2006 Audi S4 Review

Specifications

S4 Comes Home

If you tuned in last week to Part I, youll know that perhaps the S4 wasnt the perfect vehicle for the journey to my destination, although it definitely covered the miles efficiently. I quickly discovered, mind you, upon exploring my destination that the S4 had come home. Everywhere I turned in Boulder, Colorado, Audis were the car of choice. Amid the gentrified boulevards of this town, if it wasnt an A6 behind you there was an allroad parked at the side of the street or an older S8 or 200 pulling into a parking lot ahead. I saw more S4s in four days there than I have seen in the past year in my Great Lakes town, and I even saw one get into a parking lot tangle with a 330Xi as I was enjoying my coffee from Vics and bagel from Moes. After those four days, I developed a fair understanding of why Audis seemed to be the most popular make on the road in Boulder.

Its not as straightforward as “well, Audis are zee best cars east of zee Rockies,” but rather a combination of social and geographical conditions that led to the rise of Audi in Boulder. One of the biggest contributing factors is the Rockies–yeah theyre pretty big–but Boulders proximity to the strip of ski resort after ski resort branching off of the I-70 has attracted retirees and ski bums for several decades, and Boulders artsy and liberal crowd has attracted a certain set of intelligentsia and nouveau riche. Of course, some of the money is home grown with several internet ventures springing up from this town, but no doubt the influx is greater than anything some of the hippies who settled in Boulder 30 to 40 years ago expected. So why Audi, above all others?

quattro. The worlds best known all-wheel drive system recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and when other car companies were still making the switch to front-wheel drive, Audi was proving quattros merit on the World Rally Championship circuit and with the Audi 80 in production form. Im guessing anyone who could afford one in Boulder at the time, at the very least investigated the German brand because it made the first large-scale production four-wheel drive car, and for those who didnt want to live day in and day out with pickups and still-primitive SUVs of the day, had few options. Over many years with that kind of limited choice (Subaru is probably second to Audi in visibility on Boulders streets), habit is likely to engender loyalty, and now that many of those aging hipsters have come into their own, or moved into town–which is a very expensive move because real estate prices are astronomical–have upgraded their Audis as befits their station and lifestyle.

For me, however, the drive to Colorado was a chance to meet up with friends, but my desire to take the S4 was in order to experience the holy grail of driving on public roads: canyons. There are actually Mini groups in California that organize canyon drives in that states fabulous network of canyons snaking away from the Los Angeles area, but little compares to the majesty and breathtaking drives available to enthusiasts crossing or simply meandering through the Rockies. And when I say breathtaking, I mean I was literally holding my breath around certain turns. One neednt exceed the speed limit to feel on the edge because you often are on the edge of thousand-foot drops and more.

Local roads around my home, and anything even hours away can scarce compare to the canyons leading away from Boulder and crisscrossing the foothills before leading into the heart of ski country, so I dedicated nearly a full day to the exploration of the best roads I could find and striking the perfect balance between man and machine. Even on a short jaunt up to Ward, where we had lunch at the Millsite Tavern–great burgers, by the way–a building that had, in one capacity or another, served loggers since 1869, offered an amazing drive that made speeding seem foolish and unnecessary.

We had many activities planned for our weeklong stay, but I had one day that was almost entirely free, just so I could drive. After consulting the maps and nav system for the twistiest looking routes, stopping off to pick up a pair of polarized sunglasses (and thank the heavens I did as they help immensely) and giving the car a quick wash (it just wouldnt be right to take it into the mountains filthy from the in-town slush and grime; plus, it was photo op time), I headed out of Boulder on, appropriately, Canyon Drive. Someone up there was grinning at me. Although, when you think about it, its more like common sense.

The Perfect Drive

So off I went with my brand new shades and my sparkling S4 often than not that gear was 2nd since the speed limits around switchbacks wehunting down the curves of Canyon Drive, then later route 72 and 119, never once stepping out of line and always able to slot down to the perfect gear–morere usually around 30 to 40 miles per hour. Focusing more on the road ahead I can only assume that I was well under the speed limit since I felt entirely safe and planted and only occasionally passed a few cars that seemed like they were hobbling around behind walkers, cars like an Acura RL with SH-AWD, a sluggish old Lexus, the occasional Bimmer with xDrive and a handful of Subaru Outbacks. Dont worry, none of the passes were in the least bit dangerous since the roads are interspersed with two-lane sections that are like release valves and everyone in the mountains seemed really good about courteous driving and allowing oncoming traffic to pass.

These sections were like a warm up, with wide lanes and generous shoulders in most parts although the occasionally shady and snowy patch looked tricky, which is why there is really no other option but to drive safely. However, as I cruised upward in elevation, snaking my way westward, the roads got narrower and the turns tighter, although the Audis planted, surefooted grip on the road and its wonderful balance and steering feel made it seem like I was out on a very casual Sunday stroll. At times I thought to myself, “Is that it?” Well, no, that wasnt it. I eventually found myself connecting back to the I-70, after missing out on one spectacular setting for photos because it was one lane each way with little in the way of shoulders and I was simply too in awe of the view to process the situation properly.

