B9 S4 Review

[s42014DSG]

http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/a...to/first-drive

Enjoy.

[silverf0x]

So officially no 6MT anymore :(

[isles1]

Thanks

[theswoleguy]

I'll give it a shot maybe. A turbo in the V will have ample support and get pushed to higher numbers than b8.

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[shoe3k]

Those interior pics look great and the new seats look fantastic. The one thing that is a pleasant surprise was this:

You get a meaningful, tuned rasp from the V6 when it’s under load, without any speaker-faked nonsense or drumrolls from the exhaust.

I can't wait to try one out for myself.

[mcoomer]

So officially no 6MT anymore :(

But it's still go the DSG, right? Oh wait...not impressed.

[maverickvii]

But it's still go the DSG, right? Oh wait...not impressed.

Ya the transmission options are weak. I do like the interior though.

[KnewJack]

Looks like it's moved to a slushbox like the RS7. They stated the S-Tronic couldn't handle the torque of the new engine. The RS7 has a ZF torque converter 8-speed trans. I'm thinking that's what in the new S4.

[theswoleguy]

Looks like it's moved to a slushbox like the RS7. They stated the S-Tronic couldn't handle the torque of the new engine. The RS7 has a ZF torque converter 8-speed trans. I'm thinking that's what in the new S4.

Yea is probably the same our very close copy. Rumor is it's the same zf from q7 that's in the rs cars.

Seems you can do rs turbo upgrades on s cars like apr and they haven't had issues.

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[cjw]

Looks like it's moved to a slushbox like the RS7. They stated the S-Tronic couldn't handle the torque of the new engine. The RS7 has a ZF torque converter 8-speed trans. I'm thinking that's what in the new S4.

That's a cop out excuse from Audi though since the S6 can do it.

[rubicant5x]

According to Wikipedia, the DL501 can handle up to 600 ft/lbs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-shift_gearbox

[S4 00 2.7]

I'm really liking that interior more! thanks for sharing.

[s4buckeye]

that review of the S4 wasn't exactly.....good.

[Vanimal]

The "modern" 8 spd Tiptronic is underrated for whatever reason. Is it the best trans on the makert? No, but neither is the current 7spd DSG. Has anyone even bothered to read the reviews on the RS7's trans?


-Solid reviews of the 8AT in the RS7-

"The software tuning for this gearbox is insanely good. It is honestly the best automatic gearbox I've ever used. Shifts are lazy when you want them to be, but are viciously brutal when you shift manually with the car in dynamic mode. Downshifts are fast and rev-matched, upshifts are quicker than you think an auto can be. Yet in traffic it doesn't jerk around. It combines my favorite parts of a double clutch with the tractability and smoothness of a torque converter. Drive it and you'll understand; It transforms the way you think of an automatic. It's perfectly suited to the RS7. Honestly, anyone not using a gearbox like this in a super sedan looks foolish. " - Jalopnik

"The eight-speed automatic—remapped for this amped-up application—is an eager accomplice. Few paddle-shifted cars compel us to use their paddles, but the RS7 is a different beast; it’s highly satisfying to have this excellent drivetrain at your direct command. The transmission shifts instantly when you thwack the appropriate paddle, and the engine roars like a wild animal, fierce and alive. Upshifts just mean more velocity piling onto the speedometer, all the way up to a stated top speed of 190 mph. Downshifts are just as scintillating, the needle flinging up the tach and the exhaust burbling viciously. " Car & Driver"


Looks slushy?
https://youtu.be/WFO0gE5GwYM


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[theswoleguy]

The "modern" 8 spd Tiptronic is underrated for whatever reason. Is it the best trans on the makert? No, but neither is the current 7spd DSG. Has anyone even bothered to read the reviews on the RS7's trans?


-Solid reviews of the 8AT in the RS7-

"The software tuning for this gearbox is insanely good. It is honestly the best automatic gearbox I've ever used. Shifts are lazy when you want them to be, but are viciously brutal when you shift manually with the car in dynamic mode. Downshifts are fast and rev-matched, upshifts are quicker than you think an auto can be. Yet in traffic it doesn't jerk around. It combines my favorite parts of a double clutch with the tractability and smoothness of a torque converter. Drive it and you'll understand; It transforms the way you think of an automatic. It's perfectly suited to the RS7. Honestly, anyone not using a gearbox like this in a super sedan looks foolish. " - Jalopnik

"The eight-speed automatic—remapped for this amped-up application—is an eager accomplice. Few paddle-shifted cars compel us to use their paddles, but the RS7 is a different beast; it’s highly satisfying to have this excellent drivetrain at your direct command. The transmission shifts instantly when you thwack the appropriate paddle, and the engine roars like a wild animal, fierce and alive. Upshifts just mean more velocity piling onto the speedometer, all the way up to a stated top speed of 190 mph. Downshifts are just as scintillating, the needle flinging up the tach and the exhaust burbling viciously. " Car & Driver"


Looks slushy?
https://youtu.be/WFO0gE5GwYM


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Like it came from 7-11... lol that's just nasty

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[Tanner]

Autogefuhl's in-depth review, maybe about 70-75% later in the video is quick run on the autobahn up to ~250 kph before hitting traffic.

http://youtu.be/P7jo9YUS75o

[chaos2984]

That review wasn't really good. Some of the numbers don't make sense. The reduced 0-60 the current car does that time now 4.7 And the fuel mileage all the way up to 37.7 that's a huge improvement if its true. And they said the outgoing one got 36.6 where they get that number.

