Why are you guys jumping all over this guy. He made a choice and cared to share it. Let him enjoy it. By the way nagaro blue is a a sexy color.

 

I've always liked these cars. I almost bought an a6 with the 4.2. The car is awd, so that 400-420hp at the crank is gonna be significantly reduced. What does the car weigh?

 

I don't think we're all jumping over this guy. I think these cars have super clean looks and the power potential is definitely there. You can acquire them at bargin prices, but most fail to understand the reasoning behind the bargin prices. You can buy these cars for well under $15K now. In stock form, they're no faster or quicker than a 1st gen RWD 5AT G35 sedan (14.3-14.4 1/4 mile).

With some relatively simple mods, you can get the S4 into the mid 13s but then you start taxing the drivetrain and tiny K03 turbos. The 1st and 2nd gear syncros don't like hard shifts with the extra torque and the turbos are a $5000-6000 repair at an Audi shop. Add in larger K04 greatly increases power potential and will take the car into the 12s, but be prepared to dig into the 6MT. Just like most any other German car, the suspension needs a lot of TLC as the mile exceed 100K miles or 5 years. Bushings and shocks aren't cheap repairs. Same goes for all the mechanical repairs or what the Audi guys call "proper maintenance". A timing belt replacement, which is needed every 75K miles, is about a $2,300 to $3,500 repair depending on where you go and who you know. Basically the bumper cover and everything behind that has to come out.

With that said, these cars have speed potential, but a performance bargin they are not. Even with a set of K04s and the typical bolt ons, a car like a modded Legacy Spec B, STI, 2.5 WRX, or an EVO would make quick work of a modded S4 and do it more reliably. However, you don't get the clean looks or luxury. I think that's what draws in so many guys. Me personally, I'd rather by an E46 M3, chip it, add a header, and some DRs and go high 12s.

 

I see you have quite a bit of knowledge of these cars. Although your times are slightly off. A S4 with exhaust, downpipes, and a chip (roughly $2500 if you bought new, used would be much cheaper) can put you in the 12's with ease. K04s will place you in the 11's with ease. Source ( http://www.s4biturbo.com/timeslips.cgi). A majority of people running k04s never experience issues with the 6mt. Obviously replacing the clutch is necessary as the stock one will not hold 450+hp. A stage 3 or 4 clutch and resurface the flywheel and you will avoid most issues. All I will say about repairs is that not all cars have the same issues. I for one have a folder of preventative maintenance that was performed on the car from a responsible enthusiast owner. The 6MT feels great, the turbos have not Started to show signs of wear, over all the car is solid. I agree and will not deny the reliability issues or costs of these cars. But knowing what to look for, a will to work on your own car, and respecting the nature of these cars the can prevent alot of these common problems. Dollar for dollar, pound for pound, I feel this is the best sedan to tune to be an monster for "my" right price.

 

I think people are jumping all over him because of his assumptions about the value of AWD in the Northwest rain without ever having experienced it. Jeff is from Seattle, Halfbreed is from sunny San Diego, but acts like his theoretical AWD-in-the-rain ideas trump Jeff's real-world RWD experiences. Having lived in Portland for 9 years myself, I can say from experience that AWD is unnecessary in the city (Seattle or Portland).

Northwest rain does not come down in buckets like you get in the rest of the country during a storm. Instead, it's a slow, steady drizzle caused by a marine layer moving inland, not by heat generated thunderstorms. In fact, there's little to no thunder or lightning EVER west of the Cascades. So the ground is always wet, but there's not a lot of standing water that would cause you to truly hydroplane. And having 2 tires hydroplane doesn't mean the other 2 are going to miraculously save you from getting sideways. In 99+% of your driving time, you won't even notice you have AWD.

Sorry Halfbreed, while I like your car, your ideas about driving in the NW are based on ignorance (i.e. lack of knowledge).

 

I never once said it was a necessity to have AWD in the PACNW. I said that "I" wanted AWD because I did not want to drive a RWD car in the rain everyday. I made a choice to make my driving safer and easier. I have driven in the rain many times, to assume I have not makes you ignorant sir. I did not and still do not like the way a RWD car handels on wet roads. My personal experience, my car choice. End of story.

 

Sigh, please respond to what I wrote. I said AWD was unnecessary, I didn't say you did. And I never said you hadn't driven in the rain, I said you were from sunny San Diego, which has a completely different climate than the northwest. The rain in the northwest is different than anywhere else in the US, so it's very likely you haven't experienced sustained conditions like that..

And of course it's your choice what car you buy, nobody is disputing that. I couldn't care less what you drive. I'm merely commenting on your AWD vs. RWD in the rain statements. If you don't like how a well-balanced RWD like the G35 drives in the rain, then by all means get an AWD if it makes you feel better. But most of your statements make it sound like AWD is some magical tool that will save your **** no matter what the situation (like when 2 wheels hydroplane and the other 2 save you, see post #12). An AWD G35 is at best slightly better in wet weather than a RWD G35. Tire choice will have a much bigger impact than AWD will. But that's just based on personal experience.

 

Let me rephrase myself; I have driven in NW rain many times. For you to assume that I have not or have only driven in california is ignorance. My personal experience in RWD, AWD, and FWD in rain (yes NW rain) led me to my choice and I don't expect my experiance to change anyone's mind. Just like someone else's won't change mine when I experienced it myself.

 

LAWL @ this thread. the concept of you getting a faster car and then talking about being safer.... laughs