2005 S4 Sedan
- Size: Subcompact Compact
- Engine Size: 4.2L - 8 Cylinders
- Style: Luxury
- Model: S4
- Class: Sedan Wagon Convertible Luxury
- Seating Capacity: 4 Seats 5 Seats
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Athletic and understated
Pros
Strong V8, luxurious & quiet interior, predictable handling, 4WD, available manual transmission, sleeper
Cons
Gas guzzler, repairs not cheap, some ergonomic quirks
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
You get 95% of the M3 performance with a backseat, smoother ride, and Audi sophistication.
Let me preface this by saying the 2005 S4 is my first German car; I had previously owned a string of Hondas and a Mazda, so this was a big change for me. I was used to small, ultra-reliable Japanese imports. So far the S4 has not disappointed me. Am I a "German car guy" now? Not exactly, but it's very easy to see why people get hooked on the German teutons.
My previous car was a Honda S2000. But I was in desperate need of something with more space and that was not a hassle to drive in the Chicago winters. The Japanese auto makers didn't offer much other than mediocre FWD sedans like the Acura TL, or the hyper rally cars like the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. So I ended up driving something more refined: the 2005 S4 sedan. The car sold itself.
I had also looked at the 2005.5/2006 S4 (when it was restyled) and actually realized that I preferred the 2004 & 2005 "B6" version. The styling is quite understated but still very muscular. The car has a definite presence and offers just enough over the regular A4 to turn heads. To some, the S4 looks just like a ho-hum A4. I sorta liked this -- it isn't a cop-magnet. The S4's styling differences are few: the aluminum-colored mirrors, the vertical slits in the grilles, the lower door sills, and the tiny trunklid spoiler. Of course, you're given the huge 18" 'Avus' wheels as standard fare. The wheels really complete the look and fill out the wheel wells nicely. For 05, the radio antenna was redesigned (supposedly to improve satellite radio reception) and I think it looks out of place on this car; it looks like an RC car antenna and not the sleeker shark-fin style. I'm sure it could be swapped out for a different style.
As is typical with Audi/VW, the interior is fabulous. Fit and finish is top-notch. No rattles, tight seams, and soft-feel on everything. Everything feels very solid and looks like it was really well designed. Even the doors close with a satisfying "thump". Ergonomics are again standard German faire; if you're coming from Japanese or American interiors, a few things (mostly climate control) will be different. The climate control is a bit awkward at times, but it does give plenty of control (too much?). The stereo is straightforward, fortunately.
I can't say I'm a fan of the cupholder locations or designs. There's the totally worthless one up top on the dashboard need the hazard lamp button -- all it does is just catapault the drink into your passenger's lap. The other cup holders are inside the adjustable center-console, but they don't hold much. And if you drive the manual transmission model, you'll fold that armrest up anyways. Hassle me all you want about cupholders, but let's face it -- we all have to carry a drink in the car at some point.
The Recaro seats are supportive, comfortable, and actually pretty cool looking. Recaro chose to "brand" the seats (front and rear) with their logo. The lateral and thigh bolsters hold you nicely without feeling to o constricting. The seat is 10-way adjustable with adjustable lumbar support; if you can't find a comfortable position to sit in, there's something wrong. You also get 4 memory locations for the mirrors + seats. The leather is soft but firm at the same time -- definitely nice leather, though it's still behind the stuff that Acura and Lexus have. The rear seat is definitely behind the rest of the pack. Adults can fit, but I wouldn't call it roomy. Moving the front seats forward helps a bit, but when you look at the depth of the trunk, you have to wonder why Audi didn't push the seats back another 3-6 inches. It's a useable backseat for sure, and it does fold down. The center armrest is quite impressive with a first-aid kit, ski pass-through, and a pair of cupholders.
Trunk space is about what you'd expect. It's pretty deep, though not as wide as I'd like. Fortunately the trunklid opens in a way that doesn't obstruct the trunk, and the trunk struts mean you maximize the space given. There's a full-size spare under the floor, and two spots for spare washer fluid, ice scraper, oil, etc. The rear seats fold down to give more room as well -- I was able to fit four 18" wheels in the car with room to spare.
