[s-cars] POLE: wonderful dilema, S4 or Ultrasport?

Wed Nov 7 06:59:47 PST 2007

You mention //S8 Aaron but check out the A8.  Very nice examples of the '00
'01 can be had in the $13K range and folks routinely get 24 - 26 highway
mpg.  The A8 wallows a bit, but with a sport suspension you are good to go
with tons of room and an ageless Audi.

Visit the AW D2 forum for a spell.  Tons of nice folks there 'cept beware
the Krasusky.  Oh and if you do start sniffing the D2s, stay away from the
Ming Blue.  Recent documentation indeed proves it is the slowest color.

Happy car hunting whatever the game may be.

-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Aaron Ryba
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 9:15 AM
To: quattrojedi at aol.com
Cc: s-car-list
Subject: Re: [s-cars] POLE: wonderful dilema, S4 or Ultrasport?

I have had my eye on an A6 4.2 sport (and C5 S6) but I'm not sure I want to
go with a V8 for various reasons of fuel econ. weight and the demands in
service needs/parts, $$$. I have thought about a 2001 S8 but dismissed it
for the same reason. Although I am looking for more room than a VW bug, not
sure if I need anything more than a B series sized wagon. We probably will
only have 2 kids anyway, so I can stay away from the cancerous minivan craze
(luckily my wife won't be caught dead driving a minivan). 

I was also looking at the Allroad for a while too because of the 2.7tt motor
but all the plastic exterior and the ride height turned me off. I have to
admit I have never really liked that car or the "crossover" segment very
much but if I had to take that plunge it would be with an Allroad, it has
warmed up to me. Then again this new car is not for me, it's for the wife
and she will probably love anything with leather interior and climate
control compared to the bug.

Thats interesting about the "sludge" issue with the 1.8T. Is this perhaps
the blowby gases/crankcase ventilation? I know this has been somewhat of an
issue with the 20vT in my S6 as the intake boot and crossover pipe get
gummy. From what I have read a proper catch-can install can remedy this
problem. I haven't got there yet with my S6.

Aaron

----- Original Message ----
From: "quattrojedi at aol.com" <quattrojedi at aol.com>
To: aaronryba at yahoo.com; s-car-list at audifans.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 7, 2007 6:57:37 AM
Subject: Re: [s-cars] POLE: wonderful dilema, S4 or Ultrasport?

  Check the maint records of the 1.8. Sludge is a major major issue on these
motors. I went from a 95 S6 to a A.6 4.2 sport and have no regrets, as well
as my wife went from a 02 VW Cabrio  to an Allroad when we had Alanna, and
she loves the car. Tip is the way to go when there is a child behind
you.......even though I do have a 90CQ for weekend rowing :)
 P Brady

 -----Original Message-----
 From: Aaron Ryba <aaronryba at yahoo.com>
 To: s-car-list <s-car-list at audifans.com>
 Sent: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 11:49 pm
 Subject: [s-cars] POLE: wonderful dilema, S4 or Ultrasport?

         S heads,

 The time has finally come. I am once again in the market for a new (to me)
car 
 and was wondering what the all-powerful list would have to say. So with my
first 
 baby now on the way my has FINALLY decided to get rid of her beloved (to
her) 
 Limited edition, Luna Green 02 Beetle GLS for something with a few more
doors 
 and some room for a car seat and stroller. Thank GOD! She will not drive a
stick 
 so automatic is the only option here. I know, I know, How could I live, let

 alone marry and have children with someone who will only drive an
automatic? 
 Well, luckily she has many other fine qualities that make up for this
character 
 flaw. My dilemma now is what to get. My choices as I have narrowed them
down 
 thus fare are either a 2001/2 B4 S4 Avant with about 60-80k miles OR a 2004
A4 
 B5 1.8T Ultrasport Avant with about 30-50k miles. With some recent research
I 
 figure good examples of each could be had for around $16-18k. 

 While I am temped by the persistent dream of owning a B4 S4 Avant I think I

 would like the gas mileage and the better condition of the newer Ultrasport

 Avant over the S4. I also worry that an S4 would be more costly to run &
repair 
 once it gets up past 80k miles with two turbos and two more cylinders (my
S6 is 
 at 143k so I know it can go the distance, its just that you can't wait for
parts 
 to arrive when a baby needs to make it to a doctor's appointment). I have
found 
 some S4's for sale that have had the major service performed recently
though 
 (timing belt, water pump, etc.). I assume the 1.8T engine would be easier
to 
 work on and more importantly would require less attention since it would
have 
 possibly half the mileage of the S4's TT V6. I already have a 95 C4 S6 so I
am 
 familiar with a turbo engine and Audi cars in general (4kcsq before this)
so I 
 can put Bentley, ETKA and hopefully VAG-COM (in the near future) to use on
this 
 new machine if needed.

 I like both cars because since I am forced to get an automatic both of
these 
 come with the tiptronic steering wheel button shifter. I am likely to be
the 
 pilot on most all long drives. Has anyone used these things? I haven't had
a 
 chance to test drive with the buttons. I did get a chance to drive a 6spd
B7 A4 
 2.0T recently with the basic Tip trans and it wasn't all that bad. The 1.8t
has 
 some great potential for tuning to get hp up to about 230 or so to keep
pace 
 with my S6 for a fairly cheap price. If I go with the S4 I'm not sure how
much 
 $$ I would spend to modify a car my wife would primarily drive since it
already 
 has some oomph. 

 So, this car is really for my wife and not for me. I hesitate to go for the
S4 
 when she might not even care about all that extra horsepower, torque and
sporty 
 suspension. Might we be better off with the Ultrasport since it is newer,
better 
 on gas, cheaper and easier to work on?  I can only assume the newer less
complex 
 Ultrasport will be more reliable. But an S4!!! Ah, decisions, decisions. 
 Recently my wife crunched the side skirt of her bug and punctured a tire
which 
 resulted in what will most likely be $600+ in damages for new tires,
mounting & 
 balancing, alignment and bodywork. The point is maybe an older car with a
few 
 more blemishes will be a better bet for someone who isn't as anal retentive
as 
 me to keep it in the best condition?

 I was also thinking about an A3 just for the DSG tranny paddle shifters but
the 
 prices are still considerably high and it's not much car for the money
compared 
 to a slightly used A4 or S4. Also always liked......dare I say it
here......the 
 Volvo V70R and MazdaSpeed3 but prices are still fairly high for the Volvo
and 
 the Mazda interior just can't compete with Audi not to mention front wheel
drive 
 only. I'm pretty much sold on a new Audi, it's just which one to get. Any 
 thoughts and comments are appreciated.

 Aaron Ryba
 Upstate SC

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