Oh Boy, I've Sold My S4 Avant.

"Andrew T. Maness" (theroadlessdriven)
04/21/2015 at 11:30 • Filed to: Car Buying, Audi, S4, V8 Adventures, The Road Less Driven, Wagons

Yep, that’s right I did it, I’ve successfully sold a car for the first time in my life. My past vehicles have been traded in or passed on to family members but when I bought the S4 Avant last March the plan was to turn around and sell it for a profit, no matter how marginal. Despite DeMuro’s !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with his nonsense articles about how these cars are ticking time bombs, I managed to do just that and now I’m in a beautiful state of automotive limbo.

Will I get another bargain on a future and have another adventure in the world of car flipping? Perhaps, there are number of vehicles that fit the bill and many of them would make superb daily drivers here in Los Angeles. E34 M5, E36 M3, 911SC Targa, UrS4, the list just goes on and on and on. There is a big part of me that wants to make Tavarish proud and maybe even a little jealous.

However I could also go the McParland route and get something new with one of those warranty thingys. I’ve got above average credit, I know some folks at both Audi and BMW dealerships who be able to take very, very good care me should I want to go that route. Of course the downside to this is being locked into something for a couple years and like most men of my age, I’m terrified of commitment. I would change cars seasonally if I could afford to and the new vehicles that would truly satisfy me are well above my price range.

In the coming weeks I’ll post a piece about my year with the S4, the ins and outs of Audi ownership and why I feel that ultimately the stress of owning such a vehicle was well worth it. I won’t be sharing how much of a profit because honestly I think that’s a bit tacky but I will say that it was less than I had hoped but more than what I realistically expected.

Finally, if anyone has owned one of the following vehicles and would like to share their experience with it, please leave your thoughts below.

1991 BMW 318is

E36 BMW 328i/M3 sedan

E28/E34/E39 (02-04) BMW M5

E46 M3 Coupe (04-06)

E82 135i Coupe

Audi UrS4

Porsche 911SC Coupe/Targa

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Maness writes about cars because he has one and also has a computer. He’s been known to drunkenly tweet as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and upload photos to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . He also has a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and thinks talking about himself in the 3rd person is really weird but knows it’s necessary if he wants to be taken seriously as an automotive journalist.

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DISCUSSION (39)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 11:35

Well done! Look forward to reading more.

Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 11:51

Nice story!

The 318i is nice, a friend has one and is rather tunable, still we here in Europe got the 320i which is better, because 6cyls. E39 M5 is sex on wheels and the 135i is a blowjob on wheels.

Dsscats > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 11:54

“ E28/E34/E39 (02-04) BMW M5”

Please, please, please get any one of these (Especially the first 2)

Andrew T. Maness > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/21/2015 at 12:29

My friend, Europe has all the good stuff. If I was over there I think my head would explode from all the choices. Would probably end up with an old RS2 Avant though.

The thing I like about the 318i is that if I ever wanted MOAR POWER, I could just swap in an S52.

Andrew T. Maness > Dsscats
04/21/2015 at 12:30

Yeah, I love all three but the E34 does stand out as the generation where they just nailed it, classic 90’s BMW lines, forward tilt hood, factory cellular phone...

Andrew T. Maness > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
04/21/2015 at 12:31

Thanks Dave, more is coming. Have some new car reviews posting first but I’ll be sharing my journey on the buying trail, particularly any interesting test drives I go do.

Dsscats > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 12:33

It is gorgeous, but the redheaded stepchild at the same time (in a good way). Though the E39 is one of those automobiles where the phrase “peak car” is relevant, it’s just not as special or different as the other two.

Plus, only car people will get it with the E34 and E28.

Andrew T. Maness > Dsscats
04/21/2015 at 12:52

Exactly.

I fell for the E39 M5 the moment I saw Josh Kalis (professional skateboarder) doing donuts in his back when DC paid their athletes so much they could buy new cars in cash.

But now I’m older and I’m thinking less about doing donuts and more about canyon cruising in supreme Euro style. I talked with an E34 owner for awhile this past Sunday morning, he loves his and after watching him come up through “the snake” a few times I was the most smitten with the vehicle as I have ever been.

Dsscats > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 12:53

Hey, you’re in LA too? I was just up at the Snake two weekends ago.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 13:08

My advice: test drive EVERYTHING.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 13:10

E39 = timeless

E34 = classic

Hard to go wrong!

Andrew T. Maness > Dsscats
04/21/2015 at 13:13

Yup, I live in Venice. I try to get up to the canyons every Sunday morning driving everything from Stunt to the north end of Mullholland. Usually end the morning at the top of the Snake, especially if there is something interesting parked there.

Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 13:14

This is a popular choice here and I don’t understand why people do it. The 318is is at least an oddity, get a 6cyl car and do it and if you are lazy, most of the work when it comes to suspension/mounting other shit is there.

