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Buyer Guide · Oct 7, 2026

2012 · AudiS4

Asking price$0
Public guide
Asking$7,900
Mileage120,000 mi
Engine3.0L 6-Cylinder
TransmissionAutomatic 7-spd
DrivetrainAWD
BodySedan
Key takeaways

What the data shows

This S4's supercharged 3.0-liter V6 can last, but “reliable” is a qualified yes at 120,000 miles. The 7-speed S tronic can develop clutch or mechatronic faults that cause harsh shifts or leave you without dependable drive, and rear timing-chain work is costly because access is from the back of the engine. A leaking supercharger intercooler brick can also bring coolant loss and misfires. The seller says maintenance was on time, which helps only if invoices back it up.

Set aside about $11,000 for the three major-risk repairs represented here. Start it fully cold and listen for chain rattle, then test the transmission through slow shifts; ask for service invoices. The asking price is below typical market, but those repairs could quickly outweigh the gap.

Strong 70-100Fair 50-69Weak 35-49Poor 0-34

At a Glance

What this guide surfaced
Red Flags03
01
Price Far Below Market

$7,900 is about 25% below the $10,500 market estimate, so condition and history need close checking

02
Rear Timing-Chain Access

chain repairs require extensive work at the back of the engine

03
S tronic Repair Exposure

clutch or mechatronic repairs can leave the car undependable

Green Flags02
01
On-Time Maintenance Claimed

the seller says service was kept current, so ask to see invoices for the major work

02
Supercharged V6

it has no turbocharger hardware or turbo-specific oil lines to service

Reliability Outlook

Modeled risk by mileage
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Current · 120k
25k
50k
74k
99k
124k
149k
173k
198k
LowModerateHighSevere
4.7/10
ReliabilityWeak
Deal0.0
Issues · 9 flagged9 open
Major
03
Caution
06

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9 Findings9 items to check

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2012 Audi S4 Base: 4.7/10 | Squeezed