2015 Audi S4 Avant - Family wagon from new
Discussion
The family wagon, also know as Helga - bought new and a keeper:
Probably about time my only real long termer had a write up, it’s also the only car I have ever bought from new; A 2015 Audi S4 (3.0 V6 Supercharged) Avant Black Edition in Moonlight Blue.
Purchased when CarWow was fairly new and achieving 20% off list price! This equated to £36k from £44k, not bad hey.
Adventures include driving my new born sons back from the hospital having gone through the various child seat options - rear facing to booster seats.
The family wagon has also taken us on some epic road trips to Scotland, France and even Denmark via the tunnel, Bruges, Hamburg + Stuttgart, Amsterdam and the top of Denmark.
What’s it like to drive - As fast as my old 997 C2S with a similar engine sound, but that’s where the Porsche similarities end. It feels fairly large, very planted and in sport mode, the gear shifts and cross country capabilities are tremendous. In normal mode I appreciate the software is all about fuel saving but I’ve still not got used to 7th gear at 1200 rpm while coasting along. It’s a bit like driving a manual and putting your foot on the clutch at speed.
Favourite moments have been flooring it away from French toll booths in the rain and in sport mode as you can feel all 4 wheels moving with the torsen (not haldex) 4 wheel drive system. With instant shifts from the dual clutch gearbox and some parps from the exhaust, it’s wonderful; childish but brilliant.
Bigger jobs than routine servicing - supercharger and coolant leaks a few years back covered under warranty. Top of the engine had to be stripped back due to supercharger location along with replacing the water pump and thermostat. Replacement shocks and callipers recently required also.
Preventative work has included gearbox servicing earlier than scheduled by Audi.
Being the only new car I’ve ever bought, the downside is that any damage such as scratches, chips or scuffs are all my fault. I recall a James May video where he discusses improving his 911 3.2 over the years, whereas I have done the opposite here. Part of being a family wagon I suppose but she still scrubs up well at 66,000 miles.
What next - having dropped out of full Audi service history last year and enjoying a local VAG specialist, there are plug in remap options taking power to RS4 levels. Could be fun. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2KfMY96v_Gc&pp=y...
rs4al said:
I remapped my S4 saloon and it was an absolute weapon!
Apparently according to MRC the throttle bodies get blanked off above a certain RPM to stop it producing more power than an RS4, simple stage one map and IIRC 460Hp, happy days!
A bypass valve is used to regulate boost pressure; this allowed Audi to tailor the torque characteristics to exactly what was required for the application. Think of the wastegate on a turbocharger, it isn't there to stop it making more power, it is there to make it operate in the way its designer intended. That (for durability) the compressor is over-specified for the standard power output is simply a byproduct of this.Apparently according to MRC the throttle bodies get blanked off above a certain RPM to stop it producing more power than an RS4, simple stage one map and IIRC 460Hp, happy days!
Edited by rs4al on Saturday 18th May 13:51
These are very good cars, and a lot of people keep them long-term. You could spend a lot of money and end up with something that isn't materially any better.
Dr G said:
A bypass valve is used to regulate boost pressure; this allowed Audi to tailor the torque characteristics to exactly what was required for the application. Think of the wastegate on a turbocharger, it isn't there to stop it making more power, it is there to make it operate in the way its designer intended. That (for durability) the compressor is over-specified for the standard power output is simply a byproduct of this.
These are very good cars, and a lot of people keep them long-term. You could spend a lot of money and end up with something that isn't materially any better.
Thank you for clarifying, I couldn’t really remember what MRC told me but the power increase after stage one was epic! Proper sleeper cars these.These are very good cars, and a lot of people keep them long-term. You could spend a lot of money and end up with something that isn't materially any better.
Cheers guys and good tips with MRC (had only considered Revo). Some big red calipers would look excellent also! Would be happy with 400 bhp as not to put too much stress on the drivetrain.
Another plus for the car is driving to London vs the trains with cheap parking and no ULEZ - opposite the Royal History Museum for free on a Sunday vs almost £100 on the train for 4 people:
Another plus for the car is driving to London vs the trains with cheap parking and no ULEZ - opposite the Royal History Museum for free on a Sunday vs almost £100 on the train for 4 people:
fastgerman said:
Cheers guys and good tips with MRC (had only considered Revo). Some big red calipers would look excellent also! Would be happy with 400 bhp as not to put too much stress on the drivetrain.
