Audi Avant buying advice please
Discussion
Hi all, I've decided I want a fun estate car in my life. I've never owned an Audi before but I've always like the looks and am considering a car from this stable. I was looking at the C5 S6 model which seem very good value but getting quite old and could be problematic. I don't want to deal with rust either.
My requirements if possible is;
I'm not interested in V10 cars or suchlike. The 4.2 V8 is fine for me. The last VAG car I had was a Mk5 Edition 30 Golf. One of the problems I had with this was the seats which I could not get comfy in. I'm concerned the 'Comfort seats' in the RS4 might not be very supportive but the bucket seats too focused for daily driving.
I'm also unsure about suspension options on the RS4. Around us we have quite bad roads and large wheels and stiff suspension is not great though I do fully understand this would be an RS car. Today I have a Volvo V70 T5 with 18" alloys and it's shockingly bad and one of my reasons for changing to another type of estate.
Other options are welcome of course.
Many thanks
My requirements if possible is;
- Seating for 4 + dog in boot
- Estate not saloon
- Quality interior
- Comfortable seats (quite important as I have some back issues)
- Fun to drive
- Decent power
- Low depreciation
- Manual gearbox (not essential, but definitely nice to have)
I'm not interested in V10 cars or suchlike. The 4.2 V8 is fine for me. The last VAG car I had was a Mk5 Edition 30 Golf. One of the problems I had with this was the seats which I could not get comfy in. I'm concerned the 'Comfort seats' in the RS4 might not be very supportive but the bucket seats too focused for daily driving.
I'm also unsure about suspension options on the RS4. Around us we have quite bad roads and large wheels and stiff suspension is not great though I do fully understand this would be an RS car. Today I have a Volvo V70 T5 with 18" alloys and it's shockingly bad and one of my reasons for changing to another type of estate.
Other options are welcome of course.
Many thanks
Edited by Rawhide on Monday 5th June 16:34
I have to say that the C5 is not a fun steer but it's a good competent car, what's your budget?
S6:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302264...
High mileage E350:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305317...
530i M Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305097...
S6:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302264...
High mileage E350:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305317...
530i M Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305097...
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Monday 5th June 20:49
Thanks. Im leaning towards a good RS4. The S6 linked above did catch my eye but the add looks poorly writen and the wood dash seems incongruous in an Audi. Perhaps irrational but the car doesnt talk to me.
The Mercedes Im not into. Ive had 3 W211 estates and the newer generation are a step down in quality for me. I accept they drive better but Im just not keen on that generation.
The BMW Im also cold about. I like the older generations but not the E60? Generations.
I appreciate the advice.
The Mercedes Im not into. Ive had 3 W211 estates and the newer generation are a step down in quality for me. I accept they drive better but Im just not keen on that generation.
The BMW Im also cold about. I like the older generations but not the E60? Generations.
I appreciate the advice.
I had a C6 A6 3.0tdi Quattro a few months ago and it struck me as a bit of a finnicky car with lots to go wrong on it.
One problem in particular was the bulb warning on the dash that causes you to jump out of your skin when the excessively loud chime sounds to warn you of a fault. A problem because all the bulbs were working and there didn't seem to be any way of persuading the on board computer to calm down. So that car is going to be trundling around forever with a bulb warning klaxon sounding at random times to some poor beleaguered driver who is going to drive it off the road with the fright!
It seems a common theme with cars from the 2002-2016 era that they put warnings on their dashboards all the time. So if you get one like the Audi which comes with an intrusive audio bleep whenever it is unhappy it makes it difficult to live with. You say you've got more experience with Mercedes... I do as well and when there is a fault on your merc you get a bit of writing on the dash and that's it. It doesn't go crazy at you.
I'm not saying having a lot of technology in cars is bad but different manufacturers have different practices when it comes to testing and build quality and the Audi implementation of high-tech worried me in a way that I don't feel when Mercedes do it.
