I will be in the market for new (well new to me) car next fall.

I am thinking of an S4 automatic. I see that they can be modded to 300hp very cheaply. I do want a FUN car.

1.Were these pretty reliable when new?
2. What kind of common trouble spots are there?
3.Do they need alot of reg.maintenance?

I know everything can depend on how the car was taken care of previous owners but looking for whatever general info I can get. Forewarned is forearmed, right?

About the S4...do they ride super hard? I want some cornering ability but that doesn't shake my fillings loose over bumps. So nice ride quality too.

thanks!

 

The B5 S4 is a fantastic car. Fun to drive, my favorite Audi motor by far, and as you said have enormous potential for modding. That said, they're neither reliable, nor cheap to maintain. The 2.7TT is maintenance intensive. Depending on the year you get, they're known to go through MAF's, throttle bodies, DV's, wheel bearings, the list goes on. Also, its tough to find one now-a-days that hasn't been beaten within an inch of it's life. The timing belt should be changed every 80k miles, the turbos seem to start petering out around 100k. If you don't do your own wrench turning, those repairs will cost you $1500 each without breaking a sweat. Another down side of that motor is that it's shoe-horned between the frame rails, so almost any service, simple or otherwise, requires that you pull the motor.

Check this thread out for more info.

I've always wanted an S4 but don't have the disposable income or place to work on one that I'd need to own one.

EDIT: Just re-read your post and saw that you're looking for an automatic. I'm told the tiptronic trans that came in the B5 S4 has a tendancy to grenade under the increased load of a modded engine. Just another tidbit.

 

^ Well you can always burn $3500 and get a level 10 rebuild kit. But yeah, everything CCA4 speaks of is true. I love the sleeper status of the B5 S4 but it just isn't worth the maintenance costs. I'll actually be getting rid of my Audi (hopefully) in favor of '65 Bel-Air w/ a 283 V8. SO much cheaper and easier to work on!!