2004 Audi S4 Cabriolet

           

    

If I were to sing a hymn to the greatness of the Audi S4 Cabriolet, with no semblance of rhyme or rhythm, it would go something like this:

O Audi S4 Cabriolet,

Bottomless is the well of your power,

I praise your silky torque.

Soft and supple is your leather upholstery,

Your heated seats warm me to my soul.

Your smooth lines and aggressive stance

Move me to weep with joy.

O Audi S4 Cabriolet, I want to drive you down the path of righteousness--very quickly.

Okay, so it's not a great hymn, but the S4 Cabriolet counts as one of the all-time greatest cars I've ever driven. I finagled my way into getting one as a test car to coincide with my 10th high school reunion (the Chevy Aveo I had the previous week wouldn't have sent quite the same message), and it was stunningly well engineered.

I've always been a fan of the previous generations of the Audi S4--it's that old turbocharged, all-wheel-drive mojo that I find so irresistible--but the combination of an otherworldly 340-horsepower V-8 with the intrinsic goodness of the Audi A4 results in an absolute world-beater.

It's difficult to describe the engine in a more in-depth manner than in my breathless ode above. It's the best engine to which I've ever had semi-regular access. It's smooth and tractable when you drive it softly, but when you need power, it's there right now without ever seeming breathless or hurried. The engine feels and sounds sweeter and sweeter as it brutally shoves you against the back of your seat.

The rest of the car is equally nice. It's incredibly smooth inside and out--especially before the recent facelift transformed refined understatement into a car that just looks vaguely angry. A beautiful interior, silky driving experience, and subtly aggressive lines combine for an elegant automobile that is also capable of reality-distorting performance.

The fact that it's a convertible just makes the whole experience even nicer. You get all the transcendental droptop fun of a vintage English roadster, except with actual horsepower and handling, and without the novelty of replacing the fuses every 30 miles.

The fact that there's an even hotter version, the RS4, lurking out there just blows my mind.

Thanks to Auto Spies for the pics.

--Chris H.