Audi owners in here!

bazzabear · 27 Feb 2014 at 15:40

We bought a 2004 Audi S4 convertible just before Christmas.

Only done 28k miles despite the age, and is in pretty much mint condition. Pretty pleased with it.

The only downer - engine note isn't all that I would hope for from a V8. Keep wondering in fact if there's something wrong with it. I suppose I need to find another S4 close by and see if the owner will let me have a listen.

ianh · 27 Feb 2014 at 16:20

The two S4 exhausts (one per side of the V8) have a resonator (extra silencer), pre Cats and Cats in each exhaust which all help quieten down the V8 noise. Milltek are the best known aftermarket exhaust make for Audi's and make a big difference, only the cost is quite high (£700-£1000). Sadly it'll never sound like the Merc V8 or Maserati one

Vita · 27 Feb 2014 at 16:27

86JR said:
I can't find a 2.0t with such low mileage. According to audi-sport forums the 1.8tfsi remaps to around 220hp anyway, and doesn't have the High flow fuel pump "issues" that the 2.0t has.

160hp will be fine for now, I have had my 140tdi for a another year since so 20hp up on that (but around 100lb/ft down).

Sportback or 3dr? Should have looked around a little longer for a 2.0tfsi.

Sasso · 27 Feb 2014 at 16:34

ok maybe not bristol, found this one half the distance away:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402201945980

gunna ring up and see about a viewing/test drive on saturday. More about the test drive and having a nose about it to be fair. looks pretty tidy, gutted it doesn't have the rear split folding seats though xD

one i saw listen in brizzle: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402041540291

and another bit more expensive one : http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201312030299853

oh the mileage xD but then again they are quite a few years old

so if I go for a nosey on sat got any tips for things to be wary of with how it looks/runs? will be first time in the 2.0t (that isn't a diesel

) so will be pretty new to me.

Castiel · 27 Feb 2014 at 16:45

I have just test driven this Audi A6.

http://www.pooleaudi.co.uk/vehicle/a6-saloon/20-tdi-177-ps-s-line/hg61cwn

I found it better than the BMW 520d I drove earlier today...can you learned lot give me your opinion on the car, spec and what kind of price I should be realistically paying for this car if I decide to buy it at the weekend?

[TW]Fox · 27 Feb 2014 at 18:09

Just replied to your other post before seeing this! New model A6, nice.

Seems like yet another car that makes the F10 look expensive used. Why is a 2012 A6 S-Line cheaper than a 2012 520d M Sport by what appears to be thousands of pounds, its the same story with the E Class too, the F10's just look very expensive against the competition, its most odd.

Vita · 27 Feb 2014 at 18:14

[TW]Fox;25923699 said:
Just replied to your other post before seeing this! New model A6, nice.

Seems like yet another car that makes the F10 look expensive used. Why is a 2012 A6 S-Line cheaper than a 2012 520d M Sport by what appears to be thousands of pounds, its the same story with the E Class too, the F10's just look very expensive against the competition, its most odd.

Because ultimate driving machine.

I've noticed that with Audi, they seem to offer more bang for the buck. Mercedes seem to be getting onto that bandwagon too, but the problem I have is, the marques seem to have this new philosophy that every model should look the similar or exactly the same, it should just differ in size/options. I miss the days where you could tell a c-class from an s-class.

[TW]Fox · 27 Feb 2014 at 18:17

Looking into it a bit more it seems the 2.0 TDi is noticeably slower in 177ps form than the 520d and the auto gearbox is noticeably inferior to that ZF 8 Speed in the 520d. But usually the market doesnt seem to care about stuff like that so it remains odd how comparatively expensive they are.

Vita said:
I miss the days where you could tell a c-class from an s-class.

Pointless rubbish nostalgia, its always been like this.

Look at the front of an E32 7 Series and an E34 5 Series and tell me at a glance which is which. What about a 96 A4 v 96 A6 v 96 A8? Again, all but identical. Manufacturers have ALWAYS gone for a family look and always will.

Howard · 27 Feb 2014 at 18:37

Mid-90s C Class:

Mid-90s S Class:

They look pretty darned similar to me!

Castiel · 27 Feb 2014 at 18:40

[TW]Fox;25923699 said:
Just replied to your other post before seeing this! New model A6, nice.

Seems like yet another car that makes the F10 look expensive used. Why is a 2012 A6 S-Line cheaper than a 2012 520d M Sport by what appears to be thousands of pounds, its the same story with the E Class too, the F10's just look very expensive against the competition, its most odd.

I agree. BMW prices are it seems in a world of their own at the moment.

