It’s a pretty good little read. Not wholly factual, but really funny anyway. Enjoy.
Come on Squiddy, we’ve seen it posted on AZ 10 times in the last 6 months…
Maybe I haven’t been on AZ but a little bit in the last 6 months, at least until a couple weeks ago! 
since when is that reason not to talk about something
although we did discuss this article here.
Since we already discussed it and we’ve seen it way too many times.
The problem I see is that people think they can buy a $50k+ car that is 10 years old for $10k and they aren’t ready for the maintenance costs of a $50k car. They shit themselves when parts/labor for a timing overhaul cost 20%-50% the value of their car. They also somehow forget that maintenance on any Audi or BMW chassis has never ever been cheap.
Honestly, if I had to pay to have everything done on one of these cars, I probably wouldn’t own one because nothing is quick, easy, or cheap…and everyone wants top dollar to perform service on these chassis. On top of that, from what we have seen about 10% of these mechanics or shops are actually competent enough to perform tasks successfully.
The only positive aspect is a company like JHM that is still developing parts for the platform. From their upgraded timing components to built heads/motors.
This was my first time reading the post and I think the author of that article isn’t much of a car guy. Euroswagr said it best. This is a used high end sports car. It’s not a top of the top but it’s more high end then a mustang or charger
The maintenence has never been cheap on euro cars. Look at the MB AMG twin turbo v12 those cars were well over 120k. Now just a few years old they have lost almost 75% of there value. All because of the maintenance cost that comes needed.
The timing belt jobs were on average 1500 to 2000 depending on all that you got done. This timing chain is 3500. The good thing is a educated customer who won’t pay for a used car without the maintenence done already
The author is not a car guy. He is a journalist that dreams. For instance take a look at this quote from the article:
[quote=“Jalopink article”]Here’s the background: the previous Audi S4, which came out in 1999, used a timing belt rather than a timing chain. This annoyed the hell out of everyone, because the belt had to be changed every few years, and the only way you can do this job, or any job in a 1990s Audi, is you have to remove the front end, and the engine, and all the glass, and then you have to do a little jig on the service drive that involves a socket wrench and some lederhosen. For this, you may bill 31 hours.
[/quote]
Sounds like he has no real knowledge of Audis.
Well he clearly didn’t know what really needs to happen to do the work. It’s almost like he was just making stuff up at one point.
I read this one article, something like “best used sports cars under $X.” It rated the V8 S4 as a top pick, because it was quicker and nicer than most anything else on the list. It rated each car also on maintenance cost, so the author considered things like oil changes, accessory belt, and tires as costs, and listed them. I was thinking, “How about when your S4’s A/C compressor goes, again, and the compressor is $700 alone, or when your 'Vette needs the dash pulled again to replace one of the heat door motors for your dual zone climate control?”
You guys have to keep in mind this is Doug Demuro. He is writing for clicks, so playing into all these stereotypes is a surefire way get more readers.
This is the same guy who bought a used Range Rover from carmax to write about how genius his warranty has paid off, along with the used Ferrari he recently sold. Which was a springboard to write articles about “How crazy it is to do ____ in a Ferrari.”
His stuff is pretty funny and entertaining, he’s a good writer…it’s really for humor and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. He is kind of the jalopnik hero of sorts. Since most guys there can’t afford CTS-V wagons…
That’s good to know that makes the article make much more sense
Thank you. That is 100% of why I posted it; it was entertaining to me.
I think it can see the entertainment but worry more about his interest in entertainment over his interest in actual facts. He obviously has no concern over his possible influence over his bad information.
I think it’s funny. The E46 M3 has been getting ragged on in the same fashion for years and the used market with those has no problem moving cars. Most people buying these types of cars used at this point are probably doing at least some research so they will find out somehow.
The E46 M3 with an SMG is way more of a nightmare than a B6 S4. Trans problems, frame problems, trans problems, frame problems. rinse, lather, repeat.
Don’t forget valve lash adjustments, rear shock tower problems, and rear diff problems.
There is no way of getting out of spending money if you want to own a German sports car for a while.