Drove a '95 S4S!

[Michael Blue]

So, I'm going to go run an errand, and what do I see up ahead in traffic?

...A white '95 S4S!

So I catch up with it, and it's got dealer plates on it.

Since there's never any of those cars around here, I follow it to see if it's going to be available for purchase at the dealership it's headed to.

Long story shorter; Dealer "B" is returning it to dealer "A", because it "has issues".

Figures, I heard him grind the gears every time he tried to put it in first or third.

So the dealership gives me some bunk about "the guy's payoff was more than he thought" and off we go, I got to drive it.

Sure enough, shift bushings/linkage is bad and the clutch doesn't fully engage.

The car has some signs of previous rear damage (don't they all?) and was otherwise in very decent shape, but the dealer quoted $32K (smoking crack, imho) while the previous owner was known to be trying to dump it for $24K.

Anyways, thought I'd share. It's not often mere mortals get to drive these cars.

[DBredS4]

Firstly glad you got to drive the beast, fun isn't it?

Interesting about the shift bushings. How did they feel, I think mine are on their way out as the stick doesn't centralise to the 3rd 4th position without a little encouragement. My mech says it could be the translator springs??? 2 springs that centralise left and right on a steel bar at the back of the gearbox, while I find this realistic I can't help not ruling out the gearstick end bushes as it is quite stiff. Also it might well be a less expensive fix to go there first as it has never been done.

db

[fmxa]

If this is indeed a genuine S4s (not a S4) and the previous owner couldn't sell it for $24K there must be something seriously wrong with it. From the condition and sounds you describe, I'd pass on it. As a point of reference, a cherry 95 S4s just sold for $40K out here in CA

[slade]

a cherry 95 S4s just sold for $40K out here in CA

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not yours, is it? Paul must have finally gave in and turned to the G car side... or more likely that V8

slade

[fmxa]

Nope, not mine B)

not yours, is it?  Paul must have finally gave in and turned to the G car side... or more likely that V8

slade

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[Michael Blue]

Basically you had to guess what gear you were going into, it didn't center, and you couldn't feel the gates, at all. Also, since the clutch wasn't working properly, it caught a couple teeth going in if you weren't perfect with it.

I know S4Ss are worth more than they're asking, but for one that's been hit and is having issues, $32K is high.

Thanks!

[DBredS4]

Thanks, that sounds just like mine. i will mention it to my Mech next time I see him. Luckily I don't have the problem with the clutch.

db

Basically you had to guess what gear you were going into, it didn't center, and you couldn't feel the gates, at all. Also, since the clutch wasn't working properly, it caught a couple teeth going in if you weren't perfect with it.

I know S4Ss are worth more than they're asking, but for one that's been hit and is having issues, $32K is high.

Thanks!

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