mm

...decisions, decisions, decisions. The B6 offers all these little improvements and it looks nice, but the B5 looks nicer, and I would miss it. Sigh. Oh well, wouldn't be doing that for a few years anyway.

MarkFank

I've got the Boxster sold and a friend is buying my Cherokee. Found a Laser Red/Onyx silver alcantara 6 speed with 15k miles for $34k.

I think I'll save up some $$ and pick up the B6 S4 Avant in the fall of '04 or early '05. Hopefully the price will have stabilized and can get one under MSRP.

It will be good to be back in an Audi again!

mm

...wouldn't make any sense to move out of my 2001 B5 S4 Avant any sooner than that.

Raoul

Have you considered a used S6? You can actually put adults in the back seat

mm

...think I'd prefer the smaller size, sportier feel, and manual transmission of the S4, I'd wait to get one after they're out for a few years and are going for reasonable prices below MSRP.

We'll see. Any such change of cars for me is still a few years away, and very much up in the air.

EGan

personally if I still have my avant with me I'll keep it. I prefer the b5 looks myself, plus it's easier to mod the b5. Why not just wait for the b6 RS4?

mm

All that aside, how have you been?

mm

B6 S4 Avant:

Pros: No turbos, no turbo lag, no turbo problems, more power, better performance, better handling, potentially better reliability, new car with a new car warranty, better transmission, better suspension, better brakes, better/improved features, slightly bigger than B5 S4 Avant, new/updated styling, reasonably affordable assuming I would sell my B5 S4 Avant for a decent price.

Cons: No turbos, not as good looking as B5 S4 Avant, I would have to part with my B5 S4 Avant.


B6 RS4 Avant:

Pros: Turbos, unrivaled performance, more power, better performance, better handling, potentially better reliability, new car with a new car warranty, better transmission, better suspension, better brakes, better/improved features, slightly bigger than B5 S4 Avant, new/updated styling.

Cons: Turbos, not as good looking as B5 S4 Avant, I would have to part with my B5 S4 Avant, Price/Cost/Affordability?, Availability?


B5 S4 Avant:

Pros: Styling, a modern classic, turbos, I love it, more affordable, better gas mileage.

Cons: Only two years left on factory warranty, potential future reliability concerns and potential out of warranty problems (turbos, etc.)


Despite all the improvements with the B6, at the end of the day my B5 S4 is still a damn nice and highly desirable car. It's been reliable so far, is in pristine condition and has never been modified or tracked. Plus I take very good care of it, totally baby it, and do not abuse it or thrash on it, so there's no real indication that any major future problems are looming, and there's really nothing to suggest that it would necessarily be inordinately expensive to keep and maintain out of warranty.

Given all that, it's hard to say what I'll do. We'll see, it's still at least two years until I would make any serious moves in this regard and the B6 RS4 is still a complete unknown. I love my B5 S4 Avant, but short of keeping it forever, how long do I really want to hang on to it? At what point do I want to "upgrade"/replace it? That's the hard part.

As exciting as the idea of a new car and the B6 S4/RS4 is, it's hard to think of ever replacing my baby, but that's what it would come down to...

EGan

especially the last part, at some point it will be more expensive to maintain older car(especially euro car) than to buy a new one. Unless you can fix everything yourself then it's better to get a new car.

Raoul

Good thanks!