Own A4 vs. test drive of S4
#1
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Own A4 vs. test drive of S4
Went this weekend to dealership to have test drive of S4.
Compare to current A4 have couple observations to share.
Engine. Yes, more powerful. No questions. How practical it is for everyday driving? A4 at the point that adequate+. For "track day"? See below. It is not track ready car.
Noise. Muffler produce noise that penetrate cabin. Compare to S4 - A4 is super quite. There are "enhancement" option in car setting for engine sound. Speakers inside cabin?
Transmission. Epic fail in my opinion. Non-responsive compare to dual clutch. Yes, it is smooth. But this is not Cadillac. Given this car feels "heavy" compare to A4.
All 3 above give feeling of ford mustang. Powerful, but not race car...
Suspension. That what was most interesting to me. Improvement, but not so much. Probably effect achieved by more heavy feeling on the steering wheel.
Seats. S-style. Compare to sport-ventilated-heated in A4 prestige is more engaging used option to adjust boosters (it so wide for me in A4). That it. No ventilation is BIG minus. Non-adjusted headrest is minus too.
Everything else is the same...
Would you buy it? Yes, if they will add dual-clutch (It can handle power - new TT RS is 400hp). All above is IMHO
Compare to current A4 have couple observations to share.
Engine. Yes, more powerful. No questions. How practical it is for everyday driving? A4 at the point that adequate+. For "track day"? See below. It is not track ready car.
Noise. Muffler produce noise that penetrate cabin. Compare to S4 - A4 is super quite. There are "enhancement" option in car setting for engine sound. Speakers inside cabin?
Transmission. Epic fail in my opinion. Non-responsive compare to dual clutch. Yes, it is smooth. But this is not Cadillac. Given this car feels "heavy" compare to A4.
All 3 above give feeling of ford mustang. Powerful, but not race car...
Suspension. That what was most interesting to me. Improvement, but not so much. Probably effect achieved by more heavy feeling on the steering wheel.
Seats. S-style. Compare to sport-ventilated-heated in A4 prestige is more engaging used option to adjust boosters (it so wide for me in A4). That it. No ventilation is BIG minus. Non-adjusted headrest is minus too.
Everything else is the same...
Would you buy it? Yes, if they will add dual-clutch (It can handle power - new TT RS is 400hp). All above is IMHO
Last edited by Magnit; 05-07-2017 at 07:44 PM.
#2
AudiWorld Member
Thanks for your comments. I am heavily considering the S4 as my next car (couple of years down the line)
I think most of us are aware this isn't a race car. For me, it's enough to have a comfortable commute and be able to carve canyons on the weekend (or in my case, the Texas hill country).
I disagree on the transmission. To me, the DCT is the best option for a non manual gearbox.
And as far as "this is not a Cadillac", the best cars these days have characteristics of both. The fact that I can set the car to "comfort" mode every day when I'm headed to the store or on a long car ride is supremely beneficial to me, and yet if I want/need to, I can set the Dynamic setting which completely changes the ride character is a huge seller for me.
Again, I think it's awesome when people bring up discussions like this because often times boards like this get clogged with infotainment-mod-fix discussions. Glad we can have a discussions.
And as someone who lives in Texas with a black A4, I agree on the ventilated seats (even though none of the major companies seem to have them at this level anymore).
I think most of us are aware this isn't a race car. For me, it's enough to have a comfortable commute and be able to carve canyons on the weekend (or in my case, the Texas hill country).
I disagree on the transmission. To me, the DCT is the best option for a non manual gearbox.
And as far as "this is not a Cadillac", the best cars these days have characteristics of both. The fact that I can set the car to "comfort" mode every day when I'm headed to the store or on a long car ride is supremely beneficial to me, and yet if I want/need to, I can set the Dynamic setting which completely changes the ride character is a huge seller for me.
Again, I think it's awesome when people bring up discussions like this because often times boards like this get clogged with infotainment-mod-fix discussions. Glad we can have a discussions.
And as someone who lives in Texas with a black A4, I agree on the ventilated seats (even though none of the major companies seem to have them at this level anymore).
#4
AudiWorld Super User
Kurtatx. He meant that no DSG (DCT) in the S4 is a negative.
And another thing is. Cadillacs of today are actually fun to drive!!! Like the BMWs of yesterday.
I'm also going to the dealership tomorrow to give my A4 for the recall and I'm hoping to drive the S4 while I'm there.
And another thing is. Cadillacs of today are actually fun to drive!!! Like the BMWs of yesterday.
I'm also going to the dealership tomorrow to give my A4 for the recall and I'm hoping to drive the S4 while I'm there.
#6
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
#7
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Kurtatx. He meant that no DSG (DCT) in the S4 is a negative.
And another thing is. Cadillacs of today are actually fun to drive!!! Like the BMWs of yesterday.
I'm also going to the dealership tomorrow to give my A4 for the recall and I'm hoping to drive the S4 while I'm there.
And another thing is. Cadillacs of today are actually fun to drive!!! Like the BMWs of yesterday.
I'm also going to the dealership tomorrow to give my A4 for the recall and I'm hoping to drive the S4 while I'm there.
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#8
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for your comments. I am heavily considering the S4 as my next car (couple of years down the line)
I think most of us are aware this isn't a race car. For me, it's enough to have a comfortable commute and be able to carve canyons on the weekend (or in my case, the Texas hill country).
I disagree on the transmission. To me, the DCT is the best option for a non manual gearbox.
And as far as "this is not a Cadillac", the best cars these days have characteristics of both. The fact that I can set the car to "comfort" mode every day when I'm headed to the store or on a long car ride is supremely beneficial to me, and yet if I want/need to, I can set the Dynamic setting which completely changes the ride character is a huge seller for me.
Again, I think it's awesome when people bring up discussions like this because often times boards like this get clogged with infotainment-mod-fix discussions. Glad we can have a discussions.
And as someone who lives in Texas with a black A4, I agree on the ventilated seats (even though none of the major companies seem to have them at this level anymore).
I think most of us are aware this isn't a race car. For me, it's enough to have a comfortable commute and be able to carve canyons on the weekend (or in my case, the Texas hill country).
I disagree on the transmission. To me, the DCT is the best option for a non manual gearbox.
And as far as "this is not a Cadillac", the best cars these days have characteristics of both. The fact that I can set the car to "comfort" mode every day when I'm headed to the store or on a long car ride is supremely beneficial to me, and yet if I want/need to, I can set the Dynamic setting which completely changes the ride character is a huge seller for me.
Again, I think it's awesome when people bring up discussions like this because often times boards like this get clogged with infotainment-mod-fix discussions. Glad we can have a discussions.
And as someone who lives in Texas with a black A4, I agree on the ventilated seats (even though none of the major companies seem to have them at this level anymore).
#9
AudiWorld Member
#10
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter