Just drove a 2015 S4 and then my 996 back to back
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Just drove a 2015 S4 and then my 996 back to back
A friend of mine let me drive his S4 (6 speed) this afternoon. Very slick car, and the interior fit and finish of Audis always leaves me a bit envious. Overall it seemed very light and quick.
Getting back into my 996, I was expecting things to feel a bit sloppy by comparison but was surprised to find that wasn't the case. The clutch feel, pedal travel, pedal spacing, shifter feel and steering all felt tighter and much more connected than in the Audi.
The S4 is pretty awesome, but if anything it just gave me an even greater appreciation for how well the 996 is put together.
Cheers
Charlie
Getting back into my 996, I was expecting things to feel a bit sloppy by comparison but was surprised to find that wasn't the case. The clutch feel, pedal travel, pedal spacing, shifter feel and steering all felt tighter and much more connected than in the Audi.
The S4 is pretty awesome, but if anything it just gave me an even greater appreciation for how well the 996 is put together.
Cheers
Charlie
#2
Lots of threads like this lately.
I've been driving some sweet machinery lately and going back to the 996. Can't say I align with your feelings. After I took out the Ferrari f430 for 20 minutes at the race track, my car felt slow and had major body roll. You don't want to know how it felt after I got back in after 4 laps in the Audi R8.
the 911 is no longer my dream car, we'll put it that way.
I've been driving some sweet machinery lately and going back to the 996. Can't say I align with your feelings. After I took out the Ferrari f430 for 20 minutes at the race track, my car felt slow and had major body roll. You don't want to know how it felt after I got back in after 4 laps in the Audi R8.
the 911 is no longer my dream car, we'll put it that way.
#4
Instructor
i've owned a 2002 s4 avant (station wagon) since new. when going from the 993 (past) or 964 (current) to the s4 i always "oversteer" the steering wheel because it feels so detatched from what's happening on the road, and i feel like i'm shoving the clutch pedal through the floor.
shifter feels like a rifle bolt though, and the acceleration is neck snapping.
variety is good.
shifter feels like a rifle bolt though, and the acceleration is neck snapping.
variety is good.
#7
haha. I wish I owned them. I just rent them when they show up at the track. Renting the dream, lmao
....and it's usually a bummer hoping back in my ride. I really do wish I could walk away being more impressed with my car but that isn't the case. Those cars are retarded at the track though. Ferrari is so brutal when it shifts, it's amazing!
....and it's usually a bummer hoping back in my ride. I really do wish I could walk away being more impressed with my car but that isn't the case. Those cars are retarded at the track though. Ferrari is so brutal when it shifts, it's amazing!
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#8
I'm tring to figure out a way to get some laps in at the Hamburger Ring as part of a euro trip but haven't quite figgered it out yet.
Sounds like a blast to manhandle an F430.. saw a 488 last week and was in awe at how pretty they are. Ferrari / Lamborghini / McLaren / Pagani all leave me speechless in person.
Sounds like a blast to manhandle an F430.. saw a 488 last week and was in awe at how pretty they are. Ferrari / Lamborghini / McLaren / Pagani all leave me speechless in person.
#9
Race Director
I've been driving some sweet machinery lately and going back to the 996. Can't say I align with your feelings. After I took out the Ferrari f430 for 20 minutes at the race track, my car felt slow and had major body roll. You don't want to know how it felt after I got back in after 4 laps in the Audi R8.
the 911 is no longer my dream car, we'll put it that way.
the 911 is no longer my dream car, we'll put it that way.
I certainly didn't drive away feeling like the 996 was a consolation prize - but I also fell in love with my 996 the first time I saw a picture of it online, so my ability to be objective about the car is clearly suspect.
#10
Rennlist Member
My daily driver is a 2015 S4.
996 and the S4 are completly different animals, but sorta a similar species if that makes any sense.
Both are fast, both capable, both "seat 4" and both will have fellow gear heads chat you up at the grocery store. S4 is a beast from stop lights and interstate passing. Supercharger and awd combined there is usable power on tap all the time.
