Topic: CD Article: 2010 Audi S4

[Flinter]

But the V8 sounded oh-so-good.....I think the S4 lost a bit of it's character when the V8 went away...

I agree that the V8 was a sweet sounding engine. One of my former co-workers had the previous gen. S4 Avant and I thought it was darn near perfect.

I do prefer the proportions of the new car with the front wheels moved forward. The styling is a step forward too IMHO. I'm not sure, but I would expect that this new engine would be lighter than the older V8.

Perhaps the car has lost some of it's character... I have not driven either... but I think it is a real competitor for the BMW 335i/335xi and more competition is a good thing.

[G0dspd]

Maybe I'm just being nostalgic, but I think the S4 lost its character when the turbo 5-cylinder went away. 

I was thinking the same thing but I was being nostalgic about the 2.7L Biturbo (B5).  Now it's kinda of back. 

I saw a new A4 in traffic today and thought it was gorgeous.

Same thing with the new A5/S5.  Saw one a few days ago and pictures really don't do it justice.

[Erik]

Don'
t think much of the new A4/S4 exterior. I just find it to be too busy. I loved the ultra-clean look that out had established for itself. Looks like they are trying to do a little Bangleization of their cars now.

However, I would certainly like to take one for a spin.

[rrocket]

Got my new C&D today.  S4 beats the BMW 335i in a comparo. 

[Shnak]

Got my new C&D today.  S4 beats the BMW 335i in a comparo. 

I'm curious, where did the S4 beat the 335i and vice-versa?

[rrocket]

Audi trumps it in real world handling, acceleration, grip.  They said the BMW is "aging and ready for a reboot".

[initial_D]

Really?! ... in that case, uAudi the road, iDrive ... to find new flavor of the day!

[Flinter]

Audi trumps it in real world handling, acceleration, grip.  They said the BMW is "aging and ready for a reboot".

The more I read about this new S4, the more appealing it gets. This car is the real deal. I like the BMW 335, but I'm really glad to see there is a real alternative for a competitive price.

I'll be very interested to see how it holds up in terms of reliability.

[rrocket]

I'll be very interested to see how it holds up in terms of reliability.

Yea...like many German cars.  However, they did say the options add up very quickly on the Audi.  I'm not sure you could find one in relatively "base" form to keep it cost competitive with the BMW.

[Flinter]

Some blog notes from Car and Driver from their 10 best testing.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/10best-test-notes-2010-audi-s4/

Sure, we miss the glorious 4.2-liter V-8 of the last S4—not to mention the delicious noises that went with it—but I have to say that this latest S-model is better in (nearly) every way. All of the tweaks to the A4 platform show through and have been capitalized upon to make the S4 feel more solid, connected, and nimble. I’m particularly impressed by steering that has a directness that’s missing in most other Audis. Compared to the S5 coupe—which will cling to the V-8 powertrain at least through the 2010 model year—the S4 is better balanced. Power is plentiful from the supercharged 3.0-liter, no complaints there, but the engine is lacking in the sound department.

This praise is all being heaped on a pretty base S4 sedan: six-speed manual, no torque-vectoring rear end, no silly radar-detector-confusing blind-spot monitor, no Audi Drive Select (which, by the way, I think is gimmicky, since the S4 is set up right from the start).This praise is all being heaped on a pretty base S4 sedan: six-speed manual, no torque-vectoring rear end, no silly radar-detector-confusing blind-spot monitor, no Audi Drive Select (which, by the way, I think is gimmicky, since the S4 is set up right from the start).

Hopefully, the base S4 will be available in reasonable quantities because it sounds like it is the version to get.

[G0dspd]

The 335i was introducedd in 2007.  The suggested "reboot" will be out in 2011 (new 3-series) as a 2012 model and I'm sure it will beat the B8 S4 in many comparisons.  Then the 20-something S4 will be introduced and there goes the BMW/Audi rivalry again. 

Both cars seem great so it comes down to who has the newest toys and the fanboys arguing on AWD vs. RWD. 

[Mitlov]

I'll be very interested to see how it holds up in terms of reliability.

Yea...like many German cars.  However, they did say the options add up very quickly on the Audi.  I'm not sure you could find one in relatively "base" form to keep it cost competitive with the BMW.

How many option-free 335is are you going to find on BMW dealer lots?  How many with less than $5,000 in options?  With that criticism, it's six of one, a half-dozen of the other.

[rrocket]

I'll be very interested to see how it holds up in terms of reliability.

Yea...like many German cars.  However, they did say the options add up very quickly on the Audi.  I'm not sure you could find one in relatively "base" form to keep it cost competitive with the BMW.

How many option-free 335is are you going to find on BMW dealer lots?  How many with less than $5,000 in options?  With that criticism, it's six of one, a half-dozen of the other.

IIRC the base of the S4 was higher than the 3 Series to start.  So it was already at a cost disadvantage.

Agree 100% with you.  Had a friend who wanted a "base" 3 Series some time ago.  Never did find it, and they looked at every lot in Ontario.  Is it the same in the USA??  I thought at least you'd have a chance, given the market is much larger....

[vdk]

In reality there's 2 options on the base model (there's also a premium model):

Sport Diff $1500
Navi $3200

I'm sure you can find one with the Sport Diff, no Navi.

[Mitlov]

Agree 100% with you.  Had a friend who wanted a "base" 3 Series some time ago.  Never did find it, and they looked at every lot in Ontario.  Is it the same in the USA??  I thought at least you'd have a chance, given the market is much larger....

At the local BMW dealership, there are eleven 328is, zero of which have manuals, with "drive it now" prices ranging from $36,650 to $55,050.  Only one is below $40,000.  The MSRP for the 328i on BMW's website is $32,850.  Does that answer your question?  

EDIT:  The 335i starts at $40,300.  The two 335is on the local dealer's lot are $49,000 (RWD sedan) and $60,500 (convertible).

[Flinter]

Here is some info on Canadian Pricing of the 335i/335xi versus the S4.

335i base - 48900
Sport Pkg.- 2200
USB Audio - 425
Total - 51525

335xi base - 51500
Sport Pkg. - 1800
USB Audio - 425
Total - 53725

Audi S4 base - 52500 (IPOD interface is standard)
Leather upgrade - 1000 (Alcantara/ Leather Seats standard)
Sport Differential - 1500
Total - 55000

For me personally, I think a fair comparison is the 335xi(with Sport pkg. + USB audio) with the S4 (Base + Sport Diff.). I think the standard Alcantara/ Leather Seats would be fine for me. That would result in very comparable pricing (S4 - 54000, 335xi - 53725). Without the sport diff. the S4 is actually cheaper.

If you compared the 335i (with Sport pkg. + USB audio) the price difference would grow to ~$2500, ~$1000 if the S4 was without the sport diff.

[Mitlov]

I'd get the new S4 over the 335xi in a heartbeat. 

...but did anybody here doubt that?

[Flinter]

I'd get the new S4 over the 335xi in a heartbeat. 

...but did anybody here doubt that?

I think both are extremely nice cars but based on the reviews I've read, I'm inclined to agree with you. I'd love to be in a position to comparison shop both cars.

[rrocket]

I'd get the new S4 over the 335xi in a heartbeat. 

...but did anybody here doubt that?

Me too....but I sooooo love the "old" one with the V8.

[vdk]

I'd get the new S4 over the 335xi in a heartbeat. 

...but did anybody here doubt that?

I want to see what the new engine is like. If it's anything like BMW's TT I6 then yes.