One problem in particular was the bulb warning on the dash that causes you to jump out of your skin when the excessively loud chime sounds to warn you of a fault. A problem because all the bulbs were working and there didn't seem to be any way of persuading the on board computer to calm down. So that car is going to be trundling around forever with a bulb warning klaxon sounding at random times to some poor beleaguered driver who is going to drive it off the road with the fright!
It seems a common theme with cars from the 2002-2016 era that they put warnings on their dashboards all the time. So if you get one like the Audi which comes with an intrusive audio bleep whenever it is unhappy it makes it difficult to live with. You say you've got more experience with Mercedes... I do as well and when there is a fault on your merc you get a bit of writing on the dash and that's it. It doesn't go crazy at you.
I'm not saying having a lot of technology in cars is bad but different manufacturers have different practices when it comes to testing and build quality and the Audi implementation of high-tech worried me in a way that I don't feel when Mercedes do it.
ingenieur said:
I had a C6 A6 3.0tdi Quattro a few months ago and it struck me as a bit of a finnicky car with lots to go wrong on it.
One problem in particular was the bulb warning on the dash that causes you to jump out of your skin when the excessively loud chime sounds to warn you of a fault. A problem because all the bulbs were working and there didn't seem to be any way of persuading the on board computer to calm down. So that car is going to be trundling around forever with a bulb warning klaxon sounding at random times to some poor beleaguered driver who is going to drive it off the road with the fright!
It seems a common theme with cars from the 2002-2016 era that they put warnings on their dashboards all the time. So if you get one like the Audi which comes with an intrusive audio bleep whenever it is unhappy it makes it difficult to live with. You say you've got more experience with Mercedes... I do as well and when there is a fault on your merc you get a bit of writing on the dash and that's it. It doesn't go crazy at you.
I'm not saying having a lot of technology in cars is bad but different manufacturers have different practices when it comes to testing and build quality and the Audi implementation of high-tech worried me in a way that I don't feel when Mercedes do it.
Off Topic - the engine warning light on my 2005 A4 Avant quattro came on about 100 miles after I bought it. After three different garages had a look at it to try and convince it stay off, I decided to live with it. That was four years ago. When I MoT it, I stop just shy of the garage, disconnect the battery, wait for a minute or so, reconnect it and drive to the MoT bay. The light stays off long enough to pass. It usually comes back on when I'm driving home but on one occasion it came on as the receptionist drove the car round to the front of the garage. She went back to the tester to tell him. He said it was off when he tested it and that was good enough for him.One problem in particular was the bulb warning on the dash that causes you to jump out of your skin when the excessively loud chime sounds to warn you of a fault. A problem because all the bulbs were working and there didn't seem to be any way of persuading the on board computer to calm down. So that car is going to be trundling around forever with a bulb warning klaxon sounding at random times to some poor beleaguered driver who is going to drive it off the road with the fright!
It seems a common theme with cars from the 2002-2016 era that they put warnings on their dashboards all the time. So if you get one like the Audi which comes with an intrusive audio bleep whenever it is unhappy it makes it difficult to live with. You say you've got more experience with Mercedes... I do as well and when there is a fault on your merc you get a bit of writing on the dash and that's it. It doesn't go crazy at you.
I'm not saying having a lot of technology in cars is bad but different manufacturers have different practices when it comes to testing and build quality and the Audi implementation of high-tech worried me in a way that I don't feel when Mercedes do it.
It's a shame they were so quick with the regulation changes to start saying your car must have no SRS, no ABS and no engine warning lights on the dash. Should just test independently of the vehicles on board diagnostics and leave things like SRS out of the picture altogether. SRS being an additional layer of safety which only protects the vehicle occupants. Leaving it in a compromised state affects nobody other than the driver and passengers inside the car so should not be part of the public service ensuring vehicle standards.
Caveat: not owned one. A former boss had one and I was in it a lot (and drove it a few times).
A B7 RS4 is a remarkable car, a brilliant piece of engineering and a distinct step up from an S4 (or indeed an S6). It's better than the ones that came before it, and arguably after too.
