We are parked on the side of the road–resting after a long hard drive up the hilly mountains of Antipolo. You have to admit, we never really took a car this far away on unfamiliar roads on such short notice before, but hey, this road’s known for its twisty curves and demanding uphill passes. Normally this is the territory of big bikes and sports cars, weekend racers who want to experience the thrill of zipping up and down on relatively smooth tarmac. This weekend, we’re blurring the scenery in the Audi A4 1.8T Quattro.
The moniker sounds like a mouthful, especially for a German car. But like the car it represents, it’s direct to the point. In terms of styling, it lacks some oomph–there’s little to differentiate it with the run-of-the-mill front-driven 1.8T even down to the 17-inch alloy wheels. Beneath the sheet metal though likes a chock full of technology–all centered to add driving thrills. Owning a 3.2 million peso car equipped with a manual transmission may not seem like the best proposition to the 50-something executives who will lap these up, but that shortcoming diminishes the moment you enter the door.
Audis are generally known for their high build quality and excellent choice of materials, and the A4 1.8T Quattro’s no different. Soft plastics abound. The overall feel may be a bit dated compared to the MMI equipped A6, A8 and TT, but it’s nonetheless a pleasing cabin to be in. Accommodations are adequate at best with the front passengers having space that barely passes for being comfortable. Knee scraping especially next to the center console is a regular occurrence, even for those with median height. The same goes for the rear passengers with just barely room for three adults. Visual differences between the 1.8T and 1.8T Quattro are limited to the swapping of wood trim for aluminum in the inlays department and leather for Alcantara for the door trims. The seats though, tell a different story.
Like the door trims, the seats are now covered in an Alcantara/leather combination with the front passengers benefiting from sport buckets with a 2-memory function. We’re not particular fans of the velvety Alcantara material, but they do help in giving additional back and bottom support during hard cornering–and they certainly look very racy. Also adding to the sporty feel is the fat three-spoke steering wheel, which is, thankfully, not covered in the stuff. It’s however, typical Audi, so expect nice perforated and stitched leather. Like any other German make, the buttons there are multi-functional, but it’s preset for audio controls. Another key in a proper sporting environment are good gauges, and the A4 1.8T Quattro has this as well. Lit with electro-luminescent technology, it looks both traditional and high-tech at the same time. The dials are large and easy to read, and unlike some other German cars, there are still analogue auxiliary gauges like temperature and fuel. Of particular note is the large center colored LCD screen.
So the A4 1.8T Quattro gets all of the essentials of a sports sedan right, does it live to its promise? Absolutely. Why else would we be on this twisty road? Overall, the engine doesn’t feel particularly punchy: 160 horsepower and 225 Nm of torque. Those figures can easily be tramped by a small 6-cylinder engine or even a high-revving 4-banger. What impresses us with the Audi’s engine is the fat torque curve. Like any boosted motor, the 1.8-liter unit in the A4 sums up its peak torque from as low as 1,950 rpm and shoves it past 4,700 rpm. Aurally, it doesn’t particularly feel engaging, but there’s great thrust from just a small bleep of the throttle. The gas pedal doesn’t have a long travel, so red-lining the engine is easy.
It’s great therefore that Audi plopped in a short-throw 6-speed manual to match the engine seamlessly. We didn’t like the response of the A4 with its CVT transmission whether it be powering the turbocharged 1.8 or the normally aspirated 2.0, but the manual does wonders to the A4. It lifts the Audi’s ho-hum driving experience especially with the clutch’s positive engagement and the shifter’s precise engagement. This is the way manuals should be made. The arm rest has been re-designed to make sure there’s no banging elbows when flicking through the tranny–all the more making the A4 1.8T Quattro a very addicting driving machine. For those not careful enough though, reverse is engaged by pushing the lever down and shifting into the first gear slot. This may catch some people may surprise, but not us.
Equipped with Audi’s trademark Quattro all-wheel drive system, the A4 dances through the curves with ease and poise. The 17-inch tires rarely squabble for grip, but there’s a hint of power sliding in the rear–meaning Quattro makes you feel safer without sacrificing the fun. Through the corners, the cornering is flat with no body roll and neutral balance. The steering feel is a bit detached and light, but steering is very linear and accurate. The four-wheel disc brakes does a great job too of stopping the spirited Audi from any sort of mid-corner hijinks. Pedal feel is excellent and firm with no fade. The brakes though can sometimes feel overcooked (after a long, hard drive) so if you plan to take an A4 to the track, perhaps that’s best left to the S4 and RS4.
Going back to the value for money equation, the A4 1.8T Quattro sets you back a cool 3.2 million pesos. In comparison with its rivals, that puts it smack into 6-cylinder BMW 3 Series category. However, the Audi does get a heavy does of high tech for the cash: automatic HID headlamps, dual zone climate control and even an 8-speaker Bose system are all standard in addition to the Alcantara/leather combination, aluminum trim, powered seats and of course the Quattro system–items either not available or additional options on the Bimmer. For the upscale executive, there’s little doubt that the he’d pick an automatic and a globally recognized blue-and-white badge upfront. Those who know better though will opt for something a bit left field. This is where the A4 1.8T Quattro shines. It may have its shortcomings in terms of steering wheel and accommodations, but everywhere else the Audi shines.
If there’s reason to believe that a manual transmission will do justice to an engine, here’s a case in point. The A4 still isn’t the default choice nor the best in the entry-level luxury car out there, but in this guise, it has no competition. In that aspect, you cannot escape the magic of this car. And that’s the reason why we’re out there, in the middle of nowhere with it. Our time with the A4 is almost up and as the sun is setting over the mountains of Antipolo, we’re thinking the day is young and we’re looking forward to the drive down.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos by By Ulysses Ang
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