I'm fully convinced that the current glut of horsepower we're experiencing will come to a screeching halt in the near future thanks to some government regulation, far-off social unrest or yet another carefully orchestrated, fake oil "shortage" like the one we experienced in the 1970s. This time around, instead of 90-hp Mustang IIs, we'll have to make due with whisper quiet, but peppy hybrids that will, once again, make us long for the glory days of muscle cars, 300-hp sedans and supercars.
And one of those cars we will long for is the Audi S4. Every adjective you can think of seems like an understatement. Impressive, powerful, fast, quick — all of those words are accurate but none seems to capture the true essence of this car. Simply stated, the new S4 is a serious German sport sedan that is looking to steal a few BMW customers. Of course, a car like this is not cheap. Its base price of $46,340 (including destination) gave us pause at first, but since then we've realized that there are plenty of cars in that price range — some are competitors and some are not.
Just as an example, for about $45,000, you could have a Chevrolet SSR, a rolling midlife crisis. Or you could have the Audi S4, a fierce V8-powered sedan that doesn't scream, "Hey, look at me," but rather offers serious performance while whispering, "Aren't I cool?" Yes, you are. We know, those two cars are not competitors, but it is worth noting that once you enter the $45,000-$50,000 range there are many great cars commanding your attention. Typical S4 competitors might include the BMW M3, Cadillac CTS-V, Mercedes C32 AMG, Volvo S60 R and perhaps the Porsche Boxster S.
That's some tough company, but the new S4 can certainly hold its own. One of the best things about the current S4 is that it is such overkill compared to the previous S4. In 2002, the S4 had a 2.7-liter V6 that made 250 hp — not bad for a smallish sedan. But for 2004, Audi added almost 100 hp (well, 90 to be exact) over the previous S4 by installing a new version of the company's 4.2-liter V8 — good for 340 hp and 302 lb-ft of torque. Audi engineered this power plant to fit in the S4's engine bay by shortening the block. This was partially accomplished by relocating the motor's drive chains to the rear of the engine. But it's not just the engine that's new; the whole car is new and includes such features as standard 18-inch wheels, xenon headlights, Recaro seats, dual-zone climate control with a charcoal cabin air filter and a 10-speaker Audi Symphony stereo.
Despite the fact that this car is a serious performer, its interior is as luxurious and well sorted as any other Audi's. While the A4 is a fun and nimble sedan, the S4 is scary fast and can toss your head back with a mere blip of the throttle. The handling is excellent thanks, in part, to the fully independent lowered suspension and 235/40 performance tires. Quattro all-wheel drive with a limited-slip mechanical center differential and locking rear diff doesn't hurt, either. Where the A4 is a comfortable sedan that also handles well, the S4 is a superb handling car that also delivers some of the A4's comfort. The ride is definitely stiff, but there is an underlying luxury that makes the car a reasonable, but not perfect daily driver. While the ride may be a bit firm for some, a long road trip in the S4 would actually be quite pleasant.
The overall refinement of the S4 is impressive. As powerful as the car is, the S4 remains composed in all driving situations, even while aggressively running through all six gears. The manual shifter for those six gears is amazingly precise and the short throws only add to the fun. The S4 is also available with a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic, but our tester had the manual. During those spirited runs, the engine produces a pleasing growl, but it never gets too noisy. The exhaust note is equally impressive as the 4.2-liter V8 produces a throaty rumble normally associated with American iron. The real bummer about this car is that you'll be hard-pressed to find a safe place to run through the gears unless you happen to own a racetrack. Liberal applications of the accelerator usually result in having to shut the car down before you hit fourth gear. At that point, you're traveling at well over the speed limit. Sixty miles per hour comes up in just over 5 seconds (5.3) in the S4 sedan (a few tenths quicker than Audi's estimate for the S4 Cabriolet, which weighs a few hundred pounds more).
Safety equipment includes side curtain airbags, seat-mounted side airbags and height-adjustable front seatbelts with load limiters. To help avoid collisions in the first place, the S4 comes with ABS, stability control and a rear brake pressure regulator to keep the car pointed straight during panic stops.
The S4 can hold its own against such competitors as Volvo's S60 R and Cadillac CTS-V mainly due to its amazing combination of smooth, linear and aggressive power delivery combined with the expected refinement of an Audi. While the BMW M3 has more of a sense of urgency about it, the S4 can be stuck in Friday afternoon traffic without eliciting too many expletives from the driver. On the other end of the spectrum is the S60 R that offers less all-out bang and a little more civility — the Volvo is also less expensive. The CTS-V offers all the brawn and authority of the S4, but its interior falls far short.
So in the world of high-performance sedans, the S4 is a worthwhile option. It's far more powerful and serious than the previous S4 and now delivers more horsepower than virtually all of its competitors. Despite its "drive me hard" demeanor, it's still a car you can live with everyday.
And one of those cars we will long for is the Audi S4. Every adjective you can think of seems like an understatement. Impressive, powerful, fast, quick — all of those words are accurate but none seems to capture the true essence of this car. Simply stated, the new S4 is a serious German sport sedan that is looking to steal a few BMW customers. Of course, a car like this is not cheap. Its base price of $46,340 (including destination) gave us pause at first, but since then we've realized that there are plenty of cars in that price range — some are competitors and some are not.
Just as an example, for about $45,000, you could have a Chevrolet SSR, a rolling midlife crisis. Or you could have the Audi S4, a fierce V8-powered sedan that doesn't scream, "Hey, look at me," but rather offers serious performance while whispering, "Aren't I cool?" Yes, you are. We know, those two cars are not competitors, but it is worth noting that once you enter the $45,000-$50,000 range there are many great cars commanding your attention. Typical S4 competitors might include the BMW M3, Cadillac CTS-V, Mercedes C32 AMG, Volvo S60 R and perhaps the Porsche Boxster S.
That's some tough company, but the new S4 can certainly hold its own. One of the best things about the current S4 is that it is such overkill compared to the previous S4. In 2002, the S4 had a 2.7-liter V6 that made 250 hp — not bad for a smallish sedan. But for 2004, Audi added almost 100 hp (well, 90 to be exact) over the previous S4 by installing a new version of the company's 4.2-liter V8 — good for 340 hp and 302 lb-ft of torque. Audi engineered this power plant to fit in the S4's engine bay by shortening the block. This was partially accomplished by relocating the motor's drive chains to the rear of the engine. But it's not just the engine that's new; the whole car is new and includes such features as standard 18-inch wheels, xenon headlights, Recaro seats, dual-zone climate control with a charcoal cabin air filter and a 10-speaker Audi Symphony stereo.
Despite the fact that this car is a serious performer, its interior is as luxurious and well sorted as any other Audi's. While the A4 is a fun and nimble sedan, the S4 is scary fast and can toss your head back with a mere blip of the throttle. The handling is excellent thanks, in part, to the fully independent lowered suspension and 235/40 performance tires. Quattro all-wheel drive with a limited-slip mechanical center differential and locking rear diff doesn't hurt, either. Where the A4 is a comfortable sedan that also handles well, the S4 is a superb handling car that also delivers some of the A4's comfort. The ride is definitely stiff, but there is an underlying luxury that makes the car a reasonable, but not perfect daily driver. While the ride may be a bit firm for some, a long road trip in the S4 would actually be quite pleasant.
The overall refinement of the S4 is impressive. As powerful as the car is, the S4 remains composed in all driving situations, even while aggressively running through all six gears. The manual shifter for those six gears is amazingly precise and the short throws only add to the fun. The S4 is also available with a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic, but our tester had the manual. During those spirited runs, the engine produces a pleasing growl, but it never gets too noisy. The exhaust note is equally impressive as the 4.2-liter V8 produces a throaty rumble normally associated with American iron. The real bummer about this car is that you'll be hard-pressed to find a safe place to run through the gears unless you happen to own a racetrack. Liberal applications of the accelerator usually result in having to shut the car down before you hit fourth gear. At that point, you're traveling at well over the speed limit. Sixty miles per hour comes up in just over 5 seconds (5.3) in the S4 sedan (a few tenths quicker than Audi's estimate for the S4 Cabriolet, which weighs a few hundred pounds more).
Safety equipment includes side curtain airbags, seat-mounted side airbags and height-adjustable front seatbelts with load limiters. To help avoid collisions in the first place, the S4 comes with ABS, stability control and a rear brake pressure regulator to keep the car pointed straight during panic stops.
The S4 can hold its own against such competitors as Volvo's S60 R and Cadillac CTS-V mainly due to its amazing combination of smooth, linear and aggressive power delivery combined with the expected refinement of an Audi. While the BMW M3 has more of a sense of urgency about it, the S4 can be stuck in Friday afternoon traffic without eliciting too many expletives from the driver. On the other end of the spectrum is the S60 R that offers less all-out bang and a little more civility — the Volvo is also less expensive. The CTS-V offers all the brawn and authority of the S4, but its interior falls far short.
So in the world of high-performance sedans, the S4 is a worthwhile option. It's far more powerful and serious than the previous S4 and now delivers more horsepower than virtually all of its competitors. Despite its "drive me hard" demeanor, it's still a car you can live with everyday.
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