john banks

Got a 64 plate one of these as a loaner whilst my Audi is having a warranty fix to the MMI screen clonking when it starts to rise out of the dash. It is a nice loaner, I'm very grateful.


But...


The clutch footrest is so near to the clutch pedal that in normal size 9 shoes I have to aim for the right side of the pedal and risk brushing the brake with my ankle to push the clutch fully down, but it doesn't baulk if you don't. However, I don't think I could live with it.


I thought S line was a high trim level but there are several switch blanks for missing options. This A4 is end of life soon, but the "nav" (doesn't actually have nav) screen looks old as it is rectangular in a rhombus shaped binnacle and contrives to make it look small and dated.


Suspension is slightly firmer than the S8, body control is OK. Engine quietens at speed, does have a narrow power band though.


The interior is on par with a Mk V Golf GTI, certainly no better, and there is an odd mix of shiny plastic inserts in the dash. The metal trim inserts feel cold.


The biggest problem is the steering and FWD. They are 18" wheels but they look smaller in this body. At about 6 deg C in the wet it loses traction in normal driving (without appearing to make any significant forward progress) and washes into understeer surprisingly. Even when not slipping, the steering unweights after turn in, whilst also feeling nose heavy.


I now get entirely the complaints about Audis vs BMWs. I would much rather have a base model BMW than this to own unless it was snowing, then I would rather have a BMW on the correct tires.


It does make some of Audi's higher spec stuff seem worth the cost of entry. The front rear balance, the steering feel, the traction, trim, engines, space, equipment. Statement of the obvious perhaps. I couldn't remotely recommend an A4 for anyone keen on driving though.

Matteeboy

The S line kit really is quite silly; purely cosmetic, trashes the ride.
I think you can tell a lot by a base model and FWD cars pretending to be RS4s just depress me.
Audi makes a few good cars but it's a shame that 95% of them are old design rep mobiles with no real good points; yet they're marketed to death and many owners think they're in something a bit special.

thenewgalaxy

My A3 TDI Quattro S-line is superb.

50mpg, quite chuckable and sticks like poo to a blanket.

richs2891

You could alter the above with a few words and it would describe most of the BMW's

All manufacturers are in it to make money and they seem to know what sells, and lets face it most buyers dont care which set of wheels is driving the car, its the badge on the front that is the interesting bit for them

Matteeboy

At least BMW sticks to its guns on chassis balance and (apart from the new MPV abomination) RWD.
A base BMW drives way better than a base Audi.

richs2891

possibly, but both very vanilla, for most people again down to badge preference, levels of kit and best pcp deal

And do you honestly think that most drivers care or know which set of wheels are been driven (unless in the snow of course ) ?
Thought the replacement BMW 1 series was going fwd, like Merc and Audi ?

Drives better, just means for most people smooth, easy to drive and light clutch !
Sad state of affairs really

hodgy0_2

they always seem very nose heavy anyway - and front wheel drive just exacerbates it

john banks

At 3-4C in the wet today it would understeer about a foot off its line in 2nd gear off a roundabout. Same situation in the S8 later with three times the power and it shimmied the back end slightly, albeit with winter tyres. You would not believe the same manufacturer built these cars, I'm sure the Quattro A4 would be better.

Matteeboy

Sounds similar to the top end, 64 plate Passat I had for a week. On a ten year old chassis.
Comfy, looked good, useless if pushed.

I guess that's good enough for 90% of badge chasers.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

On the Sline there is a lot of optional extras, you only get alloys, kit and seats really. A courtesy car is not going to have any extras on, I got a a1 loaner and it had sat nav but wasn't bloody activated.

Your s8 will be 60/40 split so will drive loads better than a fwd a4. The quattro on the later a4/a6/a8 comes with better set up standard, latest torsen type 2 diff and 60/40 split so there's no comparison imo.

Matteeboy

I've had stacks of courtesy cars and vans recently; many have had loads of options.

Like M Sport and faux AMG, S-Line is just a lame exercise in trying to make mostly hum drum diesels look sporty. Big wheels, crash suspension and some bodykit aren't on my list of what makes a car "sporty."

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Yawn

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Plus winter tyres so no meaningful comparison can be made in my opinion.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I wouldn't ever consider a FWD A4 or A5 or A6, too much engine mounted too far ahead. Reminds me of a 1980's Renault Traffic; A drivetrain layout that should have stayed in the 1980's.

Longitudinal engine/gearbox with FWD drive is just pointless in my opinion. The only thing the A4 it has going for it is the over-complicated multilink front suspension it has to have to help it from under-steering everywhere, which it struggles with. Waste of a good suspension system if you ask me, as it only really becomes of benefit when the rear wheels are driven.

Also as the car is designed to be AWD, there is a lot of wasted space under the floor, that could have been utilised to make the interior bigger. Its just too much compromise with no benefit, bar the badge.

Littleted

I know the 5 series is much nicer internally than the A6, well it was when I was looking..

Matteeboy

Audis are like Nike trainers - they look "good" to many, they're heavily marketed, they cost a lot but are actually almost all a bit cack.

Just another manufacturer of mainly FWD dullard remobiles with diesel engines - nothing separates them from countless other brands (except at the very top end of their ranges).

A triumph of marketing over substance.

brihoppy

Christ; whatever happened to personal preference?!?