Dude, the Altima is everyone's nemesis. Bald tires, 4 hit/runs, low oil light on, and the interior looking like it went to war with the tasmanian devil driven by someone who probably couldn't finance anything else
god your dialogue about PA roads are so accurate. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to do 75 on the tpk with a truck going 40 in the left lane and an old man doing 60 in the right as you approach the 55 mph tunnel
@@JoseSantos-ys3rj sort of, most cops won't give a shit if you're doing 10 over as long as you're obviously paying attention. The people who drive 10+ under the speed limit are more of a problem to be honest.
Can’t wait to see the rage when people try and correct you to say it’s a 2.7 not 2.6. Your reviews are hilarious. This is amazing and really perfect for someone who’s like to b5 S4 for the past decade. The gear change comments are so true.
I've owned mine for almost 18 years and have enjoyed every damn drive in it. Sometimes I go out to the garage and just sit in it and smell the leather, still good after all these years.
I have a fully specced 2000 A4 1.8T B5 sedan as my daily driver. With cream leather sports seats and Bose. One previous owner. I've owned it for ten years, because I just can't think of a reason to sell it. The most reliable car I've ever had, even at 145K+ miles. With a bit of TLC, these cars will last ages. If you like the looks and overall build quality of the B5 but don't want to pay for the money pit kind of upkeep that the S4 demands, then the 1.8T is a more than reasonable alternative that still feels far from underpowered.It's an absolute bread and butter engine, built across several VW-owned brands in the millions, which was well past its teething problems by about MY 1998/99. A good fix for the mediocre Bose sound is to swap out the rear deck speakers for more substantial 6.5'' drivers. The previous owner of my car installed Pioneer fiberglass-cone drivers, and it really improves the sound greatly.
My 01 S4 has 203k on the clock, just drove it across the country without a hiccup. A simply stage 1 chip adds nearly a hundred horse and torque. It’s fast as hell, stealthy, and can easily get me up and down the ski mountain. What more could you want? I love it.
As a B5 S4 owner it was great to see a RCR on it! I still don’t understand why these get such a bad rap for reliability. If your use to owning VAG cars or really any other turbocharged euro maintenance isn’t much different. Plus, your a tune and Downpipe’s away from 350whp
It's not just maintenance. That's high, but not extraordinary. It's repairing the complex systems that break down far too frequently. It may not be much worse than other European turbo engines of twenty years ago, but that is a very low standard.
@@markmiller3279 Not sure why these get such a bad rap. I had a 2001 gti with 1.8t hit 450,000km (nearly 300,000 miles) and still purr like a kitten. My friend is still driving it 4 yrs later. My 2000 S4 is very similar except for a couple of easy valve cover gasket replacements. Mine is a Euro import, not sure if that would make much difference though. I've had much more problems with modern vehicles personally.
I owned 5 different S4's over the years, starting with a 2000 and ending with a 2008. I loved every one of them, and never had any real problems with any of them. I'll admit, however, that I never kept any of them long enough for the factory warranty to expire so I can't comment about them over the long haul. But for the couple of years that I kept each of them, they were great. I was already an Audi fan, as I'd owned a 4000 CSQ, a couple of A4's and a couple of Couple Quattros before the S4 made it to the US. I've also had an RS4 and RS7 after the S4's. Why an S4? I live in Southern California, but was a weekend ski instructor in the local mountains (Big Bear) or Mammoth (in the Sierras) for all of those years. That meant up to 600 miles in a weekend, which is why I turned them over so often. With snow tires on all 4 corners, the cars were unstoppable. I didn't want or need a bigger car, although 3 of the 5 were Avants. Notwithstanding the narrator's remarks, they were great cars on mountain roads and very few cars ever passed me. Particularly in the early 2000's, pretty much the only cars you could get with awd were Audis and Subarus. (I can't stand trucks or SUV's. They always feel like they're going to tip over.) If you wanted some degree of luxury and performance, with winter driving ability - the Audi S cars were the only show in town. I still get nostalgic every time I see one, which occurs more and more infrequently. Since then, although I still drive an awd drive car with power, I've upgraded a bit - to a Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo. It's conceptually similar to my last S4 Avant - just bigger (quite a bit) and faster (HUGELY!) Not to mention the price...
This was a car I fell in love with solely based on the engine. But seeing this one, well; if a sedan doesn't look 'dated' at age 20... that's good styling.
My father’s first car as a college grad was a 97 B5 a4 quattro 1.8t s line with a 5 speed, it was the first car I ever rode in and the first car I ever loved. Despite it not being an s4 I yearned to drive it and shed tears when he parted from it after 15 years due to poor maintenance by jiffylube. These cars are special no matter what trim level or even engine as long as they ran they served their purpose diligently. Without that silver on silver a4 I would never be the enthusiast or person I am today, so a solemn salute to the b5 a4 is well deserved.
