S3 or not S3 or maybe an S4

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Ad72

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Having ordered an S3 saloon earlier this month due to wanting something smaller and sportier than my A6 Allroad I have managed to sell my A6 Allroad privately putting me in a far better financial position. This has got me thinking that maybe I should be looking at an S4 rather than an S3 for a number of reasons. The A6 has been trouble free yet I seem to be reading a fair few issues with the FL S3’s such as dash board rattles, wind noise, engine noises and gearbox issues. Are S4’s any better in this respect than S3's? but do I really want a 3.0 petrol car to do 20 miles a day in? I know it’s my decision but some other view points would be appreciated.

On a slightly different note I’m after a cheap used Mini to keep me mobile, up to £1500 if anyone has one for sale.
 
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300 bhp or 350 bhp for a 20 miles journey won't make any difference in fuel costs, the S4 is in a different league from a S3 and the whole new A3 isn't far away 18 months... So l would seriously think about the S4 as it looks stunning in Navarra Blue and the interior is just gorgeous
 
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I had the same dilemma when swapping in my S3 SB. Would have loved the S4 but opted for the S3 salon purely on cost as it sits well over the £40k barrier, as @jassyo06 says fuel costs would not be significantly different
 
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What sort of discount should I expect on an S4, I got 12% on the S3 but coast 2 coast seem to be offering 16 - 17% on the S4 which seems a lot. The road tax is an issue and is kind of defeating what the whole purpose of swapping the car was about, to free up some cash. Just nervous about the S3 build quality to be honest.
 
Central Vehicle Leasing have a deal on the S4 but not sure if it's right as the pictures seem to be of a TDI and the MRP is wrong.

HERE

£209.99/month, £3000 down and 5K miles (all plus vat) for 24 Months


I also noticed the S4 no longer has S-Tronic but standard Auto.
 
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For me, the S4 lacks visual impact, S3 Saloon on the other hand, is pretty smart looking.
 
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That S4 discount tells you all you need to know ;)
I did read that Audi are really struggling to sell any A4s and have reduced the build volumes accordingly.
I would only buy an S4 if it was the estate version (and might depending on how my 2 car to 1 car plan goes). As for quality, Audi sells A3 worldwide by the bucket load so you will always hear about issues particularly on a forum dedicated to them.
 
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Get an S5 Sportback and get the visual impact plus the engine ;) I got 14% discount


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msdmjb said:
That S4 discount tells you all you need to know ;)
I did read that Audi are really struggling to sell any A4s and have reduced the build volumes accordingly.
I would only buy an S4 if it was the estate version (and might depending on how my 2 car to 1 car plan goes). As for quality, Audi sells A3 worldwide by the bucket load so you will always hear about issues particularly on a forum dedicated to them.
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Even in b8/8-5 guise Audi didn't sell that many privately, most are fleet sales the new one is the exact same it's all fleet based sales, there's a bigger discount on a S4 because there's a larger profit margin on this model, as are the options
 
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Thanks all, I'll look into the S5 as well. Looks like the S4 has the ZF 8 speed auto vs S3 s-tronic.
 
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I think I heard Audi quote that the torque was to high for the current S-Tronic (500NM) so they went with the ZF instead.
 
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jassyo06 said:
Even in b8/8-5 guise Audi didn't sell that many privately, most are fleet sales the new one is the exact same it's all fleet based sales, there's a bigger discount on a S4 because there's a larger profit margin on this model, as are the options
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The S5 Sportback is pretty niche, a niche within a niche. My dealership had sold about 2 before me...there are always discount space for a £55K car


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Joetidman said:
The S5 Sportback is pretty niche, a niche within a niche. My dealership had sold about 2 before me...there are always discount space for a £55K car
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Pricey, as you climb from 3 to 5..... and always worth a look around the other brands.

I looked at the old model on sellout for the missus, but ended up going with a BMW 4er Gran Coupe. Hated it from day-1, so sold it.

S3 Saloon would have suited her far better, but I already had the SB, so would have looked like knobs:sign omg:
 
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I personally wouldn't buy an S4 saloon over an S3 saloon... much prefer the look of the S3 saloon

S5 as said though is maybe something to consider! :)
 
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I'm really keen on an S4 Avant - BUT the auto slush box instead of S-Tronic puts me right off!
 
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xBox said:
S3 Saloon would have suited her far better, but I already had the SB, so would have looked like knobs:sign omg:
Click to expand...

my daughter and her BF have his and hers Seat Ibiza SC's and it looks a bit weird ...lol
 
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mikemod said:
I think I heard Audi quote that the torque was to high for the current S-Tronic (500NM) so they went with the ZF instead.
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Correct....the 7 speed dry clutch in the S3 cant handle that amount of torque
 
batch said:
I'm really keen on an S4 Avant - BUT the auto slush box instead of S-Tronic puts me right off!
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Give it a test drive before you judge. Yes different tech but driving it hard the gear changes are lightning quick, and it's smoother around town. Not saying it's perfect but my own fears were washed away when I took a demo out


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jassyo06 said:
Correct....the 7 speed dry clutch in the S3 cant handle that amount of torque
Click to expand...

It's now a wet clutch unit apparently.


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Having gone from S3 to S4 hey are two very different animals, so you need to try both. Of the two i prefer my S4 Avant.


