Love my S4, but miss the quality of my old A4...
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 1
Love my S4, but miss the quality of my old A4...
Have had my S4 for about two months now. The engine, the style, the fun-to-drive factor are all good.
However, I'm quite disappointed in the build quality of this car versus my previous '04 B6 A4 3.0 6-sp.
The sunroof rattle, the grinding noise when I make sharp turns, the crappy NAV maps that would have let me drive into a concrete wall, and now...there is a loud "pinging" noise when I go over road seams which I need to have checked out.
It's not the end of the world, but when spending a $15k premium, on an identical car, one would expect the same quality--if not better.
However, I'm quite disappointed in the build quality of this car versus my previous '04 B6 A4 3.0 6-sp.
The sunroof rattle, the grinding noise when I make sharp turns, the crappy NAV maps that would have let me drive into a concrete wall, and now...there is a loud "pinging" noise when I go over road seams which I need to have checked out.
It's not the end of the world, but when spending a $15k premium, on an identical car, one would expect the same quality--if not better.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 0
keep taking it back to the dealer until you get all your issues resolved. . .
you are right, there is no reason your S4 should be of lower quality than your A4. My S4 is 100 times better than any A4 I have ever been in!
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,738
Likes: 0
That's funny, I feel the opposite after driving 3.0 A4 loaners...
It felt like the amount of sound deadening was substantially less. The doors didn't close as solidly. It didn't have that solid bank vault feel that my car has. My car is THE most squeak and rattle free car I've ever owned. But I guess that just goes to show that not all A4/S4s are created equal. I hope your issues get resolved...
New Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Re: Love my S4, but miss the quality of my old A4...
I'm also wondering about quality.
My car (05/s4 wagon) has been down since 1-18-05 with electrical problems. They brought in a technician, he can't seem to get it fixed. They're bringing an engineer from Germany to look at it now.
I might not ever get my car back, that really bothers me. Because now that I've seen the worst (cars that literally cannot be fixed) every time I go to dealer from here on out I'm going to wonder if I'm getting my car back or not.
I'd like to have a little bit more confidence in my car company than that.
My car (05/s4 wagon) has been down since 1-18-05 with electrical problems. They brought in a technician, he can't seem to get it fixed. They're bringing an engineer from Germany to look at it now.
I might not ever get my car back, that really bothers me. Because now that I've seen the worst (cars that literally cannot be fixed) every time I go to dealer from here on out I'm going to wonder if I'm getting my car back or not.
I'd like to have a little bit more confidence in my car company than that.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,420
Likes: 1
Those are not "problems", so you might have a hard time getting them resolved.
Actually, the sunroof rattle <i>is</i> a problem--albeit a common one--but the others are not.
1) the grinding noise you hear while turning is the AWD system. If you put 18" wheels on your A4 it would do the same thing. My 1.8t loaner made the same noise, but it was mostly dampened out by the 16" rubber the car was wearing.
2) the nav system--is the one in the A4 any better?
3) the pinging noise is, once again, attributable to the 18" tires. Does your car have the Dunlops? Mine does, and those tires are more prone to pinging (sounds like a basketball hitting the ground) than most.
Problems solved. Happy now?
1) the grinding noise you hear while turning is the AWD system. If you put 18" wheels on your A4 it would do the same thing. My 1.8t loaner made the same noise, but it was mostly dampened out by the 16" rubber the car was wearing.
2) the nav system--is the one in the A4 any better?
3) the pinging noise is, once again, attributable to the 18" tires. Does your car have the Dunlops? Mine does, and those tires are more prone to pinging (sounds like a basketball hitting the ground) than most.
Problems solved. Happy now?
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 1
Then why does a car, that comes from the factory that way, make such an atrocious noise...
while turning? Shouldn't Audi modify something? Out of curiosity, what is the rubbing sound exactly? Is it okay to cut the wheel so I can make a U-turn or am I damaging something? Because that's what it feels like.
Re: the Nav -- I love how it gives you a .25 mile range when setting a destination. Very high tech. (You're right, this isn't a problem--just **** poor design and implementation.)
I have Pirelli Snows on right now...and the pinging sounds like the basketball that you describe...but it's really loud -- almost hard to even have a conversation in the car.
Re: the Nav -- I love how it gives you a .25 mile range when setting a destination. Very high tech. (You're right, this isn't a problem--just **** poor design and implementation.)
I have Pirelli Snows on right now...and the pinging sounds like the basketball that you describe...but it's really loud -- almost hard to even have a conversation in the car.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 0
I am not experiencing any of these things even on 19's so like I said, get the dealer to have a look
or call AoA and complain.
I don't have nav so I can't relate to the ****ty nav design. . .but I am not hearing any loud noises?
If they are 'not' problems, at least you will know for sure. If they are problems, then you can get something done about them.
No reason that you should be unhappy with an S4 if you were happy with an A4 unless it is just that extra money that is causing the unhappiness.
I don't have nav so I can't relate to the ****ty nav design. . .but I am not hearing any loud noises?
If they are 'not' problems, at least you will know for sure. If they are problems, then you can get something done about them.
No reason that you should be unhappy with an S4 if you were happy with an A4 unless it is just that extra money that is causing the unhappiness.
Trending Topics
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,420
Likes: 1
I believe it's the Torsen center differential. I don't know exactly what causes the noise...
...but I'm sure it has something to do with the front axle wanting to turn faster than the rear and the Torsen, by nature, not wanting that to happen. AWD cars usually make some type of noise when you turn at full lock. I wouldn't worry about harming the car.
Over certain surfaces, my tires ping quite loudly too--but maybe not as loudly as yours do. Can't really blame Audi for the noises your snow tires make though. It <i>is</i> a performance car, and performance cars usually make some concessions to comfort.
Over certain surfaces, my tires ping quite loudly too--but maybe not as loudly as yours do. Can't really blame Audi for the noises your snow tires make though. It <i>is</i> a performance car, and performance cars usually make some concessions to comfort.
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production
Joe Kucinski
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!
Michael S. Palmer
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!
Verdad Gallardo
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,539
Likes: 0
I have not had any quality issues with either of my S4s.
And, while I have never owned an A4 to compare quality with, it is difficult to imagine how a typical A4 would have a superior build quality to either of my S4s based on the A4 loaners that I have driven. Perhaps you have a lemon???
Andrew
Andrew
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 822
Likes: 1
From: New York
Went from a 03 3.0 to an 04 S4 and havent had any of those problems..
In fact I feel that the new suspension on the S4 is far superior to that of my old A4. The only thing I miss on the A4 was the better mileage..But whot could I expect from and 4.2 v8.