Audi S4: Juiced on Power

Author's Rating:

Pros: Power, Style, Handling

Cons: Gas efficiency

The Bottom Line: 
Highly recommended.... great power vehicle and handles like a dream.

Author's Review
I recently purchased a used 2004 Audi S4 and could not be any happier with my decision. The S4 has made me happy in ever aspect except for one. The interior, stereo, engine reliability, steering, power, style, handling and more could not have been engineered for perfection any other way.

The Car:

The car I purchased was a 2004 Audi S4 for $24000. It is the charcoal color with a dark gray interior. It is powered by a 340 HP engine with a 6 speed transmission. The interior is, as I stated before, a dark grey leather interior. In the cockpit, I fit perfectly into the Recaro racing seats where I can adjust the Bose premium sound system and address on the navigation system. The one thing I must say about this car, is that there are so many features that this car offers that it is a must to read the manual.

The Engine:

This luxury sports car is powered by a 340 HP German engineered 4.2 L engine. Tuned to perfection, this engine power is evenly distributed to each wheel with the Quattro function allowing for each ounce of HP to be squeezed out of the car. So far, I have no problems with the engine itself. The V8 purrs as the car idles and roars when I open up the throttle. The one thing I have noticed is a little roughness in the idle but will most likely be solved with a quick tune up and change of spark plugs. The other dilemma I am having is the shifting one. I'm sure its my lack of experience of driving such a high powered automobile but I find myself skipping from 1st gear to 3rd gear and such, as there is so much power in each gear.

The Handling:

I am really surprised with how the car handles. I was expecting a overpowered luxury car that was sloppy in turns. Boy, was I wrong! The entire 340 HP can be utilized in a high speed turn with a little assistance of the tires. If you are keen enough, you can feel the power steering adjust with your speed as you enter a turn at either high speeds or low speeds. This definitely gives the feel of driving a race car. The suspension is also very tight to assist with the sporty like driving experience. You would think that since it has the feel of a sports car, that hitting bumps would be a disaster. If you made that assumption, you would be wrong. Most bumps barely move you as you enjoy the road in the Recaro seats. It's not to say that you won't feel anything but overall it generally is a soft ride.

The Interior:

The interior of the S4 is really spacious but not too comfortable. I would say that it is as comfortable as a sports car and luxury car could be if you combined the two. My S4 was equipped with a Bose premium sound system and a stock 2005 S4 navigation system. These both provide awesome sound and entertainment. The stock speakers have a crisp and booming sound that will please even the most picky sound specialists. I have been told by passengers, that the back seat is not too comfortable and tough to sleep in. The car is a little longer than some, but I was still surprised on the size of the trunk. It offers plenty of space for all sorts of storage. It even has a 12V charger for access to charge anything you want.

Overall:

Overall, I am extremely pleased with the purchase of the car. The one pitfall of the vehicle is the sacrifice of gas mileage for the power increase. It gets about 18 mpg for city driving and about 21 mpg on the highway. On top of that it also requires a minimum of 91 octane. These stats are killer with the ghastly prices of gas these days. Other than the fuel economy, the car provides power and luxury to the max. I would highly recommend purchasing one if you are even contemplating it. It's adversary the BMW M3 still has the speed to beat it but it lacks the luxury that S4 has.