OH my god I had a 2002 Laser Red S4. Watching this kills me. Intimate interior at night with the red lightning overhead. Smooth power, but savage at stage 2 with downpipes. I miss it so much!
As a Pittsburgh driver and an S5 owner (if you couldn't tell already lol), you're right on the money about Pittsburgh dads driving 68 in the left lane on 376 and 76, but I'd say that also goes for 79 and 279 as well.
A bit generic looking from the side, but the front of this car is absolutely beautiful. The face of this car is the height of late '90s early '00s maturity in design.
Had the same drivetrain in a 2004 A6 - last year of the stick and bi-turbo. It made a gentile executive express (but you really had to rev it for the express piece, thus losing the gentile part). I'm sure the vast majority were sold auto by people who then thought - it isn't that fast. Interior looked great, and I could get my Starbucks in that holder no problem. But it had ultimate FWD handling characteristics as most Audi quattros do. Was sad to see it go but it was time for a 5 series and by that point Audi had abandoned stick in the middle sedan market and BWM was still hanging it there. Agree about the Bose - I was very happy when I first stepped into the car, having come from a Lincoln Alpine that gave up the ghost. But quickly realized the sound is what Bose wanted you to hear, and adjustment for preference or even music type was pretty much moot.
My first ever car was a 2001 A4 Quattro and I absoltely loved it. That was 6 years ago now and ever since then I've wanted a B5 S4 but they're just so horribly unreliable and everyone has modded them to 400hp 😔
@@LLG47 Yeah, if the turbos have not been replaced yet, they're due for it. The rest of the drivetrain is reliable though. The engine itself is perfectly fine and will last a ton of time if serviced regularly. If you take the time to let it warm up before stomping on it, and then let it cool down before you flick the key off, these are nowhere near as unreliable as some people would lead you to believe. If you rag on it when cold, don't replace your oil regularly and don't let it cool down after hard drives though, you'll be swapping turbos along with the timing belt.
I dunno Audi B5 are very reliable .... at least the 1.8 turbo lel Our old one had 600,000km (I don't know what it is in miles sorrryyyy) and all he ever had was oil changes
I had a 2001 A4 Avant Quattro. I wanted a S4 so bad, but I loved my A4. The Quattro system was amazing and the ride was so smooth. I used my 3rd break light just to mess with people at night 😜
As someone how had this car for 10 years including colour and gave it up a few years ago. I envy and console you when you win this. I loved this car more than anything.
An Acura forum I used to belong to while owning/modding my TL Type-S had an audio section simply titled; Bose Blows. It was a given that people would be changing the speakers so that title was sufficient.
I daily a B7 A4 Quattro, “durable but delicate” is exactly the takeaway message. And mine is the common version with less turbos, less cylinders, 2 gens newer etc. but for anything turbocharged with quattro and 6mt, it’s worth the trouble. Most of the time.
It can be so infuriating as a brand. My first experience was with my 2008 Mazdaspeed 3 and I agree with Mr. Regular and/or The Roman (whoever wrote the script plus the comment they reference) and many others in that this era of Bose car audio was arguably a mid range option, sold as a high end. My QC35 are still solid, it has it's own audio profile but they're not terrible and the noise cancellation is damn good, plus everyone makes earcups for them so when you wear those out you have a huge choice of materials/plushness for the replacements(I can't say the same of some Shure BT headphones I bought to replace these). I only hear great things about their aviation headsets.
Sold mine in 2016 for the same $7k I paid for it seven years earlier… though easily sunk $25k on mods and maintenance during that time. Looks kinda silly at a glance, but any comparable newer car would’ve cost just as much to own when factoring in depreciation, loan interest, taxes, insurance, etc. Zero regrets - very special vehicle.
I would love to win this car!! I have been an Audi fan for as long as I can remember and the B5 S4 has been my dream car ever since I was in high school back in 2004. In college I was able to afford a very nice manual B5 A4 and I LOVED it! After that car I briefly had an Audi allroad (the same one that Doug Demuro crushed) with the same 2.6 V6 twin turbo that the B5 S4 had. But that car was heavier and it was automatic…so even though it was nice and smooth, it wasn’t all that fast or fun to drive. My current daily driver is now a B8.5 S4 and having this B5 sit next to it in the garage would look great and be a perfect completion of my journey to owning my dream car. 😍
On the commute to work the day after a snow storm a couple years ago, I remember spotting two (2) Altimas who didn't clear the snow off the rear window. Almost rear-ended one in a separate incident bc the guy had tinted brake lights.
