2005 Audi S4 Preview

Audi S4 Avant

The uber-family wagon -- just in case you want to haul the brood at warp speed.

Should You Buy This Car?

There are a few annoyances, just in case you were concerned this family car was flawless. For instance, should you want to plug in both a radar detector (by all means you should!) and a cell-phone charger, there is only one 12-volt socket in the front quarters of this vehicle.

Also, although this car gets automatic climate controls for both front-seat passengers, we had to set it on the lowest temperature setting to keep from roasting on a chilly night. The system seemed to "think" that it was cold out (it was) and therefore unheated fresh air would be deadly. Never mind; we switched to manual mode and got the cooler air we craved.

Lastly, although we're quite certain that German drivers (and the builders of this car) would blanch and die on the spot if caught drinking a Coke while driving, will somebody please tell Audi (and Mercedes and BMW and Volkswagen) that it ought to either skip making cupholders entirely or make useful ones? What you get with this car is a holder that can accommodate a Dixie cup or perhaps a shot glass. A skinny bottle of Poland Spring will also fit, but because of poor engineering it will tumble out at the first turn, and you'll be left shoving it between your legs for lack of a better parking spot.

That said, if my option were to be left cupholder-poor and performance-rich, I'd take the S4 Avant in a flash. This car is that much fun, but still supremely practical. Let the other parents drive a minivan or an SUV with 15 cupholders. Why should you?