More fun than a root canal: S4 coming?

[HaleyD@YANKELOVICH.COM (Haley, Doug)]

Yesterday, while waiting for the novacaine to wear off after my root canal, I stopped at Pray Audi in Greenwich CT.  I figured, since I couldn't talk, I'd spend some time with a saleman who would do nothing but.

Pray claims to be the world's highest volume Audi dealer.  Must be some truth here.  They are one of the three sites in the U.S. chosen to build a special facility to do aluminum body repair on pranged A8's.  I thought they might have a better line to the factory regarding delivery of future models, specifically, the A4-based S4 (twin turbo V6).

Interestingly, when you show up at an Audi dealer with an S4/S6 you tend to get immediate respect (even tho I bought mine used).  Anyway, I think it would be pretty cool to have two S4-badged cars that are totally different automobiles!

So the dealer says (insert appropriate disclaimer based upon reliabilty of source) that the new S4 will be coming here in less than a year, as a 1998 model, but probably not in this calendar year.  Between now and then, he expects to see the 5-valve V-6's appearing as 1998 models for sale mid-summer this year.  I forgot to ask him about Avants.

I got to drive an A4q 1.8T manual (finally available).  This is the most fun car in Audi's current lineup IMHO.  I've driven the A8q which I found powerful, capable, but uninvolving.  The A6 needs a better motor.  And the A4q 2.8 is a great, smooth car, but also subjectively a bit underpowered.  So I'm gonna hold out for the S4, altho given expected pricing (competitive to M3) a better alternative might be buying a loaded A4q 1.8T and spending the difference chipping/modifying it.

My message to Pray was: Bring back the S-Cars!!!!  Guess (per the advice of another lister) I'll write a letter to the president of Pray.
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Doug Haley (haleyd@yankelovich.com)
"There is no fundamental difference between a sufficiently advanced technology and magic" (A.C.Clarke)
'92 S4 (mine)
'95 Saab Turbo Conv (hers)
'91 Sentra SE-R (theirs)
'61 Alfa Giulietta Spider Veloce (ours)
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