I always wondered why this hadn't been done sooner, but I'm glad you looked at it now. These things are incredible in their engineering and their ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. Also the car doesn't have any cup holders. Just a drink dumper that ruins the Aircon controls.
I worked at Circuit City in the late 90s where I heard the "No highs, no lows, that's Bose" and I'll be damned if we could keep the all in one home theatres in stock.
That’s the Diesel engine of the Le Mans winning car that was converted to a gas engine. These engines came with forged internals and can handle quite a bit of power before needing a rebuild. Also the timing system and turbos are problematic in this car and suspension parts tend to wear out faster because of the engine lay out.
@@JoseSantos-ys3rj I have to correct myself. I got my engines mixed up. So this v6 is based of the Diesel engine that Audi was building. In mid 2000s they used a v12 which was developed based of the 2.7 diesel at the time. I was thinking backwards. The r10 RDI was the first diesel to race at Le Mans
People sleep on the 1.8t A4. With a tune and small turbo upgrade they are very quick too, maybe better in the corners with a bit less weight and more economical. B5 and B6 Audis have a nice timeless look IMO.
I remember driving one of these for the first time. It was kinda beat up and I took it on a test drive not thinking much of it other than OOO its a V6, not realizing the turbo mess that was under the hood. I got it out on to the high way, punched it and *Que images of the Millennium Falcon hitting light speed*.
Having owned a same model A6 Allroad, I can attest to how accurate this whole review is. Nothing quite like boating your way forward only to realise you've somehow hit 20 over the speed limit. I lived in fear of the next service or broken part every time I looked at that thing.
Some people "debose" their Audis from those years. I had an '04 and at the time, I thought the stereo was okay. But apparently, it's just a little chip thing that's in-line with the stereo, and can be removed.
I dunno, once you do the maintenance on these cars, about $1000 worth depending on how neglected it was, they're pretty solid and reliable. I have a 2000 S4, that used to be a "construction vehicle." The previous owner destroyed this car. 5 years later from purchasing it from him, and over $3500 in repairs, I am madly in love with this car. I even ran into (serendipitously) the original owner of this car when I was at the mechanic shop (emergency repair for leaking fuel line - common in cold weather). The shop even still had the VIN in their system! I got all the service records for the car and saw between the original owner and the "butcher" that owned my car previously, it was very well taken care of. I've started a log book of maintenance on the car again, picked up from the original owner who loved this car (upgraded himself to a Porsche GT2), and even have the original printouts of the sticker price of the car from the Audi dealership in Frederick, MD. Today, I just have an exhaust leak from the OE exhaust on the car, and will be the next thing to replace on the car. After that, full paint restoration and fix the sagging headliner. Everything else in the car is solid, reliable, no oil leaks (makes me nervous and always check the oil when I fill up at the pump), and runs and starts every time. I love the car. I hope whoever wins this car enjoys the car as well. It's a load of fun! And be sure to join Audizine forums. A great wealth of knowledge on that site that helped me learn how to fix my car and maintain it.
The b5 platform with AWD handled beautifully. I had a 2002 vw passat 2.8 v6 awd for $300. Just a rebadged a4. Got it as partial payment for a car i was selling. Thing was _*rough*_. Could still bomb corners all day with no matching tires. It was abysmal to wrench on. The vacuum system still makes me mad 5 years after selling it. No rubber hoses. All vacuum lines were hard plastic with 15 years of heat cycling would shatter with a mild grip. Also the tcu had water damage because b5 platform If I could somehow get free maintenance, I would love this S4
I had a 97. By the time I got my hands on it it was no longer too expensive for young folk lmao. Wasn’t a fan of the steering, but otherwise handled pretty well, I mean it was no mx5 or brz, but not bad for a “luxury” sedan from the late 90s. It was clean, only thing that didn’t work was the cassette player, which made me kinda sad because that left radio. So I upgraded the head unit lol. Had heated seats and auto climate too, I was balling with my early era Bose equipped luxury sedan lmao I sold it at 240k still running strong. I do miss that car, was surprisingly reliable given their reputation.
I really wish you all offered a variety of options for entries besides a coffee mug. Like hoodies, shirts, or something. As a (recovering) coffee mug/tumbler addict, I really cant justify another one each giveaway.
No it doesn't, it's 240 HP stock and 212 lbs-ft for your Accord. Also a problematic year; trans problems. "In general, the Honda Accord line is very reliable with the exception of four years, 2003, 2008, 2009, and 2013. These four models stand out for having a concerning number of consumer complaints and issues, a common one being the Honda Accord transmission problems." Apples & oranges when compared with a manual S4.
