Author Topic: My 2001 Audi S4 - Gone but not forgotten! (Read 2997 times)

sameerrao · « **on:** 29-Dec-2007, 02:20:09 »

Here's my old girl. She has been with me for the last 6 years. We have done about 56000 miles together w/o any troubles. At the time I bought her, I was debating between this and a 2 year old M3 2 door. Practicality of 4 doors (the M3 4 door with manually tranny was real rare), a 4 year warranty and free servicing coupled with awesome sales experience won me over. Back in mid 2001, the BMW dealers were bunch of snooty snobs - bastards didnt care about selling cars.

Audi by contrast, were really willing to showcase their cars. When I took a testdrive of an A4 1.8T, a sales guy sat along side and he took me to a set of B roads where I could try out the quattro traction- things like keeping two wheels on mud and two on tarmac and driving off with full throttle. Putting all four wheels in mud and doing the same. Basically the stability of the car sold me. BMW were history. I went back to the dealer and saw this nice S4 sitting in the lot. The shrewd guy seized my interest and told me the S4 was a much better car and offered me a testdrive. I couldn't resist the offer and after sampling the power - huge difference over the 1.8T, I was sold. I bought the car then and there.

I had the moonroof tracks go bad on me (replaced under warranty) and had to get the injectors and spark plugs cleaned due to some carbon build-up - must be due to bad fuel. Other than that it has been reliable.

I love the red instrumentation - it looks cool and is also the best for night time driving as it doesnt kill your night vision like the other colors. The interior is quite classy and understated. No flashy chrome. The exterior is pretty decent too - I dont feel a great need to upgrade. I had a choice between a black, blue and silver S4. I'm glad I picked the blue one - it is pretty elegant and unique.

the only mod so far has been adding some lightweight Volks Wheels - saved something like 11lb per corner. At first I was waiting for the warranty to expire but now with the 348, I don't want tot do anything to ruin the so far exemplary reliability. My strategy is when parts break down or need to be replaced I will then look for the best OE or aftermarket parts. An example: my brake pads are worn out and I have ordered some Hawk performance pads.

Should fix one of the two weaknesses of the car - poor braking (the other being a suspension that could do an upgrade for a better handling/ride compromise).

zot09 · « **Reply #1 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 03:22:12 »

Lovely car and lovely TE37's

If you ever feel like parting with them I'm always here...

sentra_dude · « **Reply #2 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 03:41:04 »

I really like those S4's, very understated and I bet you have caught a couple of unsuspecting Camaro/Stang drivers off guard as you've blasted past them.

brembo · « **Reply #3 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 04:18:41 »

I dont need to say I really love the S and RS cars from Audi this is no exeption and the sedan are rare here in Norway as most people choose the avant for their S and RS cars....

I also would have prefered a blue over a black, Im kinda biased towards silver as I think it suits the car nicely, makes it even more understated and dust and stuff doesent show that much on it....

Nice pictures and nice writeup, I guess you being in texas it doesnt see snow and stuff like that, but on a gravel road it also shines if you dare taking her out there going for it that is, it doesnt do wonders for the paint job, but its fun and there is always respray I guess....

TT · « **Reply #4 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 07:46:46 »

The Biturbo S4 B5 is still sooo desirable!!

yg60m · « **Reply #5 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 08:14:50 »

A very usable and nice car

MartinR · « **Reply #6 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 18:16:47 »

I really like the S4 with that body, Must be loads of fun, wouldn't mind owning one myself in the future.

sameerrao · « **Reply #7 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 20:01:10 »

I have taken her out in the snow once when I went ot Lake Tahoe (a ski resort) in California. Even with summer tires, it had no problems with the snowy roads. In Texas, I haven't had the opportunity to take it out in the snow but boy is it fun in the rain - I love giving it full throttle and watching the quattro system take it without any issues.

If I ever get rid of this car it will be for a similar aged M5 (E39) - I love the big boy! But it won't happen for some time or maybe never.

goodduck · « **Reply #8 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 20:51:59 »

thanks for the interesting writeup. I am a big fan of the S4 and your color is nice. what kind of gas mileage do you get with that... say on a long highway cruise?

Pagani · « **Reply #9 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 23:44:38 »

Quote from: TT on 29-Dec-2007, 07:46:46

The Biturbo S4 B5 is still sooo desirable!!

