Excitement With A Capital S

1999-2001 AUDI B5 S4

- Colin Ryan

Oh, Audi. Why do you tempt us? The B5 S4 is, of course, the fairly hot version of the first-generation A4. To get any hotter, we’d have to stray into RS territory. But S seems like just the right amount of trouble to get into.

Europe had the S4 first, of course, a couple of years before the United States. That version was more powerful as well, because of not having to comply with federal emissions regulations. Thanks, big government. But 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque from that 2.7L twin-turbo V-6 (five valves per cylinder) is still fun, and 350 hp is a simple chip and exhaust system upgrade away.

The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, so clutches will be slippery when worn. A five-speed automatic transmission was an option, although other B5 S4 owners may never speak to you again. The all-wheel-drive setup we’ve come know and describe in a blanket fashion as “Quattro” didn’t have crown gears or a torque-vectoring Sport Differential system, but simply the old-school Torsen hardware; no complaints about that.

Looks-wise, the B5 S4 is pretty pimping for an Audi, but still quite understated in the grand scheme of performance things. No complaints here, either. Some people don’t like to shout. All things considered, this is a beautiful performance car with a dash of luxury. And it’s a prime contender for all sorts of improvements, not just to the engine, but also to the handling. It’s not, however, a car that can handle neglect.