At $13,500, Is This 2001 Audi S4 Avant a Hot Deal?

The vendor of at this time’s Good Value or No Cube S4 says no take a look at drives with out chilly laborious money or licensed funds in hand. Let’s see if this Audi is priced to make it price waving a wad to get behind the wheel.

Very like the Taurus earlier than it, the Ford Explorer SUV took the nation by storm solely to see its preliminary success whittled away by rivals. The 1992 Ford Explorer we checked out final Friday was a good-looking reminder of what made that unique model such a success. Whereas parsimoniously geared up, it was clear and got here with a five-speed stick, one thing remarkable in just about all competitively-sized SUVs at this time. That, nonetheless, couldn’t counter a $6,900 price ticket which was approach an excessive amount of for almost all of you, because it was despatched packing with a 69 % No Cube loss.

Friday’s Ford could have been clear and unpretentious, however it wasn’t all that stimulating outdoors of its three-pedal structure and cocktail celebration dialog starter survivor standing. Alternatively, at this time’s 2001 Audi S4 Avant ought to show to be lots of enjoyable, and that historical past of enjoyable reveals within the substantial odometer studying and some chips and dings scarring the bodywork.

The B5 S4 debuted in 1998, with U.S. gross sales commencing the next 12 months. On the time, the twin-turbo V6-powered S4 was the quickest sedan in Audi’s steady.

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This one’s an Avant and is available in Imola Yellow, named for the well-known race observe in Italy. Presently mounted to that could be a set of alloys with summer season tires. The advert says the automobile additionally comes with a quartet of Avus 17-inch wheels wrapped in studded winter meats.

The positives for this wagon is the paint holds a shine. It additionally carries its headlamp washer covers, which is laudable. I can’t inform you what number of previous Audis I see operating round with these lacking. I imply, it’s been like two or three!

On the draw back, there are a variety of chips and dips within the bodywork, in addition to a large dent within the hatch which the vendor says is the results of a parking zone hit and run. That’s all just about par for the course when you have got a automobile of such age that has made its solution to a 245,000-mile odometer studying. Sure, that’s rather a lot on the clock. To mitigate that considerably, the vendor claims the automobile has been nicely maintained over the course of its life and can provide upkeep information to substantiate that assertion.

The cabin seems equally serviceable and proves that if there’s one factor Audi is aware of how you can do nicely, it’s interiors. The sprint and heart stack could lack the massive screens which are frequent at this time, however except for that, all of it comes throughout as each up to date and basic. That’s no imply feat.

The middle show within the instrument cluster reveals the standard failure. That’ll price a couple hundred bucks to have repaired, and often means sending the cluster halfapproach throughout the nation to get serviced, leaving the remainder of the automobile out of service.

The driving force’s seat additionally reveals some put on from the miles of smiles the automobile clearly produced, however aside from that the leather-based all appears good.

All these smiles come from the two,671cc V6 and six-speed handbook, which together with the Torsen heart diff Quattro AWD, gives up a fairly potent drivetrain package deal. The 251 horsepower 30-valve six comes with a turbo for every financial institution together with a companion intercooler. No, these will not be the best nor least expensive engines to work on—you just about must take away all the nostril of the automobile simply to switch the thermostat—however then anybody taken with shopping for this automobile ought to already know that.

In accordance with the vendor, this S4’s bi-turbo has obtained artificial lube each 5K and noticed its timing belt changed at 226K. Different consumables, comparable to wheel bearings and brakes, are claimed to have been solely changed with Audi elements. Now it’s mentioned to nonetheless “pull like loopy” and with none bizarre instrument readings or a CEL. It comes with a clear title and the vendor’s declare {that a} residence buy is dictating the sale, not any kind of want to be rid of the automobile.

In direction of that finish, the vendor asks $13,500 for the S4 and we now all must resolve if that’s a good value for a scorching Audi of such age and mileage. What do you say? Ought to an celebration go $13,500 for this S4 Avant? Or, ought to both the worth of the mileage be decrease?

You resolve!

Boulder, Colorado, Craigslist, or go here if the advert disappears.

H/T to Yossarian-22 for the hookup!

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