Audi S4 Avant – Ron Perry’s Driving Impressions:
The feeling sitting behind the wheel of the Audi S4 Avant is that of a well-executed design combining luxury and performance. The Recaro seats in the S4 hug you tight with excellent bolstering and the suede inserts keep you in place during spirited drives. A twist of the key brings the V8 to life and a couple taps of the accelerator releases a deep growl from the exhaust. Knowing the S4 is all-wheel drive, you can be assured you’re in for a thrill ride. The V8 offers up lots of low-end torque and the all-wheel drive translates it seamlessly to the pavement through the six-speed manual transmission. Attack a sharp turn or a full 360-degree freeway on-ramp and the S4 just keeps accepting acceleration and steering input all the while staying flat with minimal tire squeal. Ride quality is surprisingly good for a car with this kind of handling capability. The brakes are great, too, but I felt the steering was much too light. I also wasn’t getting the feedback I was expecting. I’m no fan of wagons but I must say after a few minutes behind the wheel you completely forget you’re driving one. This S4 is one wagon you wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen driving.

Audi S4 Avant – Christian Wardlaw’s Driving Impressions:
Unquestionably, the 2006 Audi S4 is a capable performance car, but its attitude is all business with a stern face and a mock schnell! Run the S4 hard through the gears, and triple-digit speed comes quickly, the sensation masked by a wide, flat, linear power curve from an engine that doesn’t build velocity at the same rate that it builds revs. The shifter abruptly bangs from gear to gear, rarely smooth but always authoritative. Likewise, the clutch is either engaged or disengaged. The S4 never feels like it wants to play and doesn’t thrill the driver, but it’s always unflappably cool and the engine and exhaust notes are gorgeous – my desire to hear the Audi S4’s 4.2-liter V8 sing was never sated. That probably explains the middling 15.3 mpg we averaged for the week.

Sublime is the only way to describe the Audi S4’s incredible steering. Accurate, tight, and responsive, the assist levels are perfection regardless of speed. And despite the 18-inch performance rubber, the turning circle is small for easy parking. Handling is good, but not great. This is a heavy car for its size, with plenty of V8 weight planted over the front wheels. Quattro all-wheel-drive helps balance the S4’s equilibrium, but the S4 still wants to push in hard corners. The 235/40 Z-rated Continental SportContact 2 tires manage the mass well, though, and the car is enjoyable to fling down a favorite road. Driven hard, for an extended period of time on a warm summer day, the S4’s brakes held up remarkably well. Though a little grabby in town, the binders withstood abuse in the heat with nary a whimper, proving easy to modulate while zooming from the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains to the beach below.

Subtle performance is what you get with the 2006 Audi S4. With nothing more than “V8” and “S4” badges to announce this Avant’s intent, this car is able to surprise unsuspecting people in more overt machines. I just wish the excitement of driving it would build along with the engine revs.

Thom Blackett’s 2006 Audi S4 Avant Driving Impressions:
Chances are that most people, when seeing a station wagon on the street, even if it’s got alloy wheels and fancy badges, will believe the car to be more of a dog than a rod. However, with models like the Dodge Magnum SRT-8, the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG wagon, and now the Audi S4 Avant, the message should be clear – wagons ain’t what they used to be.

Unlike the Dodge and Mercedes, the S4 Avant pushes power to all four wheels thanks to a manual transmission, a six-speeder with an easy clutch and short, precise throws. However, the shift action is abrupt, so if smooth and leisurely gear changes are your thing, consider the six-speed Tiptronic automatic or another ride altogether. Stick with the S4 and your right foot will be tapping power from a 4.2-liter V8, an engine accented by a steady pull as revs climb but a less stellar response directly off the line. The higher the tach needle climbs, the more potent the motor feels.

Handling is quite impressive, especially for a wagon. The stiff highway ride translates into almost no body roll on aggressive corners, the 18-inch performance tires hold the road well but squeal when pushed hard, and the steering takes on heft, becoming more responsive as speed increases. Brakes are well modulated, and after a spirited jaunt on a twisty mountain road, continued to work effectively without any hint of fade.