I like that this is the first pic with nice seats just like what we have now. Still don't like the shift knob and where they put the MMI controls and that display on the dash what an eye sore.

[S4'ed]

Did someone leave their iPad on the dash?.....

[bhvrdr]

I'll give it a shot maybe. A turbo in the V will have ample support and get pushed to higher numbers than b8.

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Just my rambling thoughts but I think you'll need a turbo swap to get numbers like our stage 2 numbers and I dont see a lot of people jumping to swap turbos on their new S4 for the next few years until the warranties start expiring. For now, it seems like the B8 is going to be a one of a few luxury cars that can get you into the 11s (on just a pulley and tune) for under 50 grand (under 35 grand CPO). The B9 will have my interest in a few years I'd bet.

Mike

[theswoleguy]

Oh I'm sure there's some decent headroom on that turbo, especially with downpipe and intercooler upgrades around the corner. I think just as many people that jump on the b8 and the drop of the unproven blower upgrade that same would happen here for a fair less dollar value.

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[bhvrdr]

Oh I'm sure there's some decent headroom on that turbo, especially with downpipe and intercooler upgrades around the corner. I think just as many people that jump on the b8 and the drop of the unproven blower upgrade that same would happen here for a fair less dollar value.

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I hope you're right but i'd bet there will need to be a turbo upgrade. Even if the stock B9 turbo has another 40 - 60 whp increase in it up top (which it may not) our blower appears to have 100whp over stock easily in it. If you figure that even the twin turbo 4.0T with a tune is running similar times as our best pump stage 2 cars that's impressive. Turbos only have so much they can make up top before you need a larger wheel. I believe the B9 will be a nicer car for sure but I'll wager it wont be faster than our stage 2 cars without a turbo swap. I'm sure someone will offer some hybrids or whatever but this likely will be several years out before people will be willing to ditch the warranty. Of course this is all just fun speculation.

Mike

[jzinckgra]

Those interior pics look great and the new seats look fantastic. The one thing that is a pleasant surprise was this:



I can't wait to try one out for myself.

Slight hijack, but is the drumroll noise I hear from the exhaust under hard acceleration able to be shut off in a non tech pack S4?

[jl87]

Doesn't look too "slushy" to me. From the factory looks like they did a pretty good job on it.

[Reckon]

Reviews I have seen so far, love the autogefuhl one (used his F-Pace review in my decision to get one :) ), show very good things. Seems the S4 is staying fairly true to its nature even amidst all the cost cutting VAG has had to do in light of the dieselgate issue. I won't be getting an S4 again as I will be looking to get into a bigger sedan (more than likely a choice between the S6 and the Jaguar XF in the next year or two), but if I was in the market, the new S4 would definitely be a contender.

[shoe3k]

I hope you're right but i'd bet there will need to be a turbo upgrade. Even if the stock B9 turbo has another 40 - 60 whp increase in it up top (which it may not) our blower appears to have 100whp over stock easily in it. If you figure that even the twin turbo 4.0T with a tune is running similar times as our best pump stage 2 cars that's impressive. Turbos only have so much they can make up top before you need a larger wheel. I believe the B9 will be a nicer car for sure but I'll wager it wont be faster than our stage 2 cars without a turbo swap. I'm sure someone will offer some hybrids or whatever but this likely will be several years out before people will be willing to ditch the warranty. Of course this is all just fun speculation.

Mike

I can only hope that the air/water setup on the b9 S4 will be better, especially since we were limited by the TVS1320 cores to cool the charge.

[RudyH]

I don't understand, so the car weighs less, has more power, but is slower then the DSG equipped B8.5 with the same Quattro system. What gives besides the obvious?

At least if Audi offered only the DCT I could somewhat understand, or charged $2-3k for a 6MT that's fine with me as well. It's a sad time to be an Audi enthusiast.

[GlazierGlaze]

This car is going to rape B8s.

Gods Chariot no more.

[Vanimal]

So we went from a 32mm regular circle wheel in the B8, to a 35mm flat bottom in the B8.5.

Now back to a non flat bottom? Looks about the thickness of the pre FL b8?

Kinda looks like a Mustang steering wheel. The steering wheel is often over looked in some cars. To me it's very important aesthetics wise, you touch the damn thing the whole time! That's one thing I hated about the B8. Thankfully there swapable or the guy on here retrofitting the B8's into flat bottoms 32/39mm sizes.


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[raudiace4]

This car is going to rape B8s.

Gods Chariot no more.

Agreed.

[jl87]

I don't understand, so the car weighs less, has more power, but is slower then the DSG equipped B8.5 with the same Quattro system. What gives besides the obvious?

At least if Audi offered only the DCT I could somewhat understand, or charged $2-3k for a 6MT that's fine with me as well. It's a sad time to be an Audi enthusiast.

