So I Drove a 2008 S4 Yesterday...

[Hotel Guy]

So I got to test drive a 2008 S4 yesterday - Not because I am looking to upgrade, but because I was given the opportunity at a local dealership. It was a beautiful 2008 Dolphin Gray S4. Got in, love the interior, NAV, Recaros, carbon fiber trim, everything. Rev'd it a few times (which sent shivvers down my spine, literally). The sound is unbelievable - something that would never get old to me.

Well, to make a long story short, I wasnt overly blown away by its performance. Granted, I wasnt able to test the car to it full ability, but after driving it pretty hard for 20-25 minutes on and off the expressway, I pretty much got a good idea of the car and its basic capabilities.

Currently, I drive a 2002 1.8L 5sp Stage 1+. Trust me, I dont think my car is 'fast' by any means, but it moves enough for me. Id like to think that Ive driven some pretty fast cars in my time, and the 08 S4 just left me wanting a little more.

Anyone have any similar thoughts?

[Maverick]

never drove the 08 S4. get the APR Stage III+ kit for you car now!

[Nor_Cal_Driver]

B8 is heavy?

[Maverick]

i think that was a B7 S4

[Hotel Guy]

It was a B7. Yea, it seemed heavy, but thought the V8 would take care of the weight. It did, but just didnt blow me away (like I had pictured in my mind everytime I see/hear an S4).

[davidlizard]

Yes I've drove the 07 S4 last fall and loved the sound the torque but wanted more from an S4. I was expecting more from that car. A month ago, I've drove the BMW 135i and THAT was awsome!! That was a good sporty feeling!!

[Tgr_Clw]

B6/B7 S4 is a heavy pig. The only good things are the sound and the Recaros.
They do make great hwy cruisers tho.

[HeHateMe]

what other fast cars have you driven?

[Hotel Guy]

Hmmmm... 3000gt VR-4, modded STI, M3. Nothing too crazy - The STI was unreal, the M3 (2003) seems like a pretty close match, and the VR-4 was a while ago.

[skeeball]

Some of it could also be the effect of smooth acceleration vs the kick-in-the-pants of a turbo. Even so, stock performance is a little underwhelming.

[dougyfresh]

Put it this way. My friend has a B7 S4 and used to own a B5 S4. His B5 had everything minus a K04 (or GT) turbo upgrade and was pretty quick. He says his B7 S4 is slow compared to his B5 and he wants his B5 back.

(kicks himself: I should have bought his B5. Beautiful Nogaro with 40k on the clock)

[vinny.dtw]

B6/7 s4's are far from fast. I'd take a BAT a4 avant, with the s4 recaros and call it a day.

[DarkW!sh]

B6/B7 is a little to heavy for the performance you expect to put out with it

[Gallep]

Yeah I test drove a B6 S4 back in 2006. If you're coming from a mild turbo application-like our A4's; the N/A V8 will always leave you wanting more. I wasn't impressed at all because I was anticipating a noticeable push back in the seat... it never showed up.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

i think the only solution is the RS4! the S4 only has abut 340HP and for the weight it isn't fast at all! I would only buy a B6 S4 because of the sound and well if it was a manual would be a lot of fun! i think for the B7 the RS4 is the only way to go or to mod a 2.0TQ and call it a day!

[Hotel Guy]

Yeah I test drove a B7 S4 back in 2006. If you're coming from a mild turbo application-like our A4's; the N/A V8 will always leave you wanting more. I wasn't impressed at all because I was anticipating a noticeable push back in the seat... it never showed up.

Good way of putting it - It doesnt throw you back in your seat like I would have expected.

[JMG]

I test drove a B7 S4 last year and was less than impressed. I thought it was because of the tip, so I drove a 6MT again this year and the salesman let me turn off esp and really open it up... i bought the car.

Coming from a B5 A4 it didn't seem, at first, to be all that fast. It's overweight and didn't have the initial pull that my chipped B5 had. After really opening it up did I feel the power that it had over the 1.8t. A modded B5S4 is a whole other beast that the B7S4 can't compare to, but for overall luxury and stock performance, it was right for me. Having tracked my B5 at Buttonwillow, I felt the B7S4's 60/40 split and more power felt better than my understeering B5 yet was still confidence inspiring in the turns.

Sure there are faster cars out there and I could have gotten an EVO or the previous model STI, but I also needed a semi-luxury 4 door... I'm also out of the modding scene so a standard A4 wouldn't cut it, I needed more stock. I was also in the market for a E46 M3, but being a 2 door and only marginally faster on the straights and according to Top Gear, no better on the track, I couldn't justify the additional cost and sacrifice in interior aesthetics and design. Plus how could I leave the Audi community?! I just love Audis. A5 and S5 were in consideration as well, but again they are 2 doors and the dealer wanted too much over invoice and even had a markup...wtf?!

