Used Audis to Avoid? (S4-S7, 2011-2018)

[oilerfan4lyfe]

I'm looking at getting a used Audi...S4/S5/S6/S7, anywhere from 2011 to 2018 (2016 max for the S7 because of $$). Anyone know of obvious years to avoid or cautions with a particular year/model hitting a certain amount of KMs? I'm hoping to keep the car until mid 2023 so I'd like to get 2 years out of it without it exploding on me. It's very unlikely that I'd keep the car into 2024. I'll only be putting about 25,000KM on it total.

The top of my list right now is the 2018 S5 sportback of which most are ~40,000km. If anyone knows of a potential problem with that, I'd greatly appreciate the advice before pulling the trigger.

Thanks in advance.

[Buster]

yes

[bjstare]

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yes

This.

But if you're set on Audi, the lowest km, single owner example of an S4 or S5 that you can afford is best. The supercharged v6 and TT v8 both have problems, but the v6 ones come at higher km (timing chain tensioners) and are cheaper to fix. The ttv8 has some type of oiling issue that starves the turbos and is pretty hard to predict, and is obviously $$ to fix.

[2020]

Find one with a factory warranty that hasn’t been flagged yet. Drive the piss out of it and sell it before the 4yr 80,000km warranty expires.

[killramos]

Try to avoid the ones with rings in the logo

[finboy]

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yes

Came here to post this

[Buster]

I don't understand why people have to have an Audi.

By far the least desirable of the Big 3 nazi sleds.

[zipdoa]

Huge fan of Audi.

Wouldn't drive any of those, lol.

Audi's best motors are indirect injection and 5V heads.

[Lex350]

Based on OP's user name, buying a used Audi still isn't the worst decision he's ever made.

[zipdoa]

You didn't ask, but these are the cars you should consider right now:

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

That RS6 was on BaT and didn’t sell earlier this year.

[bjstare]

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I don't understand why people have to have an Audi.

By far the least desirable of the Big 3 nazi sleds.

S7/RS7 are sort of in a class of their own. E53/E63 wagons are preferable, but if someone wanted the big hatchback thing and not a wagon, bmw/mb don’t really have a competitor. And don’t say the 5 series GT, that thing is comically ugly.

[oilerfan4lyfe]

Yikes I assumed they’d have some problems like MB/BMW but based on this thread Audi seems to be a class of their own. I’ll look into that e55 and the rs6…or I’ll just buy a used Camry instead. Thanks for the replies!

[Neil4Speed]

Are you hard set on an S-series? I would consider the A7 with the 3.0T or the TDI. S7 is pretty amazing, but the engine/turbo failures really makes it a concern for me. If you are able to buy an extended warranty on a used one from a dealer might be worth looking.

[killramos]

I have never seen the appeal of the A/S/RS/+7

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

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I have never seen the appeal of the A/S/RS/+7

Same. It reminds me of a pancaked Aztec.

[sabad66]

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Yikes I assumed they’d have some problems like MB/BMW but based on this thread Audi seems to be a class of their own. I’ll look into that e55 and the rs6…or I’ll just buy a used Camry instead. Thanks for the replies!

I don’t think they are any less reliable than used Mercedes/BMWs per se. sounds like these guys just don’t like the looks which is fine, to each their own. Personally I think mercs are the ugliest of the 3 German with Audi being first. It’s just personal preference.

Buy one if you like it after getting some real quality answers on reliability. Try posting this same question on audiforum.ca. That’s what I would do if I was looking at those performance models.

[oilerfan4lyfe]

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Are you hard set on an S-series? I would consider the A7 with the 3.0T or the TDI. S7 is pretty amazing, but the engine/turbo failures really makes it a concern for me. If you are able to buy an extended warranty on a used one from a dealer might be worth looking.

Nope not dead set on the S series but finding non-S with decent options seems to be difficult. One of my biggest reasons for wanting Audi is the B&O sound system which I absolutely love. It’s easier to find in S series as I think all of the technik versions include it but I’m not even sure on this as their website is garbage.

I guess esthetics vary person to person. The RS7 is one of my dream cars…absolutely love the way it looks. After watching Rich Rebuilds though, I’ll probably never get one.

I think if I go with Audi I’ll make sure I can extend warranty to cover the important parts. The person at royal oak said ‘18 models have warranty until ‘22 and adding an extra year is about $1,500. Seems worth it if it’s a $45,000 S5 that I assume will become useless if it has turbo/engine issues. Hopefully their warranty covers these types of things.

[killramos]

Has Audi ever made an engine that didn’t have a serious documented issue after ~80-120k km?

[Sentry]

I would get so many stunting tickets in that AMG wagon boiling the tires off from every light.