear =1981&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=25&maxPrice=35000 &showcaseListingId=0&mmt=[AUDI[A6[]][]]&listingId=423970627&Log=0

If you traded-in/sold your S4 now, you might get $24k-$27k? So, you could potentially be even with purchasing a CPO A6 or in the hole just a few thousand.

I think the A6 would be a fantastic DD...more comfortable than the S4 while maintaining many similar features (and even some better ones tech and interior-wise). Especially if you get the 3.0T, you'll still have some good grunt and power. Won't be the same but should be sufficient and do you well on the highway!

In addition, you'll have peace of mind with having the 10 year/100k mile warranty and the A6 would be different enough from the M4 that they wouldn't clash or overlap like a couple of other members have mentioned.

Just my thoughts and what I'd consider doing if I were in your shoes. Hope this helps, cheers!

[ocardona]

Dude.... Just tune your S4 and it's _almost_ as performant as the M4 at just slightly over $7K. I've contemplated the move to M4 many times, but after tuning the S4 there's really no need. Stage2+ is a crazy amount of power on a daily driver.

[nekky]

Dude.... Just tune your S4 and it's _almost_ as performant as the M4 at just slightly over $7K. I've contemplated the move to M4 many times, but after tuning the S4 there's really no need. Stage2+ is a crazy amount of power on a daily driver.

This. S4 is a nicer car to drive daily. And I'm a BMW nut.

[mr shickadance]

^^^ waht mmm def said.

I'd love me an M but not in the same stable as my S.

Keep the S or the M, then get like an S2000 or Cayman for the weekend toy stuff.

You're blurring lines too much with these two cars.

I also think you are also underselling what the S would be worth at around 90K miles. It should still have considerable value.

someone said between 18-20 for trade/private, they are pretty much spot on, I was poking around a VW dealer and they appraised my 2011 with 88k at 18.5

[adamkb26]

I'm a BMW fan but the M4 has been beaten in almost every comparison review against its rivals. Still a great car but worth looking at others. I think the M2 looks way better and will probably be my next car. For 80-90k I would probably do the C63S. Seems like a lot of people default to M3/M4, but it isn't the dominant car it once was.

[Thurston]

i am not a bmw fan ever since the two e36 3 series we owned in the late 90's were horrible reliability wise but even with that said - damn the M2 has me really intrigued, just about the same amount that the b9 s4 has lost my interest the m2 has gained it in equal proportion. (the lack of a back seat may cause me to look elsewhere but i'm still going to give it a legitimate courting in about two years.) what the hell audi?

[sacandagaD]

I've got just over a year left on my warranty and by then will have about 65-68k on the car. Will have to decide whether to go Stage 2 on it, or move on to something else. Problem is putting too much mileage on it right now.

Wife wants us to get something cool to share as weekend car, so we'll probably to give the Porsche marquee a chance, when the time comes.

[mjames]

Good point that the S4 and M4 are too similar to have both. The thing is I'm not a small car guy -- the smallest car I'd ever want to own is an S4 or M4. M2, while I'm sure a great car, is too compact for my liking. I kind of like the idea of an A6 as a daily, always loved those. And to the guy who said to tune my car, I just can't see myself dumping thousands into performance mods on my 6-year-old car with 72k miles when I know I want something newer in next year or so. And even if a tuned S4 is as fast, it's not just speed I miss, but the visceral feeling and handling of an M car -- the S is just sedate.

Anyway, I've got time to figure it out.

[MrFunk]

If you can afford both then own both... B8 S4's have proven to be very reliable and plenty of high mileage ones rolling about. If you don't think you can afford to up-keep both then get the M4 if that's what you want. Or if you don't love the S4 enough to want to invest in keeping it tip top then move on to the M4 if that's what you prefer...

I'm personally holding on to my S4 as long as I possibly can... they don't make em like this anymore (MT) and finding an AWD DD in MT with this kind of performance and luxury is next to impossible now.

[mjames]

It's weird. I love my S4 but it's a different type of love than M3. That specialness/rawness/emotion of the M is not there, and I really, really miss it. I love both Audi and BMW, have owned two BMWs before the S4.

S4 = wife
M4 = mistress

[Victor Newman]

It's weird. I love my S4 but it's a different type of love than M3. That specialness/rawness/emotion of the M is not there, and I really, really miss it. I love both Audi and BMW, have owned two BMWs before the S4.

S4 = wife
M4 = mistress

Lol, don't let your wife see that post given your consideration of having both - one for the daily grind and one for the weekend. She'll figure out which one she is

[ENV²]

C&D just did a road test on the new M2. They loved it. Advised buying the M2 instead of the M4 and saving $16,000. Why couldn't either M cars be your daily driver as well as your week end car? Some have claimed that both will soon be available with x drive. Not sure you need it in SC. I think you may be surprised what an S4 with 90k miles might be worth. But really, I would want my daily driver to have less mileage on it even though the S4s have been unusually reliable.

I like these as well. Hopefully BMW makes many so its not a bunch of fighting with dealer mark ups to get one. I went from my 2011 S4 after 4.5 years of awesome to a 2012 C63 AMG and love it too. Next car choice is going to be rough. Everything I want is way up in price. GT350, GTR, M3 sedan (maybe)

[vwblackb5]

3 years from now, the S4 will be replaced with an RS4 or an M3. Then another 3yrs from there maybe a 997TT, 996TT, or 993 GT2 :)