Test drive Audi A4 B5 1994 - 2001 sedan

Little large "Audi"

Like most of the famous automobile brands, Audi has its own circle of fans. They are convinced and not without reason that the company, one of the first to master the front -wheel drive layout, went along this path beyond others.
Choose four
Audi brand is distinguished by a combination of proven reputation and courage of solutions. Voluntarily or involuntarily, but the same qualities of others also mean the owner of a car with four rings on the radiator grille. If we talk about models, then a compact A3 is often an expensive toy gift of wealthy parents to their child or a wife who loves her husband. Moreover, it is very likely that the donor himself travels in the back seat of the A8 dietary. But no one will perceive the four and six of the model range as a gift or personnel, this is a conscious choice of a young or not very businessman, perhaps the head of the middle level in a large company. In general, the initial favorable attitude of others is provided to you. Will you be able to fix it or refute it already depends only on you, and the car has nothing to do with it.
Prospendman at the specific value
If we talk about the number of a car on one money -produced when it was purchased, A4 should be recognized as a record holder in the Audi lineup. Judge for yourself. Prices for the A3 golf-class hatchback begin in Russia from $ 19.3 thousand, while the A6 business bar is already one and a half times more than $ 30.3 thousand. A4 between them for $ 22.8 thousand. Throats, although the size and level of comfort came close to the six.
That is how much the most affordable Audi-A4 costs with a 1.6-liter engine (102 l.) And a mechanical gearbox. Note that the new four so far sold only with the sedan body, and the station wagon will appear at the dealers, probably by mid -autumn. With more powerful power units, which automatically involves an expanded basic configuration, cars, of course, are more expensive: with a 2-liter (131 l.) For $ 1600, with a turbocharger, a volume of 1.8 liters (150 hp) on $ 2800, with a V-shaped six six, 2.4 liters (165 hp) or 3.0 liters (220 hp) for $ 6600 or $ 10,000, respectively. 1.8- and 3-liter machines can be equipped with both front-wheel drive and a full-wheel drive transmission, which will cost an additional $ 2900. With all the engines, with the exception of 1.6-liter, along with a manual gearbox, it is installed and the bearing automatic multitronics is increased by another $ 2200. Thus, the all -wheel drive three -liter A4 will cost $ 35.7 thousand without additional equipment. For the test, we chose an inexpensive intermediate version worth $ 26,600 front -wheel drive two -liter with multitronics.
      
Optional equipment
In addition to gasoline power units, diesel engines are also installed on the four, and only with turbocharges: 1.9 l (130 hp) and 2.5 l (V6, 155 or 179 hp). With the most powerful engine, all-wheel drive transmission is also offered such a machine costs $ 36,600. For acute lovers, extreme all-wheel drive verds S4 for $ 47,000 and RS4 for $ 68,500 with 2.7-liter turbocharged, respectively, 265 liters are designed. with. and 380 l. with. True, these cars are still dressed in the body of the previous four, which made it debuted in 1994.
 
The headlights are protected by shock -resistant plastic

You can't forget such a cork on a gas station
       
 
A first -aid kit is located in the central armrest behind

The variator chain is in contact with the pulleys of the ends of the pins fastening it
      
He sat down and relaxed
In recent years, it has become the rule that any company has more a new model more predecessor, and therefore classes are slowly getting full, gaining representativeness. So the four that appeared in October last year on the new B6 platform added 66 mm in length, 32 mm in width and 15 mm in height. At the same time, she approached the A6 not only in size, but also by design. The similarity, even in detail, is so great that these two models made it difficult. However, for a lesser brother, it is rather flattering.
A person who is familiar with the previous A4 will surely note the doorways that have increased at the top and greater expanse in the rear seats. The latter is also achieved, including thanks to the sofa shifted back to sit on it, you have to surpass your own, uh-ue ... The fifth point around the wheel arch. But he sat down and relaxed. The salon is very spacious, and the adjustments of the front seats (on our car are mechanical) is just a huge quarter meter in length and 10 cm in height. Behind the driver of 180 cm, the passenger of the same dimensions is sorted unless not the leg on the leg in front of the knees will remain 810 cm. The dome roof caused a large height of the ceiling at the front up to 15 cm above the head in the lower position of the chair. But at the back, leaving only 3 cm, and even then only two passengers, the sofa has a pronounced double relief, and the fifth man sitting on the roller will take off the crown of the crown on the ceiling.
 
