KevTse

Hi there,

I own a TT but today I test drove a S4 at my local dealer. Not that I actually have the money to get one but just for the heck of it.

Overall, I am quite disappointed with the S4. After taking off I immediately noticed that the steering is very very light. It gives very little feedback and lacks precision. I certainly didn't expect that from a S4. It seems as thought I was test driving a S-class. It doesn't give the driver the confident to throw the car around. Maybe it takes time to get used to. My last two cars have been a 98 A4 1.8TQ and my current 01 TT 1.8T 225Q, and their steering are much more precise than this S4.

Initially the engine felt very strong since I was crusing in the sub-3500rpm region. It has lots of torque as I was pulling up a slope in 4th. So I expected if I drive it up to the redline I would get an extra push. That never came. It is very smooth but I guess I'm just too used to driving a turbo car. My brother has a 996 Turbo and sometimes I steal that car for a week or two. Yes the Porsche has 420hp compare to S4's 340hp, but the power from a turbo engine seems to be keep coming all the way while a NA engine kind of runs out of steam towards the end of the rpm range. I have yet to see a hp/torque graph of the S4's V8 so I really don't know if I'm making any wrong assumptions here. The V8 is great and I'm sure a lot of people will find it more than enough, but I still prefer the thrill of a turbo engine.

I would say the S4's suspension and the brakes are great. The suspension is stiff yet comfy, but again too bad the steering kind of numbs the whole driving experience.

Overall, a great daily car I would say. It can get you to work and back from the groceries store very very quickly with the V8, but the S4 is not a "driver's car" as I had expected it to be. I have yet tried a M3 which now I'm eager to test one. I really want to see if BMW has done a better job in the steering department and the Inline-6 they have.

I guess for the thrill I'm looking for, I should be testing a Lotus Elise or the Opel Speeder 220V turbo. Hardly comfy or practical, but packs a whole bunch of fun factors.

Kev

My TT and the S4 I test drove
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1312/cimg0001.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1312/cimg0005.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1312/cimg0006.3.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1312/cimg0009.1.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1312/cimg0010.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1312/cimg0015.jpg">

CarbonFibre

Different strokes for different folks

RS6.com

Not M3-style, but not bad.

BiggerTwin

Neither car has the steering feel of a Porsche.

gk1

I'm asking because I noticed the Imola S4 has the black European side trim, but the silver one in the showroom has body color side trim but still retains the Euro headlights.

KevTse

Agreed...Porsche has the best steering feel. I hope I can try the new GT3 soon!

NogaroHiro

you are in Indonesia, HongKong, Singapore, India, Australia, or Japan?

I testdrove a yellow S4 with right-sided steering in June, and was disappointed at the engine, too.

KevTse

So pretty much all cars here are Euro spec I think. I noticed the side door trims difference too and the salesman told me ONLY silver S4s has matched color side panels. Is that the case in the US? Because I have seen silver S4s with black side trims in this forum. I think the car looks much better with matched color door trims, especially on light color S4s.

Kev

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1312/cimg0011.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1312/cimg0013.jpg">

chrisS4avant

one: it's not a characteristic of NA motors to run out of steam at high rpm. I drive an 02 M Coupe with the S54 motor and it pulls hard through 8000rpm. You can make a motor cammy with high end urge or torquey with low end urge. VTEC, VANOS etc, try to give the best of both worlds.

second: I hope someone "test drives" your next car before you buy it and shows similar disrespect.*

If you want a car with great steering, a terrific motor with tons of high end, and you aren't concerned with practicality, you could do a lot worse than an 01 or 02 M Coupe.

C. &lt;-- thinking about trading my M Coupe for an S4 - I need the practicality.

*If you didn't actually redline it or the odometer had over 700 miles then accept my apologies in advance.

techlogik

Unless you need rear doors.