The pros and cons of inexperienced drivers in performance models
While the current S4 is not exactly an Audi R8, it still offers copious amounts of grunt from its 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine. If you relish speed and you're a bit of a show-off, then the S4 will suit your personality well, with the added bonus of flattering your newfound driving skills to the extent that you think you're a great driver. However, the problem with performance cars is that they often give you a false sense of security. Usually these cars also give you the option of completely switching off the electronic "nannies" that keep you safe, but we reckon that only experienced drivers with advanced driver training can truly enjoy a performance car responsibly and safely when it has all of its assistance systems switched off. In the Audi S4, you can do this via Audi Drive Select, where traction control is deactivated in the sportiest setting.
Related: Top 6 things you need to know about the new (2020) Audi A4
The cons: The temptation to drive too fast, high insurance, expensive repair costs, and careless fellow-road users
Another problem is speed. Even if a car has 20 airbags and a roll cage made from seven compacted layers of industrial-grade titanium and windows of bulletproof glass, if you hit a truck at 200 kilometres per hour you are dead meat. Will you be able to exercise restraint in the S4 and drive responsibly?
Then there's the insurance issue. Can you (or your dad, or your partner) afford to pay sky-high insurance? If you're a young driver in a performance car, you can expect a monthly insurance premium that will make your parents' or partner's eyes water, as insurance companies see you as high risk. If you damage your S4, you can also expect to pay a high price for having repairs done. That's the downside of owning a premium German sport sedan!
Another thing to bear in mind is that our roads are full of potholes, and we have many reckless road users in the way of taxi drivers and careless pedestrians. The S4 also has Audi's lowered S Sport suspension, low profile tyres and brakes that bite harder than normal, so it's not the most comfortable and practical option given our local conditions.
Related: Top 3 Audi A4 trims, head to head.
The pros: The S4 is properly equipped with safety spec
Considering the S4's sub-5-second-to-100 km p/h sprint figure, the S4 quattro would have to be exceedingly safe. Top speed is 250 km, governed electronically since we don't have a no-holds-barred Autobahn here like they do in Germany. That said, 250 km is fast enough, and we do not condone this kind of hooliganism at all. Remember the guy who posted a video of himself clocking 309 km/h in his Audi TT S? 36-year-old Phumlile Ncube was arrested at a funeral following an undercover investigation. His case has been postponed to March the 13th, and he is facing jail time...
But let's get back to the S4. It has a five star EuroNCAP safety rating, six airbags, stability and traction control, and you can specify semi-autonomous functions like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assistance, as well as parking assistance, among other things (rear park distance control is standard).
Audi's quattro all-wheel drive quattro system also lends itself to sportier yet more secure driving, directing most of the power to to the axle with better traction, while "wheel-selective torque control optimizes handling and stability in fast cornering with minimal brake interventions", says Audi.
All Audis are built to be as ergonomic as possible, meaning you don't have to take your eyes off the road for too long to find buttons or switches. Audi's Virtual Cockpit also displays your choice of driver information in what was originally the instrument binnacle, and you can change settings or the display view directly from the steering wheel buttons.
Verdict
The Audi S4 quattro is currently priced at R 840 500. If money is no object and you (a)know your limits, (b)you don't plan on speeding or driving irresponsibly, and (c) you know how to counter oversteer and understeer, by all means, buy a performance car like the S4 . But here at AutoTrader we recommend that you enrol in a few advanced driver courses before buying any kind of performance car. (We're not talking to those of you who have been go-karting and racing in the VW Polo Cup since you were old enough to walk, of course).
There's no need for the ultra-potent S4 which is very pricey, and in most cases, exceeds a new driver's capabilities. We recommend any other A4 in the line-up, or perhaps an Audi A3 sedan (check for used and new A3s sedans on the AutoTrader sales site here). The new A1 is fantastic too, but if you were originally looking at the S4, we're guessing that you probably had a bigger car with a boot in mind. Whatever you decide on, remember that driving sensibly is friendlier on your wallet and in most cases, will keep you out of trouble.
Recommended next
Audi A5 vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs. BMW 4 Series
BMW 3 Series vs. VW Arteon vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Source: Audi MediaCenter
