New member/owner of a Ebony Black S4 Avant

[veetwin]

Hi All,

I just wanted to introduce myeslf as a new forum member and new owner of a 2004 S4 Avant!!

Normally/previously lurking on Pistonheads/seatcupra.net/motoforum.net amongst others.

I picked the car up on Saturday and have been reasonably happy, but can summarise an early experience so far -

Positives -

Great build
Torque throughout rev range
Confident handling in wet and dry (not pushed too hard to find understeer yet)

Negatives -

Feels slower than my outgoing Seat Leon Cupra R (265bhp remap), obvious advantage with the torque from the turbo.
Very Juicy, but already knew this anyway.




I have a few questions about the car, so will post more later........

Regards,

James

[BlingBling]

Welcome.

Regarding the negatives. The power delivery is totally diffierent, linear. I can from a mappped S3 with a similar output to the Cupra annd initially my sentiments were the same. I had an over lap where both carswere in my possession at the same time and a few drag races soon put my negatives to bed. The S4 is quicker. It just makes less some and dance about its ability compared to FI cars..

[Aldouk]

Exact same car as me Enjoy

[gottanS]

Welcome,

The S4 is a completely different experience, the speedo confirms what is really happening, the power delivery is very smooth and linear except a surge at 3.5-4k rpm when the variable intake timing changes, it is completely different to a turbo charged engine.

Think BlingBling summed it nicely with 'less song and dance about it' but still seriously quick..

[TheoryOfDriving]

Post some pics!

[veetwin]

Thanks for the feedback. Good to hear a similar story!!

The performance gauge we use is a local (private) dual carriageway, up to a set of signs. Typical speeds hit are 125mph from 30mph rolling start in the Seat, other attempts have seen 128mph in a remapped TT, 142mph in an E46 M3. Anyway, to cut a long story short, the new S4 could only manage 118mph today, which prompted me to start asking questions......

53k on the clock and it's never seen a new air filter or spark plugs (long life service scheme up until now), will changing these help?

Exhaust. Potential to change to Milltek (after I sell my race bike). Will the exhaust silencer valve mod help in anyway as an interim?

Is it worth remapping. NA cars don't typically see big gains from map work? Overall cost benefit?

Am I driving the damn thing right? Revving out each gear to 7200rpm in each gear may not be the best way to wring the performance out.

Any more feedback will be greatly appreciated.

James

[veetwin]

[veetwin]

gottanS,

I don't feel any surge at 3.5-4k rpm. Anything to be concerned about? Or am I asking too much?

[gottanS]

I had a B6 and there was definite increase in power as the rev increased through this band.

Would suggest on your private road try third gear at 2000rpm, press the throttle part way down but enough to attain 5k rpm and hold its position and allow the engine to rev through to 5k rpm, you should feel a surge of power. Anyway do change the air filter as this will strangle the engine at high revs if very dirty.

When you bought it was it checked for fault codes? There is/was a little trick in which you applied a short dab of left foot braking and immediately nailied the throttle that tricks the ECU into giving full power as the engine management system does adjust performance depending upon driving style. Did this on my B7 and I distinctly heard the engine note change so something must have happened, search the B6/7 forum for the thread (was a while ago).

HTH

[HYFR]

change the plugs and filters man!!!! its called servicing !!

[bluenose7467]

plugs and filter defo.....NGK or Denso plugs and a K&N air filer will breath life into the beast....

(I had a remapped Cupra R, a 1.8T Remapped TT and 3.2V6 remapped TT, but nothing compares to my S4 Avant for taking out the unknowing Corsa crew )

[veetwin]

Plugs & filter now on order.

Also played with throttle position today, seems to pull better at 75% throttle? Hmm.

[BlingBling]

Definitely new plugs & filter.

Only remap if you completely change the entire exhaust system. Otherwise it is pointless

Keep the revs high. The V8 only starts to get into its stride above 4K rpm

[aligod78]

Howdy, from another S4 B6 owner!
Been advised against the K&N type setup in these due to the amount of heat in the bay. But then again, I've seen custom heat shields in place of the airbox. But standard filters should be fine.

[BlingBling]

Howdy, from another S4 B6 owner!
Been advised against the K&N type setup in these due to the amount of heat in the bay. But then again, I've seen custom heat shields in place of the airbox. But standard filters should be fine.

Not sure where you got your advise from but K&N filters are OK. The thing to avoid is cold or ram air intakes. These are definitely no good.