I could, however, totally see a modder getting an A4 and just going BT, high performance clutch and a few other goodies and totally smoking my S4, but how many people actually go ahead and do that to a daily driver? Answer: on the forums and in the modding community, a good amount, but in everyday driving a minuscule amount.

On the other hand, I'm not racing anymore, I don't have plans to go to the track anymore and i never drag race... just not my cup of tea.

[Phoebusvh]

I thought the same thing when test drove the 05 S4 last month. I had a chance to pretty much almost floored the gas pedal but the acceleration is just missing a few things. I didn't get the pushed back feeling like when I accelerated hard in the Lexus GS350 AWD. The feeling back then was like "yeaa, my heavy A4 all over again except now I can much better catching up and pull a little up with the traffic after a red light".

[demea]

B6/7 s4's are far from fast. I'd take a BAT a4 avant, with the s4 recaros and call it a day.

Wouldnt say that 13.5 - 14.0 stock is considered "far from fast" at any level considering that E.T. would smoke some of the heavier modified A4's on AZ.
(if there's any truth to this http://www.mjbmotorsport.com/sitebui...medatabase.htm)

I would expect at the minimum a consistent sub 13 second E.T. from the S4 considering its power & price tag, but when you have an interior that nice and an exhaust note that sweet...

[Hotel Guy]

but when you have an interior that nice and an exhaust note that sweet...

Thats enough to hook me...

[demea]

Thats enough to hook me...

Right on

[IceMole]

this is the s4 you need to test drive

[skeeball]

Wouldnt say that 13.5 - 14.0 stock is considered "far from fast" at any level considering that E.T. would smoke some of the heavier modified A4's on AZ.
(if there's any truth to this http://www.mjbmotorsport.com/sitebui...medatabase.htm)

I would expect at the minimum a consistent sub 13 second E.T. from the S4 considering its power & price tag, but when you have an interior that nice and an exhaust note that sweet...

13.2 - 13.8 with a chipped S4. You got a timeslip that shows a stock one going 13.5?

[JMG]

13.2 - 13.8 with a chipped S4. You got a timeslip that shows a stock one going 13.5?

APR software on the B7 only adds 12hp on 93 octane... so the right driver and tires could theoretically do 13.5.

2005 S4 got a 13.7 here:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...st+page-4.html

2004 S4 got a 13.4 here:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ecs_price.html

either way there are lots of faster cars out there... so what's the point arguing about what's faster?

[boy412]

B6/7 s4's are far from fast. I'd take a BAT a4 avant, with the s4 recaros and call it a day.

You and me both dude!

Avant's rock...

[boy412]

Maybe you need to drive an RS4?

[ZONAWILDCATS4]

So I got to test drive a 2008 S4 yesterday - Not because I am looking to upgrade, but because I was given the opportunity at a local dealership. It was a beautiful 2008 Dolphin Gray S4. Got in, love the interior, NAV, Recaros, carbon fiber trim, everything. Rev'd it a few times (which sent shivvers down my spine, literally). The sound is unbelievable - something that would never get old to me.

Well, to make a long story short, I wasnt overly blown away by its performance. Granted, I wasnt able to test the car to it full ability, but after driving it pretty hard for 20-25 minutes on and off the expressway, I pretty much got a good idea of the car and its basic capabilities.

Currently, I drive a 2002 1.8L 5sp Stage 1+. Trust me, I dont think my car is 'fast' by any means, but it moves enough for me. Id like to think that Ive driven some pretty fast cars in my time, and the 08 S4 just left me wanting a little more.

Anyone have any similar thoughts?

Was it a TIP?

[PRY4SNO]

It's like JMG stated it: you have to pick your car for your purposes.

I picked the my car/platform because of the styling, aesthetics, and modification potential while still retaining reasonable reliability, mileage and daily driving ability.

And I also agree with Vinny... 2.0Tqm Avant with a killer BT setup and Recaros = ideal sleeper.

Plus, it's just not the car to expect to equal the ferociousness of the previous generation M3 (e... what?) as it's a lot heavier and the weigh distribution is all wrong for driving pleasure. But for everyday... no contest: B7 S4 FTW every time. Can you say summer car (M3) and winter car (S4)? LOL

Wait for the B8 S4 though... that'll be a hell of a kick in the junk. 330+ hp & 420+ lb. ft (unofficially of course). Wowza!

[Hotel Guy]

Was it a TIP?

Nope - 6 speed.

I never would have guessed that so many people would agree with me on this one. Ive been around the boards for almost a year now and never really heard too much chatter about S4's feeling a little underpowered. Well, maybe not "underpowered", but rather "not exactly leaps and bounds ahead of what some of the B6 A4's are capable of".

