Is the Audi S4 the biggest performance bargain?

[caiss4]

The S4's biggest failing is the nose heavy understeer but the public road is not a race track. I've just done a round trip to Bicester today using roads other than the closed A34 and the simplicity of passing one, two or three bumbling cars at a time with a full family load and them not even realising (the family that is!) were frequent.

As others have said the car is easy to live with and it is reliable, however, if you want a sports car then don't go near it. Frankly having bought mine new 6 years ago I look at the current second-hand prices and think 'sucker'! I really wished I'd waited a few years....

[gizlaroc]

Leicesterdave said:

gizlaroc said:

Only someone who hasn't driven them both would ever say that.

The RS4 is one of the finest motor cars ever built, the S4 is.....well, at only twice the price the RS4 is a fukin' steal!

Could you elaborate? I really am interested in the differences! 0-60 and 0-100 times seem roughly the same (0.5 second in it?) top speed obv the same.
The RS has a fair more bhp and nicer bumpers. Is the drive much better?!

Not really, you can't really put the differences into words, the RS4 is pretty well balanced and feels nimble and like it wants you to push it harder and harder and as such rewards you when you do, the S4 always feels like you are pushing it passed its limit and that you need to back off.

Try and take them both out, it is pretty amazing just how different they feel.

[gizlaroc]

RG Four Litre said:

I'm quite surprised with some of the responses here about massive understeer and how the s4 b6 is only a mile munched- have a look on you tube for s4 vs m3 topgear and - go to 5.50sec and you'll see that the s4 is virtually a second faster round the topgear track than an e46 m3!

And yes I've got one and all the pedals line up and it was fantastic in the snow. In clarksons words the engine truly is a masterpiece....

That topgear time is a nonsense, I have had both cars and the S4 is no where near as quick on the twisties, not even in the wet.

Also, if your pedals are all level you have a one off Audi!!


Read Clarksons review of the S4 after he lived with it for a fortnight, he wasn't exactly praising of what should have been the 'perfect car'.



I am not knocking it too much, and I think in auto form it works so much better, just that coming from an M3 it was a real let down.

[kazino]

I remember driving an S5 (pretty much the same as the S4), it overtook the as original Smart car as the most disappointing car I've ever driven. I was expecting it to be a very good car, but it just underwhelmed at everything bar a decent v8 engine, it understeered so badly and had no steering feel whatsoever I pulled over to check the tyres weren't flat. At least I knew the engine in the Smart car was going to be weedy but I expected a presentable interior not something weaker than playdough for the price and because the wheels are in the corners a la mini it would corner safely which it doesn't.

So IMHO it's cannot be considered a performace bargain because all it can do is go fast in a straight line and if you like that you are better off with some American muscle.

[Matt UK]

OP, drive one. I had one for a week. You will very quickly work out if this is the car for you.

[Colonial]

gizlaroc said:

stuff

The thing about the offset driving posiiton is also very true of BMW. Your spine twists the right way after a bit.

[Leicesterdave]

Matt UK said:

OP, drive one. I had one for a week. You will very quickly work out if this is the car for you.

I'd love an RS but budget just won't allow it.

[andy43]

ALawson said:

t955daytona said:

jazzybee said:

ALawson said:

Seeing as I am looking for an estate this is the closest to me.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Tax will be £435 a year and can only go up!

Why would tax be £435? its pre March 23rd 2006 so should be more like £245 per year shoul'nt it?
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/road-tax/?deriv=2597...

Yes,
definitely £245 pre March 2006!!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_10012524

Ok, I see its Bank K* so as you state £245, that means my ATR's tax will only go up £30 next year.

I'd have a Miltek'd estate auto one of these in a heartbeat if it wasn't for the car tax.
I just can't justify close to £500 every year in tax MPs expenses and sprog funds for the unwaged.
Wait til Clegg wins the election. Then watch the tax go up, to, oh, let me see, think of a phone number. Then double it. Then add a bit more. The pre 2006 thing is temporary. £435 is cheap - come back to this thread in 18 months

[TonyHetherington]

Very surprised by some of the comments in this thread, I must admit.

I have a 2005 S4 Avant (manual) and I think it's a great car. However, I didn't buy it thinking it would be a match for my Exige. I bought it knowing that it's a 2 tonne car with 4WD and a heavy engine at the front. As such, I don't drive it thinking it will drive like my Exige.

Complaining of understeer on a heavy 4WD Audi is like complaining of power oversteer on an E46 M3

In slow out fast. You simply can't launch it at corners like you can a lighter, or differently weighted car.

