New B8/8.5 S4, little help please!

juhunio

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Hi folks

I've found an approved used 2015 S4 at Swindon Audi that's basically brand new (120ish miles) and a great price. I've driven it, it's beautiful! But I've a couple of questions that I thought you experts might be able to help with:

1. Any thoughts on why Audi UK would register a car, not drive it, and then sell it for £10k below list as approved used?
2. Why no flat bottomed steering wheel? I thought this would be standard issue, was round even an option on 2015 models?
3. It hasn't got the sports diff and drive select. I've driven S4s with and without, any thoughts from the crowd?

It seems like a great opportunity to climb into a virtually new S4 at a great price due to the imminent B9, but any help or advice will be gratefully received

Cheers!
 
I would hazard a guess it was a pre reg. just so they could hit unit targets in Sept.
Around 6 months ago, Audi were offering the best part of £8k off brand new ones, so £10k isn't a massive amount, if you see what I mean. (for a used 6 month old example, £2k further depreciation is pretty good going for the dealer in reality! )
 
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Hello and welcome

Just to add the flat bottom steering wheels were part of the black edition package I believe.

I have mine specced with drive select. It's a great combination and allows you to change the car depending on what you want (ie stiffer dampers/engine noise/rear diff setup/gearbox) and very glad I specced the car with this

With regards to the sports diff I have driven the car hard and around twistes under hard acceleration it's brilliant but to be honest it's down to personal preference
 
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Before buying mine I drove on with and without Drive Select and if since driven another that had a sports diff.

The diff, for me, was irrelevant. Wouldn't bother with it.

ADS on the other hand would be a deal breaker. I have mine set to an individual setup and also use Comfort quite a bit when the kids (and wife) are in the car or its full of shopping, or on the motorway. I just found the non-ADS model really, er, flabby. Everything is just pre-set to Auto, the gearbox and throttle response is a little lazy unless you keep banging into S mode.
 
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Flat bottom steering wheel was only standard on Black Edition. I added mine as an option as my car is non Black Edition.

Someone else explained the reason for the discount.

I have sports diff and drive select. Note Individual is only on cars with MMI. I have the non MMI version so just have a button that cycles through the modes : Auto / Dynamic / Economy / Comfort. I like both. Could probably do without the diff but use drive select all the time. The car can feel lazy in Auto so it's good to flick to Dynamic.
 
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Full ADS with dampers is a must for me, with the kids and the roads round here having soft suspension is great, then stick it in dynamic and sports mode feels much better and less wallow. Great with sports diff although not driven one without.

Car might be a demo one maybe?
 
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I'm not as familiar with the S4 options as with the S5 but that looks like a fairly basic spec S4. I can see supersports seats, tech pack and cruise control but that looks like it.

There have been loads of discussions about sports diff. Before I ordered my S5 I did lots of test drives and that included S4s and S5s with and without various options. Although I didn't do back-to-back testing, at the time I was very convinced that the sports diff hugely improved the handling so that's why my S5 has it. However in your case I'd ask what your driving style is like. If you don't push cars hard to their limits so that you start to feel the understeer or loss of traction from the tyres then it is quite possible that you would never benefit from the sports diff. That's why you can read comments from people like "sports diff is only needed on the track". Those comments are from people who don't drive hard (no criticism - the roads would be safer if we were all like that :)).

BUT you will have a hard time finding a car with sports diff. When I started looking for a used S5 in 2014 I wanted a high spec car with sports diff. I failed. Although I really wanted a sportsback I also looked at S4s but still the sports diff was really rare. I guess I might have been able to get a car but I didn't want to compromise on other options so that's why in the end I bought a brand new S5. And it wasn't hard to get a £9K discount on it which echoes what others have already stated about the price of this car.

Lastly on ADS I also value this highly, but I do have the adjustable dampers, dynamic steering and ACC which are controlled by ADS so it is indeed a great tool on my car. If the car doesn't have that kit then it still has the engine dynamic mode which changes throttle response. This is in addition to having the gearbox in S and does make a significant difference to performance. However what you probably don't know that it is relatively easy to retrofit ADS. The 'lite' version can be done via VCDS and has some limitations. However I have read a report of someone who retrofitted the dash button and got full ADS. It wasn't too expensive either.
 
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As above IMO drive select is a must
 
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I bought my S4 Avant almost exactly a year ago, it was 4 months old with 128 miles, registered by Audi but obviously not used. They must have staff who have ordered cars and then moved on, or up. I got around 10k off list for a reasonably high spec car, it had virtually everything I wanted and was a 2015 model with EU6 engine. With the significantly increased price of the B9 I doubt if you'll get a better deal. I can't think of anything else that compares at the price (the Tesla I went in today was nice but over 110K) - go for it.
 
