S3 to S4

[chrisb72]

Had the joy of test driving an S4 Avant today for 2 hours with the serious consideration of making the switch from my S3 Sportback. The main reason for the switch is gained practicality to cope with the needs of a growing family.

Overall I was impressed with the S4 and by no means was it slow, but it took a bit of getting used to the power delivery of the 3.0 V6 over the 2.0L turbo of my S3. It felt very grown up and fast rather than boy racer. I wasn't in love with the drive straight away, but if the finance figures were more affordable for my budget then maybe I could be persuaded. I was aiming for lower deposit than below...

The Audi deal I was offered was on a PCP £7000 deposit with 48 x £450 monthly payments based on 8000 miles.

How does this compare to any deals people are on?

The car was a dealer ordered car and I could have it by the end of the month!

 

[Ad72]

It's difficult to say if your deal is good or bad. What is the spec of the S4 and are you trading in your S3?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chrisb72]

Spec...

S4 Avant
Mythos Black
Pan Roof
V Spoke Alloys
Virtual Cockpit
Privacy Glass
Folding Mirrors

OTRP came in at just over £50K

 

[Ad72]

Based on no trade in, car as your spec (£50,270) with a £7000 discount, £7000 deposit and 10k miles per year (can't work it on 8k per year) your payments would be 47 x £418.

 

[chrisb72]

May I ask where you are getting your figures from as they are better than what I was offered today?

Ideally I wanted to put a deposit of £5000 and monthly figures of £450 max, but £7000 with £450 was best they could offer. I should state that this was on a ready available car worth £52,000.

 

[Ad72]

That's works out at around £6900 discount which is pretty good.
I'm using the on line finance calculator on a 48 month term and 10k per year miles. Basic S4 avant with £7000 deposit (including deposit contribution) works out at 47 x £502. So assuming you can get £7000 discount that would be equal to zero deposit. Any extras you add on will add on £23 / month per £1000 worth of extras and and deposit will reduce the monthly by £23 / month for every £1000.
The dealer car has £5100 of extras so increases the £502 figure to £619. Your deposit then reduces it by £161 making a monthly of £458. It sounds like they are doing it over 49 months which is a deposit plus 48 payments which is naughty but very common. So I estimate they must be offering around £6900 discount.

 

[chrisb72]

You sound like you are either in the trade yourself or know the trade very well.

I seem to remember them quoting £3000 Audi discount + £3500 dealer so you are pretty much right with your figures.

The car they are offering me is more than my spec, but I just want the above spec and a lower price, but they say ordering myself with a lead time of 4-5 months will end up costing more ( but they would say that wouldn't they). It sounds like the deal is pretty good, but not the figures I wanted so not good enough. I just have to decide if I want the car enough to haggle a bit more.

Thanks for your help

 

[Ad72]

Haha, not in the trade but have got my head round how car dealers try and baffle you with numbers when it's really simple. A factory order will be able to yield a similar discount to an' in build' car. Stock cars can often be had for a little bit less and £7k off an S4 is pretty much what I'd expect, some have got closer to or more than £8k off. I'd call a few dealers and tell them the spec and what you are prepared to pay which for your original spec was £7000 deposit and 47 x 450. With a £7000 deposit your monthly's would be £464 so you are looking for a £7600 discount to achieve your £450 x 47 figure. I think with a bit of leg work the right dealer who needs to meet a monthly target will do the deal.

 

[Riko0073]

I to had the pleasure of an S4 Avant today, had her for a good few hours and have to say I was very impressed.

Currently have an S3 Saloon and also looking for more practicality.

Yes power delivery very different than the S3 but the sound and pull of the engine was amazing.

This was on standard sport suspension but I'll be speccing adaptive dampers and sports diff which should really improve the sporty nature of this beast.

Loved the VC and the seats and of course lots more too than the S3.

My mileage requirements are higher than yours at 20k per year, my highish spec car also includes sound/comfort pack, light/vision pack, 19" mid range alloys, red calipers, privacy glass, electric mirrors, storage pack...think that's it!?!

Deal is OTR £44,272 with a discount of £8,600, my £8k deposit and monthly payment of £520. I'm pretty happy with that tbh.

 

[Riko0073]

Should confirm the £44,272 is after discount!!

 

[chrisb72]

I felt the S4 felt was more of a grown ups car and at 44yrs I'm still fighting growing up!!

I've got to ring the dealer today and say it's a "No for now", but I'm wondering how easily they'll take that.
The fact of the matter is I just didn't love the car enough to push my finances and fall out with the Mrs who says "We don't need a new car at the moment".

