US S4 Audi Order Guide
12-19-2016, 05:28 PM
#21
12-21-2016, 05:34 AM
#22
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
What MY will a new S4 be called if it is built starting in July of 2017? Based on my visits to the factory, the process (at least for German spec cars) is that the MY advances by one for cars built the second half of the given calendar year.
Yet, it isn't possible -- is it? -- for a July 2017 built car to be called a 2019 (in the US, correct?)
Would the vehicle built in Feb 2017 vs one made in July same year be completely unchanged? This seems unlikely since the changes generally happen with the switchover from the pre July production to the post July production. I understand the desire to have the newest and best version of the product, but are we looking at a particularly long run of 2018's, with the 2019's (by name) being made available in January of 2018?
I was at my dealership on 12/20 and they noted one of their customer's ordered cars had a "hold for shipment" date of 12/5. The rep said this meant is was in Germany perhaps awaiting a date for departure that would make sure the ship docked in 2017, not 2016.
Yet, it isn't possible -- is it? -- for a July 2017 built car to be called a 2019 (in the US, correct?)
Would the vehicle built in Feb 2017 vs one made in July same year be completely unchanged? This seems unlikely since the changes generally happen with the switchover from the pre July production to the post July production. I understand the desire to have the newest and best version of the product, but are we looking at a particularly long run of 2018's, with the 2019's (by name) being made available in January of 2018?
I was at my dealership on 12/20 and they noted one of their customer's ordered cars had a "hold for shipment" date of 12/5. The rep said this meant is was in Germany perhaps awaiting a date for departure that would make sure the ship docked in 2017, not 2016.
12-21-2016, 05:47 AM
#23
AudiWorld Super User
What MY will a new S4 be called if it is built starting in July of 2017? Based on my visits to the factory, the process (at least for German spec cars) is that the MY advances by one for cars built the second half of the given calendar year.
Yet, it isn't possible -- is it? -- for a July 2017 built car to be called a 2019 (in the US, correct?)
Would the vehicle built in Feb 2017 vs one made in July same year be completely unchanged? This seems unlikely since the changes generally happen with the switchover from the pre July production to the post July production. I understand the desire to have the newest and best version of the product, but are we looking at a particularly long run of 2018's, with the 2019's (by name) being made available in January of 2018?
I was at my dealership on 12/20 and they noted one of their customer's ordered cars had a "hold for shipment" date of 12/5. The rep said this meant is was in Germany perhaps awaiting a date for departure that would make sure the ship docked in 2017, not 2016.
Yet, it isn't possible -- is it? -- for a July 2017 built car to be called a 2019 (in the US, correct?)
Would the vehicle built in Feb 2017 vs one made in July same year be completely unchanged? This seems unlikely since the changes generally happen with the switchover from the pre July production to the post July production. I understand the desire to have the newest and best version of the product, but are we looking at a particularly long run of 2018's, with the 2019's (by name) being made available in January of 2018?
I was at my dealership on 12/20 and they noted one of their customer's ordered cars had a "hold for shipment" date of 12/5. The rep said this meant is was in Germany perhaps awaiting a date for departure that would make sure the ship docked in 2017, not 2016.
12-29-2016, 09:38 PM
#24
AudiWorld Super User
Anyone else confused by the transmission section of the order sheet? All literature (and dealers) tell us its an Automatic, not an S-tronic (or manual obviously)... weird.
12-30-2016, 01:24 AM
#25
01-01-2017, 06:14 PM
#26
Not sure what Audi's waiting for to release pricing in the United States. The wait has me stir crazy, now granted I already ordered my S4 for a few weeks ago but I'm curious to know how much I'm paying for it 
.
.
01-02-2017, 07:19 AM
#27
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
My wife and I visited our dealer (and salesman) yesterday (open noon to 3PM) to "configure" two different versions of the upcoming 2018 SQ5. There is, as you may know, no order guide.
The rep told us that there is at least one (already spoken for) 2018 S4 "on the boat" from Europe. He suggested that we would come close to the features/options avail on an SQ5 by using the S4 as a "close approximation" of the SQ5. He commented that he is a big fan of the air-suspension (coming on the SQ5), but that "out of warranty" the air suspension is expensive to repair and somewhat less reliable after 50K miles.
He also showed me an internal email from an Audi product specialist that did claim the sport package option on the S4 has "shock absorbers" that employ "magnetic particles" to provide almost instantaneous stiffening when required.
Of course, the use of the proprietary brand name (you know "magna-xxxx") since it is a trade mark is not permitted. But, like "kleenex" you can bet people will be using the proprietary term.
