I had a rental and after 60 odd miles i got in some twistys and spanked it. I was very impressed. When i pulled into the petrol station and opened the flap to fill her up i had to look twice at the writing on the cap saying Diesel. My goodness she flies.
Still understand why audi it it, its a cross continent businessman's car. Autobahn ship, 155mph with decent mpg. If you want a sport get an RS. Big powerful diesels are great.
@@Tom.G.Wright Its exactly what they are built for, people with money but they need to daily the car due to work commitments, but don't want to be getting 20mpg while pounding long instead wanting 40+mpg while doing so. Hopefully Audi keep the petrols in the smaller class cars as they are more hot hatch than businessman's saloon
In fairness this makes perfect sense. On my daily commute up and down the M4 the roads are awash with Audi S#s and BMW M#s so clearly there’s an actual market for performance cars that just go up and down motorways. They may as well be diesels!
There is absolutely ZERO market and need for a performance cars in a country with medieval roads and road regulations with ridiculous speed limits - England.
Very strange that Audi would choose to do this just as diesels are suffering a lot of criticism over emissions, and talk of them being banned in urban areas! Sounds good.. from the BACK!
@Jack njones I feel audi may have done this as they project more sales as most sales of cars are diesel. Probably know people want a fast car but obtaining good mpg figures
Jedw yeah London is kind of one of them with the ULEZ charge and planned expansion of it in 2021 to the whole city. The rich man wouldn't have to worry as they can afford to pay £12.50 a day or afford a newer diesel which is not compliant to the charge 😑.
Diesels, when implemented correctly (and that means all the relevant emissions handling tech), can be exceptionally clean. Unfortunately, the ship has well and truly sailed on this one.
As someone who drives a Lexus with a 2GR that would probably never break even if I didn't service it (the 1GR 4.0 variant is used in the Hilux of course) that also gets better real world MPG than anyone seems to be claiming from the new S6/S4 but puts out the same power I'm struggling to see where you got that idea. It's a good engine absolutely, but it's far from being either the most efficient or durable. I love the 2GR (also in the Evora) but wouldn't claim that's the most efficient by a long way either, although it's certainly got a good claim for most durable.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111 ( c ) EVERY car mechanic on the planet that have built a mansion of out 3.0 TDI engine Audi drivers money
@@dash3dot ofc there are other very good and durable engines out there but from what i drove and all of my friends are saying, we all agree. sure hard to work on but you cant deny that it isnt efficient. 5L on 100KM is pretty awesome. sound is lovely too, just no sportive sound but a very calm powerful diesel sound
Volkswagens 3.0 V6 Diesel just hits the spot. Great engine overall. Has loads of potential (300+ hp easy with a new turbo, exaust and bigger injectors) and this thing can take a beating. The internals can take 400hp reliably as proven by tuners and long flat out Autobahn runs are no problmen at all. There is a reason they put this engine in Vehicles like the Amarok Pickup.
@@sukhrajchhokar the fucj are you guys actually talking about? the strongest engine the a4 has ever had was the 272hp one in the newest models, this one is around 350hp - this is a huge step up, especially with upgrade breaks, upgrade suspension and so on. the s4 was never a car with an s-line bodykit and a normal a4 engine - personally, its a perfect car for people who dailydrive a shitload KM/miles like I do.
@@matteiasm.3618 do you even know your cars...the b9 alone S4 was 354bhp. Point is if you want a car for high miles you don't get a S4 you get a A4 S-line. Go learnt the difference.
The idea of a s4 diesel sounds weird to me but when being a passenger in a 2017 s4 I found it soo civilised I remember thinking it might as well be a diesel
Yup, first thing I thought. (Well, second, after 'WTF? Horses?') It doesn't sound too awful on the move - but that's damning with faint praise - but at idle... yeesh. The only reason to buy a diesel is to save money. So, why does anyone buy an expensive diesel? I realise some people might not care how it drives, but do they have no sense of smell or hearing?
Callum Saunderson Well the petrol heads always bought the RS models anyway. S models were always bought by executives so it makes sense they’d be happier with a higher mpg
For all the hate it's getting as a diesel you would probably be very surprised by it's performance, even though I'm more of a petrol blooded shouty engine type of guy like most of us, I have to say there is something oddly satisfying about a seriously high torque diesel engine. This is a perfect long distance cruiser 👍 as long as the RS isn't diesel then It'll all be okay 👌
Hi don't want to get in a sagging mach here... for me it's not the performance as it is bloody quick it's the romantic of the hole thing i just don't c the point in it my self if u want great mpg get the 2l tdi as is good enough when ur cruising but its when ur on it its not got the soundtrack and that is the difference. that is what makes us car guys 😄 this is my first reply to a comment have a good day
@@andrewpattie358 I understand people's frustration we'd all rather a big shouty V8 but with the price of fuel nowadays this isn't a bad option or move by audi and it's the RS models that were Really all concerned about and if your looking for that romantic connection with a car and it's engine I wouldn't really consider any S car if that's what your looking for, especially seeing what else is out there for the same money, however as a well built long distance cruiser with a decent amount of power then they are perfect.
I must have missed that memo, I thought the criteria of an S was to have more power than the normal A's, I suspect its prejudism that makes you think diesel is unworthy, with 350ps and 700nm this ones defo powerful enough, diesel is near as damn it rocket fuel, dont you think a slightly higher octane rocket fuel powered machine sounds brutal af and totally worthy of an S badge?
The point of an s was to be a halfway between normal a4 and rs. This car will have golfs making it look stupid. Effectively you are now paying over the odds for a 3.0 a4 tdi. This car does not beat the 2017 18 petrol version. It can not be modded as its already at its limits. You can turn a petrol s4 in to a powerhouse well above 400hp. This tractor is stupid and pointless. People will just shift to m340i or c43
@@zmx363 Nice! I added a Race Chip and leave it on 7, (most performance). HP went from 240HP to 283HP and torque from 428 ft pds. to 515 ft pds. Really made a nice difference. I also added a better flowing air filter but really nothing noted.