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batch said:
I'm really keen on an S4 Avant - BUT the auto slush box instead of S-Tronic puts me right off!
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Don't let it put you off. I generally hate autoboxes, But if the S4/5 has a variant of ZF's 8HP 'box it'll be just fine. The 8speed ZF is considered to one of the finest gearboxes available. If it's good enough for Aston, Bentley, Jaguar, Rolls, and that mental new Alfa Romeo, you can be pretty confident it'll be just fine in a mid size Audi.
 
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I wasn't sure I was going to get on with the gear box on the S4 at first having got used to the s-tronic but it's plenty quick enough on the change and super smooth.


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GSB said:
Don't let it put you off. I generally hate autoboxes, But if the S4/5 has a variant of ZF's 8HP 'box it'll be just fine. The 8speed ZF is considered to one of the finest gearboxes available. If it's good enough for Aston, Bentley, Jaguar, Rolls, and that mental new Alfa Romeo, you can be pretty confident it'll be just fine in a mid size Audi.
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Is there any "manual" mode on it?
 
batch said:
Is there any "manual" mode on it?
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Yep, exactly the same as my old S3

Watch this guy use it. He get shifting about 3:20 in



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batch said:
Is there any "manual" mode on it?
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Doubtful on the Rolls-Royce Ghost or the Iveco Daily van, but in more sporting applications, yes.

If the 8HP is the one in the S4/S5 (and it looks like it is) then its an extremely versatile and very clever gearbox.

In the fifteen years or so that DSG / S&Tonic has been around, "traditional" autoboxes have had a big development push to catch up. Very quietly, they've been advancing to the point where they can now match it with DSG for weight and efficiency, match them for shift times, and still beat them hands down for smoothness and torque transmission.

The 8HP is so tunable in terms of its capabilities that it's used on everything from trucks to mud pluggers to sports cars. If you want to waft around like a lazy traditional slush box, say in a 760iL limo or a Ghost, then the car maker specifies a torque converter input and a shifting program that allows this traditional feel. If you want to make lots of noise, drive like your hair is on fire and have lightning shift times (Jag F-type, AMG Merc's), then the torque converter can be replaced with a multiplate wet clutch and a more aggressive shift program(s) installed (If you want to combine the attributes you can have the mental 700hp Challenger Hellcat)

Gear ratios, shift times, shift strategy and programming are all hugely customisable by the car maker, meaning the same box can have very a different character depending on what it's fitted to. It's also very light, very efficient (even the torque converter equipped ones can lock up the torque converter in first gear) very fast (160-250ms shift times - same ballpark as S&Tonic) and as a party trick it can shift from 8th to 2nd in one movement, which should make for some fairly spectacular acceleration. Those used to S&Tonic double clutch transmissions have nothing to worry about.
 
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I've asked the dealer to do me a quote on the following, if the discount is right I'll swap to an S4 Saloon, black, red leather, adjustable dampers, sports diff, light & vision pack ( matrix head lights + cv), b&o, privacy, folding mirrors, hill hold assist, storage pack, flat bottom wheel.


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Ad72 said:
I've asked the dealer to do me a quote on the following, if the discount is right I'll swap to an S4 Saloon, black, red leather, adjustable dampers, sports diff, light & vision pack ( matrix head lights + cv), b&o, privacy, folding mirrors, hill hold assist, storage pack, flat bottom wheel.


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Almost exactly what I'd order.
 
Ad72 said:
Am I missing anything essential? Would like memory seats but watching the monthlies!!


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On electric seats, drivers memory is very very useful. At £200, I'd go for it, probably in favour of black glass.

Also, ACC would be an absolute must have. Heads up display is very cool, but at £900 they can keep it.
 
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Ad72 said:
I've asked the dealer to do me a quote on the following, if the discount is right I'll swap to an S4 Saloon, black, red leather, adjustable dampers, sports diff, light & vision pack ( matrix head lights + cv), b&o, privacy, folding mirrors, hill hold assist, storage pack, flat bottom wheel.


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How about wheels? I know it's personal preference but looking at the standard 18's on the configurator :puke2:they look awful, more like something you'd expect on an entry level model!
 
Tom.H said:
How about wheels? I know it's personal preference but looking at the standard 18's on the configurator :puke2:they look awful, more like something you'd expect on an entry level model!
Click to expand...

I actually quite like them with the black body, that said I believe 19" wheels will become standard on MY18 so I would order it with the standard wheels and hopefully it would come with the 19's at no extra cost


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I've just realised that the S5 comes as standard with 19's whilst the S4 comes with 18's. Also strangely the S4 optional 19's are all different from the S5 standard and optional ones. I'm surprised at that given Audi's penchant for standardisation, they have some much difference there


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I got the Driver assistance - tour pack as well which contains ACC (which I love), plus memory seats (so my wife can drive the car without ******* about with my settings). Other than that and the Audi phone box and red calipers, pretty similar to your S4 spec


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Ad72 said:
I've asked the dealer to do me a quote on the following, if the discount is right I'll swap to an S4 Saloon, black, red leather, adjustable dampers, sports diff, light & vision pack ( matrix head lights + cv), b&o, privacy, folding mirrors, hill hold assist, storage pack, flat bottom wheel.


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Click to expand...

Navarra Blue,forget the sport diff.... "for a 20 mile commute" and add the upgraded alloys.....@joetidman posted this photo....
A NAVARRA BLUE S4
l have actually seen a very similar S4 in Glasgow Audi's showroom.....stunning it was...with Express Red leather....a match made in heaven.....but forget the drivers aids......waste of money..... @Joetidman
 
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