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Comments
The back seat will be bigger -- a bit.
The amenities will be greater -- ESP w/Brake assist will be either standard or avail.
Audi Telematics will be either standard or avail and free for one year.
The body/chassis is stiffer -- the car will be quieter and handle better and ride better
The price will be thousands less.
The tranny will be a 6spd manual (or a 5 spd tip -- but why bother?)
Sport package will be avail and inexpensive -- and of course the thing can be had w/quattro
What is IT?
====> IT is a new 2002 A4 -- which should be able to be ordered this month at a Dealer Near You (!).
Based on your communiques, I would wait for the 2002, get a bigger, nicer, not quite as quick, but less money and better appointed vehicle. Unless the raw power of the current S4 draws you to the dark side.
Jim W
Jim W
http://motorsportvisions.com/qcls01 (ls01_015.htm and ls01_016.htm are best.)
It sounds like the S4 is the way to go for you. As long as you can afford it, and don't need the rear seat room, what's stopping you? Nothing beats the S4 performance in this price range. Go for it!
Out of curiosity, can you get a better deal now that the A4 is coming out with a new model next year (I know it will take longer for the new S4 to come out)?
Thanks for your input...
Any true high performance tire does not work well below 40 degrees, thats why they need to be switched. You could get a set with steel rims for around $600 and a set with look alike avus rims for under 1k. It also saves the avus rims from winter weather. BTW, I told you not to drive it if you were not planning on buying. Did you grin go from ear to ear? mine did, and will every day now!
Jim W
Some Audi chased me (in my 300M) on the highway this morning but could not catch me. I never saw its rear, so I don't know if it was an A4 or an S4.
It started when I first merged on the highway. As I was accelerating, he was flying up to me in the left lane. I got up to 100mph, and the closure rate tapered off. But he was still pushing, so I took him past 120mph. I could tell he was trying to catch me.
(no flames for speeding please, this highway is quite empty even during rush hour)
Then we came to a red light. He was in the same lane as me, behind another car. When the light turned green, I went. He swung out around that other car and started chasing me again. And he was surpisignly quick accelerating from the light. Too quick for a regular A4 I think. He almost caught me and got me all worried. But I was able to pull away from him (speed is like a breath of fresh air for 300M - it is not very quick off the line, but pulls very strongly past 40mph)
Jim W
*** Any additional comments on this tough choice would be more than appreciated!!!
Thanks! ***
They do have alacantra seat inserts, that prevents sliding.
BTW, while similar in price the s4 is much quicker, and with chipping can get close (but not catch) the new m3.
Jim W
Anyway, I suppose a new set of rims and a good pair of all season tires should do the trick then, huh?
One more question - The dealer told me that the S4 has all of the wiring for a built-in cell phone. Has anyone used this? I have a digital StarTac that I need to have installed - any suggestions on discrete installation options?
Thanks,
Josh
An auto A4 Quattro, I think, does 0-60 in more than 8 seconds. Was I chased by a manual A4 FWD?
This guy was actually gaining on me at first when the light turned green, but then I was able to get away.
The other reason I think it was S4 - the car's grille looked more aggressive than a regular A4.
I think the wheels would take great abuse changing 2 times a year.
Jim W
When I needed winter tires for my A4 I was able to find a great deal at Tire Rack on some OZ's that they were clearing out. Basically I was looking for the cheapest alloy wheels that I could find that still looked pretty decent, in a 15 inch ("minus one" sizing in my case) - narrower and taller gives better traction in snow. I had them mount some Blizzak's and the whole cost was about $650 - much better looking and lighter than steel wheels (ugh).
All season tires would work OK, but you lose too much in the handling department IMO. There is a reason why Audi puts performance tires on the car to begin with!
'98.5 A4 2.8Q w/Sport
'01 allroad
P.S. I'm still running both original sets of tires - after 35,000 miles they each have plenty of tread left. The added bonus is that your expensive summer performance tires will last longer when they're not being used 12 months a year.
Jim W
Silver 2001 S4 with the premium package, cold weather package, CD changer and 6-speed. I'm getting it tomorrow (Thursday) at 5pm - can't wait! So how long is the break in period? It's going to kill me having to wait.
Jim W
Jim W
jbwcfp, wait till after break-in, you'll hit 95 in 3rd with room to go! The biggest problem with this car is that it is difficult to "exercise" legally in the US (you can only legally redline in 1st and 2nd gear... what to do with 3,4,5 and 6 then?). All of a sudden everyone is a slowpoke lane-blocker. Needless to say you better have a good radar detector.
Enjoy your break-in, it will go fast, consider it a kind of long "foreplay". At least S4 owners have decent low end grunt during break-in, think of those poor M3 owners during break-in. Wait till you experience the raw power the turbos deliver fully spooled up in the 4 to 6k rpm range, even in 4th, 5th and 6th? (to afraid for my license this high). You'll find that the engine will continually smooth well past 2,3 and 4k miles.. sometimes I think the engine is getting too smooth such that I always have to visually monitor the tach, or keep the stereo off, to know where I am in rpms.
