>>> VF/AWE Supercharged B7S4 Avant Review (PICS) <<<
I know, I know…enough of this and let’s get to the meat of the review…
Fit & Finish
Well, as everyone has seen at Waterfest this year, the fit looks nice and clean. VF and AWE went through extreme measures to make it look this way. The pictures cannot do this kit any justice. Seeing it in person and learning all the details that went into the R&D just shows you the time and effort that has been invested so far. The intricate creation of the water cooling system and the very subtle shift of the oil filter location are just a couple of examples of this.
The Drive
Let us start off with what the Avant has already installed. The SC kit is the obvious part. AWE also included a set of H&R coilovers, AWE downpipes, AWE resonated catback exhaust, and 19” HRE wheels with 235/35/19 and 265/30/19 Dunlop tires front and rear, respectively. I heard that a few other things like a big brake kit and sway bars might be joining the party shortly.
The initial impression of the car was that it felt like my own B6 S4. With the car at idle and/or mildly cruising secondary local roads, the presence of a forced induction kit is not even noticeable. You cannot even hear the unit working while standing next to it at idle. Do not let this fool you one bit. All the available extra power that this kit promises is always ready when your right foot asks for it. Power comes in a very linear fashion, not abruptly nor in any particular sweet spot. It simply is just there – always ready to pounce when needed. Keep in mind that the 5.5 psi of boost has gobs of power to offer any speed fanatic.
The supercharger whine is simply intoxicating. It sounds like it should be coming out of the Bose system that the car came with. Each gear feels much stronger than what you would normally experience from stock or a heavily modified B6/B7 S4. The coilovers were a perfect match to the kit. The ride was compliant with the bumps but very precise with the car when it came to making jug-handle turns or loading the tires up with all the available power under the hood. Even with ESP disabled, the staggered Dunlop tire setup kept the vehicle on track.
With all the hard miles I racked up, the car’s temperature gauge never budged. In fact, the engine (thanks to the additional water cooling system) was running cooler than my car has ever before. The temp needle stayed a tick below the half marker, which is impressive. The unit was not even hot when touched by my bare hands. (All S4 owners will attest to the fact that the engine’s intake manifold simply gets very hot rather quickly – so hot it can cause 2nd degree burns if not careful.)
It is simply AMAZING!!
The Conclusion
I never thought that the V8 platform for the S4 could be ever improved even after a chip and a full exhaust, which a lot of enthusiasts have done through the years. This will silence all the ‘2 weeks’ forum critics once they realize that what VF and AWE have created is a few degrees away from perfection. The combination of the supercharger whine and the power it delivers is simply corrupting in nature. I really like the mild-mannered disguise the kit comes with when the extra power is not required. The power band is so smooth across every inch of the tachometer. If it was not for the presence of the supercharger whine, the driver might just think that the car has a V10 under the hood instead of the V8.
Question1: Would you NEED this for your S4?
Answer1: I asked my wife if I could keep the car like a puppy that followed me home. (YES)
Question2: Would you WANT this kit for your S4?
Answer2: If it was not for me having a wife and a week old baby, I thought about running away from home and keeping this wonderfully packaged car all to myself. (YES, YES, YES!!!)
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Raudi 4.2
Bookmarks