Test drive Audi A4 Avant 2001 - 2004 station wagon

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Auto -journalists have long stopped fainting from super -expensive and superimenical brands, on which they are given the opportunity to travel. And there are a lot of D-Class from three rays and four rings of the current generation on the cars of the D-class. Nevertheless, we stay with you with representatives of the Big German Three. And because their well-deserved authority is the result of decades of successful activity, and because these cars are image, status, and they are acquired by people with VIP ambitations. Well, take into account. And in the sense of responsibility to buyers too.
The initial reason for the test was the appearance of the restyled Mercedes W203, that is, C-class. Sedan? Not! Touring! Motor? Favorite, correct, four -cylinder with a mechanical supercharger 200 compressor. 163 horses from 1800, by the way, cubes! Now most Mercedes nameplates do not quite correspond to a real volume. Machine. The equipment is a modest classic, but burdened by a number of options. It seemed boring to us to roll out the chain in the same way on a wide square and elementally describe what changed. Where to take it more likely to reduce her with an obvious opponent. Moreover, a red beast named A4 Avant for a long time settled in our editorial office. We can say that it is blue blood in a tuning body kit, with complete minced meat and with increased power. Previously, the Audi turbo engine issued 150 liters. With. Last year, the capacity has grown to the same 163 forces as the competitor. And our advantage has as many as 190 horses a new modification of a well -known motor. With Merce A4, the type of body, class and volume of cylinders equalize. And the mechanical gearbox and a terribly pretty traffic light red color are distinguished.
Dynamics, what did you think have C220 chances with its automatic box to resist the forced, mechanical A4? That's right, no. The four tears him like a bobel. And the features of the speed set are as follows. From the place, the Merce leaves easily and smoothly. The programs are crossed somewhere far and imperceptibly. Say thanks to the box and compressor, which, unlike the turbine, does not wait for a set of average revolutions. It does not squeeze into a chair, but you have to be on the alert from acceleration, which, contrary to the laws of physics, increases as speed increases. After getting a bit to the manner and reactions of C200K, I already more calmly began to go to risky overtaking.
In one of these snaps, I’m going on the right row and rest against a slow column crawling somewhere 40 km/h. On the left, everyone rushes 80, and the density is high. This is where a live motor will come in handy! I fly to the left into one of the windows in front of a dead drunk SUV and parallel to the gas on gas. Calm, but to the stop. I know for sure that I will have time to get away from the split jeep, without forcing him to slow down. And he does not know. But it seems to be guessed if the speed does not reduce. And my gashlet was served to the rug and it seems that it crashed into the floor of the floor. And Mercedes muttered the amazed Wow, pulled forward, but had not yet broken into flight. And then I had a true doubt about the impossibility of a solemn bow. A dark toad -shaped carcass with indignantly turned on the far. And already in the mirror, I was able to distinguish between a jeep sitting behind the wheel of a jeep, a dangerous but mysterious nationality of a grimace. But then my silver station wagon exhaled and Popper. He fluttered from under an aggressive bumper, threatening not so much dents as showdowns. What, have we prevented you? No, quit, this was played from fear, and I just fit into a more speed row, I said, carried away by the Mers away from the dumb SUV. How long did it take to think about the machine? Probably no more than half a second. But the whirlwind of thoughts that had been compressed in this tiny period of time, a few more minutes mentally laid out in front of me a series of hypothetical consequences. And the resulting agitation was enough for a whole half an hour of putting nerves in order. It's all nonsense. Calm, Hippolytus, calmly. And the point is not even in the drunk of Novopassit, but in unjustified hopes. No, on Mercedes you need to ride smoothly, without overload, regardless of the forcing of the motor.
