Advice needed on trading S4 for Q5

[cW6mT mKviGLi]

Hello fellow enthusiasts, my wife and I recently purchased our first home and we're thinking about expanding our family. With the home purchase, I'm always borrowing my dad's trailblazer SS to make home depot/lowes runs which is becoming a task since he lives about 26 miles away, one way.

We were thinking of buying a Q5 and today we saw a 2013 Q5 3.0T, Premium Plus, S-line with about 35k miles, CPO, Bang and Olufsen, 3g+ MMi, comfort seats and advanced key. They're set at $35,800 as a selling price and we settled at 26k for my trade in, 12' S4 with 53k miles, given that i return it to stock which may result in a part out thread and trying to acquire OEM parts. Does this seem like a good deal? The Q5 is extremely clean with the exception that it smells like it was a smoker's car. Ironic side note, one of the sales staff has a 15' S4 6mt and he offered to buy my aftermarket parts and i can get most of his OEM parts.

We're still debating if it's worth the trade in or just hold on to the S4 for awhile longer. What would you do if you were in this situation? The payments will be approximately 15 to 20 bux less per month and i'm not sure how the insurance rates will change with the S4 versus the Q5, i plan on inquiring on an accurate quote on Monday.

Also, i'm assuming the 8 speed zf is more reliable than the 7 spd dsg unit? What are the service intervals like and the cost?

Thank you for your time and insight.

[LINDW4LL]

The fact that this particular example was a smoker's car makes it an instant "no" for me. As far as the "worth it", the monthly payment decrease is irrelevant IMO. At the end of the day you're out of an additional $10k to make the jump from S4 to Q5. I think the Qs are worth their price- great cars.

The ZF8 is more reliable than the DSG, yes. Audi quotes their tiptronics as having lifetime fluid, but it's not a bad idea to change it if you plan on keeping the car for a long time.

[Sauci]

The fact that this particular example was a smoker's car makes it an instant "no" for me.

This. You'll spend forever trying to get that out.

[riceboy22]

Do you think you're going to want to mod the Q5? It looks like your S4 is pretty modded, so the first thing I'd ask myself is whether I'd be happy with the Q5 as is. Otherwise you might want to add in that extra cost now to your calculations. It might also negate some of the value of buying CPO if you're going to mod heavily.

In terms of practicality, I don't know if I'd get the Q5 just for the home improvement store trips. I'm guessing those will slow down after you get settled into your new house. If/when you expand your family though, I think you'll find having the extra space really valuable. The first time we traveled somewhere with my daughter, we filled up the entire trunk and also the extra rear seat with stuff (pack-and-play, stroller, bottles, diaper supplies, etc). I would probably wait though until you know a new addition is coming before upsizing the car. By that point, the new Q5 might be out, and you'll either have more leverage on a previous model or might just want the new one or some other car.

I'd also be concerned for the car you're looking at about whether the smoke smell can really be cleaned out. That would bother the crap out of me, especially with a kid.

For the ZF 8 speed, they're supposedly maintenance free, although it looks like it's still a good idea to change the ATF after 8 years or 80,000 miles.

[riceboy22]

BTW, if you have any plans to go to Island Dragway again let me know. I haven't figured out a time to go yet, but I'd be happy to let you check out a somewhat modded SQ5 there in exchange for some tips so I don't embarrass myself!

[cW6mT mKviGLi]

Thank you to everyone for taking time to respond. All of you brought valuable information to the topic and i believe i will lean towards keeping the S4 for some time.

In the future when we require more space i might be in a better spot financially and may pick up a CPO SQ5 or maybe even a used Macan. For right now the S4 has done quite well on our annual camping trips and a vacation to Northeast Harbor, Maine.

As for maintenance free, i always believe in changing fluids as i don't think any fluid can really be lifetime unless Audi believes these vehicles have a short service life. I will be ordering spark plugs tonight and i'm still trying to figure out the fluid spec and maintenance procedure for draining and refilling the gearbox portion of the DSG trans. The DSG fluid was already replaced at 30k and i'm looking into the 60k change soon coupled with the rear diff oil change, supercharger drive belt and accessories drive belt.

Also, riceboy, I would really like to go soon but in reality it might not be until the fall months. My time will be dedicated to this home for some time and until the work load tapers off we will definitely take a trip. I will open a thread in the regional section to see how many other local audiziners would like to attend.

[snig]

Macan is a no-go for baby seats or usable space. Keep the S4 and get a mini-van.

