Ultra smooth power delivery. No turbo lag or boost feel. Great at stock levels of power. Very nice with APR EMCS ECU upgrade. This is a car makes going fast effortless.

Long shifter throws - need a short shifter kit!
Not enough visual differences to set it apart from its little brother - A4.

I've driven turbo cars for the last 5 years. I'm most impressed with the Bi-turbo delivery of power. It provides the smoothest power delivery I've had the pleasure of driving. As far as handling and pure acceleration, this car out performs anything in its class - including some vehicles considered higher than its class.

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Ultra modified '96 Mitsu Eclipse GSX - This thing had 350+hp & much higher end power, however it's nowhere as refined as the S4. The S4 makes power with much less effort than the GSX. The S4's low end torque is SINFUL. Both are very fun cars, don't get me wrong - but I like being seen driving the Audi over the Mitsu.

Doesn't feel like a typical turbo engine, good power delivery (but why only 250hp w/ biturbo 30v V6?). Handles well, excellent versatility (think skiing).

Steering is not as sharp as any 3 series IMO (especially //M3) and quattro is great in snow, but a hinderance in decent weather (I prefer RWD even in rain). Doesn't instill much confidince in me, seems to lack a hard edge on performance (but still a fine all around car).

Excellent value, quattro useful in poor weather, more versatile than the //M3 but not as much fun or as agile. Having driven both, I must say that this car feels like a quicker A4 (not necessarily a bad thing) while the //M3 (especially E46) feels like an entirely different car than a "regular" 3 series. I don't think that the C class derivatives compete with these two.

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S4 (~95 era)
M3 (E46)

Power, handling, Quattro, .... A great blend of luxury and performance.

Paint durability. The paint appears to be very soft and prone to chips. Luckily, I opted for the 3M clear bra right at the dealership, but I plan to add more of this protective material to the lower rocker panels as well.

This is truly an amazing automobile... inappropriate to call it a car... I prefer to refer to it as an instrument. Precise, deliberate, authoritive (just press the gas), and stealthy as all get out. Remarkably, this car generates quite a bit of attention, even though it does not look much different from an A4. Most times I return to the parking lot, I find some admirer checking out the car. The best is to see the guys in the 735i's slowing down to get a look at the S4.

Interior:

Seats are great, but a little taller than the A4. Side bolsters are adequate, but would be better if the wrapped your side a little tighter. Bose stereo is quite nice, but a little muddy in the bass end of things. Instrumentation makes me weak in the knees every time I turn on the lights... I love the red dials and white needles... makes you feel like your climbing into the cocpit of a fighter jet!

Engine:

Wow. regardless of gear selection, jumping to warp speed is simply a matter of very subtle big toe movement, and whoooshhhhh... the speedometer begins to behave like a tach needle. Triple digit speeds are attained with a much-too-easy shift out of third... I think I need to hang a radar detector on the windshield again.

Overall:

I'm still waiting for the giddiness to wear off, but I still find that every morning I rush to get ready for work filled with anticipation about driving this car. Not since I was 15 and dreaming of '67 Camaros has a car spawned this type of enthusiasm for driving. Very few things in this world meet with my approval, and the S4 is one item that I can say I would not change a bit. Mechanical perfection.

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Saab 93 Viggin (Can you say torque steer?? - SCARY!!), BMW 3-series.

Sportiness, very fast, a car for the family, security, sound system, audi name, handling, everything

Hard clutch

The S4 is better than bmw M3 in every aspect, just ride it!

Great Speed, Traction, Stereo, Looks, etc..

Navigation system has numerous quirks. For one, the disk sent with the car only covers a small part of the US. To get additional disk you must pay $180 per. I actually relocated and the dealer didn't inform me of this problem so now I have a $1200 option that is useless until I pay another $180. Audi service should reflect on their policies since I can stand stupid issues like this.

I'd like the Stereo controls on the steering wheel!

The rear transmission seems to bang occasionally when I slow down quickly and then accelerate in a turn (ie. Parking lot).

Awesome Car. A couple of minor issues that should be included in future models (BMW certainly does).

A solid, well built car. Many comforts like heated seats, auto-dimming and heated mirrors, auto climate control and a cool ski sack that allows the rear seats to be up and your skis to poke through from the trunk in a waterproof sack.
Red gauge and accessory interior lighting looks trick.
The seats are really comfortable AND firm enough to hold you in place while cornering.
Really even power that keeps you pinned to the seat back. The quattro AWD delivers outstanding traction at all times.

No radio controls on the steering wheel.
The gearing is too low in my opinion; 80 MPH in 6th is 3200 RPM.

During the past 2 months I haven't had a chance to really get squirly with the AUDI S4 like my previous cars. The S4 gets a ton of traction, so it really holds a line.
You won't get as many looks as you would with a single purpose "sports car", but you can feel like a star when you have to pick up a couple clients at the airport or take another couple out to dinner in style! They don't have to know the S4 will do 145 MPH, but you'll know what an awesome car you have.
I'd buy this car again.

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I bought a 99 A4 because I liked the styling, but the power wasn't there so I upgraded to the S4.
The 92 Dodge Stealth RT/tt was a blast with great handling, AWD and awesome top end.
The 90 Eagle Talon TSI AWD was a great starter performance car also.

Torque, handling, Tiptronic (see review)

Gas mileage is low, but this is a minor quibble

I bought my (Imola Yellow) S4 in December and I love it. I completely disagree with the earlier reviewer who reported a lack of power in the Tiptronic. In my experience, there is only a very slight loss in power. Furthermore, since this is my daily commuter car, and I drive through Hell's, oops I mean Atlanta's traffic every day, having the Tiptronic's ease-of-use makes it even better. Basically, it's the best of both worlds: a refined commuter car in traffic, and a fun sports car on the weekend.

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None

Performance, Handling, 4wd, and the AUDI name...

Doesn't seem to like my spirited driving

Well... I've been having some problem even though I LOVE the car it's just that my engine keeps having problems as well. I'm a, lets just say, spirited driver so maybe the engine wasn't built to exert it's power as rapidly as I would like. But otherwise it's fine. Ok, a few other very minor problems but still a great choice

I honestly like this car. The acceleration is great.The stearing is exellent. And I really like the Interior design

Everything else is weak. See I just don't understand how everyone else seems to have great running Audi's and I'm stuck with a defect. Why? So many things have gone wrong with it. The engine has already overheated on me twice. The dealership keeps having to fix the same problems .

I'm sad

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None

Looks (stealthy), grip (quattro), quick, torquey, sneaky fast, great handling, solid car.

gas mileage (oh well)

Absolute best car I ever owned or driven. Much more luxurious than my friends 97' M3 sedan. Killer looks, technological tour de force. Simply an awesome car for the $$$$$.

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Much faster and alot safer than my old 89' mustang GT convertable