However, I do think you'll want to do a serious test drive in one to see if the suspension hardness and seating situation would work for you. Especially if you're coming from a Volvo V70 and finding that too much. The Audi will be less supportive and less comfortable in every way that your osteopath would have a name for. You'll spend good money on a decent RS4 and you'll want to make sure it won't hurt you physically.
Audis are generally pretty hard-riding; S and RS models even more so. It's quite sophisticated; not Mini-like skateboard rigidity, and there is an element of pliancy to it. But it will jar you over poorer road surfaces. Plus the wheels are eye-wateringly expensive to replace if you pothole one too hard. (As are the front wings and bonnet; aluminium I believe.)
The wingback sports seats are great but they're unforgiving. If you're anything more than a 34" waist you might find them a bit pinchy. They can make pregnant women literally cry. (Don't ask me how I know that...) I haven't tried the Comfort seats myself.
The B7 Avant isn't the most spacious in the back, either. So depending on how old and how tall your kids are, you might find it a wee bit tight as a family vehicle. Again, especially coming from a V70. The B8 generation that followed was quite a bit better packaged, and offered more space.
Costs: considerable. If you think of the car as basically an R8 in disguise you won't go far wrong. You'll need a slush fund and it'll need to be seriously slushy. Everything has an 'RS tax' added, from tyres to filters, servicing to lubricants. There will be some (possibly several) four-figure fixes. That said, there are a reasonable number of excellent RS and performance Audi indie specialists around now, which could help ameliorate the costs a little.
Good luck with your search. I am quite envious! These are brilliant cars, if you can live with the costs and the compromises. Potential future classic IMO too.
A B7 RS4 is a remarkable car, a brilliant piece of engineering and a distinct step up from an S4 (or indeed an S6). It's better than the ones that came before it, and arguably after too.
However, I do think you'll want to do a serious test drive in one to see if the suspension hardness and seating situation would work for you. Especially if you're coming from a Volvo V70 and finding that too much. The Audi will be less supportive and less comfortable in every way that your osteopath would have a name for. You'll spend good money on a decent RS4 and you'll want to make sure it won't hurt you physically.
Audis are generally pretty hard-riding; S and RS models even more so. It's quite sophisticated; not Mini-like skateboard rigidity, and there is an element of pliancy to it. But it will jar you over poorer road surfaces. Plus the wheels are eye-wateringly expensive to replace if you pothole one too hard. (As are the front wings and bonnet; aluminium I believe.)
The wingback sports seats are great but they're unforgiving. If you're anything more than a 34" waist you might find them a bit pinchy. They can make pregnant women literally cry. (Don't ask me how I know that...) I haven't tried the Comfort seats myself.
The B7 Avant isn't the most spacious in the back, either. So depending on how old and how tall your kids are, you might find it a wee bit tight as a family vehicle. Again, especially coming from a V70. The B8 generation that followed was quite a bit better packaged, and offered more space.
Costs: considerable. If you think of the car as basically an R8 in disguise you won't go far wrong. You'll need a slush fund and it'll need to be seriously slushy. Everything has an 'RS tax' added, from tyres to filters, servicing to lubricants. There will be some (possibly several) four-figure fixes. That said, there are a reasonable number of excellent RS and performance Audi indie specialists around now, which could help ameliorate the costs a little.
Good luck with your search. I am quite envious! These are brilliant cars, if you can live with the costs and the compromises. Potential future classic IMO too.
ChattingWham said:
Caveat: not owned one. A former boss had one and I was in it a lot (and drove it a few times).
A B7 RS4 is a remarkable car, a brilliant piece of engineering and a distinct step up from an S4 (or indeed an S6). It's better than the ones that came before it, and arguably after too.
However, I do think you'll want to do a serious test drive in one to see if the suspension hardness and seating situation would work for you. Especially if you're coming from a Volvo V70 and finding that too much. The Audi will be less supportive and less comfortable in every way that your osteopath would have a name for. You'll spend good money on a decent RS4 and you'll want to make sure it won't hurt you physically.