Oh dear oh dear at 0:45-0:47 that typical diesel noise has not been eliminated sounds horrible...the noise from the back end sounds decent however....not with buying brand new, maybe something to consider in 5 years time when used....another great review and reviewers on RUclips...keep up the hard work.
It's hard to believe that they went with the ZF8 due to power when the older A4/A5 with the 3.0tdi and Stronic handled the power just fine, even when mapped to higher torque figures than what the new S4 puts out. You've then got the likes of other performance cars using Stronic / DSG transmissions, also putting out more power and handling it fine. The ZF8 is a more refined gearbox and becoming very popular so maybe it was more due to cost and refinement over power.
Vorsprung is an interesting word. I believe literally it means "to take the lead in a race," but my brain keeps thinking, "and we've got all this kit here, if you want to schpring vor it..."
@@simnatercroc4385 what do you mean? I mean the car is shit not his comment. Why have fake parts on a car if it has no function and its clear its fake don't add it to the design!
Very enjoyable and insightful review. Agreed about that awful screen and the demise of the MMI wheel. I sincerely hope Audi will take the widespread criticism on board and revert to a better solution in the next A4/5 models.
Sorry if I'm being thick here, but as someone who drives a GS450h I'm struggling to see how this is worth £60k? For £20k you can get a mint Japanese hybrid which has the same power, lower CO2/better economy, a comfier ride, loads of kit (Audi got moisturising aircon?), infinitely better reliability, no fake exhausts and doesn't understeer. Audi has better infotainment but that's about it (possibly more familiar pedal feel). The GS also has the same 2GR you get in an Evora so clearly wins on sound. Wouldn't mind a drag race either- Audi has quattro and launch but the GS is only 0.2 slower to 60 so past that I'd imagine it gets interesting. Totally understand people not wanting a GS, but surely it would take a moron to buy the S4? Even a diesel lover is much better off in a 435d xDrive, worse interior but beats this in every other way.
@Unintended Consequences I've done many miles in Audis but not S or RS models sadly. Never bought one due to reliability and comfort (not bad, just not Lexus). I am generally a fan- still considering tuning the heck out of an S1, but this car just seems to have so many questionable choices. Having a new S4 (and S6) only just match a 2005 hybrid for performance and lose out on economy makes it really hard to understand why they didn't go petrol hybrid- the motors in the e-tron (188ps) are nearly as powerful as the one in the GS (200ps) and they can build a petrol engine (RS3...mmm) so they've got the tech. Fake exhausts are inexcusable, there's just no need. Understeer is still there but most people won't notice- I was just making the list comically long with nitpicking points by then! Talking of comically long, I suck at being concise- I'll stop now ☺
@Unintended Consequences ive never seen an audi oversteer on its own unless its been flicked like crazy or its been poweroversteered on slippy surfaces. or its an r8 of course. but please show me an audi on a racetrack that oversteers before it understeers when loosing grip. im from germany and im regularly on the nürburgring. never seen that. in fact you really see not much audis there at all. bmws and porsches are everwhere tho. if that doesnt say enough about most audis...
Big vent... "Kinda cool".. good one :-) I'm less of a fan of the engine than you are..In front, it sounds like rattling a can of marbles.. at the back..aaaah, there's that S4 burble. I own its predecessor, a 2017 S4 and the creamy burble of the exhaust is a never-boring soundtrack. Not so sure I would buy the diesel version though.. But, that said, thanks again for a great review. Down to earth and honest (despite the fancy Audi pen) Thanks, I'm looking forward to the next one.
I'll be honest had an a3 sline diesel since 2014 sports black edition i had no idea S range do diesel obviously does it compare to the bmw 330D? how the hell does it drive I assume it sounds like a tractor ? tbh i do a 40 mile commute 20 each way so please is this worth upgrading too, i aint poor nor rich but I think i can try for this?
I have a rare A4 50 TDI Quattro. It’s a B9.5 and a precursor to this car. Let me know if you want to do a video on it. I also have a A6 C6.5 2.0 TDI 170 BHP 6MT
Carbon fibre interior trim. Chintzy. If the car's not made of carbon fibre don't slap it on the inside. And what's with lighting up the inside of your car with gaudy colours?
Ive hit the thumbs up as usual because of the presenter and content but I am tired of hearing people say similar things about performance ie here we are told its around 350bhp with around 500lbft and does it "go"? Since when did 350bhp and 500lbft ever be slow thats my beef. Its high power high torque of course its going to get down the road quickly so on this point I get really annoyed when theres this element of apparent surprise when the numbers are so big you couldnt possibly think its going to be slow.
The Aston isnt a light car, and they are relatively light on torque in comparison to a lot of modern stuff. I have driven cars with big numbers which dont shift - eg. A lot of American cars
This Diesel engine makes no sense in the S6 considering its not much of a "S" type gain over the standard top diesel engined versions. It does make sense in the S4 though as its a smaller platform and was rare in 3 litre spec previously so the engine can be seen as a definite upgrade. Love to see it in an Avant version. 40+ mpg is more than achievable based on performance and weight characteristics. The US are getting petrol versions of the S Models but not the Diesels.
Surely the logical decision is to buy a used, low mileage B9 S4 with the stonking Porsche derived petrol (hot) V6 PETROL. Virtually the same but retaining dials and switches for the controls... It sounds awesome too. *may be a biased view:)
I have no issue with what fuel it burns. But everything I have read about modern diesels is that they are a maintenance nightmare due to the hoops OEM have to jump through to meet emission targets. They are probably fine in the first five years or maybe even the first 10 if you treat them right, but after that it's crunch time. And good luck working on them yourself. Or am I being too pessimistic?
In 2012 I bought a 2006 jaguar xj6 tdvi it had 2 turbos 2 dpf filters 2 cats and 2 more of everything I had it till this year everything that could go wrong did go wrong and was practically rebuilt when I sold it I just got tired of 1500 pound bills every few months.
