Serge Storms

I'm selling my '05 S4 and have my eye on two S4's with similar mileage one is a '10 CPO and the other is a non-CPO '12. I'm hoping the knowledge base here can help me with making the right decision.

DrGP

2010s had T stat and water pump recalls that would all have been taken car of by now. No significant issues with either.

Crushinator

The only issue we've had with our '12 is the clutch is too weak for the car. Every once in a while when accelerating hard in first gear, when shifting to second, the clutch slips then grabs. Makes no sense to me to build a high performance car and not put a factory clutch in that can handle the power and torque. If I ever buy another S4, I will have to think seriously hard about making it and automatic. Which makes me sick because I hate automatics. Everything else has been flawless.

RobC

This is an issue with the 2010 model as well. I'd experienced slipping more than once and later when the clutch developed a shudder under normal take off from a stop, my clutch was replaced under a one time "good will" by the dealer. I agree that the stock clutch is not as robust as their clutches of the past.

DrGP

I think the Clutch is the same in all B8 MT cars. I had clutch issues with my 2010 and have to agree that it is the weak link in this car. I had 30K on my 2010 and my 2014 has 3500 miles. So far I am really reluctant to get on the car WOT and shift 1/2 based on my experience with my 2010.

brooklyn86

While I agree it seems like the clutch is a weak link, I wouldn't consider it an "issue" in the same sense as the water pump, leaking sports differential or t stat.

I've had my car for ~27-28K miles and haven't had any issues with the clutch with a stock ECU. I know there are members with Stage 2+ that haven't had any issues with their clutch either.

Perhaps mentioning the TSB related to the clutch, a manufacturing defect of the clutch assembly, may answer the question directly rather than clutch wear comments since this is going to be dependent on driving style.

MerkurRS

The '12 is considered one of the best (if not the best of the B8's and B8.5's) due to many bugs in the early cars.
The '12 will get you a longer warranty since it's 2 years newer too.

I traded my 2010 for a 2012 and simply love it. It is a DSG car too, which is a huge difference- less jerky in the newer '12.

brooklyn86

+1

Ulilbastrd

Not sure where you are located, or if you would be interested, but I am looking to trade in my 2012 S4 with 12,100 miles on it for a 2014. I would rather a fellow Audi Worlder get the car then the dealer..

I am located on Long Island

ni4ni

2012....most of the bugs fixed. I would always buy the last model year and never the 1st. If there's issue on the last model year it got to be a lemmon car