S4 4.2 average fuel consumption, reliability, driving
Discussion
Hi,
I've tried the search facility but it seems to be playing up (again!).
Any S4 4.2 owners got any feedback on living with such a car?
Average fuel consumption especially, but also best and worst mileage out of a tank, any oddities with the car, any reliability issues, build quality issues, servicing problems, etc.?
Thanks for any and all input.
VS.
I've tried the search facility but it seems to be playing up (again!).
Any S4 4.2 owners got any feedback on living with such a car?
Average fuel consumption especially, but also best and worst mileage out of a tank, any oddities with the car, any reliability issues, build quality issues, servicing problems, etc.?
Thanks for any and all input.
VS.
Don't own one personally but have driven lots of them.
Fuel consumption if you try hard enough is single figures, just out for a hoon 12-16 is doable. I average 24-26 under normal driving and have nursed 29 on a run at 80ish. Do feed them super unleaded, might be placebo but I'm certain they 'feel' smoother on the proper stuff.
Reliability/quality - if you're a keen driver I'd service them annualy rather than longlife. It's a little more expensive that way but while it's a strong engine it's also a very large, high revving engine pulling a lot of car.
Oddities:
Controls, particularly the clutch and gear shift require a light, precise touch. You will get used to it after a few miles so don't be too worried if you find it a little lurchy on the test drive.
Front tyres, shoulders wear faster than the centres (they all do that, sir).
Auxilliary radiators, will start to weep at some point, £1xx a side to sort.
Spec, they are fairly sensitive to. Go for park sensors, Bose, 6CD, heated seats (or equivalent nice bits). DVD sat nav is a big bonus and works extremely well. Colour is important too, phantom black and Dolphin Grey are particularly nice - red is awful.
Anything else? I'm a big fan of these beasties so feel free to ask.
Fuel consumption if you try hard enough is single figures, just out for a hoon 12-16 is doable. I average 24-26 under normal driving and have nursed 29 on a run at 80ish. Do feed them super unleaded, might be placebo but I'm certain they 'feel' smoother on the proper stuff.
Reliability/quality - if you're a keen driver I'd service them annualy rather than longlife. It's a little more expensive that way but while it's a strong engine it's also a very large, high revving engine pulling a lot of car.
Oddities:
Controls, particularly the clutch and gear shift require a light, precise touch. You will get used to it after a few miles so don't be too worried if you find it a little lurchy on the test drive.
Front tyres, shoulders wear faster than the centres (they all do that, sir).
Auxilliary radiators, will start to weep at some point, £1xx a side to sort.
Spec, they are fairly sensitive to. Go for park sensors, Bose, 6CD, heated seats (or equivalent nice bits). DVD sat nav is a big bonus and works extremely well. Colour is important too, phantom black and Dolphin Grey are particularly nice - red is awful.
Anything else? I'm a big fan of these beasties so feel free to ask.
Had mine for a couple of months now, averaging 23 since i picked it up. Will do 28-30 on a run at legal speeds.
My only issues are rattling/knocking cam chain tensioners on start up, only does it with a lukewarm engine ie. been standing about an hour after a full warm up. Also has a clonking noise from the rear under extreme acceleration in lower gears, sounds like a CV joint. It's currently being looked at under warranty.
Nice and easy to drive, prefers to pull away in second unless uphill. Changing gear can be a bit jerky, as already stated, causing a little transmission shunting, but you do get the hang of it after a while. You can be very lazy and leave it in 6th all the way down to 20mph and it will still pull away or rev it beyond 5k to get the full adrenaline rush.
Oh and fantastic in the wet!!
Love it to bits and can't wait to get it back.
Else
My only issues are rattling/knocking cam chain tensioners on start up, only does it with a lukewarm engine ie. been standing about an hour after a full warm up. Also has a clonking noise from the rear under extreme acceleration in lower gears, sounds like a CV joint. It's currently being looked at under warranty.
Nice and easy to drive, prefers to pull away in second unless uphill. Changing gear can be a bit jerky, as already stated, causing a little transmission shunting, but you do get the hang of it after a while. You can be very lazy and leave it in 6th all the way down to 20mph and it will still pull away or rev it beyond 5k to get the full adrenaline rush.
Oh and fantastic in the wet!!
Love it to bits and can't wait to get it back.
Else
sleepersix said:
Currently thinking of these at the moment too. Is there any advantage/disadvantage of B7 over B6 or vice versa?
Thanks.
Other than styling changes there were some small improvements to steering and suspension - on driving a 6 and 7 back to back I would say the 7 rode a tiny bit smoother with a nicer feel through the steering.Thanks.
IIRC, reviews at the time commented on improved steering too (not that it was bad to start with!).
Hope you don't mind my thread-jacking but I thought you may be interested to know of an S4 for sale.
It's my brothers' car, only owned for a couple of months but he's hardly had chance to use it and is hankering after a bike again.
