New S4 - Manual or Tiptronic?

[alfaspiderman2]

an S4 Avant is on my shortlist for next company car

I was fancying a Tiptronic version for a change (it's also a cheaper lease)

I need to arrange a test drive over next month or so but wondered what people thought about the auto S4?

(also, is the paddle shift standard or optional - the brochure isn't really clear)

[bigbcraig]

I know last time I was knoweledigle about the things (most recently 3yrs ago) the paddle shift is optional, bu tiptronic on the shifter is standard. but im not a good source, just browsing & looking at VAG sect's cause i want a A5

[GSCOllie]

S4's generally come as manual or Tiptronic now. It depends on your driving style, if you are used to auto boxes Tip is probbaly the way to go as you can use the paddles shift or just stick the box in auto mode anyway.

Personally I have a manual as I've alsways driven a manual, the Tip does use slightly more fuel but since you're buying an S4 (and I gather it will be a B7) with a V8 that isn't going to bother you too much in overall consumption. And around town you can get away with using 2nd, 4th or 6th if choosing a manual with the torque available.

Hope this helps

[daz9100]

GSCOllie said:

the Tip does use slightly more fuel but since you're buying an S4

I'm afraid it doesn't, the Tip is actually more economically than the manual due to the Tip box having longer gearing. Check the Audi official statistics. It's about the only auto car which does this though.

[GSCOllie]

I stand corrected Daz; but it's an S4, it ain't going to make that much difference.

[daz9100]

Yeah you're right there isn't a huge difference.

And back to the orginal question, the paddle shift controls are standard on Tip S4's

[ec2]

daz9100 said:

GSCOllie said:

the Tip does use slightly more fuel but since you're buying an S4

I'm afraid it doesn't, the Tip is actually more economically than the manual due to the Tip box having longer gearing. Check the Audi official statistics. It's about the only auto car which does this though.

I don't believe Audi mpg claims for tip and DSG boxes. In the real world if you use the performance then they drink more than the manual.

[GSCOllie]

My opnly gripe with the Tip box is that you cannot hold the revs without it upshifting, even with Sport mode engaged TML, however in all normal circumstances I would think they are on a par with manuals or vice versa.

[ec2]

alfaspiderman2 said:

an S4 Avant is on my shortlist for next company car

I was fancying a Tiptronic version for a change (it's also a cheaper lease)

I need to arrange a test drive over next month or so but wondered what people thought about the auto S4?

(also, is the paddle shift standard or optional - the brochure isn't really clear)

Just make sure you get a good deal. The A4 is now on run out and the S4 has not sold well for the last year or so (people are buying the 3.0tdi or the RS4). A nice S4 Avant with tip will list at £45k but be worth only £27k ish after a year. Just makes sure you get a long lease to average this out!

They are great cars BTW.

[gizlaroc]

I think you would be mad to buy one now, most dealers think the new A4 will be in the showroom before the end of the year.

I just sold my CSL and bought a 2005 S4 trying to be sensible, it is manual and if you do many miles is a pain in the ass. 6th gear is far too short, at 90mph it is doing 4000rpm and onlu 21mpg, the tiptronic is doing around 3000rpm and doing 27mpg.
I can get the same figure round town as I can on a run.

Do make sure you get some finance figures for the S4 and an RS4, you may be surprised at how little there is in it each month.
Lombard gave me resiuals of £17k on an S4 after 3 years and 45k miles, and £26k on the RS4, so the RS4 was only about £30 a month more.

[alfaspiderman2]

thanks for the feedback

must admit, been coming to the same conclusion - that the S4 is not for me as it is a starting to get a bit dated and I don't really like my current Audi's nose heavy handling (albeit only a TDi A3)

I guess I'm just putting off the inevitable - a 335i Touring