Potential S4 buyer

Dimitris · 19 Nov 2015 at 16:53

Hi all,

i'm going to test drive an audi s4 in next couple of days and am currently facing a bit of a dilemma.

1 - i like manual cars but these only available up to 2011 models - later 2012 do not have. I prefer the 2012+ shapes slightly but do want manual - anyone who's had both and can share their views?

2. I live in london and car potentially parked on a drive. Apparently, the s4 is the 4th most stolen car in uk - As much as i love my car - i don't want to put my family in any sort of danger by getting one. Am i being paranoid or should i avoid unless i can get a garage?

Thanks guys

Cleisthenes · 19 Nov 2015 at 16:57

I haven't had either, but I'd say you're being paranoid re whether it'll get stolen or not. I highly doubt that robbers would try and take it with anyone in the car either, unless you live in a particularly dodgy area!

[TW]Fox · 19 Nov 2015 at 17:04

Dimitris said:
1 - i like manual cars but these only available up to 2011 models - later 2012 do not have. I prefer the 2012+ shapes slightly but do want manual - anyone who's had both and can share their views?

They are the same car, there is no 'new shape' after 2012. That shape of A4 ran from 2008 until 2015 with a facelift in the middle but it's the same car.

Personally I feel they are fairly over-rated for what is a 335i M Sport rival not an M3 rival. The interiors are dated and I think most people seem to expect them to be some sort of M3 equivalent when in reality they are absolutely not. Viewed as a 335i rival it is a more credible car but they cost more than a 335i...

ADT · 19 Nov 2015 at 17:08

If was you I wouldn't let the manual bit stop me. You will be surprised how large engine cars are like with Auto etc.

my 2p.

xs2man · 19 Nov 2015 at 17:12

I agree with Fox that it's a 335i rival rather than an M3 rival. But, to be honest, I didn't think anyone actually considered them an M3 rival. That's for the RS4.

I had the older 4.2 V8 S4, so cannot comment on the 3.0T versions really. I also much prefer the B8.5 over the B8 in the looks department, but having owned both previously, there is very little else that changed between them in 2012. The problem here is really that the B8.5 S4 is competing with the F30 335i M-Sport (on age, and so presumably price too). And the F30 will be miles ahead tech wise. The B8 will be up against the E90 335i though, and in that battle I'd probably prefer the Audi.

I was always a manual car driver previously too. But, in all honesty, with the quality of modern auto boxes, I am a bit of a convert. I don't think I would spec a manual one now.

I'm curious as to what the new S4 will be like when it gets a release, but I expect that to be a little while off.

acemastr · 19 Nov 2015 at 17:28

No one's going to steal it as it looks like an A4

[TW]Fox · 19 Nov 2015 at 17:35

acemastr said:
No one's going to steal it as it looks like an A4

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/crime/audi

These stats seem to suggest nobody cares unless it's an RS4, which has a mind boggling crime risk :eek:

peterwalkley · 19 Nov 2015 at 17:42

xs2man said:
I was always a manual car driver previously too. But, in all honesty, with the quality of modern auto boxes, I am a bit of a convert. I don't think I would spec a manual one now.

Agree with this. My Jag has the flappy paddles if you really want manual - but in over 2 years I have never used them.

Also, living in London and presumably spending 99.9999% of your time in a queue why would you not want auto .....

rodders · 19 Nov 2015 at 18:03

The VED is £280 on the auto and £480 odd on the manual. That may swing it for you?

I had the auto one, its was great. Set of lights, foot to the floor, off you go.

Ok, manual box, driving like a rally driver is fun, but for the most, the auto was spot on.

Edit - I think it was from 2010 on the auto's they have launch control

DodgeeRascal · 19 Nov 2015 at 18:14

peterwalkley said:
Agree with this. My Jag has the flappy paddles if you really want manual - but in over 2 years I have never used them.

Also, living in London and presumably spending 99.9999% of your time in a queue why would you not want auto .....

Yep, previously being a fan of manuals and now owning my first auto i hardly ever find myself using the paddles... mostly just to check they still work.

Biffa · 19 Nov 2015 at 18:35

[TW]Fox;28838901 said:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/crime/audi

These stats seem to suggest nobody cares unless it's an RS4, which has a mind boggling crime risk

Most of which is "theft from" rather than "theft of" which is weird, wonder what people keep in their RS4 that needs nicking so much?

Seems the most stolen sports Audi is the RS6 but the most stolen Audi is the 100!

Weird stats are weird

Marvin · 19 Nov 2015 at 18:42

Interior and bumpers/styling bits I'd guess, judging by the number of "replicas" out there.

[TW]Fox · 19 Nov 2015 at 18:47

Biffa said:
Most of which is "theft from" rather than "theft of" which is weird, wonder what people keep in their RS4 that needs nicking so much?

Seems the most stolen sports Audi is the RS6 but the most stolen Audi is the 100!

Weird stats are weird

The stats make perfect sense. It is almost impossible to steal a modern car without the keys - so actual theft of cars has crashed over the last decade. This is why the Audi 100 is the most stolen Audi, probably because you can easily nick old ones.

Theft from makes perfect sense too - people breaking into RS4's steal seats and bodywork for the very busy aftermarket trade in used bling for crap diesels.

Biffa · 20 Nov 2015 at 01:52

But don't they steal the entire car to then have enough time to remove the seats/interior/bodywork etc? Rather than risk being caught sitting there with a bag full of spanners and the alarm going off?

hurfdurf · 20 Nov 2015 at 02:09

Biffa said:
But don't they steal the entire car to then have enough time to remove the seats/interior/bodywork etc? Rather than risk being caught sitting there with a bag full of spanners and the alarm going off?

I've seen a through nightmare forum posts of people waking up to cars with no interior or seats gone, from off their drive way.

Housey · 20 Nov 2015 at 06:55

They tried to steal my RS4 with a tracking device

Kenai · 20 Nov 2015 at 07:25

Biffa said:
But don't they steal the entire car to then have enough time to remove the seats/interior/bodywork etc? Rather than risk being caught sitting there with a bag full of spanners and the alarm going off?

I think you would be surprised how fast they work, I remember a video of a group taking the bumper off a Fiesta ST I think it was, the whole front end was practically gone in under a minute.

If you're just after a pair of bucket seats, they wouldn't take an age to remove, especially considering they won't be sat glancing at a YouTube video to make sure they don't trigger the airbag light etc.

[TW]Fox · 20 Nov 2015 at 08:08

Biffa said:
But don't they steal the entire car to then have enough time to remove the seats/interior/bodywork etc? Rather than risk being caught sitting there with a bag full of spanners and the alarm going off?

The point is that without the keys, stealing the entire car is very hard.

SDK^ · 20 Nov 2015 at 08:26

It's not hard to get the keys though : which is the OP worry.

Yaayuh! · 20 Nov 2015 at 08:29

Dimitris said:
2. Apparently, the s4 is the 4th most stolen car in uk - As much as i love my car - i don't want to put my family in any sort of danger by getting one. Am i being paranoid or should i avoid unless i can get a garage?

No it's not:http://blog.greenflag.com/2015/britains-most-stolen-cars-luxury-suvs-top-list/

1. BMW X5
2. Mercedes C-class
3. Land Rover Range Rover Sport
4. Mercedes E-class
5. Land Rover Discovery
6. BMW M3
7. Land Rover Range Rover
8. Audi RS4
9. Mercedes ML
10. Mercedes C63 AMG