@@Sophiechic Yikes, sorry to hear man! Do you think modern diesels will be better or worse? They have more stuff but DPF technology is hopefully more established now?
Not the FIRST time Audi have put a Diesel V6 in an S vehicle..... few years ago SQ5 Twin turbo V6.... fantastic SUV, & I should know , i'm on my second one, SQ5 Plus+ 'special Edition' 17 plate, great all rounder, shift's like a scalded Cat....700Nm out of the box.
Imagine the bills when it's out of warranty - a lovely car I don't doubt, but hybrid and big modern diesel you need to be wealthy to keep it going as it ages.
It does actually sound pretty good in the drive-away clips you've posted. For my daily commute it would be a pretty nice way to have my cake and eat it, but the A4 just isn't an attractive car anymore. Too fussy, oddly proportioned and just a little chunky. It started out with that nice pert tail, wonderful glass house and generally understated. That just doesn't seem to be the German thing, anymore.
Owned my b9 S4 from new. That had its naysayers but it moves well and sounds off just fine when it's worked. I just can't bring myself to this new engine clatter and dull exhaust note. It's not why I drive my S4. History repeating?
@Jack njones Who said anything about first gen? As far as I'm aware, they only had issues with the swirl flaps breaking, but that's fixable and preventable. The newer N57(I think?) 35d engines are pretty bullet proof, dispite what some people seem to claim. I've had 2 of them and they've been faultless as long as they're taken care of well, with premium fuels and regular services.
@Jack njones All diesels will suffer from carbon build up. Again, premium fuels or additives will help prevent that. Also, DPF tech has moved on since those first gens.
Jack njones I had a first gen 335d and was an absolute belter of a car. Loved it and looked after it. After 120k the only mechanical issue with it was the starter. Not so bad.
Only downside I can see that in the UK at least Diesel cars are depreciating like a led balloon at the moment, no good for the person buying it from new but excellent in the second-hand market.
A properly engineered diesel will spit out fewer particulates than pretty much all pre-GPF direct injection petrol cars, and some even emit less NOx than petrol cars too. The downside is you require a DPF and an exhaust additive (i.e. AdBlue) that you have to keep topping up. On the other side of the fence, petrol cars now have filters which should require a lot less maintenance (and no additive) but their fuel economy and power has suffered a little as a result, just as it did for diesels. Either way, people won't be able to buy diesel nor petrol cars within 10-20 years, however clean they might get.
I think the BMW that overtook your was a police car. Can see the lights in the rear glass, especially when its stopped in front of you. Basically all X5's that are in SE spec are police vehicles because nobody would use their own pounds to buy an X5 and not put at least the sport trim on it.
Oliver Loxley it’s the service and mileage package that BMW offer for their fleet vehicles, Vauxhall and ford can’t match it over say 50 vehicles. Pretty cool wee fact lol
Otis Piffington they are a fantastic road policing car especially the touring. Loads of room in the back for all the equipment and more than enough of power for any emergency. X10 times better than the VXR Vauxhall insignia estate, which is very uncomfortable, quite unreliable and back aches especially after doing a 12 hour shift.
Another great review this car has just been knocked off my list what have Audi done think they have missed the point in a car like this the engine is like the way it looks boring the only thing I like about the new A4 is that blue very bmw so I just have too cars on there now the BMW 440 grand coupe and I hate to say it but i also like the kia stinger GTS 😬 thing looks great but can u spend 37k on a Kia? So thanks audi my decision is much easier now
@@JayEmmOnCars I have driven one and did really like it maby I'm more of a snob than I realized 🤔 it does really appeal to me that u don't many on the road.... thanks for the reply 👍
The only people that will buy this car are the tractor fans. I mean diesel lovers. All the Audi S drivers are weeping everywhere. Including me. What a cock up. S6 as a diesel. Ha. Give me the V8 twin turbo. 😁
I'm really not convinced about the exterior styling on the new audi's, even with the S and RS' they don't look as good as they once did which is concerning as its hard to see how it will evolve, they seem quite tacky! the interior's still lead the way.
Or...they could use petrol hybrids. S4 TDi gives you 160g/km CO2 for 344bhp. My GS450h manages 145g/km and 345bhp. Also sounds like a 3.5l V6 petrol, because it is. Not seeing why diesel was necessary.
If they had real exhausts tips and not fakes and had got rid of that ''in your face screen'' I would have bought one. They are fabulous cars and I love that biturbo diesel - the previous one anyway. Instead I've gone for a BMW M340i which is simply better in all respects - and economical. An RS4 was a serious contender but a lot more money - and still with that screen :( !
I'm having trouble understanding how someone can have £60k for a car and lack £60 for petrol. But hey, keep pumping diesel in performance cars just to make sure no one wastes too much money on a car designed for wasting money.
Bizarre choice to make the new S4 a diesel, given how the general trend is in replacing diesels with petrol turbo engines. Sure it's a nice car but makes the S4 even more dull for me. Capable yes, desirable nope.
I’m going to applaud Audi for choosing this new 3.0 TDI engine for the new S4. It’s still a fairly large capacity, multicylinder engine regardless of whether it’s petrol or diesel. We’re not going to have them for much longer. It would have been all too easy just to put in the ubiquitous 2.0 TSI 4 cylinder from the S3 and add a battery pack & electric motor and turn it into a full hybrid. I’ve even heard disturbing rumours that the next Mercedes C63 will have a four cylinder turbo hybrid... this was a car that had a 6.2 naturally aspirated V8 until not so long ago! I think this new 3.0 TDI unit has incorporated some technology from the RS5 TDI concept car from a couple of years ago that some of you might remember. It’s probably also a tribute to the diesel sports cars that won Le Mans for so many years, so it’s very good if you ask me. It’ll be very fast and I’ve always liked the sound of a big 6 cylinder diesel, I know this is amplified with a sound generator though. I’ve got a supercharged S4 at the moment but in a few years when I change it, this could be a possibility if they’re cheap enough by then.
