[s-cars] POLE: wonderful dilema, S4 or Ultrasport?
Ian Duff
iduff at comcast.net
Wed Nov 7 07:12:34 PST 2007
We moved up in the utility/kid hauler dept from the S6 Avant to a
Eurovan, traded my 2000 S4 for the Eurovan, and switched so I got the
S6 Avant and my wife got the Eurovan.
The S6 had the 3rd row seat, but I was always sort of nervous putting
one of my kids in it, as it's smack-dab in the middle of the rear
crush zone. However, skin contact between kids as the proximate cause
for many "don't touch me...Mommy, he touched me...don't make me stop
this car" episodes overcame my nerves. For a while. Then we wised up
and got the Eurovan.
I'm firmly with Peter on the automagic versus manual transition
argument. Unfortunately the Eurovan was not available with a manual,
so we had to settle for the automagic. What a pain it is. In every
regard. Sucks to drive it. Sucks to put more gas in than would be
needed for a manual. Sucks to have to replace it at 85K miles cause
it croaked. Sucks to get stuck in the snow and have this stupid
automagic that makes rocking perversely difficult. Wanna know how I
really feel? When we found we had to replace the automagic, I
pondered upgrading to a manual, but finally came to my senses and
saved the headache and complication for other, more interesting
endeavors.
So, weighing in on the super dooper sport versus the S4 for your wife
that doesn't drive a manual, if she doesn't drive a manual, will she
get any benefit or enjoyment from getting either of the two you are
considering, or would she perhaps be better served by getting the
right tool for the job, and let you suffer those few long-haul trips
where you'll end up piloting it? Piloting anything on a long-haul
family trip I've found to be more about keeping the kid conflict
minimized, and less about whether the car is fun to drive. Done lots
of long-haul family trips in the S6 Avant, lots in the Eurovan, and
the Eurovan wins, hands down. Automagic and all.
-Ian Duff.
On 07 Nov, 2007, at 08:01, Peter Schulz wrote:
> At 06:57 AM 11/7/2007 -0500, quattrojedi at aol.com wrote:
>
>> ". Tip is the way to go when there is a child behind you......."
>
> You HAVE to be joking....
> PLEASE tell me that you are joking.
>
> My wife and I drive nothing but manual transmissions and would not
> have it any other way.
> We use the clip on interior mirrors to see what the boys are doing
> in their child seats.
>
> Driving a stick reduces your ability to err, multitask (phone,
> drink, food, makeup, read a book, etvc) and focus on the task of
> driving.
>
> I like to use a headset if I absolutely have to use the mobile phone
> while in the car.
>
> Why do folks think that having kids in the rear seat means that you
> must have an automatic transmission?
>
> -Peter
> (evidently too old school for his own good)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----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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>
> -Peter Schulz
> Chelmsford Ma, USA
> http://www.naaclub.org/
>
> 1995.5 S6 Avant Emerald/Ecru
> 1995.5 S6 Avant Silver/Platinum
> 1991 200 20v Q Avant Titan Grey (for sale)
> 1991 90 20v Q Red
> 1991 CQ silver (eS2 recipient)
>
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Ian Duff | Business Consultant | BT INS | ian.duff at bt.com | +1 (508)
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