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2006 Audi S4 Road Trip Part 2

S4 Comes Home

If you tuned in last week to Part I, youll know that perhaps the S4 wasnt the perfect vehicle for the journey to my destination, although it definitely covered the miles efficiently. I quickly discovered, mind you, upon exploring my destination that the S4 had come home. Everywhere I turned in Boulder, Colorado, Audis were the car of choice. Amid the gentrified boulevards of this town, if it wasnt an A6 behind you there was an allroad parked at the side of the street or an older S8 or 200 pulling into a parking lot ahead. I saw more S4s in four days there than I have seen in the past year in my Great Lakes town, and I even saw one get into a parking lot tangle with a 330Xi as I was enjoying my coffee from Vics and bagel from Moes. After those four days, I developed a fair understanding of why Audis seemed to be the most popular make on the road in Boulder.

Its not as straightforward

The Audi S4 is the official car of Boulder, Colorado. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

as "well, Audis are zee best cars east of zee Rockies," but rather a combination of social and geographical conditions that led to the rise of Audi in Boulder. One of the biggest contributing factors is the Rockies--yeah theyre pretty big--but Boulders proximity to the strip of ski resort after ski resort branching off of the I-70 has attracted retirees and ski bums for several decades, and Boulders artsy and liberal crowd has attracted a certain set of intelligentsia and nouveau riche. Of course, some of the money is home grown with several internet ventures springing up from this town, but no doubt the

The Rockies posed little challenge to the S4, but provided plenty of entertainment for Jon. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

influx is greater than anything some of the hippies who settled in Boulder 30 to 40 years ago expected. So why Audi, above all others?

quattro. The worlds best known all-wheel drive system recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and when other car companies were still making the switch to front-wheel drive, Audi was proving quattros merit on the World Rally Championship circuit and with the Audi 80 in production form. Im guessing anyone who could afford one in Boulder at the time, at the very least investigated the German brand because it made the first large-scale production four-wheel drive car, and for those who didnt want

Fresh, clean S4 tramples fresh, clean snow. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

to live day in and day out with pickups and still-primitive SUVs of the day, had few options. Over many years with that kind of limited choice (Subaru is probably second to Audi in visibility on Boulders streets), habit is likely to engender loyalty, and now that many of those aging hipsters have come into their own, or moved into town--which is a very expensive move because real estate prices are astronomical--have upgraded their Audis as befits their station and lifestyle.
For me, however, the drive to Colorado was a chance to meet up with friends, but my desire to take the S4 was in order to experience the holy grail of driving on public roads: canyons. There are actually Mini groups in California that organize canyon drives

S4s new grille bears similar expression to driver after a days worth of bouncing from apex to apex. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

in that states fabulous network of canyons snaking away from the Los Angeles area, but little compares to the majesty and breathtaking drives available to enthusiasts crossing or simply meandering through the Rockies. And when I say breathtaking, I mean I was literally holding my breath around certain turns. One neednt exceed the speed limit to feel on the edge because you often are on the edge of thousand-foot drops and more.

Local roads around my home, and anything even hours away can scarce compare to the canyons leading away from Boulder and crisscrossing the foothills before leading into the heart of ski country, so I dedicated nearly a full day to the exploration of the best roads I could find and striking the perfect balance between man and machine. Even

S4 gets yet another bath. Its not the first - nor the last - time that it will get cleaned. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

on a short jaunt up to Ward, where we had lunch at the Millsite Tavern--great burgers, by the way--a building that had, in one capacity or another, served loggers since 1869, offered an amazing drive that made speeding seem foolish and unnecessary.

We had many activities planned for our weeklong stay, but I had one day that was almost entirely free, just so I could drive. After consulting the maps and nav system for the twistiest looking routes, stopping off to pick up a pair of polarized sunglasses (and thank the heavens I did as they help immensely) and giving the car a quick wash (it just wouldnt be right to take it into the mountains filthy from the in-town slush and grime; plus, it was photo op time), I headed out of Boulder on, appropriately, Canyon Drive. Someone up there was grinning at me. Although, when you think about

Who needs the Grand Canyon when Colorado offers and equally breath-taking drive? (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

it, its more like common sense.

The Perfect Drive

So off I went with my brand new shades and my sparkling S4 often than not that gear was 2nd since the speed limits around switchbacks wehunting down the curves of Canyon Drive, then later route 72 and 119, never once stepping out of line and always able to slot down to the perfect gear--morere usually around 30 to 40 miles per hour. Focusing more on the road ahead I can only assume that I was well under the speed limit since I felt entirely safe and planted and only occasionally passed a few cars that seemed like they were hobbling around behind walkers, cars like an Acura RL with SH-AWD, a sluggish old Lexus, the occasional Bimmer with xDrive and a handful of Subaru Outbacks. Dont worry, none of the passes were in the least bit dangerous since the roads are interspersed with two-lane sections that are like

Surefooted and planted. It ought to be, considering its weight. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

release valves and everyone in the mountains seemed really good about courteous driving and allowing oncoming traffic to pass.

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