A4 is the other in the root. Its accelerator pedal is a sticking nerve. To him, a certain force, the conductor of which is the driver, applies a foot that is under electric voltage. This unknown force clearly likes how a diwar doll nervously throws his head back at the time of a sharp pressing for gas. Cool, right? But the figure at the wheel, apparently frightened by something on the road (miserable creature, isn't it?), Will be convulsively inhibited. But at the same time, the wheels do not fall on the steering wheel evenly and adequately, and the hard suspension racks do not show the urge to dancing on the asphalt. But the doll slides slightly forward from the slippery seat, the pillow here does not help fix the rider in the saddle too much. (And in C200, on the contrary, the front seats perfectly hold the body during grafting, which are very sensitive here.) Acceleration with switches on the forced A4 1.8T is interesting to the length of the river of the thrust of 25006,000 revolutions and the high intensity of overcoming this twist. On the other hand, you will bring a tachometric arrow to the right edge of the scale on the second, say, transmission, let go on a neutral in front of the traffic light and the turnover fall slowly. You roll and the engine continues to howl until it subsides. The selection of gear rates is also unusual. At first glance, they are not too close to each other, but you will reach the fourth but there is crazy craving. And on the fifth it accelerates easily, lightly. And only the sixth can be called a track, but by no means slow. Usually I swear for an excess of gears, and here the six -a -way, which has become an attribute of an expensive high -speed car, is very to the place. A few words about the brakes. Although there are times when exactly your life and stranger depend on them. So, to the effectiveness on both cars, no complaints. Ugh, ugh, pah. But the characteristic features are different. A little touched the pedal A4 received an adequate slowdown. Although ABS works clearly earlier than you calculate. On Mercedes, the picture is another significant clinks accompany any intensive braking in the moderately. And this is a minus.
There are two schools that have long been known to us from these brands. The rear -wheel drive of Mercedes has long been not just one of the characteristic features of the brand, but its banner. While the whole world, headlong, bowed to the front drive, the oldest world car manufacturer proved the right to build a traditional model line according to the classical layout with all its existence. I must say that centuries -old experience plus the latest electronic systems make the behavior of the chain absolutely adequate. Moreover, in the latest, restyled version, the W203 received the Direct Control system. This includes a whole range of measures to improve the suspension, steering and transmission.
Yes, I can testify that the car does not show the slightest hint of skidding. If you do not focus on which wheels are rowing, then you even forget that C200K is not a front -wheel drive. But where the advantages of the classics should manifest itself, Mercedes does not fail. Its front axis does not demolish in the turn, he diverses in a turn himself. Perhaps a little more willing than you expect.
Another advantage growing from the layout is traditionally small in turn. It has already become a legend, as even large, clumsy -looking MB models turn the wheels almost in the transverse direction and fit into the closest parking pockets. And for a compact chain, urban maneuvers at all once spit. But the steering wheel, frankly, is cotton. It’s not to say that the amplifier has excessively facilitated the rotation of the steering wheel, but I could not feel the wheel of the wheel controlled with the wheel, as I did not try. Although why be surprised? So there were before the Mercedes before. Loyal, loyal buyers of other things do not expect, and the power of the habit for the brand, which is closely related to traditions, is too great.
Undoubtedly, the laying of the laying of the laying has a decisive effect. A multi -leaf suspension not burdened with drives has more degrees of freedom in its movements and better adjacent to a variable road surface, transmitting less jerks and vibrations to the body. Another plus Mercedes is relatively highly located above the road and easily stops on the curbs. Surprisingly, at first glance you can’t say this at all.
A4, all-wheel drive, drivership there is no doubt that he will give a headlight of controllability not only a Mercedes, but also to most classmates. Each movement of the steering wheel responds on wheels exactly to the expected value. Perestroika on the audi occur with the accuracy of the simulator, without experiencing or not. But this happens through a barely noticeable pause. The slowdown of the team is not a disadvantage, but a characteristic feature. It is absolutely predictable and calculated. In larger rearrangements and turns, you cease to notice such a strangeness.
The work of the A-fame suspension has a pronounced focus on controllability. In other words, on irregularities, the car behaves extremely clearly and tough. And all this for the sake of constantly anxual adhesion to the road. Slasps, however, does not happen either, and the small pits and seams of the canvas are monitored by low -profile rubber, they are not annoyed. Although on significant potholes it significantly throws the back of the car. Apparently the sheds of heavy feed and hard rear springs are affected.
