Is the Audi S4 the biggest performance bargain?
Discussion
k-ink said:
Why ever not. Any half competent driver in a hot hatch will leave it in a cloud of overconfidence as they piroutte off the road and through the hedge backwards at the first sign of a mildly moist bend. It's like comparing the cornering ability of a house fly on castors to an anvil on roller skates. Power and grip have little to do with it.
EFAandy43 said:
k-ink said:
Why ever not. Any half competent driver in a hot hatch will leave it in a cloud of overconfidence as they piroutte off the road and through the hedge backwards at the first sign of a mildly moist bend, followed closely by the two-ton tank with the dreadful weight distribution as its driver realises four-wheel-drive isn't the answer to everything. It's like comparing the cornering ability of a house fly on castors to an anvil on roller skates with a brick at one end. Power and grip have little to do with it.
EFA
Crikey. Dam that power and grip. We don't what that.
Anyway - I agree, the S4 is not the be all and end all winner that the title might suggest - but it is nevertheless a great car. If you know what it is - a 2 tonne car with a V8 up front, then that's how you drive it and that's what you get out of it.
If you'd like a different driving experience to that, then an S4 is not the car to buy. Which isn't a bad thing, it just means it's not the car for you and some of the other options as listed would suit better
Anyway - I agree, the S4 is not the be all and end all winner that the title might suggest - but it is nevertheless a great car. If you know what it is - a 2 tonne car with a V8 up front, then that's how you drive it and that's what you get out of it.
If you'd like a different driving experience to that, then an S4 is not the car to buy. Which isn't a bad thing, it just means it's not the car for you and some of the other options as listed would suit better
Why all the naysayers on the S4?
I've just sold mine (for no other reason than it's 3 years old, so don't do MOTs) and it was perfect for what I wanted. It shifted when I needed it to and could be hustled around nicely in comfort, unlike the go-karts that are being referenced as a "competitor".
Few cars could out drag it, especially the idiots who insist on speeding up on the motorway when they eventually pull over having spent 5 miles trying to overtake one car in the outside lane.
As for the comments around "not for the twisties", well I never had any problems, although there are very few twisties where you get a good run nowadays, with most either ruined by potholes or Mr. Micra.
The other advantage was that as it looked like a normal S4 apart from the wing mirrors and discret V8 badge it attracted little attention from plod unless I was being overly silly.
Anyway, all this irrelevant, bikes are the future. A nice 193bhp S1000RR and a breathed on 185 bhp R1 is where I get my kicks.
I've just sold mine (for no other reason than it's 3 years old, so don't do MOTs) and it was perfect for what I wanted. It shifted when I needed it to and could be hustled around nicely in comfort, unlike the go-karts that are being referenced as a "competitor".
Few cars could out drag it, especially the idiots who insist on speeding up on the motorway when they eventually pull over having spent 5 miles trying to overtake one car in the outside lane.
As for the comments around "not for the twisties", well I never had any problems, although there are very few twisties where you get a good run nowadays, with most either ruined by potholes or Mr. Micra.
The other advantage was that as it looked like a normal S4 apart from the wing mirrors and discret V8 badge it attracted little attention from plod unless I was being overly silly.
Anyway, all this irrelevant, bikes are the future. A nice 193bhp S1000RR and a breathed on 185 bhp R1 is where I get my kicks.
morgrp said:
Buy it for the engine alone - god i love that engine ...
anyway I digress, I don't care what clarksonnites say about Audi, the S4 in my opinion still has an understated coolness about it - A 2.0tdi A4 made to look like an S4? Well maybe Clarkson has a point with that one - I always think the S and RS Audi's rise above cock jibes anyway - much like many of the BMW M cars do
Most sensible comment made so far!!!! The way people talk about the handling issues on here makes me laugh.....in normal condtions day to day driving the "so called heavy front end" does not cause to much concern IMO....Great car desirable,stealthy,cool, End of story.anyway I digress, I don't care what clarksonnites say about Audi, the S4 in my opinion still has an understated coolness about it - A 2.0tdi A4 made to look like an S4? Well maybe Clarkson has a point with that one - I always think the S and RS Audi's rise above cock jibes anyway - much like many of the BMW M cars do
Forgot everyone on PH drives on the public roads like Tiff Needell!!!!
R1 Loon said:
As for the comments around "not for the twisties", well I never had any problems, although there are very few twisties where you get a good run nowadays, with most either ruined by potholes or Mr. Micra.
Oi - leave me alone. I'll have you know that you will have never seen such a fast-moving kermit green Micra than the one I am forced to drive on occasion... scandinavian flicks work well (not that the O/H knows..!)ETA:
Other than my pointless comment above, I am watching this thread with interest, as I have always had a soft spot for the B6/7 S4...
Edited by ccr32 on Thursday 29th April 17:39
robsti said:
Did the S4 not do a faster time than the E46 M3 round the Topgear track with the Stig driving both?
Yes buts thats all rubbish apparently!!!Bang for buck, used in the real world then I would say its right up there with the best...It is however not a trackday toy, which is something its never been billed as.
robsti said:
Did the S4 not do a faster time than the E46 M3 round the Topgear track with the Stig driving both?
Was about to post the same, although a 120D would own them both. Seriously if people think a diesel sales rep wagon will be anywhere near as quick as a 340bhp 4wd S4 they are deluded! ccr32 said:
R1 Loon said:
As for the comments around "not for the twisties", well I never had any problems, although there are very few twisties where you get a good run nowadays, with most either ruined by potholes or Mr. Micra.
Oi - leave me alone. I'll have you know that you will have never seen such a fast-moving kermit green Micra than the one I am forced to drive on occasion... scandinavian flicks work well (not that the O/H knows..!)ETA:
Other than my pointless comment above, I am watching this thread with interest, as I have always had a soft spot for the B6/7 S4...
Edited by ccr32 on Thursday 29th April 17:39
Oh and a 120d owning an S4, PMSL. I can't wait to see what my new car (335Ci MSport) will own then, I'm guessing Veyrons, Gallardos and the like
Surely on the road it can (should) only depend on how quick you're willing to drive it - and anything with a boat anchor dangling off the front is not going to be very encouraging. I don't think you can fix weight distribution with aftermarket suspension parts!?? Even Audi admitted it later by moving the V8's timing gear so as to allow the engine to go further back in the car. But everything else about the S4 is pretty damn tasty.
I remember when this model was new, Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe did a 'what's faster 4wd or 2wd' test. They took an S4 and a E46 M3 and drove a twisty road in the dry and in the wet and timed it all. The most surprising thing was that compared to its dry time the M3 lost a second or two in the wet, whereas the S4 lost twice as much time in the wet. This is surprising of course because it has 4wd so should be at home in the wet. All that said, apparently Mr Sutcliffe is capable of pushing those cars harder than most of us which may skew the results a bit.
I remember when this model was new, Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe did a 'what's faster 4wd or 2wd' test. They took an S4 and a E46 M3 and drove a twisty road in the dry and in the wet and timed it all. The most surprising thing was that compared to its dry time the M3 lost a second or two in the wet, whereas the S4 lost twice as much time in the wet. This is surprising of course because it has 4wd so should be at home in the wet. All that said, apparently Mr Sutcliffe is capable of pushing those cars harder than most of us which may skew the results a bit.
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