I was intoxicated on my test drives, just like beaune and spridledog, I actually *really* wanted to buy a 330xi, but just kept thinking about the S4 test drive as I drove the 330. I actually test drove 330s about 4x thinking that I could adopt my tastes and driving style to this car, but the S4 immediately felt right to me.
Finally, invest in an extra set of winter tires, yes, in response to many posts above, summer performance tires suck in snow. Even with quattro, as they say, 4x0 still equals 0. Actually, I'm very happy the car comes with summer performance tires since I want the best tires for the dry/wet and separately, the best for snow. None of this compromising skinny all season B/S (like the stock 330xi tires) for me. Remember you are buying serious performance car, why compromise it with what may be the most important component to the handling question.
Oh yeah, last point, gas mileage in this car sucks (probably more for lead foot reasons, though)
Happy motoring!
The car is tight, responsive, and best of all, loaded with enough power to pull you back in your seat (all who have driven it is probably smiling ear-to-ear right now). At first, I thought that I may miss my Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited that I traded in -- not a chance. It's an incredible feeling to drive this car and think, "I own this - it's my new car." Great feeling.
Okay, sorry to be rambling on, but all who owns one should understand the need to talk about the first day.
For those who are interested. I purchased the car for $39,700. The spews are a Silver 2001 S4 with black leather interior, the convenience package (may be the premium package, can't remember what they call it), the cold weather package, DC-changer, and a manual 6-speed. I probably could have gotten a few hundred dollars here and there if I pushed the issue, but they had what I wanted on the lot and I wasn't going to push my luck and lose it to someone else over a $200-300.
If you own one - well, you know. If you're considering one, here are some words of advice to make your decision easier, "drive it"
Josh
Jim W
For all of those who are looking for absolutely the best radar detector, I have the K40. It needs to be professionally installed as the actual unit is hidden in the grill and two small LED lights are installed just above the tach and speedometer which are your alerts (audible as well). It comes with two laser diffusers (front and back) which make it almost impossible to get caught with the laser. In fact, my best friend is a police officer who tried to hit me with laser in my old Jeep. The only thing he got was an error on his unit (means you can't lock the speed). Works wonders. Very much needed in an S4 and one that keeps everything hidden and looking factory installed. It was about $599 installed.
-Josh
Jim W
Spridledog, that is no reason to procratinate about getting an '01
Jim W
Well, to all - day 2 with the new S4. It's only getting better and more tempting to punch the gas!
Does anyone know if they make S4 all-weather floor mats? If not, does anyone know of a good website to order WeatherTech? Lastly, I had a rubber cargo mat for my Jeep. Do you know if they make something like that for the S4 where it would fit the contours of the truck space? I'd love to have a rubber trunk liner for the days where it the car must play dual roles - sports car and practical vehicle.
Thanks,
Josh
With talk of $3 gas I'm a little less concerned since picking it up.
BTW Herringtoncatalog.com has cargo mats for audi, not sure of the quality, but they seem to be high end stuff.
Jim W
Josh
The Audi A4 for the 2002 model year is new and will initially come in two engine variants and as far as the dealer rep knows -- no avant, at first anyway. He believes there will be an S4 probably in calendar 2003 or early 2004 -- the S4 may be badged, if it is "early" as a 2003 or 2004 and MAY have a V8 (which would also go into the "more potent" A6). He noted this because he said both the A4 and A6 (base US bound V6's) would be the equivalent of an "almost S4 and an almost A6 2.7T). He claims that a 2002 V6 A4 with sport package and six speed manual and sport seats, etc etc -- will NOT be an S4, but may be "close enough" in the marketplace.
I guess this spin in necessary when you don't have the product.
He also said there will be a 3.0 and 2.7T and 4.2 A6 for 2002.
He had no information, not even a guess about the 2.5TD engine in any Audi but said gas prices have been known to "change minds."
If you must have a 2002 A4/S4, perhaps you can talk yourself into thinking that a 3.0 V6 A4 is "almost an S4." I certainly would be tempted to try especially with the new chassis and somewhat increased legroom.
Maybe not.
As far as the winter tires issue--how do you go about this practically? Can you have a garage change the tires for you? What tools do you need to do it yourself?
The S4 was the funniest thing I've driven. I just hope it's practical enough. Thanks in advance.
there are several ways to go on winter tires:
1) buy 4 winter tires, not rims, i understand most tires shops will change and balance tires for 2-3 seasons incl. in the price.
2) buy 4 winter tires and rims, balance them once and either change them yourself, or take them to a tire shop to swap for a nominal fee $20? to change yourself, all you really need is a torque wrench, some muscle and 20mins.
3) ask the dealer to swap the stock performance tires for all seasons before delivery, you could try to negotiate this in the purchase or, at worst they should do this for 50 cents on the dollar (ie, you lose 1/2 the cost of the tire as "second hand") - this sounds like the most practical solution for you.
Jim W
first day!!! I just let it get the best of me; I could not help the temptation after driving a Wrangler for 5 years! I pushed the car pretty hard in the first 2 days (I know, I know....no scolding please!) I have been babying it
ever since; I was just wondering if this could have messed it up. It runs beautifully but I am just a little concerned about all the talk of a
"Break in" period and the horror stories/rumors I here.
Also, Is the break in period really only 1k miles?
Thanx and Happy Driving!!!
Jim W