Vita · 27 Feb 2014 at 18:43

[TW]Fox;25923763 said:
Pointless rubbish nostalgia, its always been like this.

Look at the front of an E32 7 Series and an E34 5 Series and tell me at a glance which is which. What about a 96 A4 v 96 A6 v 96 A8? Again, all but identical. Manufacturers have ALWAYS gone for a family look and always will.

I can understand that they have gone for the family look. Yet, I feel that they're making their cars look too similar. Before at least you could tell the difference, but because cars have gotten bigger over the years, it's difficult too now while looking into the rear view mirror to see what's coming up behind you. Let's face it, nearly a lot of them have DRL's in the same place.

Yes Howard, they look similar, but you can still tell the difference. Now it's not so as the bodyshape/lights look exactly the same! At least on the S-Class you've shown the indicator lights are upswept - c-class down swept.

Howard · 27 Feb 2014 at 18:48

If anything I think the front end of the current S Class is a lot more different to that of the C Class!

Vita · 27 Feb 2014 at 18:50

Howard said:
If anything I think the front end of the current S Class is a lot more different to that of the C Class!

It's the rear which I failed to point out. The DRL statement was based on the many Audi's I see.

bazzabear · 27 Feb 2014 at 20:06

ianh said:
The two S4 exhausts (one per side of the V8) have a resonator (extra silencer), pre Cats and Cats in each exhaust which all help quieten down the V8 noise. Milltek are the best known aftermarket exhaust make for Audi's and make a big difference, only the cost is quite high (£700-£1000). Sadly it'll never sound like the Merc V8 or Maserati one

It's actually quite reassuring that the car in that clip, even wikth the sp;ort exhaust on still has what I would describe as a 'whooshy, almost whiny' noise audible during the first bit of the clip from inside the car. This is the noise which was leaving me worried there was a fault.

86JR · 27 Feb 2014 at 20:15

Vita said:
Sportback or 3dr? Should have looked around a little longer for a 2.0tfsi.

How much longer? I have been looking for 11 months. Nothing to spec within 200 miles of Cornwall.

It is a Sportback. Don't like 3 doors the doors are too long.

ianh said:
The two S4 exhausts (one per side of the V8) have a resonator (extra silencer), pre Cats and Cats in each exhaust which all help quieten down the V8 noise. Milltek are the best known aftermarket exhaust make for Audi's and make a big difference, only the cost is quite high (£700-£1000). Sadly it'll never sound like the Merc V8 or Maserati one

Get a Capristo...

almostgfx · 27 Feb 2014 at 21:04

I wish i was in the audi club. i really want to get myself a white A4

Castiel · 27 Feb 2014 at 21:08

[TW]Fox;25923758 said:
Looking into it a bit more it seems the 2.0 TDi is noticeably slower in 177ps form than the 520d and the auto gearbox is noticeably inferior to that ZF 8 Speed in the 520d. But usually the market doesnt seem to care about stuff like that so it remains odd how comparatively expensive they are.

The 520d is 8.1 to 62...the A6 2.0 is 8.7 to 62...(the new 2.0tdi unit in the march 2014 has 190ps and matches the 520d). Top speed is 141 for the BMW and the same for the Audi. The 520d pushes out a bit more power than the 2.0 vag unit in the one I am considering.

All seems much of a muchness to me and there didn't seem to be much difference in how they felt acceleration and speed wise either. the BMW edges it, but not enough to matter in real world driving.

The A6 I drove was a manual (which I prefer) however as opposed to the auto in the BMWs.

[TW]Fox · 27 Feb 2014 at 21:18

You PREFER manual with a 2 litre diesel!? Manuals are horrible with this sort of engine, just a total chore to drove, especially if catch it in the dead zone at low revs. The auto smooths it all out and makes it far more pleasant.

Castiel · 27 Feb 2014 at 21:24

[TW]Fox;25925004 said:
You PREFER manual with a 2 litre diesel!? Manuals are horrible with this sort of engine, just a total chore to drove, especially if catch it in the dead zone at low revs. The auto smooths it all out and makes it far more pleasant.

I prefer Manual full stop. The auto was the one thing I hated about the Range Rover. The A6 has a really nice range and nothing like my wife's 2.0tdi in her Golf where you are forever changing gear. Maybe I'm just old fashioned that way, but autos just seem to take some of the joy out of driving for me.

wez130 · 27 Feb 2014 at 21:44

I agree with Fox about a manual, i had a manual 2.0 tdi A6 and now have a tiptronic, the tiptronic is just so much nicer to drive.