I am going to look at a 2001 imohola yellow S4 with 54,000 miles on it. I had a few questions about it though. I have heard alot about turbo problems with them, and i was wondering to what extant that it true? also, i am driving five hours to go check it out and hopefully make the purchase, but is there anything i should look out for when i test it out? i do know that if routine maintenance is kept up with then it should be pretty reliable and i plan on doing that, but is there anything i should know before jumping into this?

 

service history
mileage
body damage
when was the timing belt/tensioner changed and the water pump
excess wear on the tyres

just the basic things realy

 

yeah i figured the normal stuff. i have a built civic with a sleeved and boosted GSR motor in it and i have done all the work, so i know alot about car's and the basic stuff like that. i am just wondering if there are any S4 for specific problems that i can look for. For example, i have heard that the turbos **** the bed alot, so my questions would be, is there any signs i could look for to help me pin point any future problems with the vehicle? i am getting kinda tired of dumping money into my civic because nothing is stock at all anymore, i am looking for something fun but a bit more reliable with some power.

 

If you dont like the amount of money your dumping into a civic, you will hate what you will fork out for service on the S4. Even any german car will be more expensive then a civic. they are just two very different cars.

- basically everything Avant80 said: Turbos will just get loud when they go. they can go at anytime so dont sweat it or you will never really enjoy the car.

 

http://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/1559248.phtml


The S4 FAQ has info on the turbo's.

 

its not that i am tired of putting the money into it, its more that i am tired of putting the money into it and it never being any fun anymore. The motor itself has about $15,000 into it and its a pain in the *** to drive and it has way to man problems despite the fact it was built buy a HUGE honda motor building company. So really i have just decided to get something i can have some fun with, but keep basically stock other than simple mods; exhaust, suspensions, etc. I was looking for ideas such as when you stated that the turbos will get loud, therefor when i test drive the car, i can look out for that. thanks