The bitúrbo s4's are the best of the bunch
Don't like the na ones.

everso · « **Reply #10 on:** 29-Dec-2007, 23:51:36 »

great car, sameer! a future classic, IMO.

i still think you should mod it lightly....that car has so much potential! get that thing rollin man! i don't care if you have a 348 or a Zonda! the S4 begs for at least a new exhaust, some coilovers, or a mild ECU reflash!

cheers!

sameerrao · « **Reply #11 on:** 30-Dec-2007, 00:11:55 »

Quote from: goodduck on 29-Dec-2007, 20:51:59

thanks for the interesting writeup. I am a big fan of the S4 and your color is nice. what kind of gas mileage do you get with that... say on a long highway cruise?

On a steady 75mph cruise with three people in the car, maybe about 28-29mpg which drops to about 25mpg allowing for a few 1XX mph bursts to ahem clear the cylinders of any lingering soot

In stop and go traffic, it falls to about 20mpg with about 22-24mpg seen in regular driving (highway+city)

sameerrao · « **Reply #12 on:** 30-Dec-2007, 00:12:51 »

Quote from: everso on 29-Dec-2007, 23:51:36

great car, sameer! a future classic, IMO.

i still think you should mod it lightly....that car has so much potential! get that thing rollin man! i don't care if you have a 348 or a Zonda! the S4 begs for at least a new exhaust, some coilovers, or a mild ECU reflash!

cheers!

Please don't tempt me buddy

gucom · « **Reply #13 on:** 30-Dec-2007, 00:18:58 »

nice car sameer! The understated looks are one of the reasons I like audi's, together with the excellent quality of their cars ofcourse

Pagani · « **Reply #14 on:** 30-Dec-2007, 00:23:59 »

Quote from: everso on 29-Dec-2007, 23:51:36

great car, sameer! a future classic, IMO.

i still think you should mod it lightly....that car has so much potential! get that thing rollin man! i don't care if you have a 348 or a Zonda! the S4 begs for at least a new exhaust, some coilovers, or a mild ECU reflash!

cheers!

No half modding please
Do it right and al least get 400 hp and lots of torque from it whit better suspension and brakes.

everso · « **Reply #15 on:** 30-Dec-2007, 00:26:56 »

Quote from: Pagani on 30-Dec-2007, 00:23:59

No half modding please
Do it right and al least get 400 hp and lots of torque from it whit better suspension and brakes.

'half modding'.....no dude.....there's no such thing as 'half modding'!

cars that are driven every day, need to be tastefully modded...not everyone needs 400hp in a traffic jam on their way to work....trust me

brembo · « **Reply #16 on:** 30-Dec-2007, 03:57:18 »

Well 400hp from the 2,7 aint that bad of a mod,but you will need to change the turbos so it will cost some more, but 400 as a daily driver sounds about right,I run close to 400hp on my daily driver and its a 2,2.....

But a exhaust, filter and a chip is actually just good for the car, more efficient hence more mpg if you can resist going for it....

But I guess when one have a Ferrari in the garage, one might look at things differently and not wanting the daily driver to be the faster one......

everso · « **Reply #17 on:** 30-Dec-2007, 04:36:57 »

Quote from: brembo on 30-Dec-2007, 03:57:18

Well 400hp from the 2,7 aint that bad of a mod,but you will need to change the turbos so it will cost some more, but 400 as a daily driver sounds about right,I run close to 400hp on my daily driver and its a 2,2.....

But a exhaust, filter and a chip is actually just good for the car, more efficient hence more mpg if you can resist going for it....

But I guess when one have a Ferrari in the garage, one might look at things differently and not wanting the daily driver to be the faster one......

true true...

but my point is that someone with a stock 250hp S4 doesn't need to jump all the way to 400hp in order to mod their car! there are most definitely options in between...like chipping, exhaust, suspension which essentially just make the car more efficient (as you say) and fun.

sentra_dude · « **Reply #18 on:** 30-Dec-2007, 04:46:39 »

Quote from: sameerrao on 30-Dec-2007, 00:11:55

On a steady 75mph cruise with three people in the car, maybe about 28-29mpg which drops to about 25mpg allowing for a few 1XX mph bursts to ahem clear the cylinders of any lingering soot

In stop and go traffic, it falls to about 20mpg with about 22-24mpg seen in regular driving (highway+city)

That's really good mpg, I would have expected a lot worse from an AWD. Its always important to give the engine a good run every so often so the plugs don't foul!

MartinR · « **Reply #19 on:** 30-Dec-2007, 14:53:23 »

Quote from: Pagani on 30-Dec-2007, 00:23:59

No half modding please
Do it right and al least get 400 hp and lots of torque from it whit better suspension and brakes.

Half modding? What's wrong with getting less then 400bhp? Not to mention the brakes and suspension on an S4 are already pretty good.