B6 S4, a motoring secret?
Discussion
Is the B6 S4 the best kept motoring secret ever.
I've had mine for about 6 months , cabrio with tip.
I went for a drive last night and for once found the A roads of Sussex reasonably empty.
The shear grunt and soundtrack of the engine in sport mode was great. Handling gets better as you push on even though it is a big heavy car. It is so much better than my impreza (most of the time ).
It just amazes me that people look at me as though I am mad when I say I own and enjoy driving one
I've had mine for about 6 months , cabrio with tip.
I went for a drive last night and for once found the A roads of Sussex reasonably empty.
The shear grunt and soundtrack of the engine in sport mode was great. Handling gets better as you push on even though it is a big heavy car. It is so much better than my impreza (most of the time ).
It just amazes me that people look at me as though I am mad when I say I own and enjoy driving one
Escort2dr said:
You're on a high road to nothing on this site. If it has an Audi badge, everyone will automatically call you a cock and tell you it's not as good as a BMW.
More fool them ! Nice car, wish I didn't need the fuel economy or I'd have an S4 Avant.
Well i for one agree with the OP. I wasnt it top gear who tested the B6 S4 and the E46 M3 round the track and the S4 was quicker. And it was around this point did Audi drivers become cocks, but if you hang on clarksons every word then it is indeed a motoring secret. Enjoy the fact you have a car that makes you grin and moreso when pressing on, can certain surprise a few hardcore RWD fans. More fool them ! Nice car, wish I didn't need the fuel economy or I'd have an S4 Avant.
Escort2dr said:
You're on a high road to nothing on this site. If it has an Audi badge, everyone will automatically call you a cock and tell you it's not as good as a BMW.
More fool them ! Nice car, wish I didn't need the fuel economy or I'd have an S4 Avant.
Personally I think anyone who thinks that about BMWs is likely to be a BMW forum.More fool them ! Nice car, wish I didn't need the fuel economy or I'd have an S4 Avant.
We all have our biases, and for me it's Audi - the B6 S4 Avant I had was one of my faves.
Good car, just not quite quick enough - although yes on Top Gear it was indeed quicker than the 2003 M3 around the track, and is available in the Cabriolet, Saloon and Avant making it far more flexible than the M3 in my book too.
DjSki said:
Depends on what you prefer, Audis softer approach to performance (current model cars excepted)or BMW's more focused approach.
Or rather the security and limpet grip of 4WD vs the purity and adjustability of the BMW.Having recently joined the light side, I certainly see the appeal of the Audi (and enjoy driving it), but for a hoon, its RWD every time for me.
Great Pretender said:
DjSki said:
Depends on what you prefer, Audis softer approach to performance (current model cars excepted)or BMW's more focused approach.
Or rather the security and limpet grip of 4WD vs the purity and adjustability of the BMW.Having recently joined the light side, I certainly see the appeal of the Audi (and enjoy driving it), but for a hoon, its RWD every time for me.
I am selling the Z3M after getting the more sensible S4 Avant (B5) but I also plan to get something a bit more hairy for the weekend now. M3 CSL, 996 GT3 or TVR Cerbera would be amazing.
Great Pretender said:
DjSki said:
Depends on what you prefer, Audis softer approach to performance (current model cars excepted)or BMW's more focused approach.
Or rather the security and limpet grip of 4WD vs the purity and adjustability of the BMW.Having recently joined the light side, I certainly see the appeal of the Audi (and enjoy driving it), but for a hoon, its RWD every time for me.
Although GP you know how they behave when there isnt grip, great fun.
thesyn said:
Is the B6 S4 the best kept motoring secret ever.
I've had mine for about 6 months , cabrio with tip.
I went for a drive last night and for once found the A roads of Sussex reasonably empty.
The shear grunt and soundtrack of the engine in sport mode was great. Handling gets better as you push on even though it is a big heavy car. It is so much better than my impreza (most of the time ).
It just amazes me that people look at me as though I am mad when I say I own and enjoy driving one
It is the only times the roads are quiet in Sussex, well and very early in the morning, then you have the animals to contend with I've had mine for about 6 months , cabrio with tip.
I went for a drive last night and for once found the A roads of Sussex reasonably empty.
The shear grunt and soundtrack of the engine in sport mode was great. Handling gets better as you push on even though it is a big heavy car. It is so much better than my impreza (most of the time ).
It just amazes me that people look at me as though I am mad when I say I own and enjoy driving one

Very good car indeed, I owned an Avant for over a year. Sound track was superb and very quick car which surprised a lot people as it was fairly understated.
Not a great drivers car though, always felt front heavy and the steering was vague. I will never forget coming back from a Porsche driving experience day at Silverstone which my wife got me as a birthday pressie and driving a GT3 & GT2. I left the circuit in the Audi (which had a full milltek system) and I remember thinking it still felt quick even after driving the GT cars that afternoon, until I got to a roundabout and almost understeered straight into a field.
I own a sports bike again now which I go for blasts just for the hell of it and that is something I don't think I ever did in the S4. Very good car though as mentioned, yet has a healthy appetite for super unleaded.
Not a great drivers car though, always felt front heavy and the steering was vague. I will never forget coming back from a Porsche driving experience day at Silverstone which my wife got me as a birthday pressie and driving a GT3 & GT2. I left the circuit in the Audi (which had a full milltek system) and I remember thinking it still felt quick even after driving the GT cars that afternoon, until I got to a roundabout and almost understeered straight into a field.

I own a sports bike again now which I go for blasts just for the hell of it and that is something I don't think I ever did in the S4. Very good car though as mentioned, yet has a healthy appetite for super unleaded.
I must just be getting old.
I have a 20min commute daily in nose to tail traffic.
I like the audi interior with all the toys and the seats and suspension are very comfortable.
I think that the V8 engine and tip box is a great combination, only real problem is not having a full manual mode as there were a few times that I would have liked to start in 2nd or even 3rd in the snow.
It is very difficult to convey the sensation of going fastish with an auto V8 then looking at the speedo and seeing 3 figures!!
The other thing is that the cabrio is a complete sleeper, people tell me that they see loads of cars like mine..... I never disabuse them.
They are always shocked at a full blooded pull away in S mode
I have a 20min commute daily in nose to tail traffic.
I like the audi interior with all the toys and the seats and suspension are very comfortable.
I think that the V8 engine and tip box is a great combination, only real problem is not having a full manual mode as there were a few times that I would have liked to start in 2nd or even 3rd in the snow.
It is very difficult to convey the sensation of going fastish with an auto V8 then looking at the speedo and seeing 3 figures!!
The other thing is that the cabrio is a complete sleeper, people tell me that they see loads of cars like mine..... I never disabuse them.
They are always shocked at a full blooded pull away in S mode
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