Ok, i realize these answers are going to be just a BIT biased, but its worth a try. I met this guy today, and we were talking about cars, and he told me how he is selling his 2002 Audi S4, and told me how its chipped and lowered. i think he said 330 hp/370tq, sumthin like that. so i inquired as to how much he was selling it for, he said 26k (35k miles), and i asked my dad to come have a look at it. the guy took me for a ride in it and needless to say....IT DIPS. this thing has some REAL balls. after much discussion, my dad decided that if i drove it and liked it, he would trade my TL for the S4 + cash. now im in kind of a predicament- i love my TL, but i think the S4 is just a GREAT car. it doesnt have as many creature comforts, to be sure, but i think it makes up for it in performance. also, the TL is an auto, and the S4 is a 6Mt, and i kinda was regretting the purchase of the TL in auto. i duno, what do you guys think?

 

i would opt for the s4. its a awsome handling car. and that 6spd is a lot better than auto.

 

I agree with Cliff, the fun factor of the chipped S4 is much higher than the TL at your age. just be careful though as 330hp is a handfull to handle.

 

Personally, I would get a new A4 1.8t quattro and upgrade the chip and turbo. Last gen. S4s are tight, but I would rather have a new car...and 1.8ts are easy to make really fast

 

S4's have a few weak spots, including the intake y-pipe and bypass valves. If either fails, the turbos are in danger and new turbos reportedly run more than $6,000 a set. Look at the ads, you'll see used S4's with about 50K miles advertising new turbos.

That said, the S4 is a great drivers car. A friend tried to sell me his 2001-1/2 S4, but I did not want the $6k hanging over my head.

 

I wanted to get the S4 but instead got the TL04. The car doesn't have the comforts of the TL but I would rather have a drivers car like the S4. The reason I choose the TL is b/c of my job. I drive a lot probaly between 1500 to 3000 miles month. If not more.

I would go for it.

 

I think you're 16 and full of sh*t. The only thing that's chipped is your Playstation.

BJ

 

Hmmm aside from your dad being nuts giving a 16yr old a 300+ hp car (I would have prob. killed meself at that age in a car like that ) the question I have is who will be responsible for the maintenance of the car? If your dad is and he is ok with it then by all means go for the "performance" car given I doubt commuting and creature conforts are what you require at your age. If on the other hand you'll be stuck with the maintenance bill I would seriously consider the fact that servicing a German car is 2x-3x more then a Japanese car and as far as reliability they arent even fair to compare.

 

rich parents, rich kids, who cares. For those of us who earn our money and work for it will feel more well deserved than daddy worbucks and kid wonder. lol.

 

I would not want to own an S4 out-of-warranty. Mere mortals cannot afford the maintenance bills.