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My S4 is in for it's MOT today, and the dealer (Ridgeway in Newbury) have loaned me a B7 A4 (2.0T).

Now I'm never usually bothered about loan cars, but something about this one was irritating. It just didn't feel right. And that's compared to the last time I had a loan car which was a B6 A4 (1.9T).

By the time I got to work I had decided the following:
1) The interior didn't feel "comfortable" like my B5. I'm not referring to the seat of course, but just the aesthetics of the interior.
2) The steering feel is too light.
3) The engine torque did not feel as good as the 1.9T.

However also:
4) The brakes are great. Same as the B6 A4, but more to the point better than the B5 S4 stock brakes!
5) Suspension was tighter than the B6 A4.

I'm left wondering if the bad points also apply to the B7 S4 and RS4?
No matter, I'm sticking with my B5 S4 whilst it is behaving.

The interior of "her" B5 feels more solid and less plasticy than my B6 - I don't drive hers that often but it always "feels" right - and the smell of the half leather is much nicer than my half leather !
Are not the brakes off the B6 S4 ?
Parts of the suspension are S4 and it is suposed to stiffen up the feel and make it all more solid.
I've found that mileage makes a big difference - between 4 - 6k miles they seem to loosen up/more flexible - perhaps the B7 still has low miles on it ?

Dippy,

I gather the loan cars were diesels
was that the 1.9Tdi vs the 2.0Tdi or the 1.9Tdi vs the 2.0T Petrol......

the 1.9tdi had a much narrower and more peaky power band than the new 2.0tdi which is more refined, and has less of that turbo lag then power feel.....

Yes it was a 2.0Tdi. What you say about the 1.9Tdi makes sense...

After getting back into my B5 I noticed that the in trim does seem better quality, and also the centre console is much lower. So I guess it was a feeling of cheaper plastic and also being 'surrounded' by it.