996 is more engaging and fun of a car, I feel have to work for the reward in the 996. 996 is also nimble and razor sharp compared to the S4.
Its a roll of of the dice which car I drive. I really only slate the S4 as my daily as it draws nearly no ire from my customers. While the 996 will have a lot of my customers comment "I am overcharging with a car like that"
Ironic part is those comments almost always come from someone who just stepped out of a GMC Yukon with a 70K sticker. Double ironic that the S4 I bought new, over twice as much as I paid for my twelve year old 996.
I will say this much, the B8 and B8.5 S4 has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. I had a 2011 I put nearly 80k miles on. Only one warranty issue, that was drivers door proximity senseor went bad. The 2015 was free of any warranty issues at 35k miles till my mother broke the sun visor not fully understanding its range of motion. Also
S4 with sport diff can do some incrediable things in the snow, really really impressive. I came from Audi 90's and a 1994 UrS4 with locking rear diff. I was a skeptic off the sport diff and it's magic, first major snow I was sold and had huge grin ear to ear.
996 and the S4 are completly different animals, but sorta a similar species if that makes any sense.
Both are fast, both capable, both "seat 4" and both will have fellow gear heads chat you up at the grocery store. S4 is a beast from stop lights and interstate passing. Supercharger and awd combined there is usable power on tap all the time.
996 is more engaging and fun of a car, I feel have to work for the reward in the 996. 996 is also nimble and razor sharp compared to the S4.
Its a roll of of the dice which car I drive. I really only slate the S4 as my daily as it draws nearly no ire from my customers. While the 996 will have a lot of my customers comment "I am overcharging with a car like that"
Ironic part is those comments almost always come from someone who just stepped out of a GMC Yukon with a 70K sticker. Double ironic that the S4 I bought new, over twice as much as I paid for my twelve year old 996.
I will say this much, the B8 and B8.5 S4 has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. I had a 2011 I put nearly 80k miles on. Only one warranty issue, that was drivers door proximity senseor went bad. The 2015 was free of any warranty issues at 35k miles till my mother broke the sun visor not fully understanding its range of motion. Also
S4 with sport diff can do some incrediable things in the snow, really really impressive. I came from Audi 90's and a 1994 UrS4 with locking rear diff. I was a skeptic off the sport diff and it's magic, first major snow I was sold and had huge grin ear to ear.
#11
I'm tring to figure out a way to get some laps in at the Hamburger Ring as part of a euro trip but haven't quite figgered it out yet.
Sounds like a blast to manhandle an F430.. saw a 488 last week and was in awe at how pretty they are. Ferrari / Lamborghini / McLaren / Pagani all leave me speechless in person.
Sounds like a blast to manhandle an F430.. saw a 488 last week and was in awe at how pretty they are. Ferrari / Lamborghini / McLaren / Pagani all leave me speechless in person.
posted this before but here's 5 minutes of me driving the thing
https://youtu.be/4W5qBIB83eY
#12
Rennlist Member
#13
Nordschleife Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
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Have you ever seen such bravery with a Ferrari F430, Audi R8, or high-end sports car brand?
There is no substitute for this video.
There is no substitute for this video.
#15
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Toronto, north of the lake.
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My .02:
Audi S4 - great cruiser, OK track car. I can't see out of this thing. No matter how I adjust my seat, the front window is like a slit and the a-pillars are always just in the right place to not see the apex. In my town there is an S4 on every street corner. Nobody can tell the difference between an S4 and an A4 without looking hard at it.
Nobody looks at your Porsche and says: You know, you could have bought an Audi.
Audi S4 - great cruiser, OK track car. I can't see out of this thing. No matter how I adjust my seat, the front window is like a slit and the a-pillars are always just in the right place to not see the apex. In my town there is an S4 on every street corner. Nobody can tell the difference between an S4 and an A4 without looking hard at it.
Nobody looks at your Porsche and says: You know, you could have bought an Audi.