Re: AUDI S4

["Bill Hussey" <list_squid@hotmail.com>]

>From: "D.J. Bergesen" <achtungvr6@hotmail.com>
>Subject: Re: AUDI S4
>Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2000 08:11:21 MDT
>
>Actually, even in WA state, I'm not giving the AWD consideration for its
>traction boost. I've got the GLX now, and handle the slipping on wet roads
>just fine. RWD doesn't bug me much - my girlfriends MBZ CLK320 is very easy
>to handle. I'd be looking E36 on the M. Used, less than $35K. The best 
>thing
>about the S4 is the new car warranty and flexible financing. I'm getting
>tired of the M3's dated interior, but still in love with the fact it's an
>M3. I've been enamored of that car for years. I'm not in the market for 
>real
>for another 9 months, which - as I see it - is enough time for me to change
>my mind again and again and again and again...
>
>The car will be a daily driver, and I like the torque curve of the S4, not
>to mention the ride and noise level... Right now the PROS list on the S4 is
>MUCH longer than the CONS, and the S4 PROS are also much longer than the M3
>PROS. The biggest one for the M3 is that it's a BMW M3... Send me YOUR
>thoughts.

Big question to consider is what you will be doing with the car as far as 
high-speed whatever?  Will it see the track?  Autocrosses aren't really that 
tough to set up for, and most cars can be slightly modified and will handle 
an autocross well.  Pick up the latest issue of Hot Rod Magazine, there's an 
article in there about a couple of guys who took a '69 Camaro SS (with 
something like 600HP) and entered it into an autocross.  Not only did they 
win, but they won by a huge margin, the article was titled "Beating the 
Imports at Their Own Game" .. I found it hilarious.

Anyway, if you're going to be doing any track days (and if you get the BMW, 
I highly recommend the BMW CCA, amazing club), the BMW is definately a step 
above the S4.  BMW has a thing with making a solid chassis, my friends '86 
325e (with the springs, shocks, and swaybars off of an '88 M3) is much more 
communicative at the limit, and much more connected at high speeds, than my 
'98 Jetta has a dream of being.  Feedback in general, is incredible on all 
BMWs (even 740iL's are impressive at the track).  Brakes are always top 
notch, and very communicative, and horsepower is consistantly underrated.

I've had a chance to drive an S4, and came away very impressed.  The boost 
comes on strong and very low in the rev range, but it's obvious this thing 
isn't a V8 if torque is what you're after.  The 2.5/2.8/3.0 inline 6's from 
BMW sing a prettier song than the 2.7LTT Audi, but the Audi can definately 
be kept on the boil if you decide you like short-shifting better than 
revving.  Brakes are top notch as well, but with a salesman in the car, I 
was not able to push the car anywhere near it's limits.  I took one curve at 
slightly elevated speeds and the sales guy had the glove-box open, the 
owners manual out, and was searching the glossary for "O-Shit handle", so 
having fun was out with this guy.

My biggest gripe with the S4, and any Audi for that matter, is that ever 
since the lawsuit eons ago, the one where that lady accidently ran over her 
son because the brake and gas pedal were too close, Audi has moved those two 
pedals far enough apart that heal-and-toe'ing is damn near impossible.  And 
on the track, that's a HUGE disadvantage, and a big decrease in the 
fun-factor.

I give 2 thumbs up for RWD.  There's nothing like hanging the rear end of 
your car out exiting a first or second gear hairpin, and if you haven't 
learned about high-speed rotations yet ... oh boy!  Hehe, they're a ton of 
fun, they eat up tires faster than you can read your credit card number to 
the Tire Rack, but they are balls of fun and can only be accomplished with 
RWD, or a rear-wheel-dominant AWD system like that found on the new 911 
turbos.  The Audi's 50/50 split system favors understeer something terrible 
... no fun! =)

Bill
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