In the cabin, it is pleasant not only to the body, but also to the eye: the finish made of embossed gray plastic, the steering wheel is sheathed with leather, on the doors, the front panel and the central console of the insert from the rhizome of walnut wood, the pad of the machine gun and the door handles are flaunted with anodized aluminum. In general, without screaming luxury, but elegant and very soundly. It also conquers the thoughtfulness of the little things: all four handles above the doors with microlifts, each passenger is a personal navigator lamp, on the cover of a huge glove box holders for documents and a fountain pen, under the steering column a special shelf with a latch for instructions for the car.
 
Automatic transmission scheme with a unavailable variator of multitronics. The gear ratio changes by synchronous shift of the conical halves of the host and led pulleys, as a result of which the belt falls to the smaller one or is replaced by a larger radius of contact with them

 
Behind the wheel
Thanks to the large ranges of adjusting the seat, to get a driver of almost any dimensions to get driving. In addition, the steering column is also regulated in height and length. And yet, with some disadvantages of ergonomics, you will have to come to terms. The wide central console quite tightly fixes the right knee, which is exactly under the ignition lock with a sharp transfer of the leg from the accelerator to a highly standing brake pedal, it is likely to break the key. In addition, after such a sweeping movement of the foot, it is necessary to work with minimal efforts and movements with the brake pedal, the information content of which leaves much to be desired. And here is a very convenient trifle near the selector lever, an icon is provided, reminiscent of the need to click on the brake before starting movement, otherwise the selector simply cannot be moved. On the contrary, the absence of an indication of fog light on the instrument board that is located at the outdoor lighting switch is almost unreadable. With steamed switches, you have to work to the touch, they hid behind the knitting needles. A good indicator of the parking brake condition is the central armrest: the handbrake rests against it already on the third or fourth click. Not too cool.
The arrows of the devices that sunbathing with ruby \u200b\u200bcolor when the ignition is cute. In general, the configuration of the dashboard is clearly designed not for the driver, but rather for a balanced connoisseur of comfort and safety. Having spread a tachometer and speedometer in a businesslike way, the central place took the display with information about the outdoor temperature, setting the receiver, a run on the remaining fuel, and the operating mode of the machine gun. But the heating of external mirrors, included simultaneously with the ignition, the acoustic parking system of APS, a climate installation with separate regulation for the driver and the right passenger, the audio system of the audi-chorus with ten speakers with a capacity of 150 watts and much more, familiar only on vehicles of a higher class, will like And a lover of adrenaline and a calm driver.
 
Between the front seats, a folding capacious armor-box leaning

In the right glove box, there are holders for documents and a fountain pen.
       
 
When pressing a small panel, a cunning compulsion is advanced
      
 
The aluminum lever of the rear suspension in the front is protected by a steel shield. Additional steel thrust in the back increases suspension strength

Children's lock is turned on by turning a miniature lock in the end door end
 
The car takes care of us
First of all, about anti -criminal stability. At Audi-A4, it begins with the fact that you can order a car without nurses with a modification designation, which are almost identical to the price tag for the thief. Naturally, the key with an immobilizer and a remote control of the security system with a floating code. It is convenient that you can open or close the window with a long press on the corresponding button. In case the dog has to be left in the car, a disconnecting of volumetric sensors in the cabin is provided, and for towing with partial loading to the tilt sensor.
After the start of the movement, at a speed of about 15 km/h, the electronics will block the doors and the trunk, protecting him from the attack on the parking lot or traffic lights. You can unlock the doors with a special button or taking the key from the ignition lock. And it is worth pulling the handle twice, and only one door will open from the inside.
Now about active security. It is provided by the anti-lock system with the electronic distribution of the brake forces EBV, ASR Track Control, EDS electronic differential lock, ESP system of dynamic stabilization, emergency braking assistant, and, of course, powerful disc brakes on all wheels.
If you managed to deceive all this electronics and still achieved contact with the pillar or you were caught up by fate in the person of some dashing nine, do not report for the life and health of you and your loved ones will stand passive security systems. Most of them have long been known and successfully applied: a hard passenger module and deformable zones from the front and behind, anti -jacket bars in the doors, reinforced medium racks, a traumatic steering column, seat belts with pyrotechnic tensioners and limiters of efforts and, of course, inflatable pillows. There are six latter on our car: two frontal for a driver and a passenger, two side at a shoulder level and two large curtains, completely overlapping the side windows on the left and right for the entire length of the cabin and protect the heads of both front and rear passengers. For an additional payment, you can install a couple more side pillows from behind. By the way, the duration of the combat readiness of the pillows is increased from the usual 10 to 14 years.
 
