Tuesday, February 17, 2009

B5 S4 Avant.

So, for whatever reason one of my favorite cars is the B5 Audi S4 Avant (2000-2002). It’s a wagon, so it’s pretty sleeper. Although I wouldn’t mind a little more rear legroom, it is a nice little car. Add to that the highly lauded VWAG interiors and you have a great package. However, arguably what is most important in this car is that it has the amazing 2.7 liter twin-turbo V6. Although the stock U.S. version wasn’t all that impressive (250 horsepower, 254 lb-ft of torque), the engine has incredible potential.

Just with a chip alone, you can get great power out of the engine. 307 horsepower (on 91 octane fuel) is nothing to cry about. That would put the power to weight ratio at ~12.1 (as compared to the stock car’s ~14.8). That ratio would put it in the realm of: Mitsubishi Evo X MR; E90 335i; and the 2006 Infiniti G35 sedan. Not a bad value for $600.

Then, if you want to get really crazy with it, you can get some big-ass turbos and related components and you can get some very impressive power. Yes, that's over 160 horsepower per liter. Very impressive. And the great thing is that there are a number of companies that offer great packages for the B5 S4. And if more than one company offers off-the-shelf packages making 450-460 horsepower, then you have to believe those power levels are at least relatively reliable.

Anyone who reads this regularly knows that I tout power to weight ratios religiously. Which brings us to one downside about this car: because of all the German engineering, great interior, wagon body-style, etc. that goes into this car, you’re looking at a curb weight of 3,704 pounds. Which is a lot. But if you’re looking at the pump fuel (as opposed to race gas) power packages, you’re still looking at a ratio of ~8.2. Which is awesome. As a reference point, that puts the tuned B5 S4 *ahead* of: the new (2009) Porsche Cayenne Turbo S (~9.4); a chipped 2007 Cayman S (~9.4); a 2008 335i (E90) w/ Dinan S2 package (~9.2); a 2009 BMW M3 sedan (E90)(~9.0); and a 2003 BMW M5 (E39) w/ Dinan S2 (all-motor)(~8.4). It also is right in the hunt with: the 2009 M5 (E60)(~8.0); a 2006 Infiniti G35 sedan with a Vortech supercharger system (~8.0); and a 2004 (996) 911 GT3 (~8.0).

All very impressive company, particularly in a wagon package that looks (and is) 7 years old. You could surprise the hell out of a lot of drivers of very expensive machinery.

Maybe next time I’ll try and get back to my teaser posting from a couple years ago regarding my pick for cross-country driving machinery—the delay may be good as the number of available options has increased…