That said, it's never really bothered me. For what I want the car for - carrying my drum kit around (hence the avant) and having fun when I need to, it's absolutely superb. High spec of kit, the interior is a nice place to be, a V8 burble (have a Miltek on mine) and relatively cheap (I only do 9k miles a year).

I'd never claim it to be the best car in the world at all things. It's not, and I am sure I will get an RS4 at some point. But it is however a cracking car.

[mugs]

Leicesterdave said:

Hell27 said:

No it's not.

The Jaguar XJR is the biggest performance bargain.

4.0 supercharged V8, 370 BHP, a decent one can be had for 3K.

They're well over 10 years old- that's why. I'm talking relatively new car here.

If you want a newer XJR then prices are still reasonable and certainly comparable with the S4 prices touted on this thread considering it was more expensive when new. The Jag website has a '54 XJR 4.2 V8 S/C for a shade under £16k - that's for an approved car with warranty. Go private and you can pick up the all-aluminium model for £11k+. Not as expensive as you'd think. Plus the aluminium model drives very nicely indeed. Personally I think I'd prefer the Jag to the Audi (never driven an S4 though) although I daresay it'd cost more to keep on the road, and obviously would continue to depreciate like a stone.

[Graham E]

My brother had one of these, great car. I never noticed it having overly terminal understeer either - if you're commited into the corner, then the front loads up nicely and the initial turn in is great - those brakes are pretty splendid too.

Point to pont, with equal commitment, the S4 was as quick as my 2.7 Boxster. Obviously nearer the limit it might be different, but there is only so far you can take a comparison like that on Yorkshire's roads.

Oh, and that V8 sounds lovely, too. Thirsty tho =)

[Leicesterdave]

Graham E said:

Oh, and that V8 sounds lovely, too.

It bloody does!

[300bhp/ton]

Leicesterdave said:

Is the Audi S4 the biggest performance bargain?

What are they like to drive? Would have thought a BMW would have been more precise and fun, a Merc more ballsy and fun and a Jag so much nicer and more fun.

[monthefish]

It's amazing how dated the prior model now looks, purely as it doesn't have the corporate 'deep' grille.

[mat205125]

thinfourth2 said:

11 grand for a lardy saloon car with the engine bolted in the bumper not a bargain and while fast it ain't a sports car

There is inevitably going to be a lot of "Top Gear experiences" regurgitated on this thread, however having tried a friends S4 I can confirm that viewed objectively it is probably a better daily road companion than my M3 for 90% of situations - it was enormously competent over this years winter when my car was stranded on the drive.

Sounds awesome too.

If I didn't like to track my car, or had another car for those duties, I'd have one in a flash. Bargain car, and the best shape of A4 they have made.

[danyeates]

Haven't read the whole thread but I needed a 4x4 for towing my boat up slipways, an estate for putting the bikes on the roof and camping gear in the back and I also wanted something quick, 155mph and around 5 seconds to 60.

I have the B5 S4 (2000 on a W so the facelifted B5) and I love it. 2.7L V6 Bi0turbo, custom mapped by MRC tuning and running 330hp. Much lighter than the B6 and feels really nimble with the 19" wheels, coilovers and bigger brakes.

It suits me perfectly and I'd recommend it to anyone. I really didn't want a BMW!

[TopCAD]

I've got a B5 S4... 2.7 V6 Twin Turbo... Thats more of a bargain! around £5000 will get you on of these... and if your into modding, with bigger turbos and few other bits and bobs (another £4000 spend ish) you can get it to 450-500bhp!

but just as standard they are quick... 0-60 in 5.6 seconds

[Leicesterdave]

I'm after the B7 really.

[russy01]

Conceited said:

Audi always had a problem making cars that handled properly- I would say up until the most recent RS4.

Though I like the S4, I feel it's a bit half hearted.

It is, thats why you get the RS4 if you want better performance!!

[Tallbut Buxomly]

I think tony has explained it best. Yes there is an issue with offset pedals but not the end of the world. Likewise the clutch i dont get the issue. I have an a4 b6 clutch and brake is going to be positioned exactly the same and i have never had any issues with it. Veeery comfy long distance and easy to drive.

The s4 is nose heavy but yet again the understeer can be corrected by getting suspension set right from the off and i suspect the person stating his 1 series driven by his wife was faster in the twisties even in the wet simply does'nt understand how to drive it quickly as there is no way a 120d?? should outrun the s4 in the wet in the twisties.