guestlinger
Registered User
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2017
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 28
- Points
- 18
It's great to read that everyone who's taken delivery of their new B9 S4's are loving the experience. My experience however has been different and I wanted to share it so that other folk who read this forum don't suffer the same expensive outcome that I have
For background, I owned from new a B8.5 S4 Avant from Nov'12 to Dec'16. I loved that car, especially throttle response from the supercharger and the rapid s-tronic gearchange.
Anyway, in Oct'16 I ordered a new B9 S4 Avant which I took delivery of late Dec'16. There was much about the new car that was a big improvement; the handling and steering were definitely a step up, as was the excellent interior. The engine pulled more strongly through the rev range and whilst the B9's turbo-charged throttle response was very good it wasn't quite as instantaneous as the B8.5's supercharged engine, but hugely enjoyable nonetheless. On the B8.5 the s-tronic gearbox suited the supercharged engine perfectly; everything being ultra-responsive (to the point where it could be a bit jerky in certain scenarios). I also feel the B9's ZF autobox compliments it's turbocharged engine well; albeit quite a different experience, less frenetic, more sophisticated.
But there was one aspect of the new B9 S4 that I couldn't live with (but interestingly many on this forum clearly rate very highly); the exhaust noise. I'm very happy to experience a rasping exhaust during a wide open throttle acceleration but I was expecting a much quieter, more refined exhaust noise when using the car in comfort D-mode under gentle acceleration. That was how my B8.5 S4 behaved; basically I could drive it in quiet family mode when required,. But however I drove the B9 S4 (manual/auto, D/S, comfort/dynamic/auto/indiv etc I could not find a way to drive it that would get close to the quietness of the B8.5 S4 when under gentle acceleration. Even a gentle squeeze of the B9's throttle would give what I found to be an undesirable and intrusive exhaust drone.
I did some testing to evaluate further. I did try removing the "sound actuator / exhaust sound system" fuse but all this did was to remove the wide open throttle noise one hears when in S or Dynamic mode. I did nothing to suppress the drone under gentle acceleration. I took the car to my Audi dealer and they said that was how it was supposed to be. I tried another B9 S4 from their stock and it was identical. I asked if there was anyway to suppress the noise (I understand the B9 S4 has exhaust valves and wondered if they could be adjusted) but no joy. There is a fuse labeled "exhaust flaps, injectors, radiator inlet" but I didn't fancy playing with that given it seemed to control multiple functions so I left well alone.
So in the end I test drove a few other A4 models and fell in love with the driving experience of A4 3.0 TDI Quattro 272 which I have now switched over too. For me it is much much more refined and feels similarly real world quick. I have zero regrets, in fact I now am overjoyed with the driving experience of this car - it's a quiet assassin!
So my advice to anyone planning on ordering the new B9 S4 would be to test drive first IF you may be concerned about increased exhaust noise. Most on this forum seemed to prefer this B9 exhaust sound and I total respect your judgement; I'm just sharing my experience to give a different perspective and maybe help out some of the forum readers who are thinking about a new S4 / A4 3.0 272 order. Trading in a nearly new S4 and then buying a new A4 3.0 TDI is financially punishing but I felt I had to do it as I just knew I couldn't live with the sound of the B9 S4 for the next 4 years. Given my experience with the B8.5 S4 I thought this would be my perfect car but it wasn't to be.
For background, I owned from new a B8.5 S4 Avant from Nov'12 to Dec'16. I loved that car, especially throttle response from the supercharger and the rapid s-tronic gearchange.
Anyway, in Oct'16 I ordered a new B9 S4 Avant which I took delivery of late Dec'16. There was much about the new car that was a big improvement; the handling and steering were definitely a step up, as was the excellent interior. The engine pulled more strongly through the rev range and whilst the B9's turbo-charged throttle response was very good it wasn't quite as instantaneous as the B8.5's supercharged engine, but hugely enjoyable nonetheless. On the B8.5 the s-tronic gearbox suited the supercharged engine perfectly; everything being ultra-responsive (to the point where it could be a bit jerky in certain scenarios). I also feel the B9's ZF autobox compliments it's turbocharged engine well; albeit quite a different experience, less frenetic, more sophisticated.
But there was one aspect of the new B9 S4 that I couldn't live with (but interestingly many on this forum clearly rate very highly); the exhaust noise. I'm very happy to experience a rasping exhaust during a wide open throttle acceleration but I was expecting a much quieter, more refined exhaust noise when using the car in comfort D-mode under gentle acceleration. That was how my B8.5 S4 behaved; basically I could drive it in quiet family mode when required,. But however I drove the B9 S4 (manual/auto, D/S, comfort/dynamic/auto/indiv etc I could not find a way to drive it that would get close to the quietness of the B8.5 S4 when under gentle acceleration. Even a gentle squeeze of the B9's throttle would give what I found to be an undesirable and intrusive exhaust drone.
I did some testing to evaluate further. I did try removing the "sound actuator / exhaust sound system" fuse but all this did was to remove the wide open throttle noise one hears when in S or Dynamic mode. I did nothing to suppress the drone under gentle acceleration. I took the car to my Audi dealer and they said that was how it was supposed to be. I tried another B9 S4 from their stock and it was identical. I asked if there was anyway to suppress the noise (I understand the B9 S4 has exhaust valves and wondered if they could be adjusted) but no joy. There is a fuse labeled "exhaust flaps, injectors, radiator inlet" but I didn't fancy playing with that given it seemed to control multiple functions so I left well alone.
So in the end I test drove a few other A4 models and fell in love with the driving experience of A4 3.0 TDI Quattro 272 which I have now switched over too. For me it is much much more refined and feels similarly real world quick. I have zero regrets, in fact I now am overjoyed with the driving experience of this car - it's a quiet assassin!
So my advice to anyone planning on ordering the new B9 S4 would be to test drive first IF you may be concerned about increased exhaust noise. Most on this forum seemed to prefer this B9 exhaust sound and I total respect your judgement; I'm just sharing my experience to give a different perspective and maybe help out some of the forum readers who are thinking about a new S4 / A4 3.0 272 order. Trading in a nearly new S4 and then buying a new A4 3.0 TDI is financially punishing but I felt I had to do it as I just knew I couldn't live with the sound of the B9 S4 for the next 4 years. Given my experience with the B8.5 S4 I thought this would be my perfect car but it wasn't to be.