I loved my S4 but it wasn't w/o it's share of problems and you will still need snow tires for the winter. Like someone posted above check out a STi or Evo, but you seem more like a Legacy guy to me. Don't mess with a used S4, get a new car for $30K.

sam

 

You'll need if for the maintenance.

 

Evo MR for 30k would be the way to go... if you go for the B5 make sure it's under warranty.

 

Keep your eagle(beater),buy the S.Put the S as second car(weekend used)that way you save some $$ on insurance.My .02

 

I drove a modified S4 (bought it in Dec 99 and sold it to my brother-in-law in Nov 03) for 4 years and loved it. The only reason I sold it was because the miles were racking up (75K), I didn't get the extended warranty, and I had a newborn baby so needed to get a larger, newer car (I have a German Shephard too). WRT dealers and warranties, as long as you put the stock chip back into the ECU when going to the dealer, you should be fine. If you really want to be on the safe side, reset the codes too. I never had any problems with dealerships honoring the warranty. I've also heard of S4 owners keeping their chip in the car and the dealer was still okay with it. It all depends on the dealer, I suppose.

The S2000 and S4 are completely different cars. Both have aspects that are good and bad. Having both is like enjoying the best of both worlds. I now have a Cayenne S, S2000, and 911... but still miss the S4. There's nothing like the feeling of turbos spooling up. True, the Evo and STI offer the same or even better rush of turbos, but we're talking different worlds of quality here, like you mentioned. When I drive the S4, I miss the 911 and S2000. If you want a nice interior, solid ride, and quick acceleration, I'd get the S4 as long as it has an extended warranty. You get what you pay for. BTW, a heavily modded (chip, exhuast, and larger turbo) 1.8T (including old and new model styles) will easily hit high 12s to low 13s --- except that I doubt the dealer will honor the warranty when it sees the larger turbos.

I would also consider an R32.

Good luck!

 

thanks for the replies everyone. i went on edmunds.com and looked up all of the cars mentioned, and really, not many of them did much for me. the R32 is a sweet little car, i saw 2 of them at the USGP.. however, they are.. a little car. plus i really can't see myself in one. i dunno. i've never had anything decent-sized that i could like, take more than 1 other person with and have them be comfortable with the ride. and talking about the ride, the Evos are also really nice cars. i know they're fast.. but i'm looking for something with a not-so-cheap interior, and a nice ride. and the Legacy? i.. uhh.. no. i guess if i was going to go for anything but the S2000 or the S4, it would be the R32, but i'm looking at getting out of the whole racing thing. if i had the R32, or Evo MR, or even the S2K.. i could look forward to all of these crappy cars around here revving at me at every light.. and i hate that crap. it makes me not even want a sporty-looking car. i guess i'm not even looking for something with break-neck power.. but more for something with a nice, comfortable ride.. with power when i want it. that, and the added security that fewer people would mess with my car when i leave it parked somewhere. that's one thing i'm afraid of if i got the S2K.

and as i said before, if i got the Audi, i'd get the biggest warranty they can put on it.

 

And the s2000 has a better ride? I sold my S2000 because it has such a choppy ride. The legacy has a pretty nice interior. I think you have your mind made up already. As a former S4 owner I'm trying my hardest to steer you away. Like mentioned above if you plan on getting a B5 S4 and mod it, be sure you either change the chip, or buy a extra ECU before you turn it in to the dealer. It takes me about 5 mins to change either but it take a little practice the first time. Buy a VAG unit to erase your codes and check for existing error(s), I have one if you are interested. Buy the extended warranty or get Audi Assured. Audi Assured will get you 2 years + the standard warranty or 100K miles. Plan on taking in to the shop more than a few times so don't be discouraged if they don't offer you a loaner car since my Audi dealer did not. Free maintenance is nice, they even replace clutches, but time is pretty important to me and the unscheduled pit stops is what really got me fed up with the car. I can say if you keep it stock you will have very few, if any, problems but as you probably know boost is a helluva drug.

Sam

 

thanks, Mr. BPU. it kinda makes me nervous having a previous owner try to steer me away.. and i've read a lot about all of the junk that can happen to those cars once you mod them. if i got an S4 i don't think i'd do anything to it right away. i'd probably wait a year or so.. that way i can get used to the car and what not. and even then.. i'm not sure i'd chip it. probably just an exhaust. minor stuff.

really, i don't do a ton of driving during the week.. 3.0 miles round trip to work and back.. with the occasional trip to Madison.. so the mileage wouldn't add up too fast. also, the only Audi i'd look at would be an Audi Certified one.

i actually liked the ride in the S2000. granted, i didn't get to take it on the highway.. i would imagine that makes a difference. is the S2000 really that bad on the highways?