Re: new S4 snow'n ice fun!

[spiny@cix.co.uk (Martin Day)]

joukoh@vtoy.fi (Jouko Haapanen) wrote:

> I've had a few days now with a new S4 Avant ...

I've had mine (saloon) for a month or two now.

What do you think of the brakes? I find they're easily the worst feature 
of the car - far too grabby at first and requiring such small pressure 
variations for light to moderate braking that hitting a bump whilst 
braking can have a major effect as your foot bounces slightly on the 
pedal. The RS2 Porsche brakes are wonderful by comparison. Is there 
anything that can be done about this without affecting the ABS, etc?

The accelerator pedal is so much lower than the brake that there's no 
hope of making heel and toe down changes which would be hard enough 
anyway given the sensitivity of the brake pedal. The gearbox is rather 
poor too - there's a very long and notchy throw to the gear stick.

The xenon headlights give very good illumination but it's a real pain 
that I can't change the bulbs myself (too dangerous because of high 
voltages says Audi). I even have to take it to the dealer to have the 
beam pattern flipped over for driving on the right in Europe (too 
dangerous again and no sticking black-out cut-outs on the lenses as they 
get too hot).

The steering is OK. The rest of the car is first class though in build 
quality and finish and the engine's wonderful - plenty of torque from 
1000 rpm and just fantastic from 2000 rpm up. Saves on gear changing and 
is much easier to drive around town than the RS2.

I wouldn't rate the S4 as a replacement for the old ur-quattro. None of 
the "interfaces" between driver and car (pedals, gear stick, steering) 
are better than average. As a car to get you from A to B it's very 
capable but if it's a great car to drive I haven't found its secret yet.

Martin