@Unintended Consequences lol I meant 4.2. Well I'm not an engine snob, I have a small tsi atm, and I've owned a remaped diesel before and that was quick. But if I was spending that kind of money (in my dreams) I wouldn't want a diesel. Just looks more like a trim level now, rather than a performance model.
@Unintended Consequences the infamous A5 2.0tfsi with oil problem manages 30mpg external and a generous 13mpg in town. The amount of technology they put in these days with this kind of efficiency is monstruos. Would own such a thing instead of an electric car ( tesla) any day.
Not something you'd ever take a Sunday morning drive. Disgusting sound and boring engine. Low revs, narrow power band. Offers very little over a 3.0tdi A4.
AhEmGee why would you take any S4 for a Sunday morning drive, diesel or petrol... it’s a damn saloon car, these cars are not for people who go on “Sunday morning drives” those people can buy a lotus, focus RS, etc
@@jameslloydcole8783 I have a 2019 AMG C43 Estate with a remap. A close competitor to the S4. I take it out for morning drives in the Peak District very often, and its fun whether rain or shine. A big part of that is the rear bias awd , and the fantastic characterful engine. The now nose heavy and dull -engined lacks whatever fun factor the previous one had.
£58000 for a diesel s4.? What could u buy for that. A mint e39 m5 for £40000. Vxr8 gts for £35000. A c63 amg for £40000. E63 amg for £40000, f10 m5 for £40000. A 997 turbo for £50000.? Audi have got to b having a laugh.?
The S4 is a boring shadow of its former self. Almost all the characteristics of previous models no longer available. Manual gearbox gone, quad exhaust tips faked, exhaust notes also faked, petrol engine gone. Other than the quattro system what's left...
I had a rental and after 60 odd miles i got in some twistys and spanked it. I was very impressed. When i pulled into the petrol station and opened the flap to fill her up i had to look twice at the writing on the cap saying Diesel. My goodness she flies.
Still understand why audi it it, its a cross continent businessman's car. Autobahn ship, 155mph with decent mpg. If you want a sport get an RS. Big powerful diesels are great.
Matt JT precisely! The new Turbo petrols never get their claimed mpg and these cars are mainly used for mile crunching. Love this new diesel S4
@@Tom.G.Wright Its exactly what they are built for, people with money but they need to daily the car due to work commitments, but don't want to be getting 20mpg while pounding long instead wanting 40+mpg while doing so. Hopefully Audi keep the petrols in the smaller class cars as they are more hot hatch than businessman's saloon
an rs is still not really a sportscar. but faster and at least revs and doesnt have fake sound.
@@99Lezard99 Depends on the car TTRS is a sports car, the rest are super saloons and super hatches
i realize it is pretty off topic but do anyone know of a good place to watch new movies online?
In fairness this makes perfect sense. On my daily commute up and down the M4 the roads are awash with Audi S#s and BMW M#s so clearly there’s an actual market for performance cars that just go up and down motorways. They may as well be diesels!
seanek9 good point
I like my diesel 3 series. Even more so after I had it tuned.
There is absolutely ZERO market and need for a performance cars in a country with medieval roads and road regulations with ridiculous speed limits - England.
No need is not the same as no market
Very strange that Audi would choose to do this just as diesels are suffering a lot of criticism over emissions, and talk of them being banned in urban areas! Sounds good.. from the BACK!
Hybrid tho...
@Jack njones I feel audi may have done this as they project more sales as most sales of cars are diesel. Probably know people want a fast car but obtaining good mpg figures
Jedw yeah London is kind of one of them with the ULEZ charge and planned expansion of it in 2021 to the whole city. The rich man wouldn't have to worry as they can afford to pay £12.50 a day or afford a newer diesel which is not compliant to the charge 😑.
Diesels, when implemented correctly (and that means all the relevant emissions handling tech), can be exceptionally clean. Unfortunately, the ship has well and truly sailed on this one.
@@zaink7037 Yes but diesels from 2015 onwards are ulez exempt, unless they make a new rule about these newer diesels.
Doesn’t sound half bad for a diesel lump, but i wouldn’t call it an s
Pedro Guerreiro it’s most likely playing the sound of a petrol engine inside and outside.
@Jack njones get a proper tractor it'll blow your mind with its torque
They added fake interior and exterior noises to the SQ7 so likely noise is as fake as the exhausts
Fake sound inside, and underneath the car behind the exhausts is a sound generator that turns on when the car is in its sport mode.
Pedro Guerreiro have you ever heard the 3.0 tdi straight piped
Currently have the 2016 A7 biturbo V6 and I love it 😎
The V6 TDI is the most efficient and durable engine ever made... Change my mind
yep I se a6 3.0Tdi all the time
As someone who drives a Lexus with a 2GR that would probably never break even if I didn't service it (the 1GR 4.0 variant is used in the Hilux of course) that also gets better real world MPG than anyone seems to be claiming from the new S6/S4 but puts out the same power I'm struggling to see where you got that idea. It's a good engine absolutely, but it's far from being either the most efficient or durable. I love the 2GR (also in the Evora) but wouldn't claim that's the most efficient by a long way either, although it's certainly got a good claim for most durable.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111 ( c ) EVERY car mechanic on the planet that have built a mansion of out 3.0 TDI engine Audi drivers money
@@dash3dot my friend drove his 450K KM and the engine didnt even care
@@dash3dot ofc there are other very good and durable engines out there but from what i drove and all of my friends are saying, we all agree. sure hard to work on but you cant deny that it isnt efficient. 5L on 100KM is pretty awesome. sound is lovely too, just no sportive sound but a very calm powerful diesel sound
What a truly excellent review. Thank you James!
Like the Sq7, once all the turbos are going, the car goes instantly fast.
Volkswagens 3.0 V6 Diesel just hits the spot.
Great engine overall.
Has loads of potential (300+ hp easy with a new turbo, exaust and bigger injectors) and this thing can take a beating. The internals can take 400hp reliably as proven by tuners and long flat out Autobahn runs are no problmen at all. There is a reason they put this engine in Vehicles like the Amarok Pickup.
Fuel cost?
A diesel S4 is called a S-line ✌️
The new S4 is diesel only.
Unintended Consequences Fair point.
Agree...if you want civilised and economical but like the s you get a s line..this is ridiculous what they have done
@@sukhrajchhokar the fucj are you guys actually talking about? the strongest engine the a4 has ever had was the 272hp one in the newest models, this one is around 350hp - this is a huge step up, especially with upgrade breaks, upgrade suspension and so on. the s4 was never a car with an s-line bodykit and a normal a4 engine - personally, its a perfect car for people who dailydrive a shitload KM/miles like I do.
@@matteiasm.3618 do you even know your cars...the b9 alone S4 was 354bhp. Point is if you want a car for high miles you don't get a S4 you get a A4 S-line. Go learnt the difference.
Name another car that has 347hp,700nm ,8 spd,4.8s to 60 and manage 6.2l/100km combined cycle!
BMW M340d
Nice sound for a Europe diesel !
The idea of a s4 diesel sounds weird to me but when being a passenger in a 2017 s4 I found it soo civilised I remember thinking it might as well be a diesel
Sounds like a Tractor at idle, so wrong for an S car 😭
Yup, first thing I thought. (Well, second, after 'WTF? Horses?')
It doesn't sound too awful on the move - but that's damning with faint praise - but at idle... yeesh.
The only reason to buy a diesel is to save money. So, why does anyone buy an expensive diesel?
I realise some people might not care how it drives, but do they have no sense of smell or hearing?
Callum Saunderson
Well the petrol heads always bought the RS models anyway.
S models were always bought by executives so it makes sense they’d be happier with a higher mpg
Callum Saunderson have you ever heard a Straight piped 3.0 tdi btw have you ever heard a Diesel car in General?
No they don't. I own a newer 3.0 tdi and it's hard to tell it's a diesel
It's all about torque and efficiency!
German suspension so hard that it's worth remarking on that 'you could daily drive this car'. What else would you do with such a thing?
For all the hate it's getting as a diesel you would probably be very surprised by it's performance, even though I'm more of a petrol blooded shouty engine type of guy like most of us, I have to say there is something oddly satisfying about a seriously high torque diesel engine. This is a perfect long distance cruiser 👍 as long as the RS isn't diesel then It'll all be okay 👌
Hi don't want to get in a sagging mach here... for me it's not the performance as it is bloody quick it's the romantic of the hole thing i just don't c the point in it my self if u want great mpg get the 2l tdi as is good enough when ur cruising but its when ur on it its not got the soundtrack and that is the difference. that is what makes us car guys 😄 this is my first reply to a comment have a good day
@@andrewpattie358 I understand people's frustration we'd all rather a big shouty V8 but with the price of fuel nowadays this isn't a bad option or move by audi and it's the RS models that were Really all concerned about and if your looking for that romantic connection with a car and it's engine I wouldn't really consider any S car if that's what your looking for, especially seeing what else is out there for the same money, however as a well built long distance cruiser with a decent amount of power then they are perfect.
Yeah it‘s a cool diesel with a lot of torque but an S Model has to have a Petrol engine
I must have missed that memo, I thought the criteria of an S was to have more power than the normal A's, I suspect its prejudism that makes you think diesel is unworthy, with 350ps and 700nm this ones defo powerful enough, diesel is near as damn it rocket fuel, dont you think a slightly higher octane rocket fuel powered machine sounds brutal af and totally worthy of an S badge?
The point of an s was to be a halfway between normal a4 and rs. This car will have golfs making it look stupid. Effectively you are now paying over the odds for a 3.0 a4 tdi. This car does not beat the 2017 18 petrol version. It can not be modded as its already at its limits. You can turn a petrol s4 in to a powerhouse well above 400hp. This tractor is stupid and pointless. People will just shift to m340i or c43
Nice to see you in Cirencester enjoying the Cotswolds!!
👍🏽 to the new music. A RUclipsr that considers the comments of his fans
I do what I can
I see this as hi-po diesel trim level of the A4 rather than a real S4
This.
This is even more true for the S6/S7.
I have the 3.0 TDI in an A6. Love the diesel and it's so nice to drive with all that low end trq.
I’ve got the b7 A4 3.0 TDI - genuinely fun to drive and smooth. I’d class it as a sleeper tbh
@@zmx363 Nice! I added a Race Chip and leave it on 7, (most performance). HP went from 240HP to 283HP and torque from 428 ft pds. to 515 ft pds. Really made a nice difference. I also added a better flowing air filter but really nothing noted.
this to me seems like the perfect daily
Awesome outtro!
I just wish the sticking out cheap plasma screens weren't allowed in cars.
LCD screens
Oh dear oh dear at 0:45-0:47 that typical diesel noise has not been eliminated sounds horrible...the noise from the back end sounds decent however....not with buying brand new, maybe something to consider in 5 years time when used....another great review and reviewers on RUclips...keep up the hard work.
Audi, nickel and dime for every little thing even when you go full S.
It's hard to believe that they went with the ZF8 due to power when the older A4/A5 with the 3.0tdi and Stronic handled the power just fine, even when mapped to higher torque figures than what the new S4 puts out. You've then got the likes of other performance cars using Stronic / DSG transmissions, also putting out more power and handling it fine. The ZF8 is a more refined gearbox and becoming very popular so maybe it was more due to cost and refinement over power.
Vorsprung is an interesting word. I believe literally it means "to take the lead in a race," but my brain keeps thinking, "and we've got all this kit here, if you want to schpring vor it..."
vorsprung means literally ahead. has not neccessarily something to with racing.
Fantastic review!
But ther is one question: Is the exhaust real?
No, they are not.
Left side: yes
Right side: no
@@danielveres5021 whats the point! shite!
@@simnatercroc4385 what do you mean? I mean the car is shit not his comment. Why have fake parts on a car if it has no function and its clear its fake don't add it to the design!
@@simnatercroc4385 haha no fighting dude I was moaning about the car i'm a huge Audi fan and they are killing the brand with these shit designs
sweet outro dawg!
Wish we could have this one in the states
Weirdest thing for me is the trim levels/options rather than the fuel type. Always thought S4s were just S4s.
Previously, they were
Very enjoyable and insightful review. Agreed about that awful screen and the demise of the MMI wheel. I sincerely hope Audi will take the widespread criticism on board and revert to a better solution in the next A4/5 models.
Mega Audi fan thanks so much, more Audi content please!
Sorry if I'm being thick here, but as someone who drives a GS450h I'm struggling to see how this is worth £60k? For £20k you can get a mint Japanese hybrid which has the same power, lower CO2/better economy, a comfier ride, loads of kit (Audi got moisturising aircon?), infinitely better reliability, no fake exhausts and doesn't understeer. Audi has better infotainment but that's about it (possibly more familiar pedal feel). The GS also has the same 2GR you get in an Evora so clearly wins on sound. Wouldn't mind a drag race either- Audi has quattro and launch but the GS is only 0.2 slower to 60 so past that I'd imagine it gets interesting.
Totally understand people not wanting a GS, but surely it would take a moron to buy the S4? Even a diesel lover is much better off in a 435d xDrive, worse interior but beats this in every other way.
@Unintended Consequences I've done many miles in Audis but not S or RS models sadly. Never bought one due to reliability and comfort (not bad, just not Lexus). I am generally a fan- still considering tuning the heck out of an S1, but this car just seems to have so many questionable choices. Having a new S4 (and S6) only just match a 2005 hybrid for performance and lose out on economy makes it really hard to understand why they didn't go petrol hybrid- the motors in the e-tron (188ps) are nearly as powerful as the one in the GS (200ps) and they can build a petrol engine (RS3...mmm) so they've got the tech. Fake exhausts are inexcusable, there's just no need. Understeer is still there but most people won't notice- I was just making the list comically long with nitpicking points by then!
Talking of comically long, I suck at being concise- I'll stop now ☺
@Unintended Consequences ive never seen an audi oversteer on its own unless its been flicked like crazy or its been poweroversteered on slippy surfaces. or its an r8 of course. but please show me an audi on a racetrack that oversteers before it understeers when loosing grip. im from germany and im regularly on the nürburgring. never seen that. in fact you really see not much audis there at all. bmws and porsches are everwhere tho. if that doesnt say enough about most audis...
LOL!
48k 😆😂😆😂😆😂😆😂😆😂
I’d struggle to pay 38k!!!!!
My BMW 335d was well over 50k new, and that was 7 years ago. Guess some people like fast diesels
How much?! 60,000 Japanese ¥ yen maybe but that can't be 60,000 sterling.
Big vent... "Kinda cool".. good one :-)
I'm less of a fan of the engine than you are..In front, it sounds like rattling a can of marbles.. at the back..aaaah, there's that S4 burble. I own its predecessor, a 2017 S4 and the creamy burble of the exhaust is a never-boring soundtrack. Not so sure I would buy the diesel version though.. But, that said, thanks again for a great review. Down to earth and honest (despite the fancy Audi pen) Thanks, I'm looking forward to the next one.
You can tell it’s an Audi by they way he’s bouncing about. You can’t beat a torque monster.
The current RS4 engine is a great one. Those that have had experienced it longer term will agree..
I'll be honest had an a3 sline diesel since 2014 sports black edition i had no idea S range do diesel obviously does it compare to the bmw 330D? how the hell does it drive I assume it sounds like a tractor ? tbh i do a 40 mile commute 20 each way so please is this worth upgrading too, i aint poor nor rich but I think i can try for this?
ah apologies just heard the sound at the beginning does still sound like a tractor lol how'd i not notice that
Can this be an enthusiast car? Or would you still go for b7 rs4?
I have a rare A4 50 TDI Quattro. It’s a B9.5 and a precursor to this car. Let me know if you want to do a video on it. I also have a A6 C6.5 2.0 TDI 170 BHP 6MT
Carbon fibre interior trim. Chintzy. If the car's not made of carbon fibre don't slap it on the inside.
And what's with lighting up the inside of your car with gaudy colours?
I can’t believe the German car manufacturers are still pushing down the diesel route
jamie morris are they using up the last of the Diesel stock ??? It’s plain crazy
dan hug hes
It sure is
8rick1ane
The German car manufacturers seem to be the most behind in use new technology
They must have massive Diesel engine factory’s to keep going
Ive hit the thumbs up as usual because of the presenter and content but I am tired of hearing people say similar things about performance ie here we are told its around 350bhp with around 500lbft and does it "go"? Since when did 350bhp and 500lbft ever be slow thats my beef. Its high power high torque of course its going to get down the road quickly so on this point I get really annoyed when theres this element of apparent surprise when the numbers are so big you couldnt possibly think its going to be slow.
The Aston isnt a light car, and they are relatively light on torque in comparison to a lot of modern stuff. I have driven cars with big numbers which dont shift - eg. A lot of American cars
Not gonna lie I think a diesel is a great idea because it may get more people into buying because the mpg won’t be so bad as a petrol
This Diesel engine makes no sense in the S6 considering its not much of a "S" type gain over the standard top diesel engined versions. It does make sense in the S4 though as its a smaller platform and was rare in 3 litre spec previously so the engine can be seen as a definite upgrade. Love to see it in an Avant version. 40+ mpg is more than achievable based on performance and weight characteristics. The US are getting petrol versions of the S Models but not the Diesels.
This video really utilises its horsepower ;)
Surely the logical decision is to buy a used, low mileage B9 S4 with the stonking Porsche derived petrol (hot) V6 PETROL. Virtually the same but retaining dials and switches for the controls... It sounds awesome too. *may be a biased view:)
I have no issue with what fuel it burns. But everything I have read about modern diesels is that they are a maintenance nightmare due to the hoops OEM have to jump through to meet emission targets. They are probably fine in the first five years or maybe even the first 10 if you treat them right, but after that it's crunch time. And good luck working on them yourself.
