Need input - re: potential S4 purchase
07-18-2007, 01:33 PM
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Need input - re: potential S4 purchase
My first post on this board. I've done lots of reading, including R/S4 buyer's guide + all the noob and tranny questions I could find. A friend lives in the mountains (deep snow in winter) has a new child and 3 cars, needs but does not really want to get rid of his silver 2001 S4 which he bought new. I'm considering purchase.
73100 miles, all dealer serviced, cam belt + all associated parts replaced, also new tie rod ends, windshield washer pump after crack & leakage. Dealer-recommended service all done at the same place at proper intervals. Clean car, gouged on front bumper corners (parking garages at his office, I guess), 2' crack in front windshield, everything else gorgeous - cold package, black leather interior, all stock.
Car drives great (I drove it SF-Tahoe and back, 7 hrs total, lots of fun in the mountains) EXCEPT !!: it does not like to shift from 2nd to 1st when rolling, and needs me to shift slowly from 2 to 1 when at a light! Dead Synchros? Dealer and indy mech say $3800-$4000 to R/R tranny and throw a new (to replace original) clutch in there at the same time. Car has significant highway miles, he's never raced it, but me thinks he likes to stomp on it when the light turns green on his way to work. If these are his driving habits, should I be looking for other lurking problems? Turbos sound fine, plenty of boost, I know I need to look for oil. And cv joints. But what would YOU GUYS be looking for? I'm considering offering him blue book minus costs to bring it to excellent condition (tranny + bumper + windshield) after having an indy mechanic spend an hour looking over it. Talk me through this, gurus, please....
p.s. current car is a getting-tired stock '85 saab 900 turbo 197k miles, still burns rubber shifting into 2nd. New Saabs no fun, S4 could be my next car?
73100 miles, all dealer serviced, cam belt + all associated parts replaced, also new tie rod ends, windshield washer pump after crack & leakage. Dealer-recommended service all done at the same place at proper intervals. Clean car, gouged on front bumper corners (parking garages at his office, I guess), 2' crack in front windshield, everything else gorgeous - cold package, black leather interior, all stock.
Car drives great (I drove it SF-Tahoe and back, 7 hrs total, lots of fun in the mountains) EXCEPT !!: it does not like to shift from 2nd to 1st when rolling, and needs me to shift slowly from 2 to 1 when at a light! Dead Synchros? Dealer and indy mech say $3800-$4000 to R/R tranny and throw a new (to replace original) clutch in there at the same time. Car has significant highway miles, he's never raced it, but me thinks he likes to stomp on it when the light turns green on his way to work. If these are his driving habits, should I be looking for other lurking problems? Turbos sound fine, plenty of boost, I know I need to look for oil. And cv joints. But what would YOU GUYS be looking for? I'm considering offering him blue book minus costs to bring it to excellent condition (tranny + bumper + windshield) after having an indy mechanic spend an hour looking over it. Talk me through this, gurus, please....
p.s. current car is a getting-tired stock '85 saab 900 turbo 197k miles, still burns rubber shifting into 2nd. New Saabs no fun, S4 could be my next car?
07-18-2007, 01:44 PM
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Re: Need input - re: potential S4 purchase
Thanks for the quick responses.
I read that other thread, isn't that about an auto trans?
Re: 2--->1 normal on all Audis - I can not get it to shift 2 - 1 when the car is moving. Synchro or gate problem or operator error?
ALmost like there is no synchro on first gear...
I read that other thread, isn't that about an auto trans?
Re: 2--->1 normal on all Audis - I can not get it to shift 2 - 1 when the car is moving. Synchro or gate problem or operator error?
ALmost like there is no synchro on first gear...
07-18-2007, 01:56 PM
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My 02 S4 has had 2-1 problems since day one
Dealers swear it is working normally. Now 50K and nothing worse. Only the odd time when I have to drive like grandma and leave a stop in 2nd.
Not enough of an issue to make me stop loving the S4
Not enough of an issue to make me stop loving the S4