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I would hazard a guess it was a pre reg. just so they could hit unit targets in Sept.
Around 6 months ago, Audi were offering the best part of £8k off brand new ones, so £10k isn't a massive amount, if you see what I mean. (for a used 6 month old example, £2k further depreciation is pretty good going for the dealer in reality! )

Thanks, that's really helpful. Wish I'd looked 6 months ago!!
 
Hello and welcome

Just to add the flat bottom steering wheels were part of the black edition package I believe.

I have mine specced with drive select. It's a great combination and allows you to change the car depending on what you want (ie stiffer dampers/engine noise/rear diff setup/gearbox) and very glad I specced the car with this

With regards to the sports diff I have driven the car hard and around twistes under hard acceleration it's brilliant but to be honest it's down to personal preference

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated. I was given a bit of a driving lesson by a dealer in an S4 with the sports diff a couple of years ago, and what you could do with it around a roundabout was amazing! Couldn't stop grinning for hours! I am a bit miffed this one doesn't have it, but very little on the market now does, and I won't be able to afford the new one when it comes out. Hmmmm.....
 
Before buying mine I drove on with and without Drive Select and if since driven another that had a sports diff.

The diff, for me, was irrelevant. Wouldn't bother with it.

ADS on the other hand would be a deal breaker. I have mine set to an individual setup and also use Comfort quite a bit when the kids (and wife) are in the car or its full of shopping, or on the motorway. I just found the non-ADS model really, er, flabby. Everything is just pre-set to Auto, the gearbox and throttle response is a little lazy unless you keep banging into S mode.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to respond. I guess the drive select is only something you would work out you needed by spending time with it once you have it. Like you say, the two modes offered by the s-tronic shifter give you something to play with at least!
 
Flat bottom steering wheel was only standard on Black Edition. I added mine as an option as my car is non Black Edition.

Someone else explained the reason for the discount.

I have sports diff and drive select. Note Individual is only on cars with MMI. I have the non MMI version so just have a button that cycles through the modes : Auto / Dynamic / Economy / Comfort. I like both. Could probably do without the diff but use drive select all the time. The car can feel lazy in Auto so it's good to flick to Dynamic.

Cheers for coming back to me. For the relatively small price of these options compared to the difference people reckon they make, it seems nuts that everyone didn't just take the options! This model has mmi, but seemingly not the full ADS with it.
 
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Full ADS with dampers is a must for me, with the kids and the roads round here having soft suspension is great, then stick it in dynamic and sports mode feels much better and less wallow. Great with sports diff although not driven one without.

Car might be a demo one maybe?

Yeah, demo seems likely
 
I'm not as familiar with the S4 options as with the S5 but that looks like a fairly basic spec S4. I can see supersports seats, tech pack and cruise control but that looks like it.

There have been loads of discussions about sports diff. Before I ordered my S5 I did lots of test drives and that included S4s and S5s with and without various options. Although I didn't do back-to-back testing, at the time I was very convinced that the sports diff hugely improved the handling so that's why my S5 has it. However in your case I'd ask what your driving style is like. If you don't push cars hard to their limits so that you start to feel the understeer or loss of traction from the tyres then it is quite possible that you would never benefit from the sports diff. That's why you can read comments from people like "sports diff is only needed on the track". Those comments are from people who don't drive hard (no criticism - the roads would be safer if we were all like that :)).

BUT you will have a hard time finding a car with sports diff. When I started looking for a used S5 in 2014 I wanted a high spec car with sports diff. I failed. Although I really wanted a sportsback I also looked at S4s but still the sports diff was really rare. I guess I might have been able to get a car but I didn't want to compromise on other options so that's why in the end I bought a brand new S5. And it wasn't hard to get a £9K discount on it which echoes what others have already stated about the price of this car.

Lastly on ADS I also value this highly, but I do have the adjustable dampers, dynamic steering and ACC which are controlled by ADS so it is indeed a great tool on my car. If the car doesn't have that kit then it still has the engine dynamic mode which changes throttle response. This is in addition to having the gearbox in S and does make a significant difference to performance. However what you probably don't know that it is relatively easy to retrofit ADS. The 'lite' version can be done via VCDS and has some limitations. However I have read a report of someone who retrofitted the dash button and got full ADS. It wasn't too expensive either.