Governing bodies
1. External mirrors with electric heating.
2. Switch of light of the headlights.
3. The ESP shutdown button.
4. The alarm button.
5. The extending cup holder.
6. A selector of switching automatic gear modes.
7. Castle of the glove box.
8. Front pillow.
9. The control panel of the audio system.
10. The control panel of the climate installation.
11. Coicier cover.
12. Adjusting the intensity of the heating of the front seats.
13. Handle of adjusting the height of the seat.
14. Turning off the sensors of the volume and inclination of the anti -theft alarm.
15. The buttons of the front electric windows.
16. Handle of adjustment of external mirrors.

The nuances of management
In the Audi-A4 motion, it conquers, first of all, excellent sound insulation at speeds up to 120 km/h is heard only muffled slap of tires at the joints of the coating. And this is no coincidence that in the upper part of the doors you can count four (!) Sealing edges, and the rear arches to reduce the noise from the wheels from the inside have a villous coating. With the further increase in speed, minor aerodynamic noises appear in the area of \u200b\u200bthe front racks, and about one and a half hundred, the voice of the engine is cut through. The suspension with complex, but effective cinematics is quite stiff and short -term. However, thanks to light aluminum levers and wheeled wheels (steel are simply not provided), which mean a decrease in unsproved masses, as well as subframes installed on rubber pillows, there are minimal shock on defects, and there is almost no buildup on the waves. In combination with the front leading wheels, which account for 60% of the mass, this determined the excellent stability of the car and saved the need to constantly adjust the trajectory by the steering wheel. The last very sharp 2.8 turn from the stop to the stop, which is convenient when maneuvering. If, using this acuteness, you performed a rearrangement at an outrageous speed, going around the careless pedestrian who jumped out onto the road, the demolition of the rear axle will extinguish the in standard configuration and a very effective electronic stabilization system.
In order to control the multitronics with the variator, the same selector on the tunnel of the floor does not differ from the usual hydromechanical automaton with the same provisions P, R, N, D. The only difference is noticeable only in the movement there are no smooth tremors when switching gear accompanied by nodding of the tachometer arrow. A curious feature in principle, for the most intensive acceleration, the engine should operate exactly by 5700 rpm of maximum power revolutions, and the variator smoothly reduce the gear ratio with speed growth. However, few people like the tedious howl of the motor on one note in combination with even trolleybus acceleration there is no sensation of dynamics. So, especially in order to give the process a feeling of development, the control unit allows the motor to slowly gain speed, from about 5,000 to 6000 rpm, changing the tonality of sound accompaniment. Incidentally, with 10.2 s stated in the factory characteristics in acceleration to 100 km/h, our car really showed 12.9 s. Perhaps the matter is in bad gasoline, so that fans of squeezing out of the motor all their forces should be picky in the choice of a gas stitch, and it is better to refuel ninety -eight.
Multitronics also has a manual control regime in the right position of the selector with a push forward (+) or back () the variator switches sequentially up or down to one of the six, so to speak, virtual gears. This mode is good not only if a desire arises to feel like a racer, but also, say, in the mountains, when towing a trailer or for effective engine braking. In principle, now nothing prevents the driver to independently enter into the on -board computer and the number of steps in the transmission, and their gear ratio.
Please note: the mountains and the trailer in our case are not the most successful. And that's why. The wedge -reproach variator works at the expense of friction forces, so big points are undesirable for him. The insurance from excessive loads is a multi -disc cliff that allows for a slip. This is what the traction force on wheels is limited: A4 cannot overcome the 40 percent rise without acceleration, feasible for much less powerful machines with a conventional transmission. In practice, this means that you cannot move uphill with a heavy trailer or just stopping in a deep narrow potholes. However, we will not condemn the paints to find the pardon strictly in size of the wheel, we must usually try to at least minimal acceleration.
 