As I cruised along the I-70 with the nav zoomed in so that I could spot twisties on future exits, I finally hit a spot that had a mysterious ramp where I could drive the S4 and take my fading light pictures of it communing with the Rockies. After snapping my glory shots and getting my shoes full of snow (the sacrifices we journalists make, eh…) it was back into my home of the past few days, those two-tone, Alcantara-leather lined Recaro seats and heading back to Boulder. But I just couldnt bring myself to head back just yet, so I chose the next random exit that the nav system showed snaking back and forth across the screen–yeah, thatll do. I dont remember the route number, but it was the road leading up to Winter Park ski resort; a bit more snowy in patches as I was closer to the interior where all the white stuff dumps. I found myself behind a Chevy Tahoe for a time, but he seemed to be pushing the limits of a vehicle too big and unwieldy for its own good, with the amount of body roll and lane drifting I saw. Meanwhile, back in my S4, the variable assist steering practically felt like it was straightening the road and those super stiff springs and dampers (the ones that made Tom wish for a Man-Bra) finally paid off because the car remained skillet flat through the sharp turns and switchbacks.

Eventually I found myself keeping a very close eye on the gauges, particularly the gas remaining until empty, and decided that Id better head back before getting to a point where I was as likely to find an abandoned mine shaft as a gas station. The trip back down was slightly more mellow with a Cadillac Escalade in tow for a while, but he might have driven off the edge because it disappeared after a while–I found myself more focused on the road ahead than anything else. I decided to pack it in for the day with the moon coming up and feeling I should get home before everybody started thinking I ended up at the shallow end of a 2,000 foot ditch, so I chose the latest address from the Navigations memory and started following the voice and arrows, back on familiar ground.

As it turns out, the lady in the radiator said “levitate me” (thats a Pixies joke for any of you fans out there), or at least follow me and I was directed onto a short cut. This short cut happened to go by the name of Lariat Loop Pass and it is the steepest, most severe road I have ever driven. It must have dropped several thousand feet without going forward more than a mile. Once again, I was driving the speed limit (I think) and still wondering if they should perhaps lower it a little every time the swiveling headlights fell of a cliff–the switchbacks were 180-degree + U-turns cutting back into the mountain. Slightly terrifying in the dark, especially since it was unfamiliar ground. On the other hand, between the navigation system showing me the lay of the land and the headlamps rotating slightly to light up a little more of the turn ahead, my confidence quickly returned and I was cruising like a leaf falling from a tree. The only heart-in-my-throat moment was when a cyclist seemed to pop up right in front of me as he was heading back up the way I came. I realized only after we crossed paths that I had had my brights on, so wherever you are, “Mr. Hardcore-Cycling up a Treacherous Mountain Road in the Night Guy,” I am truly sorry–I felt guilty the rest of the way down for being so slow on the uptake.

Before I knew, though, I was back on surface streets and going through Golden, Colorado–which some of you beer aficionados might recognize as the home of Coors Light, brewed in the Rockies, etc, etc. It was also at this point that I started looking back on my descent and realizing how fantastic the brakes were, because not for a second did I hesitate in putting whatever stopping power I needed down to the pavement immediately. Of course, a big shout-out goes out to the Dunlop Winter Sport M3 SPs with which Audi outfitted the S4. All day long, on mostly dry roads, but running through patches of snow and even sand spread across the tarmac in parts, and the tires didnt voice a lick of complaint, always sticking the corner and sending me back out through the apex like the little kid with the carrot in the Porsche Cayenne commercial. The brakes too, never had to intervene with any stuttering anti-lock interference because they are just so massive (13-inches in front) that they slow the car down so quickly that you would really have to be completely irresponsible to get into a situation where ABS was necessary.

Of course, emergencies do happen and Audis ABS combined with ESP (Electronic Stability Program) will straighten out the kinks of anything drastic, and despite not turning such electronic driving aids off, they never once barked at me, all day. On other days they did, but not that day; because that was my day, everything was perfect that day… and I had that perfect drive and, as I eased myself into a comfort zone with this wonderfully responsive car, I know I became a better driver, because somewhere between the electronic fail-safe modes and the electrical assists, the mechanical heart beat the rhythm, and I followed, stepping counterpoint between brake clutch and accelerator, most of the day with one hand on the wheel and one on the shifter finding the perfect gear each time and even the imperfect gear finding its place in the progression through the mountains. Part of me never wanted to drive another car again, never wanted to drive again; but I know that there isnt merely one perfect drive, there are many. Sometimes a rush to the airport, sometimes a quiet ride through the country side, sometimes a track day and sometimes just feeling traffic open up every time you change a lane. This is why I keep driving. This time it was the S4, and for a car to do that it doesnt have to be perfect in and of itself, but somewhere inside it must rest the potential for perfection, for a perfect feeling between car and driver. The S4 has it. Go and find it.