The S4 Avant Rocks!

[Dr-Al]

Still does as standard. Only time I stopped smiling was downhill on snow. Definite need for clean pants! With the power of these things and the ease with which they climb up the hills in snow it's all too easy to forget that stopping them is not so easy!

[Ads4]

Anyone else fancy a quick meet

If you've had the HC done at MRC and fancy a wee drive then a few of us are meeting at Janspeed in Salisbury on 31st March for a R/R session-come along! (Have a look in the meet/trackdays section)

[D10DON]

Time flies, i've been a bit busy driving around the place.

Got my first speeding ticket ever! 52 in a 40. North circular at 4am!! Thought i was in a 50 zone, so came down for it, it was a 40, ping! Mind you, it was fun, Surbiton to Stanstead in 40 mins, including picking up a pal en route! Hope it's only a 3 pointer!

And yes, i am very risk aware and exercise caution depending on the road situation.

So what's the news:

Car running fine, no health check yet.

Went out for a run recently with tesco super (i think). It was pants top end!

The car has started washing wide on fast bends, was recently out at boxhill with a pal and needed both lanes while he stuck firm in the S1. New fronts needed me thinks.

Best tyre suggestions welcome. Not concerned about longevity or cost really, just stickiness!

Put in £40 worth of BP rocket fuel (102) this weekend!!! £2.50 a litre!! Lasted 72 miles!! empty to empty. Much snappier off the line, mid range similar. Lots more oomph over 5000. Much improvement over 100mph on private road. Lots more pull to max!
Overall, not worth the dosh.
I wonder if the management system was retarding things so i didn't get the full bang?

Anyone else tried it?

[D10DON]

Whilst i'm on fuel:

Saw a guy filling a brand new m coupe with standard unleaded the other day! Had to ask him if he'd picked up the wrong hose!

"I always use standard unleaded"

Anyone know of the long term impact of using a lower grade fuel, or doesn't it really matter? i'm using V max as a rule and it works really well.

[D10DON]

Uh oh! I think i've found a problem with the car!!

On the drivers side sun visor the light doesn't work!

when i open the mirror cover: nothing!! Is this light disabled as standard or could it be something more serious like a blown bulb?!!

[D10DON]

OOOH! Nearly forgot: Had a bit of a run with an 04 Lamborghini the other day. Not sure which model. He wasn't giving it too much which was nice as i was enjoying the sound, almost pretending it was mine!!

Then came the tight left, long right. Entry road on the LHS. He hit the entry kerb flat on with the rear left wheel at about 50. OOPS!

He limped a long for a bit until the next turning and pulled over. I guess if you're driving that sort of motor you can afford the new tyre, wheel, suspension, track rod or whatever else went bang!

[C-24]

Lol Don, looks like your are enjoying your car.
2.50£ a liter for BP 102, are you sure ???

By the way, the other day I saw two Aston Martins, a Vanquish and a AMv8 Vantage, raced both. The S4 keeps really good, but you must use torque and boost and stay at 3'000rpm or you'll lose torque and the car doesn't have sufficient power compared to these monsters (Especially the vanquish).

[s4woody]

don would be nice to meet you in my M5 sum day on the road...i,ll keep my eye open 4 ya...

[mattsimis]

Whilst i'm on fuel:

Saw a guy filling a brand new m coupe with standard unleaded the other day! Had to ask him if he'd picked up the wrong hose!

"I always use standard unleaded"

Anyone know of the long term impact of using a lower grade fuel, or doesn't it really matter? i'm using V max as a rule and it works really well.

In Ireland there is only 95Octane as everything higher was taxed out of the market. So everyone is running it on every type of car. It only causes issues for Jap imports (which are tuned for 100+ Octane min). Engine will <beep> timing to combat knock etc, however you should note that lower Octane fuel has a higher calorific value (contains more energy). Higher octane = slower, more controlled burning and lower temps.

Occasionally some of the US guys in Mags and Forums put in low octane fuel or switch to low octane mapping and kick off a controversy on how its "impossible" for it to perform better in some situations, but its not that bad for normal stock maps on modern performance cars.

However low octane fuel + very high boost + inefficient knock/det prevention in the ECU leads to this:




PS: Stop replying to your own posts, netiquette 101!

[rikrose]

it's all too easy to forget that stopping them is not so easy!

My front calipers are corroded open. The pads on them are in a bad way. The discs are screwed. The front hoses are shot. The rear pads are nearly dead. The rear discs are warped to hell. The rear calipers aren't healthy either.

The pedal's okay though.

And there was me thinking that it just slowed down a little slowly. Not that it mattered - I always left plenty of room anyway.


Waiting on ECSTuning.com to get parts for a Stage 4 front kit and a Stage 1 Rear kit and ship them over to me, so I can get them fitted. Aparently, I'll really notice the difference.


Also, welcome back. What stage are you up to with the fish? Researching still? Letting tank settle (where my landlord is up to, for tropical fish)? or do you have fish in there now?

[Dr-Al]

it's all too easy to forget that stopping them is not so easy!

My front calipers are corroded open. The pads on them are in a bad way. The discs are screwed. The front hoses are shot. The rear pads are nearly dead. The rear discs are warped to hell. The rear calipers aren't healthy either.

The pedal's okay though.

And there was me thinking that it just slowed down a little slowly. Not that it mattered - I always left plenty of room anyway.


Waiting on ECSTuning.com to get parts for a Stage 4 front kit and a Stage 1 Rear kit and ship them over to me, so I can get them fitted. Aparently, I'll really notice the difference.


Also, welcome back. What stage are you up to with the fish? Researching still? Letting tank settle (where my landlord is up to, for tropical fish)? or do you have fish in there now?

Drove a Lamborghini Gallardo the weekend before last. That's an example of the other extreme in braking. A slight touch on the brakes and you can feel them bite, but even the faintest bit more pressure and your head ends up on the steering wheel. There's not much pedal travel between biting and anchors. I'd hate to drive one on the roads - it'd always end up getting rear-ended.

Had a go on a Ferrari 550 as well. Now I'm even more set on getting that remap. Unfortunately it's gonna have to wait until next year because we are taking a family holiday this year instead.

The fish are settling in nicely (thanks for asking). We's got a pair of clowns, a mandarin, a cleaner wrasse, various crabs & shrimps, an anemone and a few bits of coral. The hard part's over now, so it's just routine maintenance but now it's gone mad at work and my wife has had to get an evening job to save up for the holiday so I still have no time to myself. Roll on retirement!

[S4TAN]

Yo Doc Al - you're back! Good to hear from you again mate ...

[D10DON]

Hi C24. I'm sure.

It says on my reciept from BP: ULTUNL_102 @ £2.42 pl.
Put in 16.53 litres at a cost of £40.00.

The garage was in Egham/ Virginia Water opposite the Ferrari dealer, i guess that's why they stock it.

Has anyone else found this fuel elsewhere?

[D10DON]

Sorry about the lack of netiquete.

Oops, just done it again!

[C-24]

This is a HORRIBLE PRICE !
How can you people even drive cars with such prices ?!

In Switzerland it's 1,74 chf (ron98) or 1,84 chf (V-Power 100) at the moment and people look really concerned (aggressive when prices go up)