Or am I being too pessimistic?
In 2012 I bought a 2006 jaguar xj6 tdvi it had 2 turbos 2 dpf filters 2 cats and 2 more of everything I had it till this year everything that could go wrong did go wrong and was practically rebuilt when I sold it I just got tired of 1500 pound bills every few months.
@@Sophiechic Yikes, sorry to hear man! Do you think modern diesels will be better or worse? They have more stuff but DPF technology is hopefully more established now?
Yes it can, it worked very very well in the first generation SQ5 and that wasn’t a hybrid either😆😆😆😆
Not the FIRST time Audi have put a Diesel V6 in an S vehicle..... few years ago SQ5 Twin turbo V6.... fantastic SUV, & I should know , i'm on my second one, SQ5 Plus+ 'special Edition' 17 plate, great all rounder, shift's like a scalded Cat....700Nm out of the box.
Rather get a second hand f90 m5
Imagine the bills when it's out of warranty - a lovely car I don't doubt, but hybrid and big modern diesel you need to be wealthy to keep it going as it ages.
I guess that's where extended warranties are a blessing. You can get a warranty on a Ferrari up to 15 years old now
Imagine the costs of the first Teslas that are over 300k miles and very soon batterys will fail.
It does actually sound pretty good in the drive-away clips you've posted. For my daily commute it would be a pretty nice way to have my cake and eat it, but the A4 just isn't an attractive car anymore. Too fussy, oddly proportioned and just a little chunky. It started out with that nice pert tail, wonderful glass house and generally understated. That just doesn't seem to be the German thing, anymore.
Owned my b9 S4 from new. That had its naysayers but it moves well and sounds off just fine when it's worked. I just can't bring myself to this new engine clatter and dull exhaust note. It's not why I drive my S4. History repeating?
Bet it’ll be loud as fuck when someone inevitably straight pipes it
Everyone is hating atm but this car will definitely sell in large numbers
So did the last Gun N' Roses album, doesn't mean it's not a steaming pile of donkey faeces.
I would have liked a hybrid more than a V6 Diesel. Or a hybrid diesel.
Where there's an X5, there's a knob.
Save a huge amount of money and get a 335d instead...
@Jack njones Who said anything about first gen? As far as I'm aware, they only had issues with the swirl flaps breaking, but that's fixable and preventable. The newer N57(I think?) 35d engines are pretty bullet proof, dispite what some people seem to claim. I've had 2 of them and they've been faultless as long as they're taken care of well, with premium fuels and regular services.
@Jack njones All diesels will suffer from carbon build up. Again, premium fuels or additives will help prevent that. Also, DPF tech has moved on since those first gens.
Jack njones I had a first gen 335d and was an absolute belter of a car. Loved it and looked after it. After 120k the only mechanical issue with it was the starter. Not so bad.
My 35 TFSI does 25mpg. FYI.
Only downside I can see that in the UK at least Diesel cars are depreciating like a led balloon at the moment, no good for the person buying it from new but excellent in the second-hand market.
I'd be more worried about the particulates and NOx than CO2, things that diesels are known for and are considerably more damaging
Very true. Tell that to Greta, though.
@@MartinIrwin She has something against that?
A properly engineered diesel will spit out fewer particulates than pretty much all pre-GPF direct injection petrol cars, and some even emit less NOx than petrol cars too. The downside is you require a DPF and an exhaust additive (i.e. AdBlue) that you have to keep topping up. On the other side of the fence, petrol cars now have filters which should require a lot less maintenance (and no additive) but their fuel economy and power has suffered a little as a result, just as it did for diesels.
Either way, people won't be able to buy diesel nor petrol cars within 10-20 years, however clean they might get.
Only if I lived in Europe.
I think the BMW that overtook your was a police car. Can see the lights in the rear glass, especially when its stopped in front of you.
Basically all X5's that are in SE spec are police vehicles because nobody would use their own pounds to buy an X5 and not put at least the sport trim on it.
Believe it or not it’s actually cheaper for the police to buy a fleet of BMW’s than it is to buy a fleet of Vauxhall’s or Fords.
@@Bku695 my interest is peaked, how is that so?
Oliver Loxley it’s the service and mileage package that BMW offer for their fleet vehicles, Vauxhall and ford can’t match it over say 50 vehicles. Pretty cool wee fact lol
Otis Piffington they are a fantastic road policing car especially the touring. Loads of room in the back for all the equipment and more than enough of power for any emergency. X10 times better than the VXR Vauxhall insignia estate, which is very uncomfortable, quite unreliable and back aches especially after doing a 12 hour shift.
Another great review this car has just been knocked off my list what have Audi done think they have missed the point in a car like this the engine is like the way it looks boring the only thing I like about the new A4 is that blue very bmw so I just have too cars on there now the BMW 440 grand coupe and I hate to say it but i also like the kia stinger GTS 😬 thing looks great but can u spend 37k on a Kia? So thanks audi my decision is much easier now
The Stinger is amazing, and well worth 40k
@@JayEmmOnCars I have driven one and did really like it maby I'm more of a snob than I realized 🤔 it does really appeal to me that u don't many on the road.... thanks for the reply 👍
The only people that will buy this car are the tractor fans. I mean diesel lovers.
All the Audi S drivers are weeping everywhere. Including me. What a cock up.
S6 as a diesel. Ha.
Give me the V8 twin turbo. 😁
They claimed combined figures of around 43mpg on the 8V S3. Best mine ever did was 28. 🙄
Try and use it under turbo power band.
Saw a new s7 today, tore away and sounded like a V8, artificial but still putting in the effort I guess
I'm really not convinced about the exterior styling on the new audi's, even with the S and RS' they don't look as good as they once did which is concerning as its hard to see how it will evolve, they seem quite tacky! the interior's still lead the way.
