3.0 TDi S-Line Vs S4

[Silversmith]

Guys,

Im considering my options when it comes to a new motor. I have come from an S8 - so am very familiar with the greatness of the Audi.

I'm very much doing a head vs heart thing - where i do love the V8 sound and driving experience - i love the gear you get with an S motor - the BOSE sound system is phenominal as are the other goodies.

Im currently driving a TDCi Mondy and i get amazing fuel consumption with this - and am having trouble going back to the low 20's mpg - although i dont drive many annual miles - so the cost of running the thing wouldnt be that prohibitive.

I understand the 3.0 has a serious level of grunt and decent mpg - but do you get the toys you do with an S version - for example - could i get a 3.0 s-line with BOSE and the inbuilt TV/Sat nav??

[GCab]

Guys,

Im considering my options when it comes to a new motor. I have come from an S8 - so am very familiar with the greatness of the Audi.

I'm very much doing a head vs heart thing - where i do love the V8 sound and driving experience - i love the gear you get with an S motor - the BOSE sound system is phenominal as are the other goodies.

Im currently driving a TDCi Mondy and i get amazing fuel consumption with this - and am having trouble going back to the low 20's mpg - although i dont drive many annual miles - so the cost of running the thing wouldnt be that prohibitive.

I understand the 3.0 has a serious level of grunt and decent mpg - but do you get the toys you do with an S version - for example - could i get a 3.0 s-line with BOSE and the inbuilt TV/Sat nav??

On the performance front, Chav did a comparative review of the S4 and 3.0 TDI cabriolets a couple of years ago, from the unique long term review position that he had one and his girlfriend had the other!

As for specifications, the 3.0TDI is (along with the 3.0 petrol) the "top of the range" model below the S range, and comes with as many toys as you pay for. I'd have thought this is a matter of price package rather than to do with the engine - my 3.0 TDI S-line cab, for what it's worth, came with Bose and satnav (not TV) and a few other bits and pieces (heated seats, interior lighting pack, upgraded wheels, lower suspension) but I'm not sure howmuch of this was the S Line pack and how much was separately ordered (it was first specified by the dealership as a demonstrator, so I got it for an all-in price); my 2006 details may be out of date for you.

I drive the TDi up to the Lakes (and around them) every month and it's a perfect long-range drive with plenty of grunt as you say for the twisty roads once you get there. At the time I compared the 3 litre petrol and diesels and I felt the diesel (manual) was by far the most fun. Also the quattro (which is standard for all these higher-end engines) is a dream especially in the current weather.

Edited January 5, 2010 by GCab

[Silversmith]

Ahh - i didnt know that - i ssumed the S-Line WAS the top of the range.....!

[garcon magnifique]

This is somewhat subjective having owned or driven neither, but knowing people who have.

Once on your drive the 3.0TDI is obviously going to be the better financial proposition. It's more economical, damn near as quick in most circumstances, and will hold its value better.

However it might be worth looking at used prices of similar age/mileage cars, and considering how long and how many miles you might keep it.

I haven't checked, but if the S4 is cheaper to buy in the first place then having that lovely V8 motor and paying for 23-4mpg might not cost you as much more as you think.

As for equipment levels, so much of the kit on either is optional it is going to vary hugely from one car to the next. Whichever model you choose I'd go for the best spec you can find.

[Scotty]

Are we talking B8 A4's (i.e. a new car) or an older model?

If new then the S4 isn't a V8. The 3.0TDI is a very torquey engine and the S-line variant only £800 cheaper than the S4. Depends what you're after.

You're also talking Bose so I guess you're thinking of a B6 or B7 car?

:confused:

[Silversmith]

Are we talking B8 A4's (i.e. a new car) or an older model?

If new then the S4 isn't a V8. The 3.0TDI is a very torquey engine and the S-line variant only £800 cheaper than the S4. Depends what you're after.

You're also talking Bose so I guess you're thinking of a B6 or B7 car?

:confused:

Cheers Scott -

yeah - i realised that the new S4 isnt a V8 - but if im not mistaken a supercharged V6.

I was thinking of a B6 or B7 car TBH - and also agree its important to get the best spec as possible. Agree that the S4 might be cheaper to buy in the first place but could be quite quickly offset by more stops for go-go juice.....

[garcon magnifique]

I was assuming B7.

The new S4 is an interesting proposition, especially with the 7 speed s-tronic.

[PetrolDave]

The other point to consider is the ride quality.

