Test drive Audi S4 1997 - 2001 sedan

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Audi S4 Quattro 4.2

 

Why are big Audi good? A perfectly worked stylish body in two versions: a sedan and a station wagon (a compartment was previously produced). Two types of transmission: with front drive wheels and a company's horse - a permanent all -wheel drive. A rich selection of engines. Perhaps a lot of combinations - the eyes run up. At the same time, cars, like two drops of water similar in appearance, can actually differ from each other, like a seething mountain stream from a quiet plain river. Again, everything is done with traditional German quality and meticulousness ... So it is clear why Audi cars are so popular all over the world. Russia is no exception, especially if the car is from three to five.

 

Our reader Andrei lives in the city of Volgograd. A year ago, he lured us to visit - ride an Audi S4. But everything somehow failed to go ... Besides, similar cars were found in Moscow: Audi S4 Avant (Motor #4, 1998), Audi RS2 Avant - The Fruit of Cooperation Audi and Porsche (Motor #6, 1998 .) ... we repent - we gradually forgot about the reader’s proposal. And suddenly - again a call. If the mountain does not go to Mohammed, then ... Andrey goes to Moscow on business.

 

We met on Khodynka, on a recently built highway for ring racing. The weather turned out to be gloomy, frowning with fine rain. On fresh oily asphalt, the water lay in large drops, in some places they already gathered in puddles. The just thoroughly washed car, after a few tens of meters, was covered with small dirty spray. In addition, it is also black. Our poor photographer ...

 

So, Audi S4 Quattro. This time is a sedan. The car was released in 1993 and has all the external features of the model range of 100 - A6. But it's not about the back. The main difference between this machine and the previously previously universal ones is an atmospheric engine with a working volume of 4.2 liters. This V-shaped eight looks super sucking, the intertwined pipes of the intake manifold between the series of cylinders are especially impressive.

 

The car was purchased in Germany - no longer new. Now the odometer is about 120,000 km. Of course, there is a difference between the new car and the Saacondhand - something taps in the pendant, leather seats are croaking slightly, idle turns are a little ... But in general, the car is perfectly preserved, it looks like new. Love and care bear fruit - despite the poor state of roads in Volgograd and its environs (according to Andrei, they are not compared with Moscow).

 

The salon is finished with black skin. Its details are made qualitatively and carefully fitted. Everything is strict and solid. White scales of devices are made in a fashionable sports style. The driver’s seat is a pronounced sports type, with excellent lateral support. It is equipped with three adjustments - you can move, rise and lean back. All these procedures have to be done manually, without the help of cunning servo drives. Their absence is like a warning: the car does not like drivers.

 

The steering column has no adjustments, but the steering wheel is located where necessary. The shape of the rim and knitting needles resembles the steering wheel Audi RS2, only the hub overlay is sheathed with skin, selected in the tone of the upholstery of the cabin. The lever of a six -speed manual gearbox is also exactly in its place. The programs are turned on easily and clearly, without smearing, when moving from one to another, the operation of the switching mechanism is well felt. The clutch turned out to be tight, naturally - the torque of the engine is 400 nm (4000 rpm), and the power is 280 hp. (5800 vol./Min.).

 

The motor is surprisingly easily spent, telling the car with a equipped mass of 1680 kg impressive acceleration. The notorious pressing in the seat takes place here in full!

 

Audi S4 Quattro 4.2 He obviously obeys the steering wheel. The characteristics of the amplifier correspond to the sports hole of the machine, providing the necessary information and accuracy at high speed. The wheels easily turn on the spot, it is convenient to park. The seafront of the steering is slightly softened - thanks to the rubber Fulda Carat Extremo dimensions 225/55R16 with a reduced air pressure lowered to the lower permissible border. Standard equipment provides for the dimension of 225/50R16, but the owner of the car deliberately put the rubber higher. The reason is the already mentioned bad roads in the Volgograd region, quickly crippling the most advanced samples of engineering. During the cutting of circles along the highway, a proposal was received to pump up the wheels, but we did without it - and it is so clear that with controllability full order.

 

The suspension is moderately tough, this is exactly what the car intended for high -speed overcoming distances should be. A powerful, as a full -wheel drive machine, which was brought to mind, allows you to confidently feel on the coating of any state and type. You can not be afraid to make an error when determining the speed of turning - the feedback will tell the desired speed mode. If you want to fuck - to exceed the speed or, say, sharply twist the steering wheel, - the Audi S4 will forgive and this, however, is reluctant: to return the car to the original trajectory, you will have to work hard. When the gas is opened in the bend, the machine initially behaves like a front -wheel drive, then the demolition of the front wheels appears, turning into a slight sliding with all limbs, but everything can be corrected. When the back of the rear axle begins to prevail and reaches a size of about 30 degrees, the process of working on errors can become unpleasant and time -consuming. However, in ordinary conditions, this happens infrequently, and the habits of the car are quite lending on.

 

Magnificent brakes with powerful floating brackets and ventilated disks on all wheels provide good and confident braking. ABS is necessary only in extreme situations, it does its work almost imperceptibly.

 

Winding circles along the highway, we completely forgot about the passenger sitting in the back seat. More precisely, it would be possible to say - about the smooth skin on the side to the side of the living load. Not an example of the front seats, the rear does not have a good ability to hold the sitting on it.

 

Such is the Audi S4 Quattro 4.2. A good car, even very much. A successful acquisition for connoisseurs of high -speed equipment, as well as for the dynamic style preferred both in life and on the road. And yet - it’s nice to realize that there are people who are ready to share their joy with others. We communicate with them and their cars with pleasure. Call!

 

Sergey Ivanov
 
 

 

Source: Magazine Motor