B8 S4 Ownership

[catso]

deadscoob said:

Or what lab the tests are conducted in

Indeed, the claimed figures are (as per the norm) a tad optimistic IMO.

The CO emissions and (claimed) fuel consumption are better than my old A3 3.2, meaning the road tax is less but in day to day use MPG is about the same, the exception being on a long, steady run where it betters the A3 by virtue of the longer gearing (2k rpm @ 80mph).

That said for the size, weight and performance, I reckon it's pretty good on fuel.

[deadscoob]

Our B10 averages 22, B3S turbo 28, this is to replace the b10 so I'll get at least 4mpg more which is a bonus

[TomScrut]

deadscoob said:

Or what lab the tests are conducted in

Yeah I appreciate that real world and lab are completely different, it was more the point that the official figure was 29.4 for the B8 Stronic, and then for the B8.5 Stronic this went to around 36 (depending on wheel size), with features added to the car to reduce fuel use. More than 20% increase in theory, and while I would never expect that much improvement in practice it would seem logical for the difference to be at least noticeable. When I had mine I used to notice (on my short journey to work) the mpg dropping when at the lights, which isn't the case in my current car which has start-stop.

[apreading]

TomScrut said:

Yeah I appreciate that real world and lab are completely different, it was more the point that the official figure was 29.4 for the B8 Stronic, and then for the B8.5 Stronic this went to around 36 (depending on wheel size), with features added to the car to reduce fuel use. More than 20% increase in theory, and while I would never expect that much improvement in practice it would seem logical for the difference to be at least noticeable. When I had mine I used to notice (on my short journey to work) the mpg dropping when at the lights, which isn't the case in my current car which has start-stop.

Figure I have seen for the B8.5 is 33.6. I think mainly that is supposed to come from stop/start and the electrical power steering. Stop/start probably has the biggest effect and does genuinely make a difference.

If you look at the quoted 'urban' figures, they go from 20.6 to 25.2 - so 4.5mpg difference. I dont think it would be quite that much but stop/start will give you savings of a large magnitude. On my B8.5, the best urban I get for short journeys is more like 22 and that is only according to the DIS anyway. Presumably the B8 did worse than the quoted 20.6 though.

If you look at the quoted 'extra urban' figures, they go from 39.2 to 41.5 - so a much smaller step up. Obviously stop/start doesnt come into play here and thats probably why the difference is quite small.

[TomScrut]

apreading said:

Figure I have seen for the B8.5 is 33.6. I think mainly that is supposed to come from stop/start and the electrical power steering. Stop/start probably has the biggest effect and does genuinely make a difference.

If you look at the quoted 'urban' figures, they go from 20.6 to 25.2 - so 4.5mpg difference. I dont think it would be quite that much but stop/start will give you savings of a large magnitude. On my B8.5, the best urban I get for short journeys is more like 22 and that is only according to the DIS anyway. Presumably the B8 did worse than the quoted 20.6 though.

If you look at the quoted 'extra urban' figures, they go from 39.2 to 41.5 - so a much smaller step up. Obviously stop/start doesnt come into play here and thats probably why the difference is quite small.

I looked the figures up before I posted from the appropriate brochures, for Stronic Avant. But yes I am guessing the stop-start is the biggest single feature that helps, and that the other features have little effect so the extra urban is a minor difference. As I said it will depend on each persons driving. My main interest in this is I have an S5 on order and I am hoping to get more than a couple more mpg than I got in the B8 S4! I have a Golf R at the moment and it averages 31, whereas my S4 only did 22 and I am doing the same kind of miles. If its half way in-between I will be happy....

[apreading]

Ah - my figures came from Auto-trader...

Is your S5 a new one, with the turbo engine, or older with the supercharged engine? I suspect the new turbo model will be a bit better and the new S5 is much lighter too. I would guess the older S5 is probably lighter than the S4 anyway - so that would probably make a bigger difference than the B8.5 upgrade.

[TomScrut]

apreading said:

Ah - my figures came from Auto-trader...

Is your S5 a new one, with the turbo engine, or older with the supercharged engine? I suspect the new turbo model will be a bit better and the new S5 is much lighter too. I would guess the older S5 is probably lighter than the S4 anyway - so that would probably make a bigger difference than the B8.5 upgrade.

Yes the new model with the turbo. The thing is the official figure for my Golf R is 38 from memory, and this is 37, but the B8.5 is 36. But it would seem the Golf is worlds apart from the B8.5, it is from the B8 anyway!

I think on B8 and B8.5 the S4 and S5 were comparable (at least on saloon-sportback, it's a sportback I am getting) weight wise, but the B9 sportback is 85kg lighter than the B8.5 sportback, and I presume there is significantly less drag too.