New S4 is not slower than the outgoing model. New S4 is 0-62 in 4.7, outgoing S4 is 0-60 in 4.9

New https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/audi-s4-27
Outgoing https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/...-media-kit.pdf

[theswoleguy]

I can only hope that the air/water setup on the b9 S4 will be better, especially since we were limited by the TVS1320 cores to cool the charge.

there was a fly through video showing engine function that showed a front mount, the hoses seemed too large for AWIC. My guess they went back to Air to air, I cannot find it but it was in one of these B9 posts on Audizine

[b6bydesign04]

So we went from a 32mm regular circle wheel in the B8, to a 35mm flat bottom in the B8.5.

Now back to a non flat bottom? Looks about the thickness of the pre FL b8?

Kinda looks like a Mustang steering wheel. The steering wheel is often over looked in some cars. To me it's very important aesthetics wise, you touch the damn thing the whole time! That's one thing I hated about the B8. Thankfully there swapable or the guy on here retrofitting the B8's into flat bottoms 32/39mm sizes.


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Strange, it's a FBSW in the pictures from OP's link:

[superswiss]

Doesn't look too "slushy" to me. From the factory looks like they did a pretty good job on it.

Thanks to the annoyingly loud paddle click, you can pick up the half second delay between pulling the paddle and the transmission actually shifting. That lack of instant response is what kills the ZF8 for me every time. Sounds like this implementation is no different. The S-tronic has instant up and downshifts, unless you are lazy on the throttle during an upshift. That's ok, but under aggressive driving like in this video, these delays as small as they have become in today's torque converter automatics, annoy the heck out of me.

[switchedstance]

Agreed.

3rd. If the 4.0t tunes are any indication of the power left on the table for hot-V, turbo setups, there will be no contest.

[Ray Khan]

3rd. If the 4.0t tunes are any indication of the power left on the table for hot-V, turbo setups, there will be no contest.

4th. The car is lighter than the B8/B8.5 and likely underrated at 354 hp.

[Vanimal]

Thanks to the annoyingly loud paddle click, you can pick up the half second delay between pulling the paddle and the transmission actually shifting. That lack of instant response is what kills the ZF8 for me every time. Sounds like this implementation is no different. The S-tronic has instant up and downshifts, unless you are lazy on the throttle during an upshift. That's ok, but under aggressive driving like in this video, these delays as small as they have become in today's torque converter automatics, annoy the heck out of me.

Did you miss that RS7 video I posted above with the ZF 8 speed? I mean if that's not instant I don't know what is.

My buddy has a Hellcat with a ZF8 & it's the fastest shifting trans I've ever used, that includes the B8 S4 I've owned with the DSG. Also been in the Scatpack that shares the same ZF8. In fact GM claims its one of the fastest shifting transmissions on the market, google it. All around the DSG is probably better is some other aspects. But you guys are dogging the ZF8 likes its slow, you guys must drive around town like Mario Andretti haha. Why not have a 6spd if you want that much control in your B8/B8.5?

I'm not seeing much delay here. Yes the tip is meant to be more smooth around town, wouldn't that be a advantage than it being jerky & balky? There's other reasons like its 15-20% cheaper to manufacture & allow 10% gas mileage increase.

https://youtu.be/WFO0gE5GwYM


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[superswiss]

Did you miss that RS7 video I posted above with the ZF 8 speed? I mean if that's not instant I don't know what is.

You are correct, I should've qualified my comment "with the exception of the RS7" and some other implementations, but the majority of the ZF8 implementations are a different story and looks like the S4 is the same. I expect that the RS4/5 have RS7 level programming, unless quattro Gmbh has a beefier S-tronic in the works.

BTW, I'm not particularly impressed by the S-tronic in the S4. My point of reference is the RS5 and R8.

[Vanimal]

^ Just to add on that you have to understand what you get with Audi. You are getting a sports refined vehicle. If you want a driver oriented car first, that's what BMW does with their M3/M4. I prefer a little of both, refined interior, AWD with performance. So Audi is always my choice.

We make up a small portion here of their customer base who own S model cars. Probably 6/10 owners who aren't a member here could care less and keep it in D, like my fiancé lol. Hey it helps even out the MPG . There is two sides to the fence, how about the people who complain about the DSG is jerky at slow speeds or when it breaks. I'm not bashing just looking deeper & learning to except the change. If anything we should be complaining there is no 6spd. I think the ZF8 will hold its own. I've driven in a few and they are quite crispy.

Do I think the DSG is better? Yeah surely, but it's a numbers game. So if it doesn't meet their spec or it cost 20% cheaper to produce. On top of adds 10% to fuel economy. It's the nature of the beast I guess.


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[Vanimal]

Quick tail note though... The A4 gets the DSG, so it's really odd. They could easily share it across. Who the hell knows lol.


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[superswiss]

^ Just to add on that you have to understand what you get with Audi. You are getting a sports refined vehicle. If you want a driver oriented car first, that's what BMW does with their M3/M4. I prefer a little of both, refined interior, AWD with performance. So Audi is always my choice.

That's why I own an RS and not an S model.