Audio S4

mantis

What's up all,
anyone have experience with the older Audio S4 models? My son is trying to buy a 2001 in beautiful condition and the only thing I'm nervous is reliability. Now I know it's German made and looks to be well taken care of but it's still a high performance vehicle and that can always lead into trouble somewhere. I tried to talk him into a A4 model but he likes the more power of the S engine and the sporty suspension etc.
I can't blame him first he's my son so looking at the top is something I do and I have owned a few very fast cars in my days so like father like son if you will.

So anyone have any Audi experience they care to share?

ZLTFUL

I have a few Audi tech friends who always seem to steer folks away from the 2.7 twin turbo. It has a handful of niggling issues that seem to lead to expensive repairs.

Even if it has extensive maintenance records, I would still be a bit tentative in a decision.

mikeyb128

I'm a certified Audi Volkswagen tech here. Been working on them for 10 years also worked for Porsche for 3. The s4 is a great vehicle, but I would never own one, even though I can service them myself. Almost all of them have leaky rear diff seals, cam tensioner and valve cover seals. Blown cv boots, cracked front and rear brake hoses, bad egt sensors, which by Audi can only be bought in pairs unless you source out Used. They are often beat up from being bagged on. Front control arms, there are 4 per side, seized tie rods (good luck doing an alignment). Bad airbag modules. Just a list of common issues. If the turbos go it requires dropping the engine! But we do have one customer that we put a tial 704 turbo kit on his s4. That is 700 horse power on pump gas, and has been reliably driving this as his daily with no major mechanical issues, Besides a few engine lights. If you can get one on the low mileage side I would say go for it. But he's been warned. Lol! Not knocking the audis though, there are 3 German cars in my house. 2012 golf R (which is basically an Audi s3, tts driveline), 2012 gti, and a 1991 corrado

mantis

Good to know and thanks so much for the info. He's hell bent on owning this car as he is in love with it.
It's in beautiful condition and has been well kept but I don't want to see him take a bath in repairs when they come along.

WLDock

I have to agree with all the above as well from a good friends experience. He had an older C5 platform A6 with with the 2.7L twin turbo V6. That thing was a money hog, many engine problems, and parts are VERY expensive. He never got it quite right.

While I do understand the young fella getting the German car bug....many of us have. I wanted an BMW M3 or S4 back in the day but settled for a 318Ti Sport and a VW Corrado G60. Even today the A7, S7, RS7 is my absolute dream car. Still,one really needs to be prepared....Audi's can be very expensive to maintain....IMO, a young person should look for something cheaper to hammer up and down the road on a daily basis. Ford Mustang, VW GTI, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Hyundai Veloster Turbo, tuned Honda Civic, etc, etc... Nothing worst than all his money going towards keeping the car on the road.

mantis

He has a Mustang now a 2000 year model. Its a nice car and he put some money into it for tires , battery spark plugs air cleaner and got an alignment.
He hated it in the winter and one strong reason he wants all wheel drive. He loves the Audi models , all of them and found this S4 8 miles from our home. We drove it and it's very solid and very clean. Tight and drives like a newer car.
I had a hard time picking it apart. I had to walk around and inside and out 3 times to find things. It's awesome when someone takes good care of a very nice car like this one.
I'll post pic's of it if he gets it. But I will strongly keep in mind the repair advise. I told him to save all of his pennies as he's going to need them IF something goes wrong.
He's going to College full time and will only be working part time so he will really have to be careful with his money. He's very good at saving though. I taught him well ( I hope).

mikeyb128

nbrowser wrote: »

mikeyb128 wrote: »

I'm a certified Audi Volkswagen tech here.

My sympathies...If I had a dime for every Audi we've sent straight to the dealer...

Hahaha! When you grow up working on them it's not so bad. It makes it easy to work on anything else

jflail2

I had an 06 A4 for a few years, and had no issues until the very end, when the transmission started going on me. Traded it in on a 2012 S4 (just in time I might add), and kept that for a little over a year. When I bought my house I decided to grow up and get a 4runner so I could haul more than a single bag of mulch home from Lowes. Still miss the S4 though.

The '12 S4 has the supercharged V6, which is apparently more reliable than the old 2.7 from back in the day, so my perspective isn't of huge help. Either way, he'd better have a nice little chunk of change stuck aside for repairs. I love Audi, but everything is more expensive.........and I do mean everything.

mantis

jflail2 wrote: »

I had an 06 A4 for a few years, and had no issues until the very end, when the transmission started going on me. Traded it in on a 2012 S4 (just in time I might add), and kept that for a little over a year. When I bought my house I decided to grow up and get a 4runner so I could haul more than a single bag of mulch home from Lowes. Still miss the S4 though.

The '12 S4 has the supercharged V6, which is apparently more reliable than the old 2.7 from back in the day, so my perspective isn't of huge help. Either way, he'd better have a nice little chunk of change stuck aside for repairs. I love Audi, but everything is more expensive.........and I do mean everything.

Well I talked him out of going with the older Audi S4 2001 model. I just don't want him to get killed in repairs.
Now he is looking at 2006 and newer Audi A4 models with the 2.0L Turbo 200 HP engine. We drove one today and it's a very nice car, it was a 2007 model in black with black leather interior. Very nice Automatic with the Manual Shift ability.
I feel a bit better going a bit newer lower mileage and less HP. I don't think he needs to be rocking around in a S4 and finding him losing his license due to street racing. The A4 is fast enough to have fun but it's not a light to light killer like the S4 is.

mantis

DSkip wrote: »

What about a G35x or a Subaru?

Funny you say that as I suggested checking out a nice G35 or G37 which is a fantastic car , fun to drive , very powerful and low maintenance costs. It's basically a Nissan.