Cupramax
11-10-2003, 15:02
Took an S4 out this morning for a little spin (or not as the case may be ;).... 4wd )
First of all from the outside the new S4 is very understated which I like. Only a very subtle body kit and small boot spoiler plus the Avus wheels make it stand out from normal run of the mill A4's.
On getting in I was greeted by electric half leather Recaro's which not only look fantastic but adjust in about 50 different directions plus have extendable thigh support!!! The car I drove had a few other options including uprated Bose sound system and aluminium interior trim which looked really nice.
So to the drive. I'd looked at the power to weight ratio to compare with mine before setting off and the Audi's was slightly higher so it was with baited breath that we set off down the slip road (salesmans words being go on then, give it some welly :D). Power delivery from the 4.2 V8 is certainly very linear compared to the 1.8T engine but to be honest I wasn't gobsmacked by how quick it was. It seems to have a pronounced step in power once above 5000 rpm though when the scenery becomes a blur:devil:
Once at motorway speeds it was a bit quicker than the Leon but not by a huge amount. Off the line you can just give it the full monty and it just sits down and f*cks off ;)... Nice.
The S4 has servotronic variable ratio power steering which sure does take some getting used to. Around town and when driving slowly you could be fooled into thinking you were driving a Fiesta but the system did weigh up nicely once on the move. Throwing it around a bit I must say the car did feel well planted although I didn't go too mad due to not really getting the hang of the steering immediately, its very different from the Leon. This is something I'm sure you'd get used to pretty quickly though.
Sitting at a set of traffic lights I opened the windows and gave it a rev, my god that engine sounds superb!!! One of those in the Leon.... ::think: :rolleyes:
The rest of the car felt fantastically well built and I dont think I can remember hearing a single squeak or rattle on the test drive. Not surprising on a £35k car... I think the only thing this car is lacking is some sort of personality and am not 100% sure its what I'm after but its certainly a nice mota.
:cheers:
http://www.audi.co.uk/cache/cmsattach/3511_gallery5.jpg
First of all from the outside the new S4 is very understated which I like. Only a very subtle body kit and small boot spoiler plus the Avus wheels make it stand out from normal run of the mill A4's.
On getting in I was greeted by electric half leather Recaro's which not only look fantastic but adjust in about 50 different directions plus have extendable thigh support!!! The car I drove had a few other options including uprated Bose sound system and aluminium interior trim which looked really nice.
So to the drive. I'd looked at the power to weight ratio to compare with mine before setting off and the Audi's was slightly higher so it was with baited breath that we set off down the slip road (salesmans words being go on then, give it some welly :D). Power delivery from the 4.2 V8 is certainly very linear compared to the 1.8T engine but to be honest I wasn't gobsmacked by how quick it was. It seems to have a pronounced step in power once above 5000 rpm though when the scenery becomes a blur:devil:
Once at motorway speeds it was a bit quicker than the Leon but not by a huge amount. Off the line you can just give it the full monty and it just sits down and f*cks off ;)... Nice.
The S4 has servotronic variable ratio power steering which sure does take some getting used to. Around town and when driving slowly you could be fooled into thinking you were driving a Fiesta but the system did weigh up nicely once on the move. Throwing it around a bit I must say the car did feel well planted although I didn't go too mad due to not really getting the hang of the steering immediately, its very different from the Leon. This is something I'm sure you'd get used to pretty quickly though.
Sitting at a set of traffic lights I opened the windows and gave it a rev, my god that engine sounds superb!!! One of those in the Leon.... ::think: :rolleyes:
The rest of the car felt fantastically well built and I dont think I can remember hearing a single squeak or rattle on the test drive. Not surprising on a £35k car... I think the only thing this car is lacking is some sort of personality and am not 100% sure its what I'm after but its certainly a nice mota.
:cheers:
http://www.audi.co.uk/cache/cmsattach/3511_gallery5.jpg