Having had a couple of B6 S4s I can say that the ride is hard, you certainly notice every bump in the road.

Not sure if the 3.0TDi is softer though?

AFAIK Bose and the sat nav were available with all engine sizes, not sure how many people ordered the TV option though? (I had it on my first S4 but not my second and didn't really miss it - remember too that the B6/B7s will only have analog TV tuners which you'll need to upgrade to hybrid analog/digital ones).

Early B6s will have the RNS-D CD based sat nav (that's what my 2003 B6 S4 came with), which IMHO is nowhere near as good as the later RNS-E DVD based sat nav.

[Silversmith]

The other point to consider is the ride quality.

Having had a couple of B6 S4s I can say that the ride is hard, you certainly notice every bump in the road.

Not sure if the 3.0TDi is softer though?

AFAIK Bose and the sat nav were available with all engine sizes, not sure how many people ordered the TV option though? (I had it on my first S4 but not my second and didn't really miss it - remember too that the B6/B7s will only have analog TV tuners which you'll need to upgrade to hybrid analog/digital ones).

Early B6s will have the RNS-D CD based sat nav (that's what my 2003 B6 S4 came with), which IMHO is nowhere near as good as the later RNS-E DVD based sat nav.

Thanks for the info regarding ride - i didnt realise - the S8 i used to have was so comfy and a complete waftmobile....

Yeah - digital TV will make those analogue tuners a bit superfluous wont they!!

The S8 used to have a RND D CD system and it was a bit pants - it didnt have postcode finder - and you used to have to spend ages plugging in the town and the road - so yes - i would love RNS-E system - that also mentions road letters rather than just 4 for M4!

[Scotty]

From a wafty car to a B6 S4 you will genuinely think the springs have been removed.

I got used to it over 5 years but even then on some days I'd think "jeez it's feels hard today" (fnarr fnarr).

[garcon magnifique]

Did they soften it up at all for the B7? Must admit I'd assumed the B7 S4 and S-Line suspension was roughly the same.

[Milo]

The B6 sport/late s-line and the B6 S4 suspensions were different I think.

Didn't the B7 s-lines and S4s get the B6 S4 bits i.e. the S4 and s-line were the same in B7?

I wouldn't call the B7 s-line suspension soft, you still feel every bump in the road.

[GCab]

Ahh - i didnt know that - i ssumed the S-Line WAS the top of the range.....!

The S line designation is a pack that goes on top of the spec for the engine size, I think.

So the 3.0 TDI gets quattro as standard, as do the 3.0 petrol and the S4 (to cope with the power in all 3 engines). The S Line gets you the larger wheels, lowered suspension, and various other bits (the interior light pack?). I'm not sure I've seen any NON S-line 3.0 TDis, to be honest, so maybe this all goes together.

I think the satnav and Bose are add-ons at all levels.

What worked for me was getting an ex-demo - the price of the extras all got swallowed up in the 1st year depreciation, and the car was as new and fully loaded with gizmos. The demos tend to be well-specified, officially so that people trying them out get a taste for all the toys when it comes to making their own order (and unofficially because usually the head of the dealership gets to drive the best of the demos around out of hours, and orders demonstrators with the toys he likes...).

I think the key accessories are the RNS-E satnav (or newer versions), Bose, and heated seats (especially for a cabriolet...). I've had xenons and motorised seat positions in previous Audis and don't miss them much (the xenons if anything). I wouldn't get automatic or cruise control anyway - the manual 3.0 TDI is so much better than the auto I tried. The interior lighting pack is a trivial extra (only a £100 or so) but really ought to be standard as it makes the car's internal experience so much better for showing off (I've never had anyone yet get in the back without them oohing and aahing about the floor-level lighting, for some reason... ). I think it's a ridiculous bit of niche-pricing that they make some cars without those few extra LEDs and floor lights just so they can charge you such a tiny amount extra for putting them in.

Edited January 5, 2010 by GCab

[dpm_dpmartin]

The S8 used to have a RND D CD system and it was a bit pants - it didnt have postcode finder - and you used to have to spend ages plugging in the town and the road - so yes - i would love RNS-E system - that also mentions road letters rather than just 4 for M4!

Just to make sure... no integrated Audi sat. nav. system, with either RNS-E, MMI, MMI 2G or MMI 3G provides you with a full postcode finder. Just the first 4 or 5 characters. A real oversight (but "working as designed") by Audi.