Ha! Great reply, thanks! In terms of driving style....put it this way, I've currently got an A4 2.0TFSI Quattro and have been surprised at how twitchy I can get even that on a couple of favourite roundabouts. I kind of assumed the S4 would be a stiffer beast even without the diff, but did also drive one with the diff a couple of years ago and was staggered by how much it clung on in fast bends. It's a dilemna...I would love one with the diff, but can't find one with it at anything near the price of this one, and then also with much much higher mileage. Just wish I'd looked 6 months ago when it looks like these kind of discounts were available on new cars at the spec you want, rather than just on nearly news that happen to be available.
 
I bought my S4 Avant almost exactly a year ago, it was 4 months old with 128 miles, registered by Audi but obviously not used. They must have staff who have ordered cars and then moved on, or up. I got around 10k off list for a reasonably high spec car, it had virtually everything I wanted and was a 2015 model with EU6 engine. With the significantly increased price of the B9 I doubt if you'll get a better deal. I can't think of anything else that compares at the price (the Tesla I went in today was nice but over 110K) - go for it.

Hi mate, that's pretty much where I'm at tbh, just wish I'd done this 6 months ago when I could have spec'd a new one with the diff etc at a not too dissimilar discount. I'm pretty much decided to get it and love it for a couple of years while price of the B9 settles down a bit! Cheers for coming back to me
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. One last question...

I also test drove an S3 saloon, which seems to have the diff and ADS as standard. It was a lot of fun but a bit like a shouty little angry wasp compared to the more refined S4

If you had the choice between the S3 with the diff or S4 without, where would you go? Any thoughts on which would hold its value better over 3 years?

Cheers again, Matt
 
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Thanks for the replies everyone. One last question...

I also test drove an S3 saloon, which seems to have the diff and ADS as standard. It was a lot of fun but a bit like a shouty little angry wasp compared to the more refined S4

If you had the choice between the S3 with the diff or S4 without, where would you go? Any thoughts on which would hold its value better over 3 years?

Cheers again, Matt

Not the same generation, but I had an S3 sportback (8p) for a year.
Great fun, but angry wasp is a great term. I couldn't drive it anywhere without wanting to drive it like I stole it.
Great car but had to sell it because of it.
I would hazard a guess the S4 drives pretty much like my S5, and by that I mean you can have a lot of fun if you want to, the engine has a lovely noise to it, but you can also drive it sedately too if you wish because the power availability is across a wide band, thus it allows a very lazy style if you so wish on certain occasions.
 
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I've not owned an S3 but did have a remapped B7 2.0T FSI before. I wondered about getting an S3 but the discounts were not as good and I couldn't help but feel the S4 represented better value. Plus the infamous Chris Harris Revo S4 vs. RS4 YouTube clip made me think about the future potenital for a stonking remap. :) For me I'd go S4 again.

I agree with @MattS5 in the S4/S5 you can waft along like a fat cat in a Jaguar or poke the bear and go for a thrash. It does both. It doesn't sound like the "angry wasp" will be quite so relaxed.

Sure you don't fancy an S5 SB? Good discount e.g.

https://www.orangewheels.co.uk/enquiries/d8a336/enquiry_details/new.html
 
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Hi folks

I've found an approved used 2015 S4 at Swindon Audi that's basically brand new (120ish miles) and a great price. I've driven it, it's beautiful! But I've a couple of questions that I thought you experts might be able to help with:

1. Any thoughts on why Audi UK would register a car, not drive it, and then sell it for £10k below list as approved used?
2. Why no flat bottomed steering wheel? I thought this would be standard issue, was round even an option on 2015 models?
3. It hasn't got the sports diff and drive select. I've driven S4s with and without, any thoughts from the crowd?

It seems like a great opportunity to climb into a virtually new S4 at a great price due to the imminent B9, but any help or advice will be gratefully received

Cheers!
@juhunio - Hi & :welcome!: to ASN!

Looks like all your questions have been answered

I spec'ed ADS & Damper control of my new S4 but after having had a quattro B8 A4 and driven a S4 with sports diff, for me its unecessary. After all its still a quattro! ;)
Thanks for the replies everyone. One last question...

I also test drove an S3 saloon, which seems to have the diff and ADS as standard. It was a lot of fun but a bit like a shouty little angry wasp compared to the more refined S4

If you had the choice between the S3 with the diff or S4 without, where would you go? Any thoughts on which would hold its value better over 3 years?

Cheers again, Matt
S3 saloons don't have and can't be spec'ed with sports diff, however as you correctly say it does come with ADS as standard

I had ordered 2 new S3 saloons and cancelled both after finding out what I could get a S4 for
My S4 saloon actually cost me less discounted than either of the S3 saloons discounted did. 'Twas a no brainer for me
 
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@juhunio - Hi & :welcome!: to ASN!

