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2007 Audi S4 Cabriolet Road Test

The Audi S4 Cabriolet is a very powerful car, but not powerful like you mightthink. Sure it has a 4.2-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 that puts out 340 horsepower, a six-speed manual gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive. The power it possesses is downright otherworldly, so much so that as soon as I picked it up to begin the week I spent with the car, the weather immediately changed and the dark clouds rolled in. Any automobile that can change the weather forecast is very powerful indeed.

During my hour-long drive home I had to put the top up 3 times. While you might think I am an idiot for lowering it each time after it briefly stopped raining, it was quite humid and the incredible sound from the V8 beckoned, not to mention a convertible's primary asset is its ability to drive with the top down. It's also a pretty quick top to drop, which only requires pressing one console mounted button with no unlatching needed. It takes less than half a minute

Take the road less traveled and enjoy the sights and sounds in Audi's S4 Cabriolet. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

or so, but this seems much longer when it's starting to rain or when stopped at a traffic light trying to get the top back down because the wet stuff has subsided.

Audi claims that with the top up the S4 Cabriolet is just as quiet as its S4 sedan, and I'm not willing to dispute that fact. It is very quiet. Havingsaid that, I actually enjoyed the sound of the rain pelting against the fabric. Top down it's quiet enough for the driver and front seat passenger to converse back and forth without raising their voices too much, but if in the rear at highway speeds don't expect to contribute much to the

The 4.2-liter DOHC V8 is buttery smooth and so powerful... (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

conversation other than yelling "What?!" after every sentence spoken by those up front.

Is the S4 a powerful car in the traditional automotive sense? Well, there certainly does seem to be forward thrust throughout the powerband as the engine screams to 7,000 rpm. It certainly sounds awesome since few engines can match the aural stimulus of a four-cam V8. And it certainly is quick, but is it powerful? Not really. Unfortunately, it's just not that fast.

As you might expect, the problem is the same one that seems to be afflicting just about every new vehicle: excess weight. The S4 Cabriolet with its six-speed manual weighs a staggering 4,211 pounds, an ungainly mass that makesitself known every time you accelerate

Silver leather and black piping give the S4 Cabriolet the flair of a high-end grand touring vehicle. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

or pull hard out of a corner. Another issue I noticed that wasn't a problem with the S4 sedan I drove previously was that there is a distinct lack of overall body rigidity. There's a little too much chassis flex, as well as a bit of cowl shake and near-catastrophic understeer, especially during spirited driving (although it's tight as a drum when put side-by-side with Saab's new 9-3 Cabriolet - Ed.).

But that's not the point of the S4 Cabriolet. If you want to drive your S4 hard and rip around a track, buy an S4 sedan (or for the ultimate sport utility vehicle that can easily haul your R compound tires along for the ride - the S4 Avant) or jump straight to an RS4. Even though it's not a driver's car, like say an M3 Cabriolet would be, or a Boxster S, which both cost about the same, the S4 is a very attractive, comfortable

AWD and a strengthened steel frame and a big heavy V8 over the nose of the car don't do much for sheer handling ability, but it's a very refined cruiser. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

and competent high performance convertible. It's perfect for top down cruising in the summer and the standard quattro all-wheel drive (which isn't available on an M3 or Boxster S) ensures perfect top up cruising in the winter.

The S4 convertible also isn't nearly as common a sight as an M3 Cab,which is nice if you like something a little more exclusive. It's a very classy looking automobile, with more than a touch of sportiness thanks to the S treatment that turns a lot of heads, completing the A4's clean lines with just the right hint of aggression. I especially like the aluminum trim around the windshield that matches the aluminum mirrors. When I first saw Audi's use of aluminum-skinned exterior mirrors I didn't care for them, but they really grew on me after only a short time.

With the six-speed manual gearbox the S4 is quite fun to drive, however the gearing is quite short, and sixth

There's a surprising amount of room in the back of the cab, although it can get a bit blustery back there. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

gear is no overdrive. The engine is left to rev quite high on the highway, which is a tad disconcerting for a car that likely saw some development time on the autobahn. The shifter's feel is decent and the clutch is incredible, feather light and making the car very docile, smooth to drive around town and not too grabby.

One curiosity came from under the car, where at times I could hear a lot of whirring and gear-crunch noises. I assume it could just be from the quattro system doing its thing to keep all fourwheels planted on the pavement. The car actually produces surprisingly good fuel economy for an eight-cylinder - provided you drive it sanely and keep your foot out of it, which is hard to do even in day to day traffic, so I found the premium fuel vanishing quickly.

As everyone has come to expect from Audi, everything inside is nice to the touch and all four passenger seats are comfortable for adults. I have known others who have had a hard time finding a comfortable driving position in the S4, but I had no issues whatsoever and

Carbon fiber trim is a sight to behold. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

found the seats to be top notch. They were very supportive and for one trip I sat in them for more than three straight hours. It's just a shame you can't opt for the well-bolstered and very grippy Alcantara Recaros of the S4 Sedan/Avant. They aren't available with a release to let people out of the back seat, necessary on this two-door model. A duo of trim options is available and I prefer the sportier of the two, the very slick carbon fiber dash, door and console trim. It's nice that for the same price Audi offers real birch wood trim for those who would prefer something more traditional. It doesn't matter which one is more to your tastes, as both just add to the alreadywell designed interior.

Of course, nothing is perfect and I didn't care for the climate control set-up - it is a bit fiddly with a lot of buttons and the least intuitive part of the controls. The new TT is an example of how Audi should be arranging their climate control interface - simple and straightforward. My only other complaint is that keyless entry/start, as found on the S6 and S8, would be nice. What, $62K and I still have to turn a key? How gauche.

S4 Cabriolet pricing starts at $56,775

The perfect car for a summer afternoon's drive. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

and my Brilliant Red tester featured a navigation system, the convenience package, heated rear seats, rear park assist and that awesome carbon fiber trim, coming in at $62,100. Premium car and premium pricing, to say the least. I enjoyed my week in the S4 Cabriolet and yes, it is a wonderful car with a few shortcomings that are quickly forgotten when you put the top down and tune in to its rumbling exhaust note.

However, the shortcomings are to be expected as the S4 is starting to gray around the temples a bit . After all, it has been around in its current naturally aspirated V8-powered form since 2002. With a new M3 just about here, which might prove more than a match for even the RS4, the S4 seems to be aging very quickly. Audi has addressed this as the S4 Cabriolet's likely replacement, the A5/S5, arrives shortly and is already listed on Audiusa.com. And on a related note, if you are looking for the ultimate soundtrack from an open-topped luxury sports car, then Audi has you covered as they recently announced that they'll be importing 300 examples of the RS4 Cabriolet. Better get your order in soon as I'm sure they'll go quick.

And the weather forecast the week after I returned the S4 Cabriolet? Hot, sunny, with no rain in sight for several days.

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