Frankly, I hope magnetic particle shocks are employed, no matter what they are called, officially.
As a screaming voice in the wilderness, my options -- if they were available a la carte -- would be red brake calipers and sport diff -- I'd just be fine with the standard suspension set up.
I did ask about the Audi beam rings, and was told they are not yet "in the system," but that ALL Audi products will be offered with this $250 option from this point forward.
In any case, orders for 2018 S4's are being accepted and the cars, when ordered, will be built with "about a 10-12 week" lead time.
And, NO prices for either the S4 or the SQ5 have been released; sales rep says take the 2017 versions and add a couple of percent to arrive at a "close enough for jazz" price.
Also, I saw the email from Audi to the dealer about Q5's including SQ5's. The dealer is getting "early release" cars (version and options unknown) in late March, into April,
Rep said that is just what happened with the 2017 A4 and Q7 -- and they weren't allowed to sell them (the first two or three, that is), they were to be used to offer test drives. Our rep noted that the ones that came in (about a year ago) were all dark colors and ONLY came with all black interiors (which our rep said gave an overall drab impression, in his opinion). Black on black can be cool and menacing looking. But when you ONLY have dark gray w/black interior spec'd cars, well it isn't as exciting as having some lighter colors with contrasting interiors.
In any case, the 2018 S4's are "able to be legitimately ordered", SQ5's however are not yet officially on the internal ordering software, so. . .we wait.
Happy New Year!
The rep told us that there is at least one (already spoken for) 2018 S4 "on the boat" from Europe. He suggested that we would come close to the features/options avail on an SQ5 by using the S4 as a "close approximation" of the SQ5. He commented that he is a big fan of the air-suspension (coming on the SQ5), but that "out of warranty" the air suspension is expensive to repair and somewhat less reliable after 50K miles.
He also showed me an internal email from an Audi product specialist that did claim the sport package option on the S4 has "shock absorbers" that employ "magnetic particles" to provide almost instantaneous stiffening when required.
Of course, the use of the proprietary brand name (you know "magna-xxxx") since it is a trade mark is not permitted. But, like "kleenex" you can bet people will be using the proprietary term.
Frankly, I hope magnetic particle shocks are employed, no matter what they are called, officially.
As a screaming voice in the wilderness, my options -- if they were available a la carte -- would be red brake calipers and sport diff -- I'd just be fine with the standard suspension set up.
I did ask about the Audi beam rings, and was told they are not yet "in the system," but that ALL Audi products will be offered with this $250 option from this point forward.
In any case, orders for 2018 S4's are being accepted and the cars, when ordered, will be built with "about a 10-12 week" lead time.
And, NO prices for either the S4 or the SQ5 have been released; sales rep says take the 2017 versions and add a couple of percent to arrive at a "close enough for jazz" price.
Also, I saw the email from Audi to the dealer about Q5's including SQ5's. The dealer is getting "early release" cars (version and options unknown) in late March, into April,
Rep said that is just what happened with the 2017 A4 and Q7 -- and they weren't allowed to sell them (the first two or three, that is), they were to be used to offer test drives. Our rep noted that the ones that came in (about a year ago) were all dark colors and ONLY came with all black interiors (which our rep said gave an overall drab impression, in his opinion). Black on black can be cool and menacing looking. But when you ONLY have dark gray w/black interior spec'd cars, well it isn't as exciting as having some lighter colors with contrasting interiors.
In any case, the 2018 S4's are "able to be legitimately ordered", SQ5's however are not yet officially on the internal ordering software, so. . .we wait.
Happy New Year!
Last edited by markcincinnati; 01-02-2017 at 07:24 AM.
01-02-2017, 09:34 AM
#28
AudiWorld Super User
^^
Audi's trademark for the system referred to is Audi Magnetic Ride, so no need to beat around the bush.
But it isn't used on larger MLB platform cars, so your rep/product specialist seems to have the S4 confused with the S3, which does use this system.
Audi's trademark for the system referred to is Audi Magnetic Ride, so no need to beat around the bush.
But it isn't used on larger MLB platform cars, so your rep/product specialist seems to have the S4 confused with the S3, which does use this system.
01-02-2017, 03:32 PM
#30
"This is made possible with newly developed CDC (continuous damping control) shock absorbers with electromagnetically controlled valves in their pistons. They allow hydraulic fluid to flow faster or more slowly as required. A new operating concept makes them very energy efficient. The central suspension control unit processes all sensor signals within milliseconds and controls each shock absorber individually. Together with the wide range of the damper valves, this ensures a wide spectrum between a soft rise and firm handling"
This is from an A4 but the fundamentals are the same.