RE: Audi S4 Avant: PH Fleet

RE: Audi S4 Avant: PH Fleet

Tuesday 9th May 2017

Audi S4 Avant: PH Fleet

Are fast Audi estates really better with V8 engines?



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
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!
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.


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]

Author
Discussion

dannyDC2

Original Poster:

7,543 posts

167 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
quotequote all
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.

scratchchin

Edited by dannyDC2 on Tuesday 9th May 12:06

MDMA .

8,849 posts

100 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
quotequote all
dannyDC2 said:
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.

scratchchin

Edited by dannyDC2 on Tuesday 9th May 12:06
No, you wont smile

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
quotequote all
dont want the V8, terrible daily driver engine unless your lucky enough to live in an area where you can ring its neck everywhere

old car looks so much better than the new one

culpz

4,881 posts

111 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
quotequote all
MDMA . said:
dannyDC2 said:
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.

scratchchin

Edited by dannyDC2 on Tuesday 9th May 12:06
No, you wont smile
I'd have a V8 petrol over a diesel any day of the week, providing i wasn't doing big mileage.

Nothing against a 330d by any means. Lots of torque and a relaxed daily drive for the every-day stuff but the S4 would be a more special drive for me. Would need a decent exhaust like in the article though!

There's a lad who lives down the road from me who has a B5 S4 estate in Nogaro Blue and it's just gorgeous. That has a Milltek exhaust too and it sounds amazing. Different car i know but these fast Audi's age so well in my eyes. Much better dimensions in comparison to these newer models too.


Edited by culpz on Tuesday 9th May 13:27

Filibuster

3,116 posts

214 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
quotequote all
Great article!

I have an B6 S4 Avant too, although in automatic form. I thinks it suits the car rather well!
It is by no means a sports car and if you treat it accordingly, it drives rather well indeed.
I couldn't be more happy with it!

article said:
The big V8 is a characterful centre point
That sentence describes the car very well. It is so much more than just a regular 3.2 V6 with two more cylinders!
It is one of those rare cars that are defined by their engines.

On Top Gear they even rated the S4 over the E46 M3! Have a look here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gwjq4i9JY8


Edited by Filibuster on Tuesday 9th May 13:44

1781cc

575 posts

93 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
quotequote all
I've had two of these B6 S4's - one in Nogaro Blue and the other in Metallic Black, excellent cars (Saloons in my case) and both manual.

Dynamically they change quite drastically with the RS7 rear ARB fitted and a 30mm drop in springs.

Part of the reason I bought my S8 was because it was a bigger S4

As for wringing its neck... I lived in Milton Keynes at the time

Edited by 1781cc on Tuesday 9th May 15:50

CaptainSensib1e

1,432 posts

220 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
quotequote all
I'll take the V8, so much more characterful

-crookedtail-

1,558 posts

189 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
quotequote all

I've always liked the B6 S4 avant and in my humble opinion it looks so much nicer than the latest one, although it looks very small in comparison.

I think the fear factor of those timing chains put me off for good though, they looked terrifying - that and the horrific economy.

I'm liking the red on this one too, although I think nogaro blue is my favourite Audi colour!

jon_273

112 posts

86 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
I think the B6 S4 has aged well. Looks good in red too. OK so dynamically it's not the best, but for me comfy suspension and a V8 would make for likeable daily transport. I am probably biased by having an RS4, but as has been said, the V8 is the centrepiece of the car and gives the car a lot of it's character.

CDP

7,454 posts

253 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
-crookedtail- said:
I've always liked the B6 S4 avant and in my humble opinion it looks so much nicer than the latest one, although it looks very small in comparison.

I think the fear factor of those timing chains put me off for good though, they looked terrifying - that and the horrific economy.

I'm liking the red on this one too, although I think nogaro blue is my favourite Audi colour!
I'd prefer the V8. Although I haven't driven either I generally prefer normally aspirated cars.

I also think the B6 the better looking car. Audis of that period were so clean and discrete. I know the Bauhaus influence was mostly about marketing but the simplicity certainly worked. The new A4 is a good looking car but just appears slightly fussy in comparison. It's as if to improve on the range they had to keep adding decoration, look at the way the TT gained creases and garnish, even that gawping grille.




dank

1,154 posts

251 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
I have a B7 S4 as my daily, and it's superb machine, extremely rapid in Sport and super comfortable on long journeys with cruise on, 366 bhp isn't bad for the 4.2 v8, and the sound of the rumbling engine is fantastic, owned mine 2.5 years so far, love it !

Filibuster

3,116 posts

214 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
dank said:
I have a B7 S4 as my daily, and it's superb machine, extremely rapid in Sport and super comfortable on long journeys with cruise on, 366 bhp isn't bad for the 4.2 v8, and the sound of the rumbling engine is fantastic, owned mine 2.5 years so far, love it !
That is a nice combo of cars you have there wink

rare6499

648 posts

138 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
I thought about one of these but the chain issue scared me off. Still a handsome car though.

Monkey_boy

126 posts

183 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
I used to have an Imola Yellow S4 saloon, was a lovely car! Although rather inert and IMHO the lack of engagement didn't equal the running costs (fuel, aux radiators etc). I only kept for a year. My current car (335i) I've had for over 6 years, although I do hanker after some Audi build and interior quality. The S4 was built like a tank!

I would say though that the article is inaccurate, the S4 V8 engine is hugely different to the RS4/R8 V8. The S4 V8 has 40 valves, the RS4 had 32 to make way for the direct injection, as well as active baffled sump and various other differences to allow the higher rev range.








FN2TypeR

7,091 posts

92 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
Monkey_boy said:
I used to have an Imola Yellow S4 saloon, was a lovely car! Although rather inert and IMHO the lack of engagement didn't equal the running costs (fuel, aux radiators etc). I only kept for a year. My current car (335i) I've had for over 6 years, although I do hanker after some Audi build and interior quality. The S4 was built like a tank!

I would say though that the article is inaccurate, the S4 V8 engine is hugely different to the RS4/R8 V8. The S4 V8 has 40 valves, the RS4 had 32 to make way for the direct injection, as well as active baffled sump and various other differences to allow the higher rev range.







That is absolutely smashing, lick

Apart from the seats - they'd have to be black for my tastes, on a yellow car.

Monkey_boy

126 posts

183 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
FN2TypeR said:
That is absolutely smashing, lick

Apart from the seats - they'd have to be black for my tastes, on a yellow car.
Thanks! Although I have to say, I loved the blue alcantara seats, everyone else it seems doesn't lol. I also miss the lumbar adjustment smile

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
I'm biased of course, but what a smashing car that specific B6 is biggrin

Seriously though, great article thumbup

PistonBroker

2,406 posts

225 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
I'll always have a soft spot for the B6 S4 as my boss had a cabrio back in 2004. I was charged with organising the valeting for the Director's cars - that way I always ended up getting mine washed for free! - and on occasion I'd get to move the S4 around.

Alas, I never got to take it any further than one side of the car park to the other but it's remained an itch I'd like to scratch. For some reason he went for a slushbox on the otherwise identical B7 S4 cab that replaced it which was a shame.

ocrx8

867 posts

195 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
The yellow S4 with the blue seats is fantastic!

Prime_al

52 posts

244 months

Friday 12th May 2017
quotequote all
Think this is a very fair article - have an S4 and an R8 and love the S4 for everyday use such a charcterful v8 and still capable in today's market