Trust me, after running through an E90 M3, F10 M5, F15 X5, and SQ5, keep the S4 and buy/lease a minivan until the kids are in forward facing seats. Then get whatever car you want. That is the biggest limiting factor, baby seats. Forget putting anything rear facing directly behind a passenger (center only) unless you're 5'6".

[MerkurRS]

Perhaps I can help a bit?....

First off, congrats on your first home purchase! It's a big investment and one that will keep you busy for a while.
Second- you do have other options other than trading the S for a Q. You could buy a beater truck if you have the space and funds. I doubt a Q will be large enough for home improvement store runs. I do a lot on my house (1890 late-Victorian) and I am always using my Excursion and sometimes a small 6x8 trailer. You can always rent one of their trucks for about $19 for a few hours if needed. You could try to befriend a neighbor trading favours/ beer/gas $$.

My daily drive is a 2012 (modded) S4 and I am fortunate enough to have extra vehicles at home. We just purchased a used 2013 Q5 3.0t S-Line for my wife. I clean one-owner Q5 Premium Plus/ Nav Package/ B&O and just over 55,000 miles. Price was $28,200. We added a 5yr/60K Fidelity warranty for $2900. I am saying this because driving the 3.0t Q5 is extremely satisfying!! I am sure I can live with it daily...but not nearly as fun as my (modded) S4. I can see why the Q5 is so popular. It rides and drives very well and doesn't feel like an SUV at all.

if it matters; I am sensitive to cigarette smoke and will NEVER buy a smoked in car. It destroys the electronics in the dash, decays the adhesives used in the interior and the smell never comes out.

Good luck with everything.....

[VroomVroom]

FWIW...

A good quality interior detail will eliminate the smoke residue, but it's not cheap. Thorough cleaning, extraction, and a lengthy ozone treatment (perhaps two) make you think a miracle has occurred. Finding a qualified detailer isn't always an easy pursuit, but if you're in a situation where you otherwise really want the vehicle, it's well worth it. I've participated in a couple of these, and was blown away...including six-months and one-year later when the vehicle still smelled fresh.

Sounds like you're settled on status-quo, which would've been my vote too. Good luck...

[cW6mT mKviGLi]

Wow snig that's quite the experience with some really nice cars, I thought that the Macan and Q5 would be almost identical in interior space, I'm guessing it's closer to the Q3 instead?

Merkur, thank you for the congrats and advice. You're so right about the busy part given the approximate 55 hour work weeks, part time school schedule and the home. The S4 is alot of fun, just this morning on the drive to work I said to myself, "who needs coffee when you have a stage 2 S4 for the commute to work?" lol. I never thought of the smoke causing that type of damage which does make sense so thank you for highlighting those points.

VroomVroom, I was actually looking into those ozone treatments, etc. According to your sig you had a 13' Q5 3.0T and now a 16' SQ5. Other than appearance, is there a significant difference? Also, how is the build quality on the SQ versus the Q? The reason I ask is, I had a MK6 GTi that was built in Germany with the "W" vin and then a MK6 GLi that was built in the new plant located in Mexico with the "3" vin and the fit and finish on the GLi was not quite up to par with the GTi.

On a side note I was thinking to buy a used Econoline cargo van for about 5k and use it for hauling stuff.

[VroomVroom]

VroomVroom, I was actually looking into those ozone treatments, etc. According to your sig you had a 13' Q5 3.0T and now a 16' SQ5. Other than appearance, is there a significant difference? Also, how is the build quality on the SQ versus the Q? The reason I ask is, I had a MK6 GTi that was built in Germany with the "W" vin and then a MK6 GLi that was built in the new plant located in Mexico with the "3" vin and the fit and finish on the GLi was not quite up to par with the GTi.

The differences are fairly subtle, although the extra power is a little more direct. Dip heavy into the throttle, and you really notice. The ride quality (currently stock height) on 21's is noticeably better than on my '13 with 20's and H&R springs. This is subjective, but I haven't been shy in the past, so.... one of the reasons I happily went with a '16 was to ensure I avoided the Made-in -Mexico moniker. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I've just seen too many problems in MiM GM 1500 trucks/SUV's, VW's, and most recently Honda Fits that don't exist in their counterparts assembled elsewhere.

Anyway - back on topic. I just checked in with a customer today. Back in '15, he picked up a CPO Porsche that was initially owned by a heavy smoker. I did the detail work, and he had the dealer do a four-hour ozone treatment. He's still pleased with the results. It ain't pretty - obviously especially so for those of us who are very sensitive - but it can definitely be done.