Test Drive Audi S4 since 2008 Sedan

Unicum

Audi S4 - an embodiment of a pure German automotive concept. Maximum in a small package, suitable for both protracted travels and for everyday use. Very good selection of the car for every day - S4! Obviously enough power and excellently balanced chassis with competent use are able to remove the owner with the winner of many road duels. And you can save even deeper - on this car it is not a sin to hold a weekend on Nürgring!

 

The key point when buying is the choice of gearbox. He who is looking for more sports should dwell on mechanics. The rest is enough automaton, because the potential of the motor as part of everyday use is huge.

 

The version that fell into our hands claims the title of extremely universal S4 - body type, automatic: under the hood of the yellow car are stubcounted 344 horses, but it is easy to manage with them. Beautiful S4 Schildik there and here adorns the car, but it is to a lesser extent of the sport than before. The aggression and the indispensability of old turbocharged ESOK will not smell. From now on, explicit aggression is the lot of cars labeled RS, which, by the way, at the end of the year will appear in the metropolitan show figures. As for the versions of s, this is a transitional link between definitely civil cars and truly sports RS modification.

 

As already mentioned, equipped with automatic transmission S4, it seems, is deprived of a considerable share of sportiness and involves mostly ordinary transport use. The machine protects the possibilities of the car, smoothes sharp corners of its character. With him S4 calmer, stopped. Worse accelerates from the place, losing even weaker opponents with mechanics, and also makes it be careful in critical modes. In general, the machine, it is automatic and there. Whatever he was not, he will never completely replace the classic handle. But even in this form S4 - rocket. As follows, equipped with the latest technology. And deal with her is a pleasure. Pleasure begins with inspection. It would seem that there is nothing outstanding in the car. A4 In the body of the wagon, which has passed the external tuning. But no, apparently, the magic listers S is valid. The aura of this Avant is completely different than the civilian source. Breed breaks. Small ground clearance, 18-inch discs stylized under the ones are on the Audi cars in the DTM championship performed under the sport of bumpers. Feeling power and potential. It looks good for the release system with four nozzles.

 

The interior is even more discreet. It attracts except for the finishing of panels by real carbon. Well, and of course please the excellent Recaro chairs with a combined trim and pronounced lateral support. However, when the door is closed and silence, you feel some special feeling of peace, which is created by an excellent study of the salon space. Plastic is high quality everywhere, the skin is noble, the color gamut is calm, unobtrusive, with a predominance of black. Oh, these salons of the top models of Audi, annoying even - not to complain about what! Find the optimal landing is simpler. And under the hood, 4.2-liter eight wakes up, an excellent acquaintance of even those who are familiar with Audi only shapely. At idle turns, the motor only crumbles into the outlet nozzles, not disturbing others. The selector moves to Drive, and the car, smoothly starring from the spot, is quickly embedded in the street stream.

 

The smoothness of the S4 movement can be put as an example of other civilian cars of this class. In general, it first seemed strange that S4 is such, with the permission to say, soft. Enlightenment came then, during high-speed races on the expanses of the hiking, where the chassis showed himself from the best side.

 

The V8 engine in the compact S4 shell moves itself and passengers in space is very dynamically. To understand all the charms of the tandem, topped with an automatic transmission, you do not need to start from the traffic light when you try again, trying to understand why those specified 5.9 seconds are perceived as all 6.5. To do this, it is necessary to ride a long time for high speeds for high speeds. And a big question that you will like as a result - jumps in pursuit of tenth shares or powerful accelerations and light overtaking when moving at speed for two hundred km / h? At high speed, the motor's voice is finally cut. Twinking to the limiter, it is slightly grinding in the chair, but there is no feeling of an attraction overclocking. Acceleration assessment, smooth. I must say that the car makes its business very delicately. She rides quickly, but at the same time does not make sweat behind the wheel, giving the driver the right to specify the road.

 

But S4 can go beyond the head. And here you already need to have a good qualifications, and also remember that along with accelerations in a straight line, without exception, cars equipped with a quattro full drive system and powerful engines, love and know how to ride sideways. Performing a snake or passing a high speed grease, already somehow you do not pay attention to comfort. At such moments, you merge with any machine together, and only its ability to quickly, clearly and adequately fulfill the driver's orders. Of course, be there an oak sports suspension, the sharpness of the feelings, it would be definitely added. It would increase the maximum speed on which the maneuver can be possible. But the notorious versatility would have disappeared, and S4 would stop being S4.


 

However, in this form, the car is capable of much. The potential embedded in it by the creators lies far beyond the skills of the ordinary driver, and in order to fully master this weapon of speed, it is better to pass special courses on a closed track.

 

It is good that in the design of the total S4 drive, the old good differential Torsen has been preserved, which, unlike analogs, equipped with Haldex coupling, behaves more predictably and honest. On the day of testing, there was a terrible heat, and the heated tires did not want to lose contact with the track, literally vipped into it, although the speed of turning and provoking actions have long had to break the car into a skid. When it finally happened, there was no limit to pleasure! The car went to a beautiful predicted slip, which once or two could continue or repay at any moment if necessary. Only wild squeak of rapated rubber caused to break away from this exciting classes. It is a pity that there was no rain or snow on the street. On coatings with a lower clutch coefficient of charging a sliding full drive, it was possible to experience much longer. However, even several rallers were enough to make sure in the excellent balance of the car's running quality. And at the same time, once again confirm for himself a simple truth that the quality of the suspension is expressed not to its rigidity, but the final result of the work. By the way, for all the time of testing, I never could complain about unnecessary rolls. Paradox?

 

But the insufficient turning is obvious. However, here she is rather good. The one who knows how to cope with it, is unlikely to complain about her presence. Well, and inexperienced driver will warn in advance. How did you want? If all the cars were exhibited at times, it would be not so safe to live. A clear case, we are talking about those cases where the stabilization system is disabled. However, the place for a small spoon was still found. I will not argue that this is the vice of all Audi S4, but on the test car I did not like the informativeness of the brake pedal. Too much move and, as a result, the need to slow down to the touch, when to do it quickly and clearly. There is no complaints from the slowdown intensity. And why still no one suggests reinforced brake hoses as an option?

 

Returning to the city, in his bustle and traffic jams, I absolutely did not want to continue the frills, lay the same sports on the traffic lights and arrange as a slalom on the third transport ring. Driver emotions, thirst for speed stayed on the site. Is it not great? To come, driving intograded, release steam, and then calmly loss from the car on the same machine. Not many models allow it to combine, more precisely, very few. Here everything is in one - both dynamics and handling, and comfort, and beauty. Therefore, if you do not want to sacrifice anything, your choice is S4.

 

Prices and equipment Audi S4

 

The standard S4 package includes: four-wheel drive Quattro, R18 alloy wheels (235/40 tires), sports front seats Recaro; Sports Leather Steering wheel, ESP, ABS, EBV, ASR, EDS, Brake Assist, Airbags for the driver and front passenger with a two-stage activation system, Side Airbags for the driver and front passenger, Active head restraints on the front seats, immobilizer, Symphony audio system (integrated CD-changer on 6 discs, 10 BOSE speakers with a total capacity of 150 W), climate control with separate adjustment for the driver and front passenger, heating front seats, electrically regulated mirrors with heating, decorative carbon inserts, bi-xenon headlights, headlight washer, electric Window windows in front and rear, aluminum lining on the thresholds.

Additionally for Avant version: folding (2/3) rear seats; Socket for 12 V in the trunk. The price of the car is standard - $ 98 015, in the maximum - $ 108 360.

 

Text: Leonty Tyteleev
 
 

 

A source: Motor magazine