Topic: 2011 S4 - better late than never

[richink]

This is pushing me more and more the way of a pair of Audi's in a couple of years when both of our daily sleds hit 10 years and likely 300,000 km a piece.

Lady leadfoot absolutely adores the A4 Avant in the s-line trim.

I could easily make a case for a dolled up A5 or and S5 once the V8's are all gone and the same supercharged motor goes under the hood. It seems to be a much cooler and efficient engine.

Love the looks of the Avant, but note that it's being replaced by an "All Road" version for 2013 (I think). The AllRoad is OK, but I'd prefer the regular Avant to the jacked-up version. I did consider the Avant S-Line over the S4, but Audi price the wagons so high relative to the sedan and Q5. The dealer was recommending the chip for the 2.0T engine which, in real world use at least, would bring it fairly close to the S4 performance. But .... the Avant is auto-only (the 8-speed "normal" auto, not the DSG from the S4) so that was a deal killer for me.

Ideally, I'd be in the S4 Avant, but they don't import those to N.A. anymore

S5 ... beautiful, but I'm in the car-seat stage of life so will have to wait a bit!


Forgot to say originally, the silk nappa seats still look brand new (as they should) and the car seat protector pad has kept any marks / wear away.

NOOOOOO!!!!! Not another dasterdly CUV/SUV. People on this side of the pond are retards over those vehicles.

I drove the 8 speed in the A4 Avant a little while ago, it's light years in front of the DSG box plus neither I nor lady leadfoot care for those manumatic trannies. Give me a stick shift or do it all for me.

We should be done the car seat once 2014 rolls around, that would make 10 years in the same cars. Wholly sha-hizzle! I was just saying to a co-worker today that we're starting to think seriously about it but neither beastie has given us any real reason to dump one yet. They're not rusty, in fact the Volvo looks pretty much as it did new and both still drive that way. I almost feel like getting m'lady a new beast and then seeing how far the Volvo will go without costing anything.

[Julie]

Braking in snow or ice sees ABS engage quite often, but the car tracks straight and still stops quickly. Should I be less "lazy" and try to brake to just below the ABS engagement point for better braking / control, or do you just plant your foot and let the computers take over? Need to find an empty parking lot to experiment with the traction / stability control etc. In limited road "testing" the back end will step out under acceleration but as it's on the road, I've always backed off and brought it back in line myself rather than being brave enough to see what the computers will do. Same for cornering, I've not done anything to cause the stability control to intervene (that I know of, I wonder if a light comes on if it does anything?) .... need to have some fun in a big, empty parking lot now we've all this snow on the ground.

When I did a BMW driving school, although it was in the summer, they made us do avoidance and braking manoeuvres without and then with ABS.  Basically, it taught me the value (even greater than I imagined) of ABS and that, with a good ABS system, I just had to worry about driving and not have to think about anything else.  So based on that, I don't think you need to brake just below the ABS engagement point for better control.  I seem to vaguely recall that someone asked that question actually, and that the answer was no.  It's designed to make your life less complicated.  So I imagine it would be the same for an Audi.

[mmret]

For the ABS, in general panic stops I think its probably wiser to let the computers do their magic.

Computers never panic and never tire.

[dr_spock]

ABS allows you to maintaining steering control while braking in slippery conditions.  The ideal situation is to look and plan far ahead that you don't get into a situation where you have to panic stop.

Don't let car seats stop you from getting the car you really want to own and drive.  It wasn't that bad with 2 babies in my little Buggy coupe.

[alexdc]

dream car!!!