BajanS4

Manual, dolphin gray, black leather, convenience, Nav, Bose, iPod, and... European Delivery. Just got back from a 21 day 1,400 mile drive through the Alps. There's a <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/eurodelivery/msgs/278.phtml">full post</a> of the trip in the ED forum (link below).

In the Audi Forum in Germany...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/121613/photo_6.jpg">

In the Swiss alps...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/121613/photo_17.jpg">

In the Swiss alps...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/121613/photo_19.jpg">

In Provence, France...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/121613/photo_21.jpg">

Gorges du Verdon, France... (road where the Top Gear RS4 vs. rock climber video was shot)
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/121613/photo_22.jpg">

In Provence...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/121613/photo_24.jpg">

Absolutely love the S4. Fantastic on the autobahn (shame I won't get more time at those speeds here), but also lots of fun on twisty alpine roads. No real complaints, although the mp3 SD cards are proving to be <b>even more</b> finicky than I expected.

Previously drove a 2000 Boxster, and so far, I'm finding the S4 to be just as much fun (although obviously very different, and presumably a tiny bit better for ski trips...).

Glad to be joining the forum. Cheers.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/eurodelivery/msgs/278.phtml">Euro Delivery Posting</a></li></ul>

Leslierc

Thanks for sharing! I have an almost identical `06 S4; so, looking at your European travellog was that much more enjoyable. Please describe your autobahn experiences with the S4 in fuller detail when you have some time.

Thanks again!

SonomaDriver

Makes me impatient for our new avant to arrive (Expected delivery in mid-October)! The wheels look great.

BajanS4

Thanks! Yeah, I love the new wheels too.

4RingS4

How long do you need to wait for it to arrive in the US?

Enjoy!

medpilot105

Like me, you'll find any excuse to drive it. The sound of the engine and exhaust! The performance wrapped in luxury. Oh yeah, the list goes on and on.

Problem is my S4 makes me want another Audi! Maybe an RS4 next? My wife thinks I'm nuts. I think I'll start planning ahead for European Delivery. ;-)

BajanS4

Hmmm. A few thoughts on the autobahn...

#1. It really is a lot of fun, and feels very different. Worth doing ED just for the experience. It took me an hour or so to really get comfortable on the autobahn.

#2. The road surface itself is very nice. Smooth, with well banked turns. I don't think I've ever seen a U.S. highway with banks as steep as the autobahn. That's really why you can keep the cars at such high speed.

#3. Between Ingolstadt and Munich (and beyond), there are always 3 or 4 lanes. And they use them! German drivers switch lanes every 5 seconds. It's an amazingly dynamic (and challenging) environment to drive in. They never stop "weaving" (although they NEVER pass on the right, always the left). The left lane is incredibly fast. You can't just hang in the left lane. Ever. Even if you're doing 130. Before you pull out into the left lane you need to look at least a 1/4 mile back in the mirror, if not more. Because while you're accelerating from 90 mph to 130 mph (my break-in limit) to pass someone, some Porsche is running down the left lane at 160 mph and will rear-end you. I regularly had the experience of cruising at 120 mph in the middle lane, to have another car blow by me going 30 to 50 mph faster.

#4. That said, not everyone goes 150. And not all the time. The common range is 70 to 150 mph, depending on the lane and the car. And some bits of the autobahn have speed limits (mostly around towns and cities, with fast bits in between). So you don't really "cruise" at 150. You're constantly speeding up and slowing down, switching lanes, passing cars, getting passed, etc.

#5. The S4 is really fantastic at 120 to 130. Very quiet (especially because my break-in limit kept me around 3000 rpm). Very little wind noise. Still easy to have a conversation or listen to music. 6th gear is very useful at those speeds, and the S4 still pulls nicely. The car was very stable, steering tight/heavy (in a good way). Car felt nailed to the road. No body roll to worry about. I used to drive a Boxster, and by comparison, it got a bit light in the loafers at those speeds (especially with the top down). Boxster tended to wander around in the lane (from wind, etc.).

#6. It's surprising to see "lesser cars" like VW Passats doing 120 mph on the autobahn, but they do, and they seem fine.

#7. You see a lot more Audi's over there. Maybe even more Audi's than BMW's or MB's. At least as many. And Germans love luxury cars. A very high percentage of cars on the road are mid-sized luxury cars (a marked contrast to France or Italy, where 90% of the cars are crappy hatchbacks). It's just in the culture.

#8. You can almost see the S4's gas gauge fall when you're driving 120+ (at least if you would if you could take your eyes off the road). I bet I ran through a 1/2 tank of gas in an hour (and I was keeping the rpm's below 3500 because of the break-in period...). And at euro-tax gas prices, ouch.

But boy was it fun...

BajanS4

Very good question. AudiUSA.com says 30 to 40 days. The actual paperwork says 6 to 8 weeks. K2 on the forum said his took 8 weeks. So I'm guessing 6 to 8 weeks. I think it really depends on how long the car waits for a container ship to fill up.

Whatever. Anticipation is its own kind of fun. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Although 4 weeks of anticipation would be plenty...

Leslierc

You should consider writing a guide to the Autobahn for U.S. drivers! Thanks very much; I really enjoyed your write-up! I agree with your points about the S4's handling aspects - the car indeed does drive like it's glued to the road. Good for you, also, that you were able to stretch your S4's "legs" so to speak, so that now you have a much better sense of your car.

Thanks again!

MattboyS4

Congratulations. Awesome car. Have to do that next time!

It looks like you were on the road from Bulle to Aigle in the Swiss Alps? I used to run that road in my R32 through the mountains all the time!! Awesome twisty road.

Looks like you had lots of fun!

Matt