2004 Audi S4 Review

Specifications

An M3 Beater from Ingolstadt?

Like almost every recording artist creates at least one classic song, almost every carmaker builds at least one noteworthy automobile. Audi has built many, and the latest in its arsenal might just be its best effort to date.

Sure the new S4 doesnt feature the sophisticated aluminum space frame technology of its much larger A8 L sibling, but factor in an even more powerful version of the brands 4.2-L V8 and a much lighter curb weight and the rest can be left up to the imagination.

I remember being baffled when rumors about the previous S4 started cropping up on internet bulletin boards. The very thought of a twin-turbocharged V6 boasting 250-hp sent shivers of anticipation up my spine. After driving it some two years later when it finally arrived in North America, I was still enthused, but being that lesser nameplates were nearing it in horsepower some of the sizzle had left the steak, so to speak. The steak got seriously burnt when BMW introduced its 333-hp M3, leaving the S4 seeming all too commonplace.

A commoner its not for 2004, with nothing less than 340-hp and 302 lb-ft of torque going down to all four wheels. Consider for 5.5 seconds (the time needed to achieve 60 mph) that the S4 is for all intents and purposes little more than a gussied up A4 that normally moves along commendably with either a 190-hp 1.8-L turbocharged 4-cylinder or 225-hp naturally aspirated V6 under the hood. The V8 adds little to the 3.0-L cars 3,583 pound overall weight, weighing at 3,660 pounds.

A better comparison, the 4.2-L engine weighs exactly the same as the outgoing twin-turbo 2.7-L V6, at 430 pounds. Whats more, the V8s forward placement on the chassis actually benefits the S4s balance, improving handling - more on that in a second. Still 3,660 pounds isnt particularly sprite for a compact premium car, especially when considering its arch nemesis M3 weighs 3,415 pounds.

The extra weight is mostly because of Audis quattro AWD, to many well worth the penalty. No matter what the weather condition; dry, wet, ice, snow or in between, the S4 darts away from standstill with an eagerness that borders on the ridiculous. Not that I didnt like it, please dont get me wrong. I quickly became enamored, stoplights becoming new opportunities to show the world I really hadnt matured much in my first 40 years.

It was easy to get giddy in the corners too. Its grip is simply astounding; again no matter what the road conditions thrown in its way. For test purposes I regularly take advantage of an almost deserted twisting mountain road that snakes its way up to the ski resort a short distance from my home, but compared to the last time I overstressed some domestic appliance beyond its physical limitations the skies had opened and fresh white powder had dusted the trees and heaped into the ditches at the side of the road. While it looked beautiful, it made for some slippery patches with the need to rein some caution back from the wind - even 4WD doesnt help when attempting to stop on icy surfaces.

The brakes are good though, easily up to the task of repeated panic stops with little fade evident. The discs are gigantic too, measuring 13.6 inches at front and 11.8 inches in the rear, with standard ABS of course.

But while it goes fast and stops even faster, the S4 is extremely civilized. It rides a little firmer than the A4, as would be expected considering its P235/40ZR18 performance rubber and more rigid sport-tuned suspension, but its nowhere near as punishing as the racecar replica style M3. Jennifer, my wife, complains bitterly when in the passengers seat of BMWs road racer, but I never heard a negative peep out of her in the Audi.

Driving it around throughout the week I had a few parking lot onlookers ask, once they found out that it wasnt mine, if Id pick the S4 over the M3. My answer was easy to arrive at actually. If I only had one car to live with every day, it would have to be the more practical (despite having a smaller trunk), more comfortable S4, but if I already had an SUV or sedan Id opt for the sportier M3 in a millisecond. BMWs car has an almost overwhelming edge that the S4 lacks. Its not that the S4 is boring or anything, because it truly is sensational, theres just something raw and animalistic about the M car that few competitors come close to emulating.

This comes out in Audis choice of transmissions. Despite the brands new Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) being available, and part of the next-generation V6 powered TT, Audi doesnt include it as an option in the S4. Instead a slick shifting 6-speed manual, as in my test car, is the preferred actuator for performance enthusiasts, with the capable 6-speed Tiptronic automatic for those that want all the looks and a little less action. My guess is that Audi will supply a DSG option in the near future, but it just seems strange not to have brought it to market with the launch of the all-new car. Possibly theres more to it from an engineering standpoint that Im not privy to, such as the transmissions compatibility to the V8 powertrain. Either way, for those that like sequential manual gearboxes BMW has the clear edge.

Inside the S4 has few equals, with excellent attention to detail for this class. The buttons and switchgear feel better made than those in the top-line A8 L, odd for sure, and the rare cheaper plastic bits such as the child seat anchor covers on the rear parcel shelf are forgivable in the smaller compact class. The Audi Symphony audio system is sensational, and unlike the BMW features a handy 6-disc dash-mounted CD changer.

On the negative, and I have only one complaint, its V8 is thirsty, guzzling 14 mpg of premium fuel in town and 22 mpg on the open road when mated to the 6-speed manual. In comparison BMWs even quicker 6-speed manual M3 seems thrifty at 16 and 26 respectively. Whats more, the Audi gets worse when mated to the automatic while the BMW actually improves consumption with its optional SMG sequential manual gearbox. While fuel economy might not be a top priority in this performance-at-all-costs category, better fuel economy benefits the environment which is something worth considering no matter how much the price of gas doesnt affect you.

Also, buyers should be aware that Audi as a brand doesnt perform as well on J.D. Powers and Associates reliability index as its cars do on the road. While this may not be a factor in a sale that gets driven more out of passion than practicality, 26th out of 37 nameplates in the 2003 Vehicle Dependability Study is hardly bragging rights material. Of course, compared to Mercedes-Benz, rated in 27th place, Audi looks pretty good. BMW, however, scores a much more impressive 13th.

In the end a 340-hp compact sedan makes about as much sense as a jet-powered rowboat. But pragmatism is hardly what Audi is trying to sell here. Rather the S4 is this German brands version of the ultimate driving machine, with many advantages over its rivals. Its a clear example of the one-upmanship thats going on in the super sedan war between Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, with Cadillac following suit by offering a Corvette Z06 motivated 400+ horsepower CTS-V, each car being unique in purpose and targeting buyers with different priorities. BMW owns the no-holds-barred sport segment while M-B delivers on luxury. Audi finds a comfortable niche right in between, with a car now worthy of top-tier status that should appeal to a large portion of the segments potential customers. Its less expensive than its peers too, which wont hurt Audis chances at luring those who cant make up their minds which way to go.