2004 Audi S4 Avant

‘FF04 GKX’ is finished in Nogaro Blue with a Recaro Biscuit leather interior, a colour scheme that which would be enough on its own, but it becomes irresistible when you learn that this automatic Audi S4 Avant has lived its life in the salt-free environs of Japan.

Brought over here in 2021, its first three MoT were all advisory-free; stack these alongside its stunning condition and you can forgive the lack of paperwork that’s common with imported cars.  

Still showing just 83,000 miles on the odometer, the seller drove it the 330 miles from his home to us. In one hit and on less than a tank of fuel: We’ll discuss fuel economy later but it’s way better than you might think, making this a family wagon that’ll keep you thrilled and your family safe no matter what the season – and it’ll do it all without breaking the bank.
 

It’s a neat and understated design, isn’t it? Although one that is, of course, improved by being a Nogaro Blue estate.

Because nothing is cooler than a fast estate and no estate is cooler than a Nogaro Blue one.

But then you don’t need us to tell you that, right?

So we’re starting from firm footings, footings that support factory-tight shutlines, perfect panel alignment, and a complete absence of the sort of dents and dinks you’d have every right to expect to find on a twenty-year-old estate.  

But then the fast Audis have always attracted discerning owners who look after their investment – and when that owner lives in Japan you are generally safe in assuming you can multiply that quality curation by a significant factor; we yield to no one in our admiration for cars that have spent their lives over there and we are always amazed at the difference a life without road salt makes.

The six-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels aren’t only in great shape with no dents, dinks, or other kerbing marks, their open design allows for the red Brembo brake calipers to peek through.

And, if that’s not enough, they’re fitted with matching Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, all of which have plenty of tread left on them as they were fitted only last year when the seller bought the car.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

As you’d expect, there are roof rails too, which aren’t only useful but lure the unwary into thinking this is just any old estate car. The eagle-eyed will spot the S4 badge of course, and draw their own conclusions from the twin exhaust pipes, but then by the time they have spotted them it’s game over, isn’t it?

As for flaws, there are a few very light scratches on the offside rear door and one wheelarch.
 

The Recaro interior is another real highlight, especially considering the Biscuit hide is complemented by lashing of carbonfibre trim, which isn’t something you see every day.

The front seats are wonderfully sculpted with the sort of deep bolsters and adjustable under-thigh support you’d hope to find in a car with the S4’s potential for high-speed, high-G, all-weather shenanigans.

Electrically adjustable and heated, they’re still in great shape with only light creasing to their outer bolsters. There’s a matching armrest between the two, and both benefit from having the Recaro logo embossed in them just in case your passengers fail to appreciate just how special the cockpit is. (The rear seat, which doesn’t look like it’s ever been sat on, is similarly marked; there’s no kill like overkill, eh?)

The driver also benefits from flappy paddles for the gearbox, while everyone can enjoy the Bose multi-speaker stereo system.

The boot is not only very well presented, but also home to the CD multichanger. It is as capacious as you’d expect for an estate and your belongings are kept hidden from preying eyes with a good retractable cover. No use if you’re transporting Rover of course, but very handy with luggage and shopping.

Interestingly, the sunroof incorporates a factory-fitted solar panel in the glass. This was a factory option when the car was new and is said to provide sufficient charge, with the engine and ignition off, to spin the heating fan to keep air circulating throughout the cabin.

It switches on automatically when the cabin reaches a pre-set temperature and Audi claims it reduces interior heat by as much as 50% and while we weren’t sure how much of a benefit it really is, the seller swears by it.

As for flaws, we aren’t sure that baggy netting pockets and some scuff marks on the frames on the rear of the front seats qualify as a problem but that’s the only jarring note, along with the odd sticky button above the sat-nav screen.
 

There is no history from the S4’s time in Japan but the service history booklet records the following work since it’s been here:

•    23.02.2022 and 66,513 miles – service by Concours Motor Company (1962) Ltd
•    06.05.2023 and 76,778 miles – service by Concours Motor Company (1962) Ltd
•    81,260 miles – service by McConechy’s Tyre Services Ltd

As you can see, the V8 fires into life at the turn of a button and quickly settles into a steady idle. It revs with subdued menace, although subdued is the last word we’d use to describe the exhaust note.

The timing chain and tensioners were replaced when the car was first imported by the Concours Motor Company (1962) Ltd. They specialise in importing cars from Japan and first sold this one to an older gentleman who kept it for eighteen months.

His wife didn’t like it though, so they bought it back from him and sold it again, this time to our seller. We love stuff like this; if a car is any good then the retailer will have enough confidence to sell it again.

Speaking of confidence in the car, the seller drove it to us from his home, a distance of more than 330 miles and a journey he completed in one hit and on way less than one tank of fuel.

He’s full of praise not only for the Recaro seats (“I’ve done a lot of long journeys in it, and you can sit in them all day and be absolutely fine when you get out”) but also the fuel consumption.

He admits he was a bit nervous about the cost of running a V8 when he first got it but says that his daily commute, which comprises 25 miles of A and B roads, returns 28-29mpg using premium unleaded, with the same being achievable at motorway speeds on long journeys.

The automatic gearbox has an extra ratio compared to the manual ‘box, and this drops the engine revs considerably when you’re sitting at 70mph. 

As for the condition of the engine bay, the fact the only thing we noticed is that the sound deadening on the bulkhead has come away in a couple of short sections speaks volumes as to how good the rest is.

It’s a good-looking engine bay, too; while Audi isn’t shy about showing off its V8, it doesn’t make a drama of it.

A bit like the entire car, really.

It’s much the same for the underside; a life lived without salty roads in the winter alongside a caring owner leads to the sort of undercarriage that might be five years old rather than twenty. Heck, it’s even still got its factory sticker on the underside of the rear valance.

If you are of a fastidious nature there is a crack to one of the plastic undertrays (slide #75/85) but apart from that you’ll just need to keep an eye on the underseal to ensure it stays this good for another couple of decades.
 

The S4’s MoT certificate is valid until May 2025 gaining, for the first time, two advisories for front brake discs. Sort those out and you could be on track for another clean sweep next year.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car and while the history file is sparse it does contain the Export Certificate plus a V5 in the seller’s name, the book pack and wallet, and the European DVD for the sat-nav.
 

What’s not to love about a V8-powered, all-wheel-drive estate that’s not only capable of reaching mph but is finished in Nogaro Blue with a Recaro hide interior?

Especially when it’s being sold with an estimate of £7,000 and £10,000 – and no reserve.

Winter might be coming, but it feels like Christmas is here already, eh?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.