The children's chair with the ISOFIX system is attached directly to the frame of the passenger seat

       
 
Dashboard
1. Control icons.
2. The odometer and the daily run counter.
3. Fuel level indicator.
4. Buttons for the output of service information.
5. Speedometer.
6. Central display.
7. Tachometer.
8. The buttons to install the clock and the calendar.
9. Clock and calendar.
10. The indicator of the temperature of the coolant.

Baggage car
The appearance of the four is deceptive that the curly step behind the rear glass hides the volume of no more than the breadbacerio. However, raising a short cover, you are surprised to find a deep grotto front wall is lost somewhere in the distance and even reach it (the trunk length is 1100 mm!) It is not so simple. It is important that almost all of the 408 liters of volume that are intentional and impressive in themselves are laid in an almost correct parallelepiped. Another luggage compartment seems to be roomy if you load a trifle, but so cunning that it is impossible to transport one large thing, say, a TV. In addition, the cover is installed on parallelogram mechanisms and is devoid of brackets protruding inside.
The trunk transformation capabilities are not provided on our car, although when ordering they can be stipulated as any other option. Lovers of skiing will come in handy with a hatch of a hatch in the niche of the rear armrest. Of the useful trifles, one cannot fail to note the serving of the cover of the cover and the plastic casing that protects the head on the lock itself, neat plastic boxes for the tool and a jack in the niche of a full -sized spare wheel. And the emergency stop sign is fixed on the inside of the lid and well distinguishes in the light of the headlights, if you, for example, stand at night on the side of the road with an open trunk.
 
A small set of tools and a jack are located in special cases in the niche of a full -sized spare wheel

In the pocket of the driver's door, switches of volume and inclination sensors
   
Caution, children
Everything is quite familiar here: children's blocking of the rear doors, preventing them from opening from the inside; Blocking electric windows; Turning off the right frontal airbag. But in addition to ordinary children's seats, held by standard seat belts, front and back in the side places, it is possible to install the safar sides of the ISOFIX system with a hard mount to the power elements of the body.
Away from the noise of the city
First of all, it is necessary to note greater autonomy: on a 70-liter tank, spending about 6 l/100 km on the highway, Audi-A4 will pass more than a thousand kilometers! The requirements for the fuel are moderate unhealthy ninety -fifth, with some decrease in power, the first is also permissible. It is curious that the protection of the motor compartment from the mud is made rather than on Russian beaches than to licked Europe: the seal is located on top of the entire perimeter, on which the hood lies, and the bottom with huge plastic shields is closed from the front bumper to the rear axle. The purity in this case is the key to not only beauty, but also health: which motorist is not familiar with the problems with the electrician after one or two pickles of Moscow winters?
From the point of view of patency, the four differs little from other foreigners. A fairly large and low -line front overhang requires increased attention to borders and a lying policeman. The road clearance with the driver is 130 mm, with a full load of 110 mm. However, we repeat all the highways, fuel lines, brake tubes are closed with plastic, so that they damage them, even sitting on the belly, is hardly possible. Moreover, steel shields-layers are attached to the aluminum levers of the rear suspension, protecting the delicate structure from stones, stumps and other life realities.
 
The trunk opening is small, but it itself is very roomy and almost correct rectangular shape. The emergency stopped on the lid is well distinguished in the light of the headlights
   
Operation, service
On A4, official dealers provide a standard for all Audi models in Russia for one year warranty without limiting a run. A fully galvanized body will not rust through through at least 12 years. The service station must be attended every 15 thousand km or once a year. However, another option is also possible to service the Long Life system, when the timing of the next one determines the on -board computer based on the intensity of operation. Subject to the use of special high-quality oil, which, incidentally, is initially poured into all new four, inter-service mileage can increase significantly, although the maximum interval is nevertheless limited to 24 months.
Audi dealer network is already wide enough and, importantly, continues to develop very dynamically. More and more cars of this brand are found on the roads. As a result, rich spare parts warehouses and minimum repairs, you do not have to wait for three weeks from Germany for the right part, whether it is a wing or ... an aluminum lever. We mention the latter because a specifically Russian combination of bad roads and the temperamental driving manner made alloy elements of pendants almost consumables in our country. However, I also heard such an opinion of the connoisseurs of aerobatic qualities: let it be better in two years to change the aluminum suspension and drive, as in a new car than to put up with a worn, but tenacious iron.
 
