Someone called custard on the suggestion that my
newly-acquired
Audi S4
would respond rather well to a software change by Revo Technik. This video should answer some of the questions raised by that person.
S4's proving enjoyable - but can it match an RS?
Although it sadly doesn’t contain any of Birds’ finest because it was actually filmed before the query was raised.
I hadn’t driven an RS4 on UK roads, and this seemed like a good opportunity to do so, and to then give the S4 a tough target to match for straight-line performance.
A week in the RS4 didn’t alter my feelings towards the car: it is still too obviously flawed in certain areas and yet so desirable in others. Having a weakness for small, fast estate cars, I just couldn’t stop looking at it – those flared arches and vast alloy wheels are a masterpiece and probably reason enough for many people to buy the car. It sounds glorious and this 7,000 mile example was much, much more flexible than the launch cars we drove last year.
RS4's combination of talents does appeal
The car is riven with inconsistencies though. The dynamic steering is disconcerting and none of the three damping options suits UK roads – especially the dynamic mode which makes the bodyshell creak over the worst surfaces.
Even so, the appeal of a V8 that revs to over 8,000rpm, 4WD for our shocking winters and one of the best dual-clutch transmissions, all wedged into that broad-hipped, compact estate body is probably too much for many people to resist. I might even be one of them.
If you want to know how a ratty S4 performs next to it, click here.