Scott's getting old and soft. The ride quality in our longterm 2009 Audi A4 Avant is fine. It's firm, but never harsh and definitely doesn't have bump sensitivity. I'd rock this thing across the country without thinking twice.
Then again, I drove our old Audi R8 from LA to Seattle and back in the span of three days.
With that said, Scott does make a valid point. This autobox-equipped, indifferent steering-havin' A4 otherwise doesn't have the sporting chops to fully realize the promise of the ride's taut control. Ah, to have a manual gearbox...
Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
adavis2493 says:
07:47 PM, 12/17/09
I've got a question for you guy's. I had a 2007 BMW X3 with the Sport Package + 19" Rims w/ Pirelli PZero Rosso Runflats.
I got out of that car because the ride was absolute crap (Plus chipping front bumper paint @ 17,000 Miles, A sunroof rattle, a horrid Navigation Interface, an uncomfortable seat, etc, etc), and into an A5. I think the A5 is too soft.
Anyways, is the A4 Avant with Sport Package anything like that of a BMW X3 with Sport Package in terms of ride quality?
Thanks
mjp16 says:
10:50 PM, 12/17/09
Better than the X3 Sport Package, from the brief test drive we had (test drove a used one, decided against it due to high price and a couple reliability concerns). I think the runflats really go a long way in killing the X3's ride. Whereas the X3 crashes over bumps and is quite harsh, I felt that the A4 Avant sport package--while bumps are still felt--feels more refined overall and is more livable. That said, I think the A4 Avant without the sport package is sufficient for North American roads.
arm51 says:
05:39 AM, 12/18/09
Yeah, I love 3-pedaled cars...I wish Audi, or every other manufacturer for that matter, offered more sticks...
equ says:
06:33 AM, 12/18/09
An a5 and an a4 are going to ride just about the same. I also think the non-sport a5 and a4 are too soft and the sport package is just right. The issue with the a5 is that the sport package only comes with 19's, adding a certain brittle quality. I find the a4 sport with 18's (or the s4 with 18's for that matter) to be goldilocks of firm, nice ride these days. As good as the bmw 330i zhp was in 2003-2005 (rode better and handled comparably to the e46 m3).
carguy622 says:
06:50 AM, 12/18/09
Ah... to convince manufactures to offer more manuals.
seppoboy says:
07:25 AM, 12/18/09
The craze for larger diameter wheels and much lower profile tires has done a lot to mess up a number of vehicles' ride and durability. Truly good chassis engineers can get fine, fluent handling with taller tire sidewalls. Run-flats are atrocities that should be avoided.
I have owned earlier Audis, and thought their steering and suspension development were lacking in some respects. Combine loose steering having little feedback with a suspension that limits wheel travel over bumps but allows some awkward motions in side-to-side transitions, the result is a ride that would be acceptable when combined with especially sharp handling... but handling that would coexist much better with a more compliant ride.
Audis are still very desirable cars, but suspension development is not one of their competitive advantages. BMW (especially absent run-flats) and even Mercedes-Benz usually reach a more satisfactory compromise.
And please do bring back manual transmissions, two-pedal cars just don't cut it.
audisport says:
09:59 AM, 12/18/09
You can still get a manual in an A4 sedan, but the relative lack of interest in the Avant here Stateside kills any idea of a manual trans. Overall sales of Manual equipped Avants compared to overall A4 sales would be less than 5%, I would be willing to bet.
I just wish they would offer the 2.0 litre and 3.0 litre turbodiesels in the A4 here in the US. I would love to have either of those in an Avant. I would bust out the check book in no time flat.