But on to the good stuff. If you looked at the S4, you wanted the extra performance from that amazing 4.2L 40V V8. And I'm sure you read about the crazy engineering Audi had to do for that motor to fit. The A4 is not a big car, but the Germans took the V8 from their big A8 sedan and crammed it under the hood. And let me tell you that this engine is absolutely spectacular. It absolutely eclipses the previous S4's biturbo V6, and really makes every other competitor's engine look sloppy and inadequate. As is common with a V8, the motor is extremely smooth and vibration-free. There's almost no NVH transmitted into the cabin while the motor is humming along. If anything, I wish the engine was louder and more aggressive. But that's not to say the V8 doesn't scream -- it absolutely does. The exhaust note is refined and sporty, but maybe not quite as throaty as the M3's. Acceleration is very strong in all gears; 0-60 comes up in about 5 seconds, and it's really easy to roll along doing 90mph without realizing it. Passing power is satisfactory too; doing 70mph in 6th gear allows you to pass with just a quick tap of the gas, no downshift necessary. The motor's performance comes at a price...horrendous gas mileage. It's so bad that the car has a gas guzzler tax assessed at purchase. 14/19 is the rated mileage, and from my experience, that's dead-on. It never ceases to amaze me how the gas gauge sweeps to empty so fast. Be prepared to fill up regularly.
The S4 is around 3600lbs, but it hides this bulk pretty well. Handling is very sharp and predictable. At the limit, the car has a hint of understeer. Don't try any show-off style moves like a RWD slide...it doesn't happen, even with ESP off. But that's a good thing. The quattro 4WD system keeps things planted all the time. Even in the pouring rain, I've been able to take off from a red light without any wheelspin or slipping. The car tracks beautifully and won't scare you or do anything unusual, even at the limits. Emergency maneuvers feel safe and controlled, even with ESP disabled. The steering feel is a tad on the light side, though I'm told this is typical of Audis. Again, for a car weighing 3600lbs, it feels much lighter. And on the pothole-ridden roads of Chicago, I've been impressed with the suspension's ability to hide or absorb uneven pavement. Does it ride like a Cadillac? No. But for a sport sedan, the ride is smooth and compliant. I'm still a tad nervous about the low aspect ratio tires though.
Brakes are strong, running 13.6" up front! The initial bite is not as strong as I'd hoped for, especially with 4-piston calipers, but that's probably because of the OEM brake pads. The brakes do bring the car to a halt without much of a fuss, and the ABS system isn't too touchy. Just remember this car is 3600lbs.
I can't comment on the car's reliability as of yet. From what I read, the 2004 and on Audis improved reliability very significantly. The A4/S4 is built on the Passat platform, a proven winner. All Audis have 4/50k warranty that includes all scheduled maintenace, so used cars should be well cared for. This is still no Honda, so just stay on top of maintenance and repairs if you want to hang onto the car for a long time.
Overall I like the S4's package. You get strong performance with the luxury you expect from Audi. The car is smooth and easy to drive, with understated looks. It's a winner in my mind.
My previous car was a Honda S2000. But I was in desperate need of something with more space and that was not a hassle to drive in the Chicago winters. The Japanese auto makers didn't offer much other than mediocre FWD sedans like the Acura TL, or the hyper rally cars like the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. So I ended up driving something more refined: the 2005 S4 sedan. The car sold itself.
I had also looked at the 2005.5/2006 S4 (when it was restyled) and actually realized that I preferred the 2004 & 2005 "B6" version. The styling is quite understated but still very muscular. The car has a definite presence and offers just enough over the regular A4 to turn heads. To some, the S4 looks just like a ho-hum A4. I sorta liked this -- it isn't a cop-magnet. The S4's styling differences are few: the aluminum-colored mirrors, the vertical slits in the grilles, the lower door sills, and the tiny trunklid spoiler. Of course, you're given the huge 18" 'Avus' wheels as standard fare. The wheels really complete the look and fill out the wheel wells nicely. For 05, the radio antenna was redesigned (supposedly to improve satellite radio reception) and I think it looks out of place on this car; it looks like an RC car antenna and not the sleeker shark-fin style. I'm sure it could be swapped out for a different style.
As is typical with Audi/VW, the interior is fabulous. Fit and finish is top-notch. No rattles, tight seams, and soft-feel on everything. Everything feels very solid and looks like it was really well designed. Even the doors close with a satisfying "thump". Ergonomics are again standard German faire; if you're coming from Japanese or American interiors, a few things (mostly climate control) will be different. The climate control is a bit awkward at times, but it does give plenty of control (too much?). The stereo is straightforward, fortunately.
I can't say I'm a fan of the cupholder locations or designs. There's the totally worthless one up top on the dashboard need the hazard lamp button -- all it does is just catapault the drink into your passenger's lap. The other cup holders are inside the adjustable center-console, but they don't hold much. And if you drive the manual transmission model, you'll fold that armrest up anyways. Hassle me all you want about cupholders, but let's face it -- we all have to carry a drink in the car at some point.
