gk1

All US spec have matching side trim...no black at all.

AvramD

First of all, the break-in period is there for a reason. A car is not expected to behave exactly as designed when it has zero miles on it. During the break-in interval, when you are not flooring it, and not red-lining it, what is happeneing is the engine's compnents are getting settled and mating with each other properly. We're talking microns here, but when 500 lbs worth of aluminum components are rotating more than once every 1/100th of a second, a couple of microns is the difference between perfect harmony and dischord.

Second, S cars are *not* intended to be thrill rides. There was nothing wrong with the car, there was something wrong with your expectations. Each generation of S car has been *more* refined than the last. "Thrill" means living on the edge. It is the exact opposite of "Refined" when it comes to car design.

SullyS4

...until then everyone should stop bitching when someone test drives a car...The dealer is the one who should be held accountable for taking the new cars out on test drives. The only way they're gonna sell cars is if they get lots of current Audi owners in S4s for some seat time. However, they should also each have at least one demo car on hand at all times. Let the sales manager drive it to get it broken-in and then after a month or so of driving it they can let people test drive the car and not worry too much about hurting it. I want to know who buys a $52K car without really test driving it??? Sounds like there are plenty of people who have driven the S4 and decided to pass on leasing/buying one and going with an M3 or other car. Can you imagine just buying it w/o a REAL test drive and then realizing that you bought something very expensive AND dissapointing? That would be a shame.

SullyS4

and AWD!

VoltesV

I think BMW did the right thing by having the first M3 that most dealers got was a demo model. There were all spec'd exactly the same--the dealers could not choose--including color (Laguna Seca Blue). Some dealers went against the grain and sold these even though there were encouraged not to.

I don't know the complete specs of the demo cars, but be aware if you're purchasing a '01 LSB M3 that it might have been a demo.

CarbonFibre

Yeah it's good but expensive and dealers are cheap bastards...

JDBlueAudiS4

it with the A8L when it came out as well as many other cars, like the A4 cab when it first came out. However they fill all orders before getting a car for the dealership. I was in the other day and found out they have 5 cars ordered as dealer spec now but if anyone comes in they will change them. Selling 9+ cars right off the back, 5 more allocations, not to shabby if you ask me. I think the smaller dealers are "Cheap Bastards", the larger ones want to make customers happy, then the potential customers happy. Just my $0.02

KevTse

<center><img src="http://www.e-gm.com.tw/opel/speed/images/ad01.jpg"></center><p>Good that I test drove the car and felt it with my hands and feet. This is my first S experience which was not what I expected to be. I'm sure a lot of people would prefer refinement than thrill, but I'm just one of the outcasts :&lt

That being said this is the car that I'm looking into now. It is an Opel Speeder which if you peel off the skins it is exactly the same as an Elise MKII. Only they put a 2.0 Turbo engine which develops 200hp. Yes it might be 200kg heavier than an Elise and a bi*ch to get into one, but 0-60 in 4.7 sec...and over here in Hong Kong it costs the same as a TT...yummy!

Kev

VoltesV

Very ture that it is costly. Many were surprised that BMW did this.

Jason in Vancouver

wow i've never seen such a sweet TT in HK
where you live?