Audi S4 (B5) | The Brave Pill

Numerous PHers complain about the change in between review verdicts and their genuine-entire world expertise of the automobile in concern. The very same disconnect can happen to skilled reviewers. I know this since of a B5 generation Audi S4 quite identical to this a person.

As a teaboy-cum-highway tester for a car or truck journal at time, I was included with various tales involving the Audi when it was shiny and new. Two ended up comparison assessments, and the S4 flunked them the two, roundly overwhelmed by both equally an E46-generation BMW 330i and a gray import Subaru Legacy GT-B.

That is because, to stick up for my job, on the type of instantly apparent features like steering truly feel and chassis stability, the Audi was sorely missing. It was a handsome beast, its cabin was terrific, and it had much more grip than a conference of motion picture digicam assistance professionals. But it felt dynamically inert and – a extremely quickly Audi word – scientific when in contrast to vehicles with far more spirit and charisma. It was quick but joyless for the duration of the punishing again-to-back again drives that are made use of for comparative road testing. This was not just legitimate of my magazine, both. The poor S4 was beaten like a crimson-headed mule by virtually every critic. The press business office need to have finished up with a drawer total of wood spoons.

But then I experienced a single for a lengthier bank loan and my feeling shifted significantly. This was for a few weeks over Christmas 2000 and into the new 12 months, with my motion-packed itinerary – dependent mostly on free of charge lodging – including the schlep from London to Edinburgh, visits to Kirriemuir and Ballachulish and then again down to Manchester for the genuine transform of the millennium, followed by a sprint again to London 4-up. Temperature was depressing during the full excursion, with rain, sleet and snow in Scotland and flooding in the North West. But the Audi dealt with 2,500 miles without grievance, totally secure in the treacherous problems and but tranquil and comfortable when cruising at high speeds. By the conclude of the vacation I genuinely couldn’t nominate a present-day automobile that would have dealt with the journey much better.

Nonetheless the B5-generation S4 lived its afterwards lifetime in the important shadow of the rortier and more muscular RS4, the one particular that sat on flared arches and used a Cosworth developed 2.7-litre V6 to make what felt like an impossible 380hp – 115hp additional than the S4 – and only came as a great-on the lookout Avant. The RS4 instantly produced the lesser car feel a bit slow and practical, which was probably what Audi’s marketing section had in head, nonetheless at the rear of the froth it didn’t signify that the RS4 was objectively improved. It was definitely quicker – in fact it was the swiftest output estate in the world when it was released – but it was also a great deal tougher and louder, building it a far much less calming companion on extensive journeys.

But though B5 RS4 prices have been on an upward trajectory for many years – there’s a 105,000-miler in the classifieds for £26,995 – the S4 is however reasonably very affordable. Indeed, they have been less expensive in the earlier than the £8,995 remaining requested for our Brave Capsule, but by the overheated criteria of the neo-typical current market they appear like stonking value at the moment, specifically thinking of they are substantially rarer than the S4 generations that came afterwards.

Our Tablet appears to be extremely well scrubbed up. It is donning the Nogaro Blue that was normally a common hue on these, and has included 150,000 miles, a figure which absolutely doesn’t look terrifying when divided by its 23 several years of everyday living. The supplier flogging it is not what you would connect with a fine depth service provider, the advert acquiring very little information outside of the fundamental principles of age and mileage, additionally the existence of alloy wheels, electrical home windows and a radio-cassette participant. But the advert’s declare that “98 for each cent of our inventory is below sector value” is always encouraging. It is up for £8,995, and while its relative cheapness is impossible to assert – it staying the only B5 S4 at the moment on the website – it does glance attractively priced by 2022 requirements.

The shots show blemish-free paintwork and what appears like a extremely clean set of primary alloys – spangly sufficient to be freshly restored. Inside the leather seats are displaying signs of don and age, as Audi cover tends to, and the steering wheel has been grained with use. Past all that it appears to be like each new and unique.

Granted, the MOT record is not brief of dialogue factors – not minimum the simple fact that, as we publish this, it only has two days of ticket remaining. The on the web history reveals a healthy crop of advisories for tyres, brakes and suspension parts, in addition some far more serious fails for subframe and suspension arm corrosion, whilst no mentions because 2017. An optimist may also consider comfort in the simple fact the most new move recorded an advisory for “underneath has been undersealed”, 1 that hadn’t been talked about by any of the preceding testers and feasible proof of the latest remedial work. Or is that much too optimistic?

Is it risky plenty of to qualify as brave? Which is going to rely on a important issue: whether or not it is still mechanically standard. Due to the fact whilst the foundation S4 powertrain is greatly regarded as getting difficult – as proved by the amount that have long gone previous the double-ton – they are also both straightforward and affordable to tune. The common 265hp generally seemed like a timid output and proprietors soon identified it was relatively effortless to increase that by a major margin, anything extra have been susceptible to do as the automobiles obtained more mature and much less expensive. When doubtless fun, larger numbers tended to have a adverse effect on the lifespan of many factors, specifically the turbos – and if 1 of all those lets go, you’re hunting at far more than £4k for a new one.

There is nothing to advise that this automobile has been Max’d, of course – visually it appears to be as it still left the factory, missing any of the added gauges or raise controllers which normally look to arrive with even larger ability gains. But nor does the advert guarantee virginal standardness more study is essential by any individual keen on pulling the induce.

The B5 S4’s rarity is this sort of that they are genuinely hard to observe down these days. Even going outside the PH classifieds – not something we really encourage any one to do – our elite world wide web rodents could only uncover two other saloons for sale in the Uk at current, 1 of which is a Cat C write-off. It is unusual plenty of that values for the later B6 and B7 generations have fallen to about the very same stage – and some are even more cost-effective. They are additional highly developed and more rapidly than the B5, of course – but that does not make them greater.