My S4 thread
- Thread starter scotty76
- Start date
I didn't as the rain started! I plan to tip some water and check it drains through OK. Do you know where the drain holes are at all?
The one I cleared a few months back was at the bottom (obviously!
) of the plenum chamber, a little to the right of centre, looking at it from the front of the car.
I tipped water all along the base of the windscreen and got water draining out underneath the car. There seemed to be no residual puddles. So unscientific as that is it'll have to do me for now. It's as much as my village idiocy can do.The one I cleared a few months back was at the bottom (obviously!
I do love a detail fresh car. It's been 3 years since the last pro detail and I hadn't realised how much the paint had faded until I saw it restored. Nothing fancy this time in the way of coatings, Gyeon Cancoat.
DMC?? Car is looking stunning mate. Been talking to a few friends locally and they've suggested applying cancoat to the S4. I believe it is going to add to the topcoat that I have missing on the car.
Was asking if he'd seen you recently @Keef
Original coating was gone but had done its job. Nick was saying the paint was still in pretty good condition and needed minimal work which is nice to hear. I like to think the coating takes the abuse rather than the paintwork. There are some more photos on his Facebook page if you are interested. I had plenty of wear and tear to fix which is why I'm not a believer in these five year coatings. It's not that I believe they won't work it's more that I find every 2-3 years a spruce up is needed anyway.As luck would have it his dent guy was in so fixed the two minor dents I had as well so was a worthwhile outing. Sadly one of the dents was me slipping and hitting the car with the pressure washer lance. Grrr. Still all sorted now!
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2003
- Messages
- 2,163
- Reaction score
- 1,433
- Points
- 113
Interesting. My coating is 4.5 years old now but still seems good. I can compare it to my wife's car (I get to wash both of course) which was done 2 years ago. Mine is still as easy to clean and comes up just as good with a bit of wax-spray finish. Since my car is garaged and has not even done 20K yet, I wonder if my coating is lasting longer that others have? I don't mind going back to my detailer but not if it doesn't really need it.
I'd think the garage helps massively. My car lives outside so is at the mercy of the weather. In addition I've done 31k miles. Previous coating was applied 3 years ago so I'm fine with the wear.
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2003
- Messages
- 2,163
- Reaction score
- 1,433
- Points
- 113
@HOGG - we are talking about paint protection coatings, not a wash and polish. They are not cheap but IMO worth every penny. My previous car didn't have any coating and I used to slave over it with wax etc. Now that my car has a ceramic coating I spend a fraction of the effort to maintain a far better appearance.
looking stunning buddy 
Massive update gap which is completely to do with the lack of use the S4 is getting. It's currently doing 6 miles a week. My head knows this can't go on as it's a massive waste of money. Reluctantly I think the S4 will be for sale in the very near future. It's currently sitting at 31.3k miles which is not bad for a 5.5 year old car. 8 years was my target ownership for this and I'd always wanted one but life is what happens while you are making other plans and things have changed. I still believe it's a great all rounder and doubt I'll own anything like this again. It was a perfect storm that allowed me to buy it at all but that is unlikely to happen again. So this is the end (probably).
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2003
- Messages
- 2,163
- Reaction score
- 1,433
- Points
- 113
You should certainly advertise it on the forums. Based on my experience when I sold my B5 S4, you could get a better price as well as a better selling experience if you can find an enthusiast buyer.
I’ve just read this thread from start through to the present day, to remind myself of the journey you’ve travelled, @scotty76 . It’s been fascinating seeing how many experiences we’ve shared. I also noticed how you made the same announcement this time last year and we talked you out of it.Massive update gap which is completely to do with the lack of use the S4 is getting. It's currently doing 6 miles a week. My head knows this can't go on as it's a massive waste of money. Reluctantly I think the S4 will be for sale in the very near future. It's currently sitting at 31.3k miles which is not bad for a 5.5 year old car. 8 years was my target ownership for this and I'd always wanted one but life is what happens while you are making other plans and things have changed. I still believe it's a great all rounder and doubt I'll own anything like this again. It was a perfect storm that allowed me to buy it at all but that is unlikely to happen again. So this is the end (probably).
This has always been on the cards. For context the S4 ceased to be a daily driver in September 2018 due to a forced change in work circumstances. I set myself a six month challenge to see if it made sense to keep it. The jury was out but yet more work shuffling made me extend that by six months. I think as over a year has now passed it's time to face facts. The S4 is a lovely drive ornament. Took it out today for a run and thoroughly enjoyed it but that's just it. I have to take it out to stop it seizing up as it would be otherwise unused and that feels like a waste. It's not what I hoped for.
I am however pleased to have kept this thread going. I hope one day it helps someone understand what it was like to own an S4 start to finish. I've never shied away from this being warts and all. Bridge bollard incidents included!
Hopefully it has been useful.
This has always been on the cards. For context the S4 ceased to be a daily driver in September 2018 due to a forced change in work circumstances. I set myself a six month challenge to see if it made sense to keep it. The jury was out but yet more work shuffling made me extend that by six months. I think as over a year has now passed it's time to face facts. The S4 is a lovely drive ornament. Took it out today for a run and thoroughly enjoyed it but that's just it. I have to take it out to stop it seizing up as it would be otherwise unused and that feels like a waste. It's not what I hoped for.
I am however pleased to have kept this thread going. I hope one day it helps someone understand what it was like to own an S4 start to finish. I've never shied away from this being warts and all. Bridge bollard incidents included!
