Is the B5 S4 a lardy barge ? - vote & discuss

[rikrose]

Same mpg as the Mundano 1.8 Zetec too. Scary, eh?

really???

Okay, it's actually slightly less economical than the Mundano (he says, with the Mundano's manual in front of me). I did a whole tank on the motorway. Over the 61 litres, I got 30.4 miles per gallon, off a 1.8 litre engine (and I stuck to the speed limit). I mean, for only 10 mpg less, I can have a car that doesn't have a god-awful Zetec engine in it. And cycle to work.

[Dr-Al]

i was actually being kind to the R8 by posting the Avant weight for the S4. 1540kg for the saloon although i suspect it's not all about weight but suspension control, power/weight ratios, center of gravity, track and wheelbase etc and even down to how the controls feel and respond

Totally agree, its not about weight, but how that weight is kept under control by the cars suspension, brakes and power delivery. "Lardy" implies a slow car with weight beyond the capabilities of the brakes and suspension.

Where handling is concerned weight distribution is just as important as suspension, brakes and power delivery (if not more so).

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about the heavy lump at the front of these cars.

I had a Camaro when I lived in the US. When the weather turned bad I had to drive around with a boot full of bottled water. Without this the back end was to skittish for spirited driving unless the roads were bone dry.

[MCB]

Well I must say it is rather heartening to see that the general consensus so far amongst fellow S4B5 enthusiasts is that we do not consider our car to be a 'Lardy Barge'!

[ronaldmacdonald]

I got 30.4 miles per gallon, off a 1.8 litre engine (and I stuck to the speed limit). I mean, for only 10 mpg less, I can have a car that doesn't have a god-awful Zetec engine in it. And cycle to work.

You should get 26mpg+ easily out of the S4 if its healthy, certainly more than 20mpg! I had mine displaying 29mpg on the long term although most of the time it was around 27mpg

[droberts]

Where handling is concerned weight distribution is just as important as suspension, brakes and power delivery (if not more so).

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about the heavy lump at the front of these cars.

Ahh the nirvana of 50:50 weight distribution, yes I would concur that a low centre of gravity and a 50:50 split is what a designer would aim for, but I don't find the 60:40 distribution a problem. The uprated ARB's dial out the understeer leaving the car predictable in cornering and very rewarding when using a balanced throttle, leading to full power on exit

[C-24]

There's a guy out there who did mod his S4 sedan to an RS4 sedan. He reduced the weight of the car (ie. removing back seats), and had I think 600hp or more.
He was simply faster than the Pagani Zonda, Murcielago, GT2, and other supercars on the track!

The s4 is unbeatable on road, and if you want to get on a track you should change the suspensions and brakes for sure (the originals are not for racing situation), and if you reduce the weight, I can't imagine how good it would be!
Don't forget that it hasn't been created for track, and the RS4 B5 is even bigger and heavier, but faster on track!
It's all a matter of design.
IMO an S4 can outclass an RS4 if you change suspensions/brakes/power upgrade because it's a less heavier car (yet, the RS4 has a really better stability!).

[C-24]

The S4 is no barge, its a bloody lightweight! I swapped it for an E39 M5 and THAT is a freekin lardy barge at a heavyweight 1756kg. Thats got to be around 190kg heavier (and it feels like it as well much more "bargy" than the S4). Go try and bench press 190kg next time you are at the gym and then your arms will know just how "unbargy" the S4 is.

lol, how much can you bench press ?

[neckarsulm]

I was only saying today how I can cruise around in luxury car levels of comfort never using more than 2000 rpm with wife on board enjoying standard comfortable ride quality or driving solo I can be probably one of the quickest cars on the road in all conditions even on twisty country roads - and with Konis fitted and standard springs I'm sure it will be even better balanced.
S3 is more of a go kart but ride is too firm, engine sounds boring and it certainly feels a lot less potent.
On a track I guess an S4 will look a bit hefty but follow tried and tested method of slow in fast out and it'll still be quick.
And compared to modern cars, the S4 is light, I'd be very surprised if B6/B7 S4 isn't at so much heavier than its extra 80bhp isn't largely negated by extra weight.

[clubsport]

Guys, as mentioned my initial "lardy barge" comments were based on expectations of taking my own B5 S4 on to the track (nothing more) my car has STANDARD brakes and suspension.

Have a look at this video, I believe it is in fact a B6 version, but replicates my expectation of the way events might unfold in my own car.

http://tinyurl.com/y2pedt

[shineydave]

He He, nice one.

to be fair we all know the brakes are "velocity challanged" on the track so no surprises there, did suprprise me how calm he was though at the point where he finally came to that conclusion.

[clubsport]

It would obviously make a difference as to the type of brake fluid the guy was running....in other track cars I run SRF or ATE blue and although cars are lighter and over-braked I have never experienced anything like the scenario on the vid......good forward thinking by MSV to have a decent run off area at that turn....clearly not the first time it has happened!

[jeffw]

That's must be Scotty off here, the run-off is where the track went prior to the chicane being added.

[shineydave]

i'd have had to lower the seat if that happened to me

[flashyg]

That was no lardy barge, It keeps up with gt3 JR maybe, and fatcat both well experienced.
I think the author has a lardy car! 1 bad apple. I think if the post was titled are stock brakes as good as 6 pot billet brembos the answer would be no. All good fun. same for arbs and suspension.



G

[neckarsulm]

Good video but yes that is a B6/7 which is a quite a bit heavier than a B5 - didn't Audi offer journos a go in a B7 S4 at the B7 RS4 launch so they could feel the difference and one magazine (Evo or Car) said the S4 was rubbish in comparison?