Tuesday 9th May 2017

Audi S4 Avant: PH Fleet

Are fast Audi estates really better with V8 engines?

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Ignoring the original RS4 and RS2 for just a second, the modern fast Audi estate legend is built around a big V8 engine: the RS6 still uses one, as did the C5 version, and both previous RS4s used that fantastic 4.2 found in the R8. V8s have also been seen in S cars, including forerunners to 'our' S4 long-termer.

Read our full Audi S4 Avant: Review

So when the opportunity came along to drive a 'B6' S4 Avant, it seemed a perfect opportunity to assess how the quick A4 has evolved in the past 15 years or so. And they're both red, so the photos would look nice.

Your eyes aren't deceiving you, they are different reds

The S4 you see here belongs to PHer Tom Lynch; he has rather a penchant for fast German stuff, having owned an E39 M5, a C55 AMG, another S4 before this and, oddly, a Legacy Spec B estate too. But we won't talk about that last one now. His 100,000-mile S4 is standard bar a rather rude Milltek exhaust and even comes with one of those novel manual gearbox things...

We have to start with the engine and gearbox. What a joy it is to have a V8 and a manual! With the latest S4 auto often acting rather erratically, to be entirely in control of the ratios is very satisfying. There's more than 300lb ft of torque in this S4, which is more than adequate, and the sense of immediacy to the performance is enhanced by the sharp throttle response. Peak power is at 7,000rpm too, the car more than willing to thunder on up there and able to keep pace with the new model. The manual isn't the slickest, but that becomes a whole lot less important once a perfect downshift has been nailed with a lovely flare of revs from behind.

Might not be the sharpest, but it's still fast!

Dynamically the old S4 isn't superb (and that's the polite version, because Tom is a friend). With so much engine lumped over the front axle, the car does push on fairly easily and there's not much that can be done about it beyond that. The current car compares very favourably with it, darting into bends by comparison and with better balance thanks to a lighter engine. It rides more comfortably too, though given Tom's car is on its original suspension that's not really a fair test.

So in certain areas the small(ish) fast Audi is improving, though on this experience it seems even more of a shame that the big V8 is missing from the formula. It's a characterful centre point that the new car so sorely lacks, a highlight of every journey and a reminder that displacement doesn't have a replacement just yet. I still think this looks pretty cool as well. And it's rare...

The new car is doing that very Audi thing of fitting into everyone's life rather nicely at the moment. It takes bikes in the back, the MMI system is very good (once you're familiar with a few quirks) and, as proven in this comparison plus the Alpina test, it's pretty decent to drive as well. It may not be especially thrilling, but it's hard to find much of a chink in the S4's armour yet.

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2016 Audi S4 Avant
On fleet since: January 2017
Mileage: 7,041
List price new: £44,415 (As tested £49,770 comprising Misano Red paint for £645, Quattro sport with Sport Differential for £1,200, 19-inch diamond cut wheels for £550, Light and Vision pack for £750, Adaptive S Sport suspension with damping control for £900, Audi phonebox with wireless charging for £325 and on the road costs of £985)
Last month at a glance: Generation Game, Audi style!

Previous updates:
Audi S4 arrives on the fleet
Audi S4: Review
Audi S4: Getting to grips with Audi's fast Avant
Audi S4: On the rebound as Avant starts win James over

[Photos: Tom Lynch]

[dannyDC2]

That Lynch boy gets where water doesn't!

Good article, I'll have a S4 Avant one day.

Only issue for me now is whether or not I'd enjoy a B6 S4 Avant more than I enjoy my E91.

Edited by dannyDC2 on Tuesday 9th May 12:06