The hunt for an Quattro Avant: Fact Finding

[johnhenry]

Evening all,

First post and all: ill get straight into it!

after the last few winters etc etc we're (the family) are looking for something Reliable, AWD with a big boot for dogs, option of a tow bar decent driving machine, and to look understated/classic. First option was a mk1 range rover; but horrifically unreliable so that bit the dust.

Ended up on audi quattro avants. But im abit unsure what all the models mean/details of each/user reviews

S2 Avant
i understand there are 2 engines, B3 and ABY? bit of information on both please?
S4 avant
ive seen an advert for older ones, similar age to the s2 avant??

General advice would be great thanks, reliability, mpg & running costs as well please?

Many thanks
John

[S2central.net]

Take your time and do some homework... There are good wikipedia pages on Audi and Avant models but heres a quick start guide

Audi 80 Avant - from 1992 to 1996 - lots of engine choices and FWD versions as well as some quattro models. The S2 Avant only came with ABY engine and 6-speed gearbox. This is the 'B4' platform. A funky Porsche version was produced in small numbers called the RS2 - very collectable and sought after as proven by high prices for the really nice ones. Engine wise ABY is 230bhp and RS2 is 310bhp from factory. Both can be easily chipgraded to another 50bhp without worries - the engines are VERY robust.

Audi 100/200 Avant predates the Audi 80 models - they would be first Avants in modern times - bigger and older than the 80 Avant. There are some rare turbo quattro ones amongst the collectors - very few built and even fewer survive - 10V engine - probably MC & 1B or variants of.

Audi 100 was rebranded circa 1994/5 as Audi A6 of course. Audi really confused us all by first having the turbo quattro version (saloon and avant) called the S4 and then swapped to S6 to line up with 'S' badging of the A6 model. The 5-cyl versions of the original (UR) S4/S6 carry the AAN engine and 5 or 6 speed transmission. They had an automatic option as well. There was also a V8 version of the UrS4/S6 in some countries but not all countries or model years got it. This family comes under the 'C4' platform name.

The other S4 Avant you will see comes from the Audi A4 family - this is 'B5' platform that replaced the Audi 80 models from late 1995 onwards. NONE of those have the 5cyl engines - the B5-S4 from the 1990s is a 2.7liter twin turbo V6 engine - good for 270bhp or thereabouts in factory trim... chipgradeable to 320-330ish... be careful with these ones as they can suffer heat-induced turbo failures. The chassis of B5 platform is identical at the rear to the B4 but the newer B5 has the now normal dual wishbone design at the front as opposed to McPherson struts - better handling with downside of lots more bushes and joints that can be expensive failures when they wear out.

[s2_wot]

Welcome, I've a friend called John Henry, no dogs tho'...

The s2 avant only got the ABY engine, generally acknowledged as the more advanced. Only early coupe's had the 3b engine. To complete the story the RS2 had a modified version of the ABY engine called ADU. The s2 is based on the b4 chassis audi 80. In modern day coding you'd call the s2 an s4.

The s4 or (urS4) has a very similar engine coded AAN. It was developed after the 3b engine and before the ABY. The s4 was later branded the s6. This car is based on the c4 chassis audi 100.

Performance wise the s2 and s4/s6 will be broadly quite similar with the s2 being a bit lighter and generally tidier. All cars can be chipped by s2central.net on here to 275-280bhp which is well worthwhile if you buy one of these cars. The s4/s6 avant is a good bit bigger than the s2, but then again they're all slipper wagons in my eyes!!

[johnhenry]

Thank you both!
A bit more up to speed on things now.
We're after the ABY engine (5 cylinder 20v turbo) then: s2 Avants seem to have a fairly stable value if they're well looked after
Realistically; what sort of mileage will the engines do if well maintained? seen cars with 200K + on them (abit baffled as we're a family of fiats and pug 205's!)
is there a maintenance/service book log on here to see what sort of work needs doing at intervals?
Buyers guide as well maybe?

Also; budgets around £4-5K for a proper well sorted, wont need work model. i mean if there is somethings truly special (tiny miles, 'collector' owned) that you guys know about, please forward on as its probably a car thats going to be with us a long time.
ive been round pistonheads, ebay, autotrader, this forum, having a look at Avants to give a selection of options to the rents. You guys got any suggestions/good options?
Many thanks

[newsh]

Check out www.S2Central.net for buyers guide, specs, etc.

And

[johnhenry]

Check out www.S2Central.net for buyers guide, specs, etc.

And

Just what i was after!
Cheers man!
now just finding a couple of decent options!
in your opinions, is there anything similar to an s2 Avant? (4wd reliable car which is actually decent to drive) for similar money?

[DamianURS4]

dogs: UrS4/6 Avant. You will struggle to find a nice UrS4 (like mine he he) but there are still a number of UrS6's around that are well worth the money.

[johnhenry]

dogs: UrS4/6 Avant. You will struggle to find a nice UrS4 (like mine he he) but there are still a number of UrS6's around that are well worth the money.

so would suggest avoids s4&s6's? They have the different engine right?

[DamianURS4]

no my friend - the opposite - the UrS4/6 have the same 2.2 20V turbo charged 230bhp 6-speed engine. Because of the difference in engine compartment sizes, it was delivered in a slightly different format; hence the AAN naming. The Ur prefix is a German abbreviation Ur means 'original' as Audi were the first to successfully pioneer 4-wheel drive. IMHO the S4/6 has the extra room that you will need for dogs and TBH is nice to have all that boot space.

[Dan]

^ ditto that. The S4/6 Avant is the most practical of the lot... while still having the 5-pot-magic-factory.

[DamianURS4]

and the UrS4 Avant's are scarce and that much more desirable!!!! ;-)

[bazburn]

This looks very nice...and welcome aboard

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[DamianURS4]

that is one stunning S4 and a snip at that price - it looks SERIOUSLY clean. One prev owner with an interior that I am very jealous of - if I didn't already have Gwen - I would be over there in a flash as I am 25 miles away in Bmth!!!!
You'll never look back ;-)

[dm80]

johnhenry - you have found your Avant, the quest is over in just over 12 hours. Seriously - if you're after what you say you're after, then this is it, in spades..

This looks very nice...and welcome aboard

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Fat Audi 80]

Looks very very good from here...

Oh and

Cheers

Steve