RS4 is next

[Dragos_DreS]

my buddies M3 eats as much gas as my 3.0.
B6 and B7 S4s are bullshit considering how much gas they use.. its really not all that impressive

[b6onboost]

I expected the A4 forum would have this opinion. A lot of us have modded our A4s to various performance levels, and to expect an S4 to be 'leaps and bounds' ahead of even a mildly modded A4 is setting expectations too high. I don't think the S4 is underpowered, and its plenty fast for a 4 door luxury sedan.

I think the S4 forum would have a differing reaction. Likely telling you that the turbo 'rush' is fooling you into thinking your car is faster than it is, a statement which holds a lot of truth, especially on a K03.

I never would have guessed that so many people would agree with me on this one. Ive been around the boards for almost a year now and never really heard too much chatter about S4's feeling a little underpowered. Well, maybe not "underpowered", but rather "not exactly leaps and bounds ahead of what some of the B6 A4's are capable of".

[$4c@b]

I test drove a B7 S4 last year and was less than impressed. I thought it was because of the tip, so I drove a 6MT again this year and the salesman let me turn off esp and really open it up... i bought the car.

Coming from a B5 S4 it didn't seem, at first, to be all that fast. It's overweight (especially the cab) and didn't seem to have the initial rush/pull that my stock B5 had. After really opening it up did I feel the power that it had over the 2.7tt. The difference is that the power of the ttv6 was peaky and the v8 is much more linear.

And there's the sound...

[ZONAWILDCATS4]

I agree with you guys...down low it doesn't have that pull like you think a 340hp car would...however once you open it up (3rd gear and up) it pulls hard. I used to have a b6 a4 chipped/fmic other fun stuff and down low, the car pulled fairly well.

I drive my S4 sometimes around town...and I would get on it a little in 1st and 2nd gear, and it would seem slow to me...but then once you get up through 3rd gear and beyond and it is a completely different animal.

The other thing that in my opinion was night and day was the braking. The stock B6 a4 brakes are flat out terrible...my 1988 Scirocco brakes better. When you start to get the s4 up to speed its nice to have something that you feel comfortable with under hard braking.

[absolutegtr]

wait for the rs5......didnt they say it was going to be a 4.2tt?

[Hotel Guy]

I agree with you guys...down low it doesn't have that pull like you think a 340hp car would...however once you open it up (3rd gear and up) it pulls hard. I used to have a b6 a4 chipped/fmic other fun stuff and down low, the car pulled fairly well.

I drive my S4 sometimes around town...and I would get on it a little in 1st and 2nd gear, and it would seem slow to me...but then once you get up through 3rd gear and beyond and it is a completely different animal.

The other thing that in my opinion was night and day was the braking. The stock B6 a4 brakes are flat out terrible...my 1988 Scirocco brakes better. When you start to get the s4 up to speed its nice to have something that you feel comfortable with under hard braking.

I completely agree on the brakes. They were very grabby and much much nicer than my A4 brakes. Ill probably consider an upgrade to B5 S4 brakes when my current pads/rotors are done...

[My OOOO My]

Hmmmm.... this thread came at the right time.

I was STRONGLY considering purchasing a B6 S4, mainly because I'm tired of my '02 1.8T Tiptronic. I want MORE power / performance. So I figured the 340hp V8 with a 6spd tranny would do the trick.

Guess I'm wrong huh...???

[My OOOO My]

wait for the rs5......didnt they say it was going to be a 4.2tt?

Hmmm, a 4.2 TT. Why O Why did Audi keep that setup exclusive to the RS6 ???

I wonder if there is someone out there in VAG Tuner World who can develop a TT setup for the 4.2L S4's.

That would be insane......

[JMG]

Hmmmm.... this thread came at the right time.

I was STRONGLY considering purchasing a B6 S4, mainly because I'm tired of my '02 1.8T Tiptronic. I want MORE power / performance. So I figured the 340hp V8 with a 6spd tranny would do the trick.

Guess I'm wrong huh...???

Just go test drive it and eliminate the guesswork.

[demea]

Hmmmm.... this thread came at the right time.

I was STRONGLY considering purchasing a B6 S4, mainly because I'm tired of my '02 1.8T Tiptronic. I want MORE power / performance. So I figured the 340hp V8 with a 6spd tranny would do the trick.

Guess I'm wrong huh...???

Yeah, go drive it. I'm sure your opinion matters the most when you're signing the paperwork and making the payments!

[demea]

13.2 - 13.8 with a chipped S4. You got a timeslip that shows a stock one going 13.5?

No. I'll say it's probably leaning towards the 14.0 end of that statement, but I'm sure with the right conditions, good driver, tailwind, no spare, low fluids, small driver, no change in the ash tray...etc. it could pull off a mid 13 second run