Overview & Reviews

For 2005, the S4 gets a new satellite/navigation/AM/FM antenna.

• Broad power band, confident handling, high-quality materials and attractive cabin design, available as a sedan, wagon or convertible.

• Not the tire smoker you would expect, small backseat, priced close to more established rivals.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 89.00

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  Time to debunk the Audi S4! - 2005 Audi S4
  By kevin raynard - November 4 - 5:03 pm

  Time to debunk some myths about this car that previous owners seem starstruck over 1/ The engine....well yes its ok but thats it, after all 340hp in a 3700lb body is NOT going to set the world on fire! For comparison the then new C5 vette in 1997 made 345hp and weighed 3400lb. So WHY does the S4 feel so lively? Very simple, its all in the gearing! It is running the equivalent of a 4.11 final drive which as any gearhead knows will give you blinding acceleration and instant thrust through the gears at the expense of fuel economy. Which brings me to.. 2. Fuel economy...TBH I do not find it to be awful, I average 19-20mpg and given the facts on the gearing is about right. Now if we were to swap the gearing to similar to a 1997 vette came with( 2.87, 3.23 or 3.42 if memory serves) you would see a large increase in average mpg, probably 5 to 6 mpg more. But then your highly rewarding impetus would be diminshed, oh well. Please do not get me wrong, I am NOT critical of the car at all, but it is not a miracle motor some claim, just a good old fashioned combination of sound engineering and gearing. Moreover Audi are to be praised for having the corporate balls to build this the way they did although in the mid 2000,s the economic rug if you like had not been pulled out from under the vast majority of Americans. Drive and enjoy, prepare for high maintenance cost and so so fuel economy.

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  Updated review of my 2005 S4 - 2005 Audi S4
  By jnicho1 - March 28 - 9:26 pm

  I previously wrote a review on my car at about 70k miles and she was still an awesome car (I bought her used in 2007 with 28k miles). I say still because at about 84k miles my timing tensioners started to fail and my timing chain had the infamous rattle at start up. At first, not a big deal, but the check engine light came on and the rattle became worse and worse. I knew the repairs would cost thousands, so I had to get rid of her. It was bitter sweet because I got a new S4, but I miss the V8. The suspension isnt meant for bad roads, so beware of suspension work if you live in a city of anywhere the roads arent great. That was several thousand $$$ too.

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  Dont buy, unless you have money to burn - 2005 Audi S4
  By somedaycame123 - July 11 - 4:03 pm

  This car is so much fun to drive, I love it! However, now that my car, bought new, has 75k miles on it, I would be happy to get rid of it and never buy Audi again. Since I first bought it there have been problems, but when you add them all up, they are outrageous! The original top failed during a rainstorm ,causing the car to flood. Spent $9k replacing the control panel and rewiring the car. The new top hasnt worked for a year, Audi USA is involved now but still no satisfactory resolution. The starter broke, the car fan wouldnt shut off, draining the battery until I needed a tow to get repaired, so many other!

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  The Ultimate Compromise - 2005 Audi S4
  By DJD - August 29 - 2:40 am

  I drove both new and used BMWs and Mercedes before I picked my 5-year-old S4 Cabrio. Havent regretted my choice for a second. I think of this car as the "ultimate compromise." You can speed top-down through the sweepers of Big Sur in Summer or tackle the hills at Tahoe in the winter. You can hoon it like a teenager, or ferry the kids to grandmas in safety and comfort. And oh, the engine! Its the finest engine Ive ever owned - power and torque and an understated rumble. Its hard to say how this car could be improved. A hint: the 2005 tends to be ~$10k cheaper than face-lifted 06-09 models, even though its almost exactly identical under the skin.

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  The best car for a smart man - 2005 Audi S4
  By Jim - March 19 - 11:23 pm

  Ive owned my S4 for over 30k miles now, so I think I can properly review it as a used car. Its a blast to drive if you drive it like it wants to be driven. You honestly have to take care to drive it slowly. I commute 3 hours round trip to DC everyday and while I hate my commute, if I just stomp on the gas in 3rd gear at 3k revs, it makes you smile like a teenager watching American Pie during a certain scene. Gun it in first and you almost feel uncomfortable. It throws you back and takes some getting used to. I typically drive conservatively, but if you downshift in this car and hear the growl, it just makes you smile. I give my car to my wife when Im out of town, and it scares her.

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  BEWARE!! Caught on fire in my driveway! - 2005 Audi S4
  By Chad - July 12 - 4:42 am

  I loved my Audi. I really did. I had no complaints to speak of. It was flawless with only 20k miles. Unfortunately, it caught fire on its own in the middle of the night. It was an electrical fire originating under the drivers seat. Had the windows been open, the fire wouldve been much worse, probably wouldve damaged my house.

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  Best Car - Even if its Thirsty - 2005 Audi S4
  By S4 Convert - January 4 - 11:03 am

  By far the best car Ive ever owned, and Ive had a bunch. Drives like a four door Porsche C4. I get bored quickly with cars, but every time I get in the S4 it feels like Ive been given a gift. If you are a car enthusiast, you simply cant have a bad time in this car. You pay for the V-8 when you fill up (you can use regular, though), but youre more than equally rewarded when you step on the accelerator.

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  Love it!! - 2005 Audi S4
  By DavidAlanCo - December 19 - 10:13 pm

  I have had my S4 Convertible for about a year and a half and love it! I cant tell you how many people have commented on my "cool car". The car is insane around corners and I have beaten Porche Boxters on regular occasions in "races". The car almost keeps up with my business partners BMW M3. I have an automatic and there is a little "lag time" when you step on the gas, but once it gets moving, it moves like crazy!

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  I bought it not knowing what it needed... - 2005 Audi S4
  By Finn Quinlan - August 24 - 8:11 pm

  Let me start this review by saying wow. This car is literally awesome and every ounce of performance and style is there. Im 66" and with the seat all the way back lol i have great leg and head room in my avant. I think the design is honestly pretty poor on the interior side because when i have my seat back all the way and the passenger is getting comfortable with the seat but not all the way back. The back seats literally have no leg room. I think if they had given just 4 inches of the back seats and moved them back about 4" it would be fine. The trunk is still huge anyway. I bought it as my first car at 17 years old, i know now that Ive bought a gem and i love the car extremely. I bought it with minor cosmetic problems but i knew that when i bought it for a steal. So far since Ive had it, Ive driven it for 6 fun-filled and gas guzzled days and then it broke. It was leaking anti freeze and had almost no oil in it, had in known that before i made the purchase, id own a sedan s4. Even with that, i love the avant and would never trade it for a sedan ever. Never ever. Im already rebuilding the entire engine so hopefully after this the car is in mint condition which it should be and ill drive it till the wheels fall off.

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  Wow - 2005 Audi S4
  By s4pimpdaddy - May 12 - 10:13 am

  Wow, what a machine. I upgraded from a Volkswagen GTI to this and this car is light years ahead of anything else Ive ever driven. The AWD is flawless, the Recaro leather seats hold you in, and the quality of the interior is second to none. My only gripe about this car is the awful gas mileage.