Also I am like that with the US, I want the sweet cheap Camaros/Mustangs/Challengers and Vettes and the Viper and the cheap gas. At least we here don’t have stupid import rules, do some simple stuff and anything can be registered with certain amount of hassle, but the prices, oh the prices.

Andrew T. Maness > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
04/21/2015 at 13:14

Can’t go wrong, might come down to a coin flip if I find the right examples of each.

Dsscats > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 13:24

Nice! If you ever come to Supercar Sunday, I’ll probably be there in a Z32

Dsscats > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 13:33

On another note.....overpriced.

http://ventura.craigslist.org/ctd/4981684159…

Vox Calamitous in Deserto > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 15:37

I loved all my E39s and my E34. If you want a unicorn, look for a true 2003 540i M-Sport. I liked mine better than the M5 despite its many leaks. An E34 M5 in any reasonable condition is likely to appreciate, so that’s good too.

Andrew T. Maness > Dsscats
04/21/2015 at 15:56

I try to stop by SCS at least once a month, I’ve been out of town a bunch lately but I plan to get up there very soon, maybe even this Sunday.

Andrew T. Maness > Dsscats
04/21/2015 at 16:00

Yep, I actually wrote that car up for German Cars For Sale Blog awhile back. Nice example, high price even with the extremely low miles.

http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/1993-bmw-m5-2/

DF34 > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 16:01

Currently own and use a E82 135i Coupe as my daily driver. BMW dealer upgraded the car to the equivalent of a 135is. (Added the intercooler and rechipped that added 20 hp and 17 torque).

It’s a fantastic car. Easy and fun on errands and a blast anytime you can go through a corner. Hard to picture another car being more fun on country roads and corners.

Ride is stiff (M suspension) but the seats are comfortable so it’s a worthy gran tourer as well. Was able to take it on the track last year and it more than held its own against Porsches, Ferraris, and Maseratis.

Negatives. While I love the hydraulic steering, it can take a good 20+ minutes to fully warm up on mornings in the 40s. With a commute of 20 minutes, the trip is usually over before the car is fully warm.

All in all, this car provides more smiles per mile than anything I’ve ever driven.

Andrew T. Maness > Vox Calamitous in Deserto
04/21/2015 at 16:02

Ah yes, in my haste I omitted the 54oi/6 which is odd because I actually test drove a Dinan pkg. equipped example a few months back and loved it. Unfortunately it has since sold and I’ve yet to find another Dinan in such solid condition and with a reasonable ($16k) asking price.

Andrew T. Maness > DF34
04/21/2015 at 16:07

This is the kind of information I find very, very helpful.

Though I was not a fan of this car when it first came out I’ve really come around to its overall value and honestly I don’t find the Bangle era styling to be that much of a downside.

I live in Venice, CA so the hydraulic steering warming up isn’t a big point of concern. Any other downsides you can think of? If I was to get one of these I’d be looking for a CPO example or CarMax warranty candidate.

How is the clutch and gearbox feel? I’ve heard that these can really benefit from a short shift kit and that the clutch is overall very good.

jkm7680 > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 16:07

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Dsscats > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 16:26

If you come the second weekend of May (I think the 10th) our Fairlady club has a little meet up there

DF34 > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 16:35

I have the double clutch, seven speed auto and honestly love the clutch and the gearbox. Fast, clean shifts and great high revs that perform exceptionally well on open roads. Easily my favorite transmission of any car I’ve driven.

Around town, when decelerating under 20 mph, there is typically a bad shift from 3rd to 2nd but that’s my only complaint.

Other downsides, the rattles. BMW skimped on areas of the interior with cheap plastic and I’ve been back to the dealer 5+ times in two years to address. Our roads are a bit rough in Portland, OR and the road noise can get very loud depending on the highway.

From a pure driving experience though, the car is so much fun and can turn a boring drive into a celebration.

jjhats > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 16:47

I came close to buying a 91 318is and borrowed the car for a week from craigslist seller while I got it checked out at an indy shop. for me personally I love the way those cars look and feel. it is 80's/90's yuppy chic. the car just oozed style and it was a classic case of falling in love with a car despite its flaws. now onto the flaws, the car is slow like slower than Miata slow. the dinan chip supposedly installed doesn't seem to do shit and you better be at 5k+ rpm or else it wont move with any urgency. the steering is comically loose and wobbly a sensation I couldn't translate to words until I understood what 3 turns lock to lock meant. the brakes were poor but I didn't feel like they were worn out so in short brakes have come a long way maybe you can upgrade them idk. the interior feels cheap as shit way cheaper than my focus lots of hard plastic no arm rests cheapo glove box etc. Now with all this said I loved this car. had it not been for my inability to wrench on cars, my lack of garage and my impending guilt that I would be destroying such a great machine by driving it daily through winter and rain, I would have this car. as an only car its prolly pretty dumb but not as dumb as dd'ing a real classic like a 2002 which plenty of people do. My focus is infinitely better in every conievable way on paper but doesn't excite me like the e30 does. the 318 connected to me on an emotional level that is so rare to find for me at least in new cars but easier in cars with character and class and harken back to a different time of automobiles. im getting sentimental but if these cars excite you like I do then get one if they only kinda excite you and you've heard good things prepare to be disappointed because 25 years of auto progression is no joke

