S4 buying gotchas

[HaleyD@YANKELOVICH.COM (Haley, Doug)]

To get back to the original thread, things to look out for...

* someone already mentioned weak transmissions.  Not something
to even consider, parts alone are over $5k, and they're a very specific
rare set of parts.  If mine ever goes, I'll swap in a 6-speed from Germany
* mine, and many others have had problems with sticking emergency
brake cables, and sticking calipers (northern clime)
* many will have been modded, some more expertly than others.  Some
bad experiences with TAP chips and Superchipped cars (check the
archives a couple years back)
* even tho the 200's lights suck, the low beams on the S4 aren't a whole
lot better.  The high beams and integrated fogs are a real improvement
but still not world class. That's why I'm in the process of installing Euro
lights this weekend.
* the HVAC system is same as all the same year 100's/A6's, in other
words, much improved.  But the controller motors have a tendency
to die, and the heater flaps for the floor or the defrost  then don't work
* the parts are killer $$$...   Oh yeah, it's an Audi
* the steering is very light, many don't like, tho it's very precise.  There's
an easy fix by disabling the electronic assist (on top of the power steering)
* brakes are seen by many as too mushy, and inadequate for track use.
Lots of folks on S-cars list doing brake upgrades.  For everyday use
they're OK
* the display for the autocheck can develop idiocy over time.  Contact
stabilant can sometimes cure, but problem is really with pcb board.
symptoms are missing segments on the display, or mush on the
display.
* the boost guage (only on early ones) is slow and inaccurate.  Later
ones didn't have factory boost guages

that's all I can think of offhand.  Mine is my all-time favorite car that I've
owned (I've had over 25 cars...)  compared to a bunch of Mercedes,
Bimmers, Saabs, Volvos, Hondas, Mazda's, a Lancia(!), Alfa Romeos,
MG's, DORF's well... you get the idea

Doug Haley
'92 Ur-S4: soon to have Euro lights!
'99 A4 1.8tqm: soon to be chipped!