One big down factor and I can't believe I'm saying this is the fuel consumption. I averaged 21mpg during my couple of hours. I know you don't buy this kind of car thinking mpg and my mileage is low enough to justify that many extra trips to the pump, but I just wonder if I am going for a more grown up car should I be thinking a more grown up engine i.e. 3.0L diesel? This would be an even bigger step for me as I have always owned 1.8T or 2.0T Audis and have enjoyed the playful nature of the power delivery from these engines.

Overall the S4 didn't excite me enough and a quick blip back in my S3 made me think I'll carry on squeezing us all in for now.

More car thinking time required me thinks, but what's new!!

 

[Daggerit]

In terms of the mpg, there have been a number of people bring this up and it appears that it gets significantly better with some miles under it's belt. Some are seeing high 30's on dual carriageway / motorway runs after 2-3,000 miles have been put on them. That's a much better mpg and although I too saw something like 19mpg on my test drive I certainly wasn't driving it economically so I didn't think that was bad. Saw 33mpg on the dual carriageway too which I didn't think was bad for a car with 150 miles on it.

 

[Riko0073]

So final changes on my spec for the S4 Avant have provided a monthly payment of £501, that's amazing considering I'm paying £500 for my S3!

This is over 48 months with 20k mileage and £8k deposit.

Spec includes...
Daytona
19" V spoke alloys
Magma red interior
Light and Vision pack
Comfort and Soundpack
Adjustable suspension/dampers
Sports dif
Privacy glass
Electric wing mirrors
Red brake calipers

Think I might add on the storage pack but other than that happy with that spec, have I missed anything anyone would recommend?

Decided against dynamic steering and also deleted sunroof, have this on my S3 but for the amount of times I use it and with the cabin in the S4 being larger and lifted by the aluminum trim and magma seats, I think it will be a lovely place to be

 

[chrisb72]

Have you considered the Black Styling pack?

Its mad that you're getting all that car for £1 more a month, but that's PCPs for you. I was told that due to there being loads of S3s around now the PCP deals aren't as competitive. I wonder how the S4 will compare 2 years down the line?

I told the salesman its a No for now. I think if I'd fallen in love with the car I could have worn the Mrs down over the extra finance, but it just didn't feel the right step for me at the moment despite seeing the potential of the practicality. I'm tempted to try a 2.0TSFI Avant to see how that compares, but I doubt with the added kit I'd have to spec it would come that much cheaper than the S4 which makes it a silly decision. Think when the time is right I just have to make the step and get used to a V6 power train delivery!

 

[Riko0073]

Have you considered the Black Styling pack?

Its mad that you're getting all that car for £1 more a month, but that's PCPs for you. I was told that due to there being loads of S3s around now the PCP deals aren't as competitive. I wonder how the S4 will compare 2 years down the line?

I told the salesman its a No for now. I think if I'd fallen in love with the car I could have worn the Mrs down over the extra finance, but it just didn't feel the right step for me at the moment despite seeing the potential of the practicality. I'm tempted to try a 2.0TSFI Avant to see how that compares, but I doubt with the added kit I'd have to spec it would come that much cheaper than the S4 which makes it a silly decision. Think when the time is right I just have to make the step and get used to a V6 power train delivery!

Yes I did consider the black styling pack but fancy a change as have that on my S3, think the standard chrome suits the car and makes it look a bit more 'prestige', however the black pack does give it a more aggressive look I admit...ah decisions decisions!

It's a tougher decision for you as you have the S3 SB which does offer more practicality than my saloon, I really need the extra space to get the dogs in the boot.

I know what you mean about getting used to the V6 and after getting back in the S3 it still felt fast and well put together but I did love the 'occasion' in the V6, it sounded great, felt far more planted on the road than the S3 and if I'm honest a little bit quicker.

Yeah I wouldn't consider the 2.0 TFSI, not much in it when you spec it up and would be a downgrade from having the 4 exhaust tips of the 'S' models

Good luck in whatever decision you make, you still have an awesome car in the S3, I hope I've made the right decision but with those figures I'm sure I will be.

 

[Keef]

@Riko0073 nice spec, I would defo add the storage pack, you get a handy compartment in the dash, bottom right of the steering wheel, it's not massive but very deep!
I find it very useful for my glasses & sunglasses boxes.

Have you not gone for hill hold?
In my opinion defo worth having

 

[Riko0073]

@Riko0073 nice spec, I would defo add the storage pack, you get a handy compartment in the dash, bottom right of the steering wheel, it's not massive but very deep!
I find it very useful for my glasses & sunglasses boxes.

Have you not gone for hill hold?
In my opinion defo worth having

Thanks Keef.

Yes hill hold part of comfort pack, have on my S3 and nice to have.

Yep think I'll add the storage pack, good options for low cost.