Pete @ Stratmosphere

Just checked the my new S4 sedan against my wife's 3.0 Sport 6-speed. The A4 Sport rides 1/2" lower front and rear. Go figure! -Pete

markbradford

Stupid stupid stupid.

mm

...and how much of that is just production variances.

Pete @ Stratmosphere

Dunno. 450 miles on the S4 now. The A4 has 4K miles.

Ron O

Could the wheels make the diffference?

oatzel

the b6 has an advantage overall in that its sport package is so much lower than the b5 sport, but it's just *** backwards to make the s4 sit higher than the sport package

Ash

..not sure why audi can't get the suspension right without having 10 feet of suspension travel...BMW seems to do this just fine...

I think it's a combo of the wider tire and extra offset of the S4 wheels, they are pushed out more hence there is more chance of rubbing perhaps. So they build in more suspension clearance to avoid any rubbing.

Ever noticed some of the older jaguars (even new ones)? They have virtually 0 wheel gap..and can only get away with it because the wheels are inside the body panel, and when fully compressed, the outside fender actually hides a portion of the wheel as the wheel goes right into the body. E36 rear suspension is also the same, where it sinks into the body.

Either way, I still think it's silly. I'm sure Audi could have gotten the handling/ride characteristics and still kept wheel gap acceptable.

Ash

Shaun

There's plenty of room under those fenders. They could have made it lower if they wanted to. I think it's more the weight issue. The suspension would have had to have been so stiff to allow such short travel that it wouldn't have been a good compromise for the average consumer.

Ash

does much more testing with its suspension setup to ensure no rubbing in ANY circumstance. I can't say that works the same way for someone who buys coilovers, and chooses a wheel/tire combo.

You have to think like the manufacturer....I'm sure those guys with 19s & 20s get some rubbing in certain situations, it's just that they are willing to live with it.

Either way, the suspension travel/wheel gap that we see is a compromise to allow for the wheel/tire combo, the ride, and the handling.

Ash

Shaun

to illustrate that there is more room under there than you might think. My summer wheels are 17x8", ET35, with 235/45R17 Bridgestone S03's on the sport suspension and I can tell you that it absolutely never rubs. Given that, I see no reason for them to raise the height on the S4.

BTW, I'm still skeptical as to whether or not it's really higher or if it's just one car taking it's time settling. The S4 I saw last week looked pretty low...

Cheers,