Looks like all your questions have been answered

I spec'ed ADS & Damper control of my new S4 but after having had a quattro B8 A4 and driven a S4 with sports diff, for me its unecessary. After all its still a quattro! ;)

S3 saloons don't have and can't be spec'ed with sports diff, however as you correctly say it does come with ADS as standard

I had ordered 2 new S3 saloons and cancelled both after finding out what I could get a S4 for
My S4 saloon actually cost me less discounted than either of the S3 saloons discounted did. 'Twas a no brainer for me

Hi, and thanks for the welcome!

You're right of course, it's electronic diff lock on the s3

As MattS5 says above, I think I would end up driving the S3 like I had stolen it, and arrive everywhere with sweat patches! The S4 feels like the right choice, diff or no diff

Just got to sell my A4 B8 Quattro first....
 
I've not owned an S3 but did have a remapped B7 2.0T FSI before. I wondered about getting an S3 but the discounts were not as good and I couldn't help but feel the S4 represented better value. Plus the infamous Chris Harris Revo S4 vs. RS4 YouTube clip made me think about the future potenital for a stonking remap. :) For me I'd go S4 again.

I agree with @MattS5 in the S4/S5 you can waft along like a fat cat in a Jaguar or poke the bear and go for a thrash. It does both. It doesn't sound like the "angry wasp" will be quite so relaxed.

Sure you don't fancy an S5 SB? Good discount e.g.

https://www.orangewheels.co.uk/enquiries/d8a336/enquiry_details/new.html

Hiya, cheers for your reply and the link to orangewheels, all very interesting. I think the ability to live both lifestyles in the S4 will set it apart from the S3; the exhaust pops on the upshifts in the S3 would just be too addictive to ever go easy in it! On the S5, I've just got a mental block with coupe style cars. I'm a saloon guy! I blame a childhood growing up watching Saloon car racing
 
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Hiya, cheers for your reply and the link to orangewheels, all very interesting. I think the ability to live both lifestyles in the S4 will set it apart from the S3; the exhaust pops on the upshifts in the S3 would just be too addictive to ever go easy in it! On the S5, I've just got a mental block with coupe style cars. I'm a saloon guy! I blame a childhood growing up watching Saloon car racing

What about the S5 Sportback? 5-doors and a hatchback style boot, so best of both worlds?

Admittedly it's not nearly as beautiful as the Coupe (of course I'm joking Dippy ;)) but stunning car in its own right. If I'm being honest, kind of wish I went for a SB rather than my Coupe, although 90% of the time it is just me in it...!
 
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Thanks for the replies everyone. One last question...

I also test drove an S3 saloon, which seems to have the diff and ADS as standard. It was a lot of fun but a bit like a shouty little angry wasp compared to the more refined S4

If you had the choice between the S3 with the diff or S4 without, where would you go? Any thoughts on which would hold its value better over 3 years?

Cheers again, Matt
It's been a while since I've been on here and I really this the fraternity. you guys are the best support network for a car I've ever had. Sadly the S4 is gone... sob sob. I might buy another but not just yet

I think the S3 saloon will hold its value better for 2 years, the car will be newer, much more economical and possibly more agile because its lighter, newer and has the spec. The 3.0 TFSI S4 will becpme a legend but will still lose more money I think from new (nearly new).

I couldn't own one without ADS and sports diff makes life much safer on the twisties.

All the best buddy.
 
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The fact that's it's now an old model that has been superseded and that the new model S4 is just about to be released will explain the discount.
It will plummet in depreciation.
With the hefty discounts available on new B9's (and despite what Audi main dealers tell you, they are available!) it's a no brainier to go for one of those. A saving of £6k can be had! Yes it's not as good as a £10k discount but it's the new model. If you can wait awhile, it would make sense to get a B9 S4 and try to get a £6k discount on that!
 
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The fact that's it's now an old model that has been superseded and that the new model S4 is just about to be released will explain the discount.
It will plummet in depreciation.
With the hefty discounts available on new B9's (and despite what Audi main dealers tell you, they are available!) it's a no brainier to go for one of those. A saving of £6k can be had! Yes it's not as good as a £10k discount but it's the new model. If you can wait awhile, it would make sense to get a B9 S4 and try to get a £6k discount on that!

Agree with all of that, the dilemna is not knowing how much the B9 S4 is going to cost, and how many extras will be needed, and how long until they're on the road, versus my B8 A4 being up for sale and a decent (if seemingly not amazing) price on this Approved Used B8 S4.

Is there anything reliable out there on price and availability dates on the B9 S4? Audi website still just has TBC, and there was nothing on the Audi dealer system 2 weeks ago
 
It's been a while since I've been on here and I really this the fraternity. you guys are the best support network for a car I've ever had. Sadly the S4 is gone... sob sob. I might buy another but not just yet

I think the S3 saloon will hold its value better for 2 years, the car will be newer, much more economical and possibly more agile because its lighter, newer and has the spec. The 3.0 TFSI S4 will becpme a legend but will still lose more money I think from new (nearly new).

I couldn't own one without ADS and sports diff makes life much safer on the twisties.

All the best buddy.

Thanks mate, that all sounds sensible, and totally agree with your sentiments regarding the amazing support on this forum
 
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The sales manager told me the price will start around £35k!
I thought S4's were more than that?!!
I doubt that given the price of the TFSI and TDI models. The last one was more than that. :) Mine was about 42k s worth before discount and I only have six options, one of those is metallic paint.
 
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I doubt that given the price of the TFSI and TDI models. The last one was more than that. :) Mine was about 42k s worth before discount and I only have six options, one of those is metallic paint.

Yeah, the B9 2.0TFSI Quattro is £37k before any extras or discounts I think, so god knows how much the S4 will be
 
Euro pricing for the new B9 S4 saloon & Avant

'The S4 was originally revealed at the Frankfurt motor show last year. UK pricing has not yet been confirmed by Audi, but in Europe, the saloon starts at 59,300 euros (around £46,782) and Avant starts at 61,150 euros (around £48,241).'
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2016-audi-s4-avant-revealed
 
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I doubt that given the price of the TFSI and TDI models. The last one was more than that. :) Mine was about 42k s worth before discount and I only have six options, one of those is metallic paint.

That's why I couldn't really believe it. If it was, I would have been waited and ordered that one!
 
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Admittedly it's not nearly as beautiful as the Coupe (of course I'm joking Dippy ;)) but stunning car in its own right. If I'm being honest, kind of wish I went for a SB rather than my Coupe, although 90% of the time it is just me in it...!
I guess I'm lucky that not only do I need 4 doors but I actually prefer the look of the SB to the coupe. It has an advantage that there really are not many other 4 door cars around that come close to looking as good AND performing as good, whereas I'm sure you'll agree that there are some other 2-door coupes about that compete with the S5 coupe?

Regarding the B9 S4 and subsequent S5 I simply can't stop thinking that the single turbo V6 won't be as good as it sounds. I very much remember how, when I had my B5 S4, I drove an unmodified B5 RS4. The power was good but the lag wasn't. Although that was a 2.7 V6 producing 380PS with 2 turbos, for the B9 3.0 V6 to produce 350PS with a single turbo means it will be a big one. It may be twin scroll but I'm unconvinced that it won't have more lag than my S4 did, and that was bad in comparison to the supercharged engine I have now. I am also highly dubious about Audi's claim of torque being available from 1300rpm. They had a similar claim of 1850rpm for the B5...
 
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I guess I'm lucky that not only do I need 4 doors but I actually prefer the look of the SB to the coupe. It has an advantage that there really are not many other 4 door cars around that come close to looking as good AND performing as good, whereas I'm sure you'll agree that there are some other 2-door coupes about that compete with the S5 coupe?

Regarding the B9 S4 and subsequent S5 I simply can't stop thinking that the single turbo V6 won't be as good as it sounds. I very much remember how, when I had my B5 S4, I drove an unmodified B5 RS4. The power was good but the lag wasn't. Although that was a 2.7 V6 producing 380PS with 2 turbos, for the B9 3.0 V6 to produce 350PS with a single turbo means it will be a big one. It may be twin scroll but I'm unconvinced that it won't have more lag than my S4 did, and that was bad in comparison to the supercharged engine I have now. I am also highly dubious about Audi's claim of torque being available from 1300rpm. They had a similar claim of 1850rpm for the B5...

Absolutely...DB9, F-type..even the M4... It's funny I never really gave the SB a second look (always loves 2-door cars, even in my hatchback days) but its really grown on me. As I say, bit of regret I didn't go for it....

Yea the turbo worries me slightly as well. Paired with an S-tronic, the lag can be really irritating. So nice having the power on tap way down low in the rev range.
 
Hiya, cheers for your reply and the link to orangewheels, all very interesting. I think the ability to live both lifestyles in the S4 will set it apart from the S3; the exhaust pops on the upshifts in the S3 would just be too addictive to ever go easy in it! On the S5, I've just got a mental block with coupe style cars. I'm a saloon guy! I blame a childhood growing up watching Saloon car racing

You still get the exhaust pops on the S5 when shifting up with the DSG, only they're better than the ones I had on my S3 :)