Car dimensions, mm
 
Salon dimensions, mm
 
We liked
 
 
Spacious and tall in front of the salon

High resistance to trajectory

A seal located around the entire perimeter, designed to maintain a motor compartment clean

As well as:
High quality manufacture,
Rich equipment,
Safety saturation,
Great sound insulation.
 
 
We didn't like it
 
   
The parking brake lever rests on the front armrest

The head of the average passenger rests on the rear lighting plafon

The key is located above the knee

As well as:
Limited thrust on the drive wheels,
Vacuration switches are not visible behind the knitting needles of the steering wheel,
Non -informative brake pedal (little effort),
Pictograms of fog light are poorly read,
There are no door lock indicators from the outside.
 
Audi A4
general information
 
Body
5-seater sedan
 
Equipped mass, kg
1345
 
Complete mass, kg
1895
 
Maximum speed, km/h
205
 
Acceleration time 0100 km/h, with
10.2
 
Highway fuel consumption/city, l/100 km
6.2 / 10.9
 
Fuel supply, l
70 (AI-95)
 
Engine
 
Location
The front is longing
 
Design
4-cylinder in row,
with two upper distribution shafts,
variable length intake pipeline
and distributed electronic
fuel injection
 
The number of valves per cylinder
five
 
Cylinder diameter/piston stroke, mm
82.5 / 92.8
 
Working volume, SMZ
1984
 
Compression ratio
10.3
 
Power, L.S. (kW) at rpm
131/5700
 
Torque, kgsm (nm) at rpm
19.9/3300
 
Chassis
 
Transmission
front -wheel drive
 
Transmission
 
Automatic unavailable
cleanerian variator multitronics
with the possibility of six -speed
manual switching
 
Variator range
12.72.1
 
Transporting numbers
Reverse 2.4
 
main gear
6.33
 
Suspension
independent,
with a reptile stabilizer
collected on subframes
 
front

Four pairs of pair
in height of the transverse lever
(with a virtual rotation axis)
 
behind
mollycent
 
Steering
rack, with an amplifier
 
Brakes:
Disco ventilated (in front) with amplifiers of Abs
 
Tires
195/65 R15 Continental-premium contact
 
 
Measure the experts of the magazine limousine
Weather
Temperature + 24
Pressure, mm Hg. Art. 739
Humidity, % 90-100
Coating dry asphalt
Weight characteristics
Equipped mass, kg 1422
Load
on the front axle, kg 864 (61%)
on the rear axle, kg 558 (39%)
Dynamic qualities
(partial load - 2 people + 25 kg)
Acceleration, C:
040 km/h 3.8
060 km/h 5.9
080 km/h 8.8
0100 km/h 12.9
0120 km/h 18.2
0140 km/h 25.5
0160 km/h 36.7
0400 m 19.1 (122.5 km/h)
01000 m 34.2 (157.1 km/h)
Maximum speed, km/h 193.4
Speedometer error, % 4.9
Elasticity, p
60-100 km/h (IV) 7.4
80-120 km/h (V) 9.6
Running, m
12050 km/h 1605
500 km/h 622
Braking with 100 km/h
Braking distance, m 37.5
Slow down, m/s2 10.3
 
Prices for spare parts and that, USD
Then 15,000 km $ 250
Then 30,000 km $ 500
Oil filter $ 8.5
Air filter $ 24
Fuel filter $ 17
Front brake pads $ 96-115
Rear brake pads $ 64
Ball support is upper $ 2 x 112
Ball support $ 2 x 200
Generator belt $ 28
Air conditioner belt $ 47
Front shock absorber $ 145
Rear shock absorber $ 140
Steering rack $ 1040
Front bumper $ 230
Bamper rear $ 314
Front wing $ 191
Front door $ 273
Rear door $ 257
Trunk cover $ 337
Windshield $ 179
Farah assembly $ 222
Rear lamp $ 108
The cost of the rate of work is $ 55
Operational basket $ 765.5
Aquatic basket $ 2065
 
  
We decided:
If you have not yet earned Audi-A6, but you want to look at one hundred a hundred, look at A4, which at a reasonable price combines business representativeness and everyday practicality.
Yuri Nechetov, photo Alexander Sadovnikov

 

A source: Magazine "Limousine" [06/01]