Edit just saw youre in LA. you better buy one man youre selection and pricing is insane compared to east coast. I saw buy the nicest 325is you can find enjoy it then send it east where its worth 33%-50% more

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 16:58

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-e46-m3-is-…

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 17:09

Kinja'd!!!

I have a urs6. Practically the same. I used to have a B5 S4 avant, which was totaled back in September, a month later I jumped on my urs6 avant. Feelings? I miss my b5, but it had a lot of money into it, so in fairness I dont really compare the 2.

The S6 Is a blast though, very comfortable (best seats Ive sat in) awesome in the snow (locking diff vs abs managing the slippage in the newer cars) did I mention that the rear seats are functional on top of being heated? (everything from the b5 and up has laughable back seats bare designed for children) At stage 2 its fast enough, but boost is a slippery slope. I’m very DIY so big plus on these cars is all the room you have to work on things, nothing like the cramped engine bays of late. The community is awesome, very mature, and overly helpful.

Oh before I forget, this is a classic turbo car is lots of lag, especially when you go bigger, currently the money starts to come in at 3.2k rpm and peak boost (24psi) at 4k for me. But take that with a grain of salt cause I was used to the bi turbo TQ monster my b5 was; 385wtq at 3.5k, full boost (18psi) achieved at 3k. Also my s6 has almost 270k so theirs that, really old/tired.

Torque Affair > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 19:45

That’s awesome. Looking forward to your story on your S4 and what you buy next!

Gripevo1 > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 23:08

skip the e30. been there done that. way over hyped and will make the audi look reliable(the drivetrain is fine but 25 year old German electronics are a nightmare). At the very least get the 325i. My vote is for the 911, 135i, or e34 m5. I dont know what your budget is but those cars area all over the map on pricing. The 911 will appreciate the most but finding a good one for under 30k is getting difficult. Also, parts costs are pretty high. The 135i is fast, comfortable, and has most of the modern amenitys...but get a cpo car or at least a warranty(carmax style ftw). I love e34 m5’s but ive heard a few horror stories about reliability. Also consider a e34 540/6spd as a cheaper alternative...a good buddy had one and it was lots of fun(although watch out for the nikasil/alusil block issues). Good luck :)

Andrew T. Maness > ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper
04/21/2015 at 23:14

Very nice ride ya got there, I love the UrS6 Avant, I’m just at a point where I don’t necessarily need a wagon so I’m thinking of getting a coupe for the first time or a legendary super sedan.

However, if the right one of these came along, I’d be completely on board. All the space in the world in the engine bay, sounds awesome after dealing with the V8 shoe horned into the B7 S4. Good friend had a 2.8 Avant in high school, I remember those backseats being quite comfortable on longer drives, especially when heading to the mountains in the deep of winter.

Andrew T. Maness > jkm7680
04/21/2015 at 23:16

What if I get an SC?

jkm7680 > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 23:25

If you get a 911 SC, I'll give you a pass haha.

Andrew T. Maness > Gripevo1
04/21/2015 at 23:26

Certainly not the first person to advise me to skip the E30, it’s at the bottom of the list but it’ll stay on the list regardless.

As for the Porsches, difficult yes, impossible, no. I have found a number of solid 911s between $21k and $28k. I actually put a call in earlier today to a guy about an Oak Green ‘78 SC Targa with the Tartan Plaid seats. Hoping to check it out by the end of the week!

Andrew T. Maness > jkm7680
04/21/2015 at 23:26

What about a GTI?

jkm7680 > Andrew T. Maness
04/21/2015 at 23:28

Yes! But how about an Rs4?

Andrew T. Maness > jkm7680
04/21/2015 at 23:42

Nope.

Buddy had one, I drove it a bunch, didn’t feel all that special and it was harsh on his wallet. I did love the noise it made with the full GMG exhaust though.

Now, if we got RS4 Avants over here...

Gripevo1 > Andrew T. Maness
04/22/2015 at 12:34

Nice! I really regret passing up a few nice 911 sc’s and 3.2 carreras when i got my first Evo....the values have just gone insane.

Andrew T. Maness > Gripevo1
04/22/2015 at 22:35

I know the feeling, I had to pass on a peach of an SC because I was still paying off my WRX.