Audis are generally pretty hard-riding; S and RS models even more so. It's quite sophisticated; not Mini-like skateboard rigidity, and there is an element of pliancy to it. But it will jar you over poorer road surfaces. Plus the wheels are eye-wateringly expensive to replace if you pothole one too hard. (As are the front wings and bonnet; aluminium I believe.)
The wingback sports seats are great but they're unforgiving. If you're anything more than a 34" waist you might find them a bit pinchy. They can make pregnant women literally cry. (Don't ask me how I know that...) I haven't tried the Comfort seats myself.
The B7 Avant isn't the most spacious in the back, either. So depending on how old and how tall your kids are, you might find it a wee bit tight as a family vehicle. Again, especially coming from a V70. The B8 generation that followed was quite a bit better packaged, and offered more space.
Costs: considerable. If you think of the car as basically an R8 in disguise you won't go far wrong. You'll need a slush fund and it'll need to be seriously slushy. Everything has an 'RS tax' added, from tyres to filters, servicing to lubricants. There will be some (possibly several) four-figure fixes. That said, there are a reasonable number of excellent RS and performance Audi indie specialists around now, which could help ameliorate the costs a little.
Good luck with your search. I am quite envious! These are brilliant cars, if you can live with the costs and the compromises. Potential future classic IMO too.
Thanks great advice, especially about the seating. I am pretty set on a B7 RS4 now having read and researched the car more. They seem to match my needs really well and fill that small well engineered estate niche which few other cars seem to. I've had ruinous cars before and I know the best way to mitigate big bills is to buy well in the first place. I imagine the comfort seats are less desirable than the 'wingbacks' but I think they would work out better.A B7 RS4 is a remarkable car, a brilliant piece of engineering and a distinct step up from an S4 (or indeed an S6). It's better than the ones that came before it, and arguably after too.
However, I do think you'll want to do a serious test drive in one to see if the suspension hardness and seating situation would work for you. Especially if you're coming from a Volvo V70 and finding that too much. The Audi will be less supportive and less comfortable in every way that your osteopath would have a name for. You'll spend good money on a decent RS4 and you'll want to make sure it won't hurt you physically.
Audis are generally pretty hard-riding; S and RS models even more so. It's quite sophisticated; not Mini-like skateboard rigidity, and there is an element of pliancy to it. But it will jar you over poorer road surfaces. Plus the wheels are eye-wateringly expensive to replace if you pothole one too hard. (As are the front wings and bonnet; aluminium I believe.)
The wingback sports seats are great but they're unforgiving. If you're anything more than a 34" waist you might find them a bit pinchy. They can make pregnant women literally cry. (Don't ask me how I know that...) I haven't tried the Comfort seats myself.
The B7 Avant isn't the most spacious in the back, either. So depending on how old and how tall your kids are, you might find it a wee bit tight as a family vehicle. Again, especially coming from a V70. The B8 generation that followed was quite a bit better packaged, and offered more space.
Costs: considerable. If you think of the car as basically an R8 in disguise you won't go far wrong. You'll need a slush fund and it'll need to be seriously slushy. Everything has an 'RS tax' added, from tyres to filters, servicing to lubricants. There will be some (possibly several) four-figure fixes. That said, there are a reasonable number of excellent RS and performance Audi indie specialists around now, which could help ameliorate the costs a little.
Good luck with your search. I am quite envious! These are brilliant cars, if you can live with the costs and the compromises. Potential future classic IMO too.
I've run a Clio on Bilstein B14s before as well as Clio Trophy on Sachs, and in my opinion stiff suspension is fine but poorly damped suspension I can't live with. My Volvo is a wonderful thing but has 18" wheels from factory combined with what seems like poorly damped suspension and a very heavy front end. It crashes through the bumps and skips on poor road surfaces and honestly is not even enjoyable to drive.
I see a lot of cars have been converted to Bilstein B14 or H&R coilovers which I need to read into more.
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