I'm looking at a used A4 Avant in 2.0 TDI trim. I think I want the SE for a softer suspension and they seem to be more in my price range but looking at the specs in autotrader I cant see what you get that an SLINE does not.

I understand the main differences to be seats, wheels and body styling. is that it? I thought the SE might have something the SLINE does not in terms of parking sensors, sat nav or something.

Very surprised to see parking sensors not standard either. Thats seriously limiting my choice as the boss (wife) says she cant go back to a car without them and I tent to agree!

Looking at 10 to 12K for sub 60,000 miles by the way.

The reason they aren't standard is because there's a choice of systems.

Rear only, front and rear, and front and rear with a camera.

Then there's acoustic warning, acoustic and visual and the full monty rear view with

graphic overlay.

A lot of it depends on the car being fitted with the rnse type nav system

which again is an (expensive) option.

The good news is that it can all be retro fitted (for a price) but don't expect much

change out of £1200 for the full system.

Mine has the RNSE but no sensors at all, so I'm toying with the idea of an upgrade

for mine. The camera is what I'm after really, I nearly reversed into a large rock in

my wifes uncles back garden because I couldn't see it through my tints. (it was dark mind you)

The softer SE suspension was a no cost option on the S line, by the way.

Good idea to look until you find the right spec.

There are quite a few things that are standard on a Yeti/Octavia Elegance that are optional extras on nearly all Audi cars, including the expensive ones.

Problem is, you can get a fair number of cars with rubbish spec because they spent all their money buying the badge and didn't then want to pay extra for the tiddly bits a decent car should have.

They should include a basic system and let you upgrade, not fit nothing.

I might yet end up with another octavia for less cost/better spec/lower miles!

I had an A4 a while ago (2003) and loved it. Quite fancied another in place of our current aging 2005 octavia.

Have u thought about a Seat Exeo estate

Based on A4 and u will get alot more spec and a newer car for your money...

The A4 is getting like "golf" now just the name factor much more value for money out there....

The only thing i know is that s-line suspension is very very harsh. I had an SE before and it was superb. Problem is the s-lines look so much better. If you can find an s-line that had the no-cost option softer suspension fitted then that would be perfect but i doubt anyone would advertise their car with this option.

My dad has the s-line suspension and my mate had it in his last A3 and a work collegue currently has it in his A3. They are / where all tragic. The ride was totally harsh. Its a toss up between audi s-line suspension or my old BMW m-sport on run flats for the worst riding car in history. Not much to choose between them.

Try it as it may not bother you but i hated it. At least the cars are well made so the interior doesnt creak and groan over bumps that the suspension has failed to absorb but the Se suspension is head and shoulders above it plus the handling is still plenty capable enough.

On SE springs etc the car does sit a bit higher so can look a bit like its riding on stilts compared to the planted look of the s-line.

I cant commnet on the rest of the spec differences im afraid but for me the suspension was and would be again the biggerst issue for me.

From past experiance...dont get one!!..Lovely car inside and out but youl feel every ripple in the road in an S line with multi link suspension!!...A guy on an audi forum put it well...If you drive over a coin in in S line youl be able to tell whether its heads or tails!!...He wasnt wrong!! On the motorway it was fab, anything other than a motorway and it was shocking!!...I lasted a year in mine and could take no more!!! :(

This is why I'm looking at SE for a softer ride and lower price.

I had an A4 SE before my Superb - although a nice car just didn't suit ours needs (not much space in it for 2 kids).

Does your budget give you everything you need? As there are some good example Exeo's around.

I haven't vetted any nor know the dealers but here is an example:

http://www.autotrade.../1501?logcode=p

£12k, 2010 (10 reg), 20k miles, 2.0 TDi CR

In contrast, Audi A4 SE Avant, same engine I think.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301144907184/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/body-type/estate/price-to/12000/model/a4/make/audi/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/1501/keywords/se/postcode/tf11aa/page/1?logcode=p

You bunch of old men. I have a 12 plate S4 with 255/35/19 tyres and its not that bad. It has firmer suspension than an s-line A4 and whilst on some roads you can feel it, it's really not awful.

If you get one with drive select you can choose comfort mode which will sort that out anyway. I had a loan s-line A5 and it was pretty good in comfort mode.

I had an A4 SE, it was a great car, loads of miles in three years and ticked all the boxes, I did find the rake on the tailgate window was very compromising to call it a true estate, ride was good and I would probably have another, can't help but feel Audi don't give you much for your money though, compared to my Skoda there wasn't much in the SE as standard.

If you do find this car, RK58WXO, it had 135,000 miles on it in August 2011 and full dealer service history.

You bunch of old men. I have a 12 plate S4 with 255/35/19 tyres and its not that bad. It has firmer suspension than an s-line A4 and whilst on some roads you can feel it, it's really not awful.

My S3 on 18's rides far better than I was expecting.

And I don't like a harsh ride at all. It's pretty comfy, I still have bump muscle memory

from my Fabia and feel myself pre flinching when I drive over one I can't avoid

just to realise I hardly felt it in comparison.

Soaks up the bumps better than the other halves Fiat 500 too for that matter.

Now that bounces all over the place, charming in it's own way but nowhere near

as composed on the rough roads round my way.

Some good points about Audi giving you f**k all for your money in terms of spec.

Some good points about Audi giving you f**k all for your money in terms of spec.

That is what annoys me.

If you are spending £50k on a car you shouldn't be paying extra for Cruise Control, Ipod connection etc...

I had them on my £11k Fabia Greenline as standard fit items FFS!

To get a decent spec I was going to be adding around £8k to the price!

More than half of that was for things the Yeti has included.

You have to spec cruise control on an RS3 and auto dimming mirror on an RS5. P*ss take.

Slightly off topic but I tested a C63 and that was quite well specced, as you'd expect.

At the risk of going really off topic... on the GT-R the only option was premium or recaro seats. No extra charge for either.

And do you want to pay for a three year service pack up front at £500.

That's it.

As I said, I am looking at used cars wo will keep my eye out for nice extras

Its not so much about the base spec of the car as standard for me. I like the styling and I like the interior.

I dont like the styling of Seats overall and the fact that the exeo is just an old audi is just not for me - personal taste.

I dont mind a firm ride - the Fabia is Ok for me but the A4 would be to replace my octavia for longer journeys, hollidays etc so I would like something comfortable.

Plus - one of the main things is the flat boot space like the elegance octavia. We have a dog and a crate for the car so a lip on the boot stops the crate door opening and puts the dog of the jump in over the lip. Lots of cars have this anoying lip. The false floor in the elegance should be standard IMO.

I think you want another Octavia deep down Paul?

Better the devil you know.

I think you want another Octavia deep down Paul?

Better the devil you know.

Ha ha. Maybe you are right

It just wont 'fee' like a new car tho as the facelifted octavia II are not that different to my current car. Ive not ruled one out tho

SE model has no lumber support in the seat either!