I completely understand your predicament @scotty76 as I am pretty much in the same boat myself. Since the MoT/Service in July and the house move in Oct I have driven 600 miles in total - it is currently sat at 38k miles. S4 is usually parked in the garage and gets used once every 3-4 weeks. I have been thinking about selling it as well but can't decide or shall we say don't want to decide.
S4 is such a lovely car and ticks pretty much all the boxes for me, i.e. comfort, style, performance and most importantly smiles per mile everytime I sit in it. Having said that, head says grow up and sell it as it is depreciating without getting used.
I recently or since the move sold the golf and picked up a 330d as a daily (I know, I too never thought I would
). I am now clocking up a little over 2200 miles / month and it is not just the S4 but also the A3, which rarely gets used.How long do I stay undecided I am not sure but I might make a decision soon and put it online on the forum as well as on AT. The thought of doing so alone is painful but ... Sanity must prevail!
I feel the pain that the dilemma places on both of you, @V6_Man and @scotty76 . Last summer, I stopped using the car for work, which took about 2,000 miles out of my annual mileage. But that still means I do about 6,000 a year, and unless something drastically changes, I don't contemplate wanting to do them in anything other than the S4.
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2003
- Messages
- 2,163
- Reaction score
- 1,433
- Points
- 113
The report of that incident was very useful to me - I have used Sulhamstead Hill ever since and my nearly 5 year old wheels are still in great condition!Bridge bollard incidents included!
I must be fool to have my S4 as in the 3 years iv owned it iv barely averaged over 4500 miles a year . Its probably lost quite a bit on depreciation but ill probably be in the same boat if my new role requires me to travel alot as i wont be able to afford three cars.
The S4 is sold. After much debate and due to various complicating factors no car is not an option. So from next Saturday this is me.
Little bit different. 90bhp but £30 road tax! First thoughts are "those wheels are going to be a nightmare to clean".
So just a heads up for anyone wanting an S4 with sports diff (rare and hard to find 2nd hand) mine will be heading to Snow's SEAT in Basingstoke on Saturday. They tell me it will go to auction.
So this is indeed the end. I'm still going to be here though but time to dust off my seatcupra.net login!
Little bit different. 90bhp but £30 road tax! First thoughts are "those wheels are going to be a nightmare to clean".
So just a heads up for anyone wanting an S4 with sports diff (rare and hard to find 2nd hand) mine will be heading to Snow's SEAT in Basingstoke on Saturday. They tell me it will go to auction.
So this is indeed the end. I'm still going to be here though but time to dust off my seatcupra.net login!
Sorry to see you go, there are not many of us with the B8.5 from new left! I am a bit like you highish mileage in the first couple of years but then only a couple of thousand a year but the car is so good very reluctant to change. Good luck with the Seat
The S4 is sold. After much debate and due to various complicating factors no car is not an option. So from next Saturday this is me.
View attachment 197111 View attachment 197112
Little bit different. 90bhp but £30 road tax! First thoughts are "those wheels are going to be a nightmare to clean".
So just a heads up for anyone wanting an S4 with sports diff (rare and hard to find 2nd hand) mine will be heading to Snow's SEAT in Basingstoke on Saturday. They tell me it will go to auction.
So this is indeed the end. I'm still going to be here though but time to dust off my seatcupra.net login!
Not sure what to say @scotty76 and I completely understand the reasons behind the sale. Picked up mine earlier today from Nick and will be listing it tonight on AT. I did use Motorway and got a few quotes but can’t sell the car that cheap, at all.
Albeit missing 250 horses I am sure it meets the needs. All the best with everything else as well mate
Thanks. It's done 833 miles since the MOT last June and 500 of them were a return trip to Lancashire!
Already talking to Nick about a protection detail!Not sure what to say @scotty76 and I completely understand the reasons behind the sale. Picked up mine earlier today from Nick and will be listing it tonight on AT. I did use Motorway and got a few quotes but can’t sell the car that cheap, at all.
Albeit missing 250 horses I am sure it meets the needs. All the best with everything else as well mate
Cancoat Pro has been excellent! Good luck with your sale.
Perhaps that is just a bit too low! As you say the car starts to deteriorate through lack of use, I’m hoping that the value goes up soon as it becomes a collectors item- but I could be deluding myself.
Gutted, but I get it. Please stay.The S4 is sold. After much debate and due to various complicating factors no car is not an option. So from next Saturday this is me.
View attachment 197111 View attachment 197112
Little bit different. 90bhp but £30 road tax! First thoughts are "those wheels are going to be a nightmare to clean".
So just a heads up for anyone wanting an S4 with sports diff (rare and hard to find 2nd hand) mine will be heading to Snow's SEAT in Basingstoke on Saturday. They tell me it will go to auction.
So this is indeed the end. I'm still going to be here though but time to dust off my seatcupra.net login!
It is for now the last of the supercharged S4s so hang in there if you can. I really wanted to but at 6 miles a week average use just couldn't justify the tax and insurance anymore! I am literally weeping into my pint about it!
This is a great thread and enjoyable read,I`ve only done about 1200 in 1.4 years due to work ,really great when I get back in the car,however I`m on the fence to sell...just great to drive
Yep just push them by hand assuming you have non electric ones. Looks like you're going to break them but works fine!
I did. I'm sure I would have got more selling privately but I haven't the time or the inclination to do that.
