Porsche_Joe

My wife and I have owned a few cars in our forty-two years of driving. I say few because we have only owned four cars each. All of our cars were purchased new and we each still have our last two purchases.

My wife's last purchase was a beautiful Brilliant Red 2005 Audi S4 Cabriolet. She loves the car but she now regrets buying it because in slightly less than four years of ownership the car has spent more days in the shop than all the other cars we have owned combined.

We have owned the following cars:

1967 Volkswagen Karman Ghia
1972 Ford Pinto
1973 Volkswagen Beatle
1979 Honda Accord
1985 Honda Prelude
1989 Acura Legend
1998 Porsche Boxster
2005 Audi S4 Cabriolet

I had planned on eventually buying a Porsche 911 as my next car but after the release of the Audi R8 I began to consider it instead even though it's more than I wanted to spend. The R8 is now totally out of the picture based on our experience with the S4. While we are unsure as to whether the S4 will stay with us for the long haul we have made the decision to never purchase another Audi.

I'm writing this post as a means of therapy while I wait for the latest problem to be corrected. We both love driving the S4 but the reliability of the car has been pathetic. How is the reliability of your S4 compared to other cars you have owned?

Thanks,
Porsche_Joe

CT Silver B6S4

Just now it seems like I'm burning a little bit of oil from somewhere, but other than that it's been all routine maintenance. I have also gone 0 days without my car since I purchased it.

kjb99

My '04 S4 has been great, no issues whatsoever.

KleineRotWagen

I've had an '04 s4 avant for about three years, bought used with about 13k miles, now has about 105k miles. I've only had two relatively minor issues - the driver side power window regulator failed about a year ago and rear brake discs needed replacement due to excess parking brake tension. The latter is not an Audi exclusive issue, so it's an equivoval point. I know there have been a few "challenged" ownerships out there, I'm sorry yours has been one. Regarding the R8, you should take the opportunity to spend the day with one at one of Audi's track driving venues; you might revise your thinking. I thoroughly enjoyed the handling & performance of the car, but would not buy one for one small (but improtant to me) reason; the dead pedal, while ideal on the track, in "normal" driving conditions requires me to keep my abused knee bent at an uncomrtable angle. Good luck with whatever direction you go.

Corrado79

Both of my Audis are the most reliable cars I've owned. No problems.

deeno20

I swapped my B6S4 for a B7 after two years and 50,000 miles....no problems. I now have 57,000 miles on my 2006 B7S4...just replaced the serpentine belt...other than that (and I see that as a wear issue) the car is fabulous.

Same said for my first Audi, a 2000 A6 2.7T. 4 years, no problems.

Sorry you have had more than your share.

s4for5_TTfor2

Pretty vague as to your issues, care to elaborate? exact opposite experience here

Inquisitor

Pretty problem-free, knock on wood. Maybe you just got unlucky? I wouldn't count the R8 out.

And would you mind describing some of your car's problems? I passed the 4 year mark in July 08 and have been wondering what life's going to be like without a warranty since I probably won't switch cars until next year.

*Edit* I should add that I also had an allroad from 01 to 04, and it was pretty problem-free as well.

SuperAvant

Owned mine for 5 years. not one problem. less problems than my Toyota Tundra.

S4iowa

I think he's had one motor replaced, not sure on the rest