[s-cars] 2004 S4 Avant V8 -- Report on Test Drive

[Keith Franchetti]

Size was more passable than I expected, but clearly smaller than the S6.  I
didn't get a cold start, as he'd just returned from the car wash. (If I go
back another day to try to get that cold start, is 2-3 hours in a parking
lot good enough?  Or should it be first start of the day?  Or maybe it's
academic:  I can probably expect that pretty massive timing chain service
in the next 1-3 years since I did ascertain it probably has not been done
yet.)  Great exhaust note--so much so that I had some concern about a
possible exhaust leak, but closer examination didn't turn anything up.
 Sounded great, really.  Silver on black, wiht 114k miles.  Comfortable,
and all the creature comforts seem to work.  Clutch feels good. Paint is
probably a 7/10 overall. Sizable scuff or on rear bumper, but I didn't see
any damage to speak of really on the metal. Inside/underside of fenders
were all clean of rust.  He says he gets 17 mpg around town (mostly a 35
mph commute 12 miles into Burlington), and 21 on the highway. I suspect
this is a bit optimistic.

He mentioned that the good thing about the normally aspirated V8 is you
don't really have to put the premium gas in it.  He says he uses the medium
grade.  Which I take to mean he uses the cheapest stuff.  Would this cause
problems for the motor?  Or just degrade performance?

Speaking of performance:  Certainly it was a pretty quick car.  I don't
know that it was that much (if any) faster feeling than the defunct S6
(chipped) or my  A6 2.7T (also chipped).  Felt like the same ballpark,
though less lag in some conditions.  But I didn't find it staggeringly
quick or fast, though I didn't beat on it much.  Nor do I in most
circumstances.  I drive pretty conservatively, practically all the time.

He has serviced the car at the local dealership, supposedly every 5k miles
for the 15k miles he's owned it (year and a half).  He hasn't done any
control arm or suspension work.  He doesn't have any records from his own
time or previous owners.  Recent oil change, radiator repair, and repair of
rear hatch release.  I liked the owner.  He's early 30s, seems to have
money.  Had mild-moderate knowledge of the car.  He's moving towards a T6
Volvo wagon (300hp he says, but no stick, of course).

Comes with 2 sets of rims, but only one set of tires--pretty decent looking
winters, mounted on mediocre aftermarket 17s, that are straight and smooth.
 Stock 18" rims are tireless.  He says they are straight.  Mild-moderate
curb rash on a couple on 3 of them.

To sum up:

Positives:
- Very fun and sporty and sharp 6-speed WAGON (a dying breed)
- Impossibly, my wife kind of loves it, and would likely go along with
purchasing (She hasn't shown interest in its fuel economy ratings.  Don't
ask, don't tell.)
- Along with roof rack, has the trailer hitch that allows rear mounted bike
rack with no paint contact
- I THINK it sort of has enough space for what I absolutely need.  My
greyhound would fit.  Though S6 size would clearly be better size.  (I
don't find any S6s for sale near me.  Should I wait or widen my search?
 6-speed available?)

Negatives:
- $12-14k for a highly used car.  How likely am I to get 5 years/120k miles
out of it?
- Gas economy. 18-20 mpg kinda sucks but I can live with it.  If it's
really close to the 13 around town, that's pretty awful.
- Realistically, I have to expect to do that timing belt service in the
next 1-2 years, right?  That's ANOTHER $2-4k.
- I imagine it's also going to need suspension work and/or fuel pump sorts
of shit before too long.
- Need summer or all seasons right out of the box
- Spending upwards of $12k for a car that's likely got a lot of needs
coming down the pike, that's no spring chicken, AND guzzles gas like a
1970s land yaught.

My thoughts at the moment are that I want to drive a Mini Cooper (possibly
a newer larger AWD or extended version, and a Jetta TDI "sportswagon."
 While I'm at the VW dealership, I'm going to have to give one of those CCs
a spin (2.0T, 6 speed--I think that is a pretty kick-ass looking sedan) AND
a Golf R (AWD).  I know!  That's getting pretty far away from my list of
demands, but maybe I'll end up broadening my mind.

Sorry if I'm sharing too many details.  I do really appreciate hearing
people's thoughts and experiences though.

Keith