The Recaro seats are supportive, comfortable, and actually pretty cool looking. Recaro chose to "brand" the seats (front and rear) with their logo. The lateral and thigh bolsters hold you nicely without feeling to o constricting. The seat is 10-way adjustable with adjustable lumbar support; if you can't find a comfortable position to sit in, there's something wrong. You also get 4 memory locations for the mirrors + seats. The leather is soft but firm at the same time -- definitely nice leather, though it's still behind the stuff that Acura and Lexus have. The rear seat is definitely behind the rest of the pack. Adults can fit, but I wouldn't call it roomy. Moving the front seats forward helps a bit, but when you look at the depth of the trunk, you have to wonder why Audi didn't push the seats back another 3-6 inches. It's a useable backseat for sure, and it does fold down. The center armrest is quite impressive with a first-aid kit, ski pass-through, and a pair of cupholders.
Trunk space is about what you'd expect. It's pretty deep, though not as wide as I'd like. Fortunately the trunklid opens in a way that doesn't obstruct the trunk, and the trunk struts mean you maximize the space given. There's a full-size spare under the floor, and two spots for spare washer fluid, ice scraper, oil, etc. The rear seats fold down to give more room as well -- I was able to fit four 18" wheels in the car with room to spare.
But on to the good stuff. If you looked at the S4, you wanted the extra performance from that amazing 4.2L 40V V8. And I'm sure you read about the crazy engineering Audi had to do for that motor to fit. The A4 is not a big car, but the Germans took the V8 from their big A8 sedan and crammed it under the hood. And let me tell you that this engine is absolutely spectacular. It absolutely eclipses the previous S4's biturbo V6, and really makes every other competitor's engine look sloppy and inadequate. As is common with a V8, the motor is extremely smooth and vibration-free. There's almost no NVH transmitted into the cabin while the motor is humming along. If anything, I wish the engine was louder and more aggressive. But that's not to say the V8 doesn't scream -- it absolutely does. The exhaust note is refined and sporty, but maybe not quite as throaty as the M3's. Acceleration is very strong in all gears; 0-60 comes up in about 5 seconds, and it's really easy to roll along doing 90mph without realizing it. Passing power is satisfactory too; doing 70mph in 6th gear allows you to pass with just a quick tap of the gas, no downshift necessary. The motor's performance comes at a price...horrendous gas mileage. It's so bad that the car has a gas guzzler tax assessed at purchase. 14/19 is the rated mileage, and from my experience, that's dead-on. It never ceases to amaze me how the gas gauge sweeps to empty so fast. Be prepared to fill up regularly.
The S4 is around 3600lbs, but it hides this bulk pretty well. Handling is very sharp and predictable. At the limit, the car has a hint of understeer. Don't try any show-off style moves like a RWD slide...it doesn't happen, even with ESP off. But that's a good thing. The quattro 4WD system keeps things planted all the time. Even in the pouring rain, I've been able to take off from a red light without any wheelspin or slipping. The car tracks beautifully and won't scare you or do anything unusual, even at the limits. Emergency maneuvers feel safe and controlled, even with ESP disabled. The steering feel is a tad on the light side, though I'm told this is typical of Audis. Again, for a car weighing 3600lbs, it feels much lighter. And on the pothole-ridden roads of Chicago, I've been impressed with the suspension's ability to hide or absorb uneven pavement. Does it ride like a Cadillac? No. But for a sport sedan, the ride is smooth and compliant. I'm still a tad nervous about the low aspect ratio tires though.
Brakes are strong, running 13.6" up front! The initial bite is not as strong as I'd hoped for, especially with 4-piston calipers, but that's probably because of the OEM brake pads. The brakes do bring the car to a halt without much of a fuss, and the ABS system isn't too touchy. Just remember this car is 3600lbs.
I can't comment on the car's reliability as of yet. From what I read, the 2004 and on Audis improved reliability very significantly. The A4/S4 is built on the Passat platform, a proven winner. All Audis have 4/50k warranty that includes all scheduled maintenace, so used cars should be well cared for. This is still no Honda, so just stay on top of maintenance and repairs if you want to hang onto the car for a long time.
Overall I like the S4's package. You get strong performance with the luxury you expect from Audi. The car is smooth and easy to drive, with understated looks. It's a winner in my mind.
