drove an s4 avant

[mlp]

Samir - call up Len Hunt (Audi USA) & hold out for an RS6!!
Yes, that's right an "RS6" - a twin turbo V8, 400+ bhp.

At the very least, if you are thinking the S4 Avant might be
acceptable, demand he get the RS4 over here.  Twin K04's (I think)
and based on the show and rides we got at Le Mans, loads & loads more
power.

Mike


Message: 11
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 17:45:43 -0400
To: Quattro List <quattro at audifans.com>
From: Samir Shah <gofast1 at home.com>
Subject: drove an s4 avant

Gang, This afternoon, my wife and I test drove a bunch of wagons: BMW
528it, BMW 540it, Audi A6 Avant and S4 Avant, in that order. The short
list
is the 540it and the S4 Avant. The power of the 540 is awesome, after
which
the A6 felt terrible. I had flogged a new A6 2.7T @ Texas Motor
speedway
last December (open session, got 200+ track miles that day) and was
very
thus familiar with the awesome engine, and the A6, and was expecting
the S4
to exhibit the same type of understeer and steering numbness. However,
I
was really surprised with the steering feel and nimblenesss of the S4!
Also
very happy that it comes with 'summer' tires. Both my wife and I
believe
this will be a worthy successor to the Lotus Elan, and in all
likelihood,
we will be purchasing one after the Elan sells. Hopefully it is as
reliable
and bulletproof as the Lotus. My wife wishes it were larger, however,
and
we may wait for the S6.

Does anyone know what the invoice on the S4 Avant car is? Excite
suggests
mid 36s + $575 delivery charges making it approx $37k. The dealers are
trying to tell me that its over 39k and that they would sell the car
around
41k. Does anyone on this list provide a buying service ala some of the
BMW
CCA members?

Another question: has anyone in Europe tried out both the S4 and S6
Avants?
We are wondering if the larger size and weight will destroy the feel
of the
car. The fact that the S6 Avant will not be available in manual may be
a
deal killer, in any case. Would appeciate any feedback, however.

Thanks, Samir.