Ergonomics if we consider the convenience of the car exclusively from the point of view of the driver, then the palm of the championship, of course, belongs to four rings. No, not in vain Audi is produced in Bavaria (Ingolstadt is completely not far from Munich). Maybe the air in southern Germany contributes to the fact that cars from there are tightly shot down, sharpened under the driver, regardless of its complexion ... If you look for a long time to get to the bottom, I would remember the adjustment of the front seats A4, which provides for the movement of up- down, but does not change the angle of the pillow. And I would like to be able to lift the front edge higher, so as not to crawl forward. The quality of materials and their combination among themselves according to conjugation, joints and forms are especially pleased here. All of soft, deaf, rubber -like plastic, comfortable and expensive to the touch.
W203 initially had more complaints about the style and quality of the finish. But after recent restyling, most of them disappeared, since the performance of elements important for the driver as the instrument panel and the central part of the beard panel was re -decided. For passengers, the Stuttgart car is preferable to its doorway, more spacious in the second row, more conveniently the door handles. The external traditionally under the natural grip, and the internal handrails, and not the tiny audible grabs.
From the point of view of the visibility of Mercedes, again, Audi wins his thin racks do not allow other participants in the movement of the opportunity to hide behind them. And on A4 it is worth being more closely, on the right in the back you can not notice not only a motorcyclist, but also the right -wing headrest and wide racks overlap a significant angle of view.
The resume in comparing the A4 S-class pair we have an ideal balance for conclusions, which does not occur so often. Just if you are a fan of drive, then it is the 190-horsepower, square Audi with the mechanics the best solution not only in this pair, but also in the classroom. And if you need to get a high -quality, convenient city station wagon, then don’t you know what the oldest automobile company is called?
HOW DO THEY LOOK
Nikita Rozanov
Outside: these are a couple of true competitors and irreconcilable rivals-one, representatives of long-known and proven brands. In their design there is not a drop of frivolity and indulgence of momentary fashion. They are classics and legislators. Cognitiveness from the face, thanks to a long -formed style characteristics, is clear and instant. However, Mercedes is also unmistakably determined by the class, because there are no more heads of heads of the C-Classler from the Daimlerchrysler family. Audi in this category is less whimsical, and in conditions of insufficient visibility, the four can be mistaken for a younger or older member of the family of four rings. The side is just beauty in her true understanding. What lines and surfaces! But German love for order is strangled by emotions, and thanks to the high window sill line (safety first of all!) Audi looks a little heavy. And the impression of excessively brutal shape of his body does not even save the image of a car-sports car. Another thing is Mercedes! The swift and ease of its lines will remind both S and SL, while everyone will see something in it, but necessarily belonging to the family and its style. Behind, as it should be, the architecture of any station wagon obeys the size of the cargo door. But Mercedes leads here, maintaining both personality and recognition in these strict conditions. Take a look at least at the lanterns!
Inside: inside and outside, as it is in a judicial German design, one handwriting, and it seems that the exterior and interior of each car painted and did one designer. But this perception does not impoverish. On the contrary, such integrity only enhances the feeling of well -being, reliability and comfort. Despite the fact that the architecture of the instrument panels is clearly T-shaped and organized according to a single ergonomic scheme, their style is different. It is just as different as the styles of these two cars from the outside are different. Rules clearly work out the image: the solidity and comfort of Mercedes and sports charisma in Audi. I’m just sure that if you put the S-Class door upholstery panel separately from the car, any more or less versed in design will indicate from which exactly the Mercedes model it is shot.
Summary: if you are looking for a family car on which it is convenient to transport even seedlings to the country, then it is in front of you. True, tomato tops in cropped kefir bags will have to be replaced with neat bushes of a staman rose. Beauty requires sacrifice!
 
Text Vladimir Smirnov photo Alexander Nozdrin
 

 

Source: Cars