Review Audi A4 3.2 Quattro at 2009
May 10th, 2009 - Posted in AutomotiveThe original A4 (B5) debuted when Boys II Men was near the top of the charts and its duo of follow-ups (the Audi B6 and B7, not the trio from Philly) were more technical reworks than thorough overhauls. But a funny thing happened in the process. As the sheet-metal evolved and the interior became a benchmark, underneath, the A4 turned into a credible sports sedan. With the engine migrating closer to the firewall, the all-wheel drive system nearing perfection and the available drivetrains offering a combination of tractability and fuel efficiency, the A4 could be all things to all people – enthusiasts included.
So when developing the “all-new” A4, Audi knew it had to hit every note in pitch-perfect harmony. Our First Drive proved that many of the A4’s foibles had been left in the past, but until we lived with one for a week, the jury was still sequestered in a hotel, living off an $11 per diem. Now, deliberations are over and we’re prepared to deem the 2009 Audi A4 one of the best sports sedans on the market. In fact, the A4 is so good, it’s almost boring.
The A4’s additional length and girth were welcomed on the motorway, but the added weight becomes increasingly apparent when taking corners at speed. While body-roll is almost non-existent and the all-wheel drive system offers more grip than Fixodent, there’s something about chucking the A4 through a series of high-speed switchbacks that fails to trigger your inner-hoon. Even with the traction control fully defeated and understeer rarely rearing its head, the A4’s grip-and-go nature feels more like cheating physics than mastering the dark-arts of car control. It’s brilliant – don’t get us wrong – but it’s akin to channeling Madoff over Mozart.
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