It's an '03 Avant in Nogaro Blue, 2 owners including my brother, 77K with full Audi SH and 10K to the next service, Black heated Recaro leather, Bose audio with i-pod connection (factory, plug in glove box), parking sensors and can only be described as mint.
I'll be taking some pics for him as soon as we get a decent weekend and putting it in the classifieds but I thought I'd give you guys a heads-up if you were on the lookout for one.
Anyone interested just drop me a PM and I'll give you some contact details.
It's my brothers' car, only owned for a couple of months but he's hardly had chance to use it and is hankering after a bike again.
It's an '03 Avant in Nogaro Blue, 2 owners including my brother, 77K with full Audi SH and 10K to the next service, Black heated Recaro leather, Bose audio with i-pod connection (factory, plug in glove box), parking sensors and can only be described as mint.
I'll be taking some pics for him as soon as we get a decent weekend and putting it in the classifieds but I thought I'd give you guys a heads-up if you were on the lookout for one.
Anyone interested just drop me a PM and I'll give you some contact details.
Prices are in free fall at the moment, so if it's a main dealer car drive a hard bargin. Mine is tiptronic and real world fuel economy is high teens (my average over the last 18 months shows 17.8), but I still love mine to bits, only negative bits IMO apart from fuel are coil packs (i've needed 2 in 18 months) and brakes, the car is woefully under braked for its weight and power and really does need an upgrade (I now have 996tt 6 pot brembos) and they eat pads quicker than tyres.
Else said:
Changing gear can be a bit jerky, as already stated, causing a little transmission shunting, but you do get the hang of it after a while.
Else
I find the best way to drive smoothly, when driving normally, is to miss gears out. Just use 1st, 3rd and 6th. When you are giving it the beans and driving fast, using all the gears in order is smooth anyway.Else
I agree with everything that everyone has written. Had mine for nearly 3yrs, 50k, and it has never let me down. No rattles, squeeks and the leather is still in very good condition. I have not spent any money on repair it to date. I service the car every year, my reasoning is the same as the Dr's.
I have fitted a custom built exhaust with sports cats and had a re-map which has unleashed the rumble of the V8 as well as improving throttle response and adding a few torques as well. Very pleased with the car and due ot falling prices you get a lot a motor for your money.
I have fitted a custom built exhaust with sports cats and had a re-map which has unleashed the rumble of the V8 as well as improving throttle response and adding a few torques as well. Very pleased with the car and due ot falling prices you get a lot a motor for your money.
Owned mine new from 2003, 30k miles and according to the onboard computer it has a lifetime average of 21.4mpg. I tend to 'enjoy' driving it but in a mixed (motorway 70-85, A road 60ish) you can comfortably get 25-26mpg including the odd overtake.
Other comments refer to tyres - first set of Contis on the front managed 9k miles. Switched to F1 Eagles - better mileage but not so suited to the car.
Auxilliary radiators - yep, had one of those changed too.
Otherwise absolutely no issue. Great car, V8 grunt, hoon it or cruise it, it doesn't matter and you can even forgive the relatively unforgiving suspension. And for those of us without the training or ability the wet performance is a delight.
My dilemma right now is whether I keep it or sell up and buy a rreal classic (always wanted an E-type since I was a kid) as I just don't get to use it enough (daily commute to a station car park....). Or do I keep it as the one owner from new future classic?
Other comments refer to tyres - first set of Contis on the front managed 9k miles. Switched to F1 Eagles - better mileage but not so suited to the car.
Auxilliary radiators - yep, had one of those changed too.
Otherwise absolutely no issue. Great car, V8 grunt, hoon it or cruise it, it doesn't matter and you can even forgive the relatively unforgiving suspension. And for those of us without the training or ability the wet performance is a delight.
My dilemma right now is whether I keep it or sell up and buy a rreal classic (always wanted an E-type since I was a kid) as I just don't get to use it enough (daily commute to a station car park....). Or do I keep it as the one owner from new future classic?
Forgot to add, 97 octane a must. It'll happily run on 95 but I think I've satisfied myself the mpg is better on 97 and the drive train at low speeds performs better (no transmission jolt changing from 1st to 2nd - possibly pull away in 2nd as commented by another post)
I can also add that at an indicated 150mph, it's slurping 97 octane at around 9 mpg...(discovered in Germany of course
I can also add that at an indicated 150mph, it's slurping 97 octane at around 9 mpg...(discovered in Germany of course
I have a B7 S4 2006 Cab, I'm averaging 19.2 mpg around town but can get up to about 27mpg on motorway diving. B7 has servotronic steering which is a noticable diference and also a 'meatier' front end.
I have Bose, 6cd, Sat Nav, PS, Heated seats etc - absolutely love the car and I would definately praise this car and recommend it!
Mine will be coming up for sale shortly on pistonheads due to new car arriving shortly.
I have Bose, 6cd, Sat Nav, PS, Heated seats etc - absolutely love the car and I would definately praise this car and recommend it!
Mine will be coming up for sale shortly on pistonheads due to new car arriving shortly.
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