[FUBAR]

My early B8 avaraged 24mpg with mixed driving. Once I managed to hit 31 on a long motorway trip sticking around 70mph. Only the once mind. My current 8.5 averages 27/28mpg on mixed driving and hits 31mpg for fun and have seen it at 35mpg if Im being sensible on a motorway cruise.

Then again, the B8 engine was noticeably 'punchier' (had it dynod at 350bhp)

[Adrian E]

Economy on our B8 S5 is pretty dire - high teens typical usage over a tank. Best I've ever had is about 26mpg, but that's not relying on the DIS and is based on tank average. The 26 figure was in summer and involved filling up while the engine was warm, driving a couple of hundred miles and refilling without any cold starts.

Not much better than my 2002 S8 4.2 was.....

[TomScrut]

Adrian E said:

Economy on our B8 S5 is pretty dire - high teens typical usage over a tank. Best I've ever had is about 26mpg, but that's not relying on the DIS and is based on tank average. The 26 figure was in summer and involved filling up while the engine was warm, driving a couple of hundred miles and refilling without any cold starts.

Not much better than my 2002 S8 4.2 was.....

I presume that is the sportback?

[TomScrut]

FUBAR said:

My early B8 avaraged 24mpg with mixed driving. Once I managed to hit 31 on a long motorway trip sticking around 70mph. Only the once mind. My current 8.5 averages 27/28mpg on mixed driving and hits 31mpg for fun and have seen it at 35mpg if Im being sensible on a motorway cruise.

Then again, the B8 engine was noticeably 'punchier' (had it dynod at 350bhp)

I remember when looking at the chips allegedly giving 100bhp (as they sent it to 430hp) and when you see the before/after dynos the before ones were often 350-360. Must have been a conservative figure at 328 or something

Mine only got near 30 on a motorway.

[Adrian E]

TomScrut said:

I presume that is the sportback?

Correct

[DTB77]

FUBAR said:

My S4 only tramlines when the tyres are wearing low. New tyres always cures it

This makes sense, I'd not really noticed much of an issue with tramlining until recently, with my fronts now down to just over 3mm. So hopefully it'll be cured when I stick some new boots on then...

[MattS5]

After a little favour please.
Can someone with an a S4 or S5 3.0 V6 measure the size of their super charger pulley please and let me know the colour.
Mine is being swapped back to standard (From a Revo Stage 1 +) by my Audi dealer under goodwill and I want to make sure they actually do the work and not just reflash the ECU.

It's my thinking the pulley should be black if its OEM and probably a fair bit bigger than what it is now. (I never had the work done intially, so have no reference to go off)

The car is a Nov 2011, so am assuming anyone with a 2009 - 2012 could give me a reference in size/colour.

Thank you (picture of current one attached, albiet the software on the site seems to have rendered it upside down)

[JonV8V]

MattS5 said:

After a little favour please.
Can someone with an a S4 or S5 3.0 V6 measure the size of their super charger pulley please and let me know the colour.
Mine is being swapped back to standard (From a Revo Stage 1 +) by my Audi dealer under goodwill and I want to make sure they actually do the work and not just reflash the ECU.

It's my thinking the pulley should be black if its OEM and probably a fair bit bigger than what it is now. (I never had the work done intially, so have no reference to go off)

The car is a Nov 2011, so am assuming anyone with a 2009 - 2012 could give me a reference in size/colour.

Thank you (picture of current one attached, albiet the software on the site seems to have rendered it upside down)

B8.5 - black and bigger (no sniggering from the back).



I'd say it was 3" and not 2.25-2.5" looking at yours.

Edited by JonV8V on Friday 16th December 10:40

[MattS5]

Thanks Jon, that's very helpful, much appreciated.

(looks like i'll be able to visually notice the difference.....guffaw guffaw)

[JonV8V]

MattS5 said:

(looks like i'll be able to visually notice the difference.....guffaw guffaw)

...you'll probably feel the difference too..

[catso]

MattS5 said:

After a little favour please.
Can someone with an a S4 or S5 3.0 V6 measure the size of their super charger pulley please and let me know the colour.

Measurement at the flange is 70mm, can't measure the actual pulley surface with the belt on, and it's black.





Mine's a 2014 though, if that matters?

Edited by catso on Friday 16th December 11:38

[MattS5]

catso said:

Measurement at the flange is 70mm, can't measure the actual pulley surface with the belt on, and it's black.

Cheers fella, much appreciated.

[MattS5]

JonV8V said:

...you'll probably feel the difference too..

LOL that's a double entendre for sure. (Pretty sure I'll be waving goodbye to the around 100bhp and 70 lbs ft of torque)
They've given ma a 1.4 A3 as a courtesy car, which is a good thing, the power hike when I get back in mine will feel colossal I reckon, despite the fact I've actually lost power.