Another plus for the car is driving to London vs the trains with cheap parking and no ULEZ - opposite the Royal History Museum for free on a Sunday vs almost £100 on the train for 4 people:
Bet you had a funny feeling there was going to be a parking space there didn’t you…?a sort of premonition ? Another plus for the car is driving to London vs the trains with cheap parking and no ULEZ - opposite the Royal History Museum for free on a Sunday vs almost £100 on the train for 4 people:
ClaphamBoxS said:
fastgerman said:
Cheers guys and good tips with MRC (had only considered Revo). Some big red calipers would look excellent also! Would be happy with 400 bhp as not to put too much stress on the drivetrain.
Another plus for the car is driving to London vs the trains with cheap parking and no ULEZ - opposite the Royal History Museum for free on a Sunday vs almost £100 on the train for 4 people:
Bet you had a funny feeling there was going to be a parking space there didn’t you…?a sort of premonition ? Another plus for the car is driving to London vs the trains with cheap parking and no ULEZ - opposite the Royal History Museum for free on a Sunday vs almost £100 on the train for 4 people:
I bought one of these with light crash damage as a dog car, remapped to just over 400bhp mine has the manual gearbox, sport diff and DRC.
I previously had an S5 with the V8, the Supercharged V6 is actually much nicer to drive and with that map more responsive. do the coolers, upper and lower pulleys and you can easily push over 500bhp on the DSG box, I wish I had researched that a bit more before buying the manual as that struggles to cope with the power even with an uprated clutch fitted.
Great thing to drive and generally gets driven a fair bit harder than my R35 GTR.
I previously had an S5 with the V8, the Supercharged V6 is actually much nicer to drive and with that map more responsive. do the coolers, upper and lower pulleys and you can easily push over 500bhp on the DSG box, I wish I had researched that a bit more before buying the manual as that struggles to cope with the power even with an uprated clutch fitted.
Great thing to drive and generally gets driven a fair bit harder than my R35 GTR.
500bhp up from 340 ish is pretty epic and all for <£2k I’m guessing?
Latest S4 is a diesel I think, 2017 (B9) is a turbo but with a torque converter auto gearbox.
Re-parking - not fully getting the joke but plenty of parking Sunday mornings. You just need some small people to start your days at 6am!
Things that are getting a bit dated - Sat Nav. However the sound system is B&O with the Black Edition cars as standard.
Latest S4 is a diesel I think, 2017 (B9) is a turbo but with a torque converter auto gearbox.
Re-parking - not fully getting the joke but plenty of parking Sunday mornings. You just need some small people to start your days at 6am!
Things that are getting a bit dated - Sat Nav. However the sound system is B&O with the Black Edition cars as standard.
Edited by fastgerman on Wednesday 22 May 12:31
not sure on the cost of upgrading the coolers tbh but the top pully is cheap ~£150 from memory, don't think the bottom pully is super expensive (and it is good preventative maintenance as the standard one is prone to fail)
I fitted B9 S4 calipers and A6 discs to mine - transformed the braking way more than the macan calipers..
I fitted B9 S4 calipers and A6 discs to mine - transformed the braking way more than the macan calipers..
Edited by simon_harris on Tuesday 21st May 17:00
The later B8.5 S4's have a updated engine; clutched supercharger, cast iron cylinder liners, port injection aswell as direct injection (no carbon buildup), completely different ECU, uprated charge cooling system and an updated DSG gearbox.
You can go for one large lower pulley (207mm) which gives the same ratio as a 'dual pulley' setup but with less risk of belt slip due to the 'larger' upper pulley compared to a normal dual pulley setup.
Traditionally always been a BMW guy and never thought I'd be into Audi's, but I do love my S4. Supercharger noise with a decent intake is intoxicating too
OP get it mapped - you won't regret it!
You can go for one large lower pulley (207mm) which gives the same ratio as a 'dual pulley' setup but with less risk of belt slip due to the 'larger' upper pulley compared to a normal dual pulley setup.
Traditionally always been a BMW guy and never thought I'd be into Audi's, but I do love my S4. Supercharger noise with a decent intake is intoxicating too
OP get it mapped - you won't regret it!
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