It took the right car and right price to move, jumping to a 2005 Audi S4 (V8, AWD, 340 HP ). Will be putting up the mildly modded 97 SE MT for sale in the next few weeks. Its been a great run, but I just did not feel inspired about the 6th or 7th gen Maxima's to continue on.

http://photos.ebizautos.com/7841/3164658_4.jpg

I appeciate all the advice and abuse I have received her over the years, may still stick around the board just becuse I enjoy my time here. Let me know what you think of my choice...

Dooley

 

For one. Awesome car to jump into. Now what I think. Very expensive to repair wether you do it yourself or take it to the shop. With the price of gas I hope you have a plan to help you conserve on it. Overall it seems that jumping on it, the price was good and you can afford the payment and gas cause you're buying it; so in all congrats to you! Hope it was the right decision for you and good luck with the car. Keep us updated if you do any mods to this one! Again congrats!

 

i would keep the maxi for DD and keep the mileage off the audi.

 

i love s4s, although i'm partial to the previous gen.

keeping the miles off the audi isn't a bad idea, especially considering what the max is worth these days. much more useful as a dd than a money maker.

 

^^^ yea id keep the max as a DD for the gas and keeping the miles off the new baby.

 

Nice pickup.I like the color and everything.Hang on to the max if you can though.

 

My Max is at 123K, so my choice is to sell before I hit 125k (still some market for a well maintained max), keep it for my boy who is 12.5 now (not sure if I want him to have a modded Max for car #1), or have a DD and a S4. I have a 2 car garage, and we have a Acura MDX as well, so I do not want to do the car jockey thing (plus I really want to drive the S4!). The Max looks good, runs good, has a new clutch, brakes, and updated springs/struts, wheels, exhaust, stereo, and lighting. I feel good moving this to a buyer who can appreciate the car for what it has become. If you know anyone looking for a tastefully modded Max in the pacific NW, send me a PM.

Thanks for the comments!

 

Is that the Rs4? or just the regular s4? looks great nice find.

 

S4. Wishing it was the RS4...

 

I asked because I tried making out what the red badge was, i thought i saw an R. still an amazing car, but expensive to fix :X.

 

That's exactly what I did when I got the 335 coupe. What threw a monkey wrench into things was getting married.

These Japanese cars are in the high 40 cents per mile to operate, while the german cars are in the mid 90's. It's definitely something to think about...

 

my buddy has an 01 S4 twin turbo and just replaced the turbos and chipped the ECU we got up to 160mph from 80 in less thn a mile. SICK

 

The new one 2k9 is interesting in that it sends the majority of torque to the rear and they've tried to do away with the FWD nature of the vehicle (Nissan has gone the opposite with the new Maxima, it's like 65% in the front!). I dunno if the older S4 has direct injection but that's a must nowadays, esp. with a Euro car.

I was told my 98 SE would be low 2000's retail, and definitely not much more than $1000 wholesale. For a car that's never failed to start once, still can get 25-26 mpg, and "only" has 161k. Keeping a 4th gen is really a no-brainer!

 

Beautiful car! In fact those are exactly what my plans have been. I am going to try and get my 1997 SE 5sp to hold on another 4 years or so, then hopefully I will be able to afford a B6 S4.

 

+1... nice find tho... good luck

 

I too am more partial to the B5 S4, but they're all great cars nonetheless. Congrats on the move up, although I will probably be running my max into the ground...

 

If my return on selling the Max is untder $3K, I will most likely keep it. Got the S4 at under $19k, so I am not so concerned about using it as a daily driver for my 5k miles a year (prices for thirsty v8's are a bit depressed now, hence my move) . The other challenges of gas and repair costs are more formidible, so I will work to find a local independant mechanic and will learn to work a lighter right foot (maybe?).

 

The 2K9 S4 has gone to a supercharged 6, so 2004-2008 are the only S4's with a NA V8. I think direct injection started in 2006

 

Definitely nice car to drive.

Yes, you thought about the gas side. Not only MPG but the range? This car probably need to get gas every 250 miles.

That was the choice we faced getting our IS250 two years ago. The IS350 would have been more fun. But even two years ago we can't justify the gas cost. And the ISF face much the same problems, lots of power, poorer gas mileage and the SAME size gas tank as IS250/IS350.

What would be great is an auxiliary gas tank that goes in the spare tire well. They made this kind of tank for the original VW Rabbit diesel for more range.

 

on keeping the 4th gen as a DD. but my uncle has a S4 V8 and those things get down! good luck with the new car.