Audi S4 (1997 - 2002) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

2001 Audi S4 6MT Santorin Blue Pearl Effect w/ black Napa Leather.//Overall. This car was just understated beauty at its finest. Very quick, very sublime, very German. The classy exterior lines and the outstanding workmanship of the interior sold me immediately. //Performance. For inclement weather, you simply cannot go wrong with all wheel drive - and Audi has AWD performance nailed. The engine was strong enough, with little turbo lag and lots of torque down low. The only downside was there isn't really any reason to rev the engine beyond about 5500 RPM as the turbo runs out of steam by then. On long road-trips at highway speeds, this car really shines. Like most German cars, it gets more stable and responsive with triple-digit speeds. The brakes are quite good. The shifter was a bit notchy and clutch take-up tricky. I wouldn't want to drive this car in stop and go traffic.// Interior. This generation of Audis had some of the most beautiful interiors - ever. The Napa leather in this car is still my benchmark for automotive leather 14 years later...it was that soft, durable, free of blemishes and comfortable. The plastics, wood, metal and leather are all of the finest quality in these cars. The interior is tight though and the front seat bolsters can be a bit intrusive after an hour or so. //Summary. This was a great car brand-new, under warranty. I wouldn't recommend buying it used. My car was in the shop about six times in 15000 miles, so that didn't bode well for future reliability. May 24, 2015

I love the B5 chassis. However, I am an enthusiast who does not mind dumping money into one of these things. They are not incredibly reliable but with some mods this can be improved. The stock power is not really sufficient for a performance car, but there is a huge aftermarket segment devoted to performance modifications. The car's looks and features are great out of the box. Current prices are quite low, making it easy to snag one provided you have extra funding for repairs and mods.Mar 28, 2013

excellent, acceleration is smooth, no turbo lag, brakes are spot on, handling is very good, have had stiffer lower springs added. build quality as always on an audi is excellent, there are a few little niggles tho, appearance as standard is excellent but looks even better lowered, mpg can be good and can be bad, depends how heavy you are on the accelerator.Sep 24, 2010

Extremely fast this car has torque everywhere in the rev range and it never gets old, good brakes, good handling Very Good build quality. 9 years old and doesn't have a rattle I personally love the look. very conservative. I get 24mpg regularly. I have achieved 31MPG before though. Maintinance has been a killer though. Very expensive repairs. Very fun car to drive everyday Aug 19, 2010

The B5 S4 is a veritable sport sedan complemented by immense tunability but plagued with deadly timing belt and turbocharger failures. The heart of this car is it's parallel turbocharged 30 valve V6 engine, which in it's United States specification produces 250hp and 252 ft/lb of torque. Despite weighing around 3700 pounds, it still manages a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds. It's speed is as deceptive as it's looks: a sedan that is difficult to distinguish from it's base platform, the A4. The visual differences are in the front bumper, chrome mirror covers, S4 badges, exhaust tips, and a wider variety of paint options. The build quality of the car is impeccable. The interior has a refined ambiance not found in it's competitors of the time. The stock maintenance is dependent on how hard one drives the vehicle, as it does effect the life of the turbochargers and the timing belt. A well maintained and cared for vehicle, one with an owner who anticipates the timing belt maintenance, yields costs that don't break the bank. The fun factor of the car is high, with the torquey engine there is a lot of fun to be had on both the highway and the bends. This car is a european sport saloon and as such is far more at home on the highway than anywhere else, but around town it is still great fun with peak torque available at a mere 1850rpm. What makes this vehicle so special though is the aforementioned tunability. Whether one is interested in adding some pep, hitting the drag strip or transforming the vehicle into a track loving monster, it is all possible thanks to an overwhelmingly large aftermarket part availability. It is not cheap at all, but returns much of the value in fun with an induction into the brotherhood of Volkswagen and Audi enthusiasts. It is the underdog of it's other German competitors BMW and Mercedes-Benz but with patience and a few thousand dollars it can easily stand toe to toe with both the BMW M3 and the Mercedes C class AMG of it's time. I would recommend this car to anyone interested in tuning an Audi, as it has the most potential and ease of tuning for an entry level enthusiast. Jul 21, 2009

+ Fast and Bullet proof so far - car is stock. + Stealthy Q car + AWD traction was perfect for the trips to Lake Tahoe in the winter. + It still looks good for a 8 year old car. + Effortless cruiser- it loves the highways and is positively happy above 80 mph - Cramped rear seats - Needs better brakes and suspension to cope with the power Will be keeping it till it dies eventually Feb 10, 2009

Poor man's porsche. Honestly, while not cheap, this one of the greatest sports sedan values on the market. Great acceleration, super handling, amazing snow/bad weather abilities and yet its a fraction of the cost of the more exoctic sports cars (911, M5 etc.). Honestly can't think of one thing wrong with this car. Get one, you won't be dissapointed. Jan 07, 2009

Having just bought this car I am extremely pleased. Audi built a solid engine in a solid car. This means it can be tuned extensively without many reliability issues. The problems the car does have are minor and easily identifiable. Just add a chip and you go from 250 to 315 horses and can STILL pass smog (in CA) The Alcantara / Nogaro Blue combo is beautiful and I recommend it to anyone who is looking.Dec 12, 2008

This car is mind blowing, the detail on the out side and in side is just astonishing. The way it handles around the turns is wonderful(quattros are amazing), the biturbo ads serious power to the engine and it clicks in as soon as you put your foot on the gas, i only had to change the bearings in this car and do the usual service and maintenance, the audi s4 is rock solid, build with a stiff suspension and a tough frame it can handle anything, and its very comfortable and fun to drive. Sep 18, 2008

A rare breed of ultra performance and luxury make this one of those rare cars for the true car snob who craves both extreme performance and lavish luxury. Now you don't have to choose. The V6 twin turbo variant of the tried and true A4 sedan delivers thrills where other models failed. No mild mannered Audi, like its predecessor "S" cars, Audi combined potent high output turbocharging and its robust quattro system to give drivers a car that could e driven to the limits in almost any conditions. This is a car that is so fast and at the same time comfortable, you's better be johnny on the spot or risk a quick trip to the pearly gates. With a plush, quiet cabin and all the usual audi niceties, you barely notice you're doing over 100 in a rainstorm!Jul 02, 2008

0-60 mph in under 6 seconds, all wheel drive for bad weather and less expensive than most high end sports sedans. What more can you say about this car - Its a really great sports sedan that is quite practical. For $56k new - used you can probably pick it up for much, much less - you get a rocket of a 4 door sports sedan. the all wheel drive handles better than most SUVs. I've taken this car out is some really nasty weather and it handles incredibly well (just make sure you get real snow tires for the winter as the stock potenza's while wonderful for the summer are dangerous in the snow). enjoy Nov 02, 2006