Thank new emission laws for putting Audi in such position, that they need to use diesel engines in S cars.
Yep, that's the only reason
And diesels pollute more. I learned that in O grade chemistry in the late 1980s. We've always known this.
Or...they could use petrol hybrids. S4 TDi gives you 160g/km CO2 for 344bhp. My GS450h manages 145g/km and 345bhp. Also sounds like a 3.5l V6 petrol, because it is. Not seeing why diesel was necessary.
If they had real exhausts tips and not fakes and had got rid of that ''in your face screen'' I would have bought one. They are fabulous cars and I love that biturbo diesel - the previous one anyway. Instead I've gone for a BMW M340i which is simply better in all respects - and economical. An RS4 was a serious contender but a lot more money - and still with that screen :( !
I'm having trouble understanding how someone can have £60k for a car and lack £60 for petrol. But hey, keep pumping diesel in performance cars just to make sure no one wastes too much money on a car designed for wasting money.
Because nearly nobody actually buys them for £60k, they finance them - and then an extra £150 a month would make a difference
S4 350 hp is ok but aslo 350 for the s6 is absurd
The perfect car 😍
Bizarre choice to make the new S4 a diesel, given how the general trend is in replacing diesels with petrol turbo engines. Sure it's a nice car but makes the S4 even more dull for me. Capable yes, desirable nope.
I’m going to applaud Audi for choosing this new 3.0 TDI engine for the new S4.
It’s still a fairly large capacity, multicylinder engine regardless of whether it’s petrol or diesel. We’re not going to have them for much longer. It would have been all too easy just to put in the ubiquitous 2.0 TSI 4 cylinder from the S3 and add a battery pack & electric motor and turn it into a full hybrid. I’ve even heard disturbing rumours that the next Mercedes C63 will have a four cylinder turbo hybrid... this was a car that had a 6.2 naturally aspirated V8 until not so long ago!
I think this new 3.0 TDI unit has incorporated some technology from the RS5 TDI concept car from a couple of years ago that some of you might remember. It’s probably also a tribute to the diesel sports cars that won Le Mans for so many years, so it’s very good if you ask me.
It’ll be very fast and I’ve always liked the sound of a big 6 cylinder diesel, I know this is amplified with a sound generator though.
I’ve got a supercharged S4 at the moment but in a few years when I change it, this could be a possibility if they’re cheap enough by then.
Terrible idea from audi, diesels have torque but no character
Diesel is cheaper in Germany, so it’s a great idea.
@@MartinIrwin Get that it's cheaper, but diesel cars have no soul, none whatsoever
M I if you‘re just concerned about fuel cost then you‘re not the type of person to look at an „S“ or „RS“
How much does it cost Mustang GT in UK?
Ubik £43k for the GT or £48k for the Bullitt. If you don’t need 4 doors it’s a no brainer.
@@Jabber-ig3iw
Thanks. Yeah,
I'd rather buy even Mustang Ecoboost 2.3 than this new S4.
BTW, If you must have 4 doors, you have Stinger GT instead.
Aren't diesel cars going to increase in road tax because of the other pollutants they put out?
Who knows. It’s based on CO2 right now.
sounds better than any rs ever made.
1 horsepower to begin with, nice.
What about those ridiculous 4 FAKE exhaust pipes???
2*
4.0 v8 > 3.0 v6 > diesel... what a come down.
@Unintended Consequences lol I meant 4.2. Well I'm not an engine snob, I have a small tsi atm, and I've owned a remaped diesel before and that was quick. But if I was spending that kind of money (in my dreams) I wouldn't want a diesel. Just looks more like a trim level now, rather than a performance model.
@Unintended Consequences the infamous A5 2.0tfsi with oil problem manages 30mpg external and a generous 13mpg in town.
The amount of technology they put in these days with this kind of efficiency is monstruos.
Would own such a thing instead of an electric car ( tesla) any day.
The s4/5 has never has a 4.0
Thank God we don’t get the diesel bs in America.
The price is simply mental, for a ancient 3.0 tdi, it s a joke I guess.
Having drove this car it feels cheap and it's not a 58k motor
Not something you'd ever take a Sunday morning drive. Disgusting sound and boring engine. Low revs, narrow power band. Offers very little over a 3.0tdi A4.
AhEmGee why would you take any S4 for a Sunday morning drive, diesel or petrol... it’s a damn saloon car, these cars are not for people who go on “Sunday morning drives” those people can buy a lotus, focus RS, etc
@@jameslloydcole8783 I have a 2019 AMG C43 Estate with a remap. A close competitor to the S4. I take it out for morning drives in the Peak District very often, and its fun whether rain or shine. A big part of that is the rear bias awd , and the fantastic characterful engine. The now nose heavy and dull -engined lacks whatever fun factor the previous one had.
Sorry Jay. your new videos of new Audi's are causing me to glaze over. Hope we get back to the interesting stuff very soon.
Don't you worry Del, there is some *amazing* stuff coming - the last week of November right up until Christmas is gonna be epic.
@@JayEmmOnCars Great. Looking forward to them.
£58000 for a diesel s4.? What could u buy for that. A mint e39 m5 for £40000. Vxr8 gts for £35000. A c63 amg for £40000. E63 amg for £40000, f10 m5 for £40000. A 997 turbo for £50000.? Audi have got to b having a laugh.?
I dont think any car makers really care about the used competition, it's not relevant. A used 997 turbo would cost more on finance anyway I suspect
Doesn’t sound as good as the a6 bitdi
Fake sound, fake exhaust, fake S6...but real price tag
Effin nonsense
If they wanna now have s4 diesel
Just call it like it is
SD4
horses!
Diesel 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
The S4 is a boring shadow of its former self. Almost all the characteristics of previous models no longer available. Manual gearbox gone, quad exhaust tips faked, exhaust notes also faked, petrol engine gone. Other than the quattro system what's left...
Should be a hatch. It's just a Mondeo alternative.