It's an autobahn car. Long gearing, massive top speed and torque and the size is perfect fir Europe. Its a continent crosser. Breakfast in Berlin, evening meal in Madrid.
FINALLY. THE ONE CAR TO RULE THEM ALL! Good alternative is the 1.8t with the manual. Bulletproof trans and motor. Ran mine ag 24psi boost and sold it to the original owner at 300,000 miles. Did all the servicing with TH-cam and some torx bits/torque wrench lol
Came up on this car while riding my ninja 300, he dropped a few gears and took off. I did the same and the ninja was screaming at 115 while this dude was straight giving me a free coupon to Gapplebees. The worst part, he wasn’t even past 4th gear and that thing was hauling ass. Granted the 300 isn’t anything crazy at all, this car surprised me a lot!
On German Cars and cupholders: "In Gemany, we drive ze car, we do not drink ze coffee. If you want ze coffee, you stop and drink it in ze cafe." -German People Who Make German Cars Seriously. I've owned roughly a dozen German cars from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and 2010's from VWs, to Audis, to Mercedes. The first one I owned that came with cupholders was built in 2014.
There were some pretty flashy colours for the S4. Imola yellow and negaro blue definitely stood out back in the day, on a sedan that didn't have giant chrome wheels, underglow, a blitz body kit and a double decker wing.
On the way back from the dealer in DC to NC, my dad’s following. He calls and tells me my tail light is out on my brand new 911. Turns out I accidentally pulled on the headlight knob when turning them on. Knowing how insanely asymmetric it is, makes me want to use it sometimes. 😈
Bose is good for that old person driving down the road listening to AM talk radio that's so loud you can t even hear your own cell phone conversation. 😂
This is why I own a B8 S4 Avant. Comfy long distance touring. Tows a trailer. Muscle car torque at the lights. Makes me excited to drive to the corner store for milk. In fact we already have milk, I just went anyway. Audi S4: I’m happier to drive slow, knowing how fast I am
Still waiting for the Sentra Spec V review. Seriously, you can use my 04 Spec V for your video. I live in Washington State, but it would be a real honor to have a B15 Spec V represented on RCR!
Great review as always. I envy the guy that wins that S4, it's absolutely gorgeous! Also, what's up with people hating on Bose? This is the second time I've heard someone use that quip about Bose and I still don't get it. I have a factory Bose system in my '06 Miata and I think it sounds great, it's clear and crisp with plenty of bass and top end. My dad also has a set of '80's Bose 901 speakers that he's been using as TV speakers for years now and those sound great too.
its because bose likes to use full range drivers which usually aren't as good at reproducing high and low frequencies as traditional 2 and 3 way systems that have dedicated drivers for each frequency range
[Important note: I´m not american] When he mentiond the GMC Acadia somehow in my head there was either a 80´s Van or an early 90`s sedan but very certainly NOT a run of the mill modern SUV and I was really disappointed when I googled it.
Honestly these are my favorite kinds of cars (Grand Touring, or GT cars). Cars that have no business performing as well as they do because of what great regular cars they are. Sadly they don't really exist anymore for any reasonable price tags, at least new or CPO. Other than the manual trans, this thing is an outright GT car. Good power, decent handling, great ride, and enough luxuries without being over the top. Now GT vehicles are either luxury vehicles or crossovers and it kinda kills the joy. Really the only GT car I can think of in a reasonable price range that isn't a crossover is a chrysler 300 and that's on its last legs from being neglected for a decade
My step dad bought one of these new and immediately modified it. Don’t know exactly what he did to it but it made something around 530 horsepower. That thing felt truly scary to drive. The worst part is that he traded it (+ cash) for a stock A4 so my brother would have a car to drive to learn to drive. The guy who got the modded S4 ended up blowing the engine after a week. Sued my step dad but we won thanks to a dash cam the guy kept in the car. As it turns out, redlining the engine in first, second, and third gear from a stop can do a number in damage to such an engine and the court recognizes this. The A4 we got was also a lemon, so that whole ordeal was a net negative because my brother couldn’t even drive the car since something kept breaking. So anytime I see an S4 I see potential for a spine tapping experience and it’s changed the way I look at these cars forever
@@Planetary13 well by that point we had the car for something like seven years, with it getting modified a year into its life. So maybe it’s time had simply come. Still a magnificent experience though, it was the first car I ever rode in that truly left me in awe afterwards
I always used to look this up in the mid 2000s after joined the service, always wanted one in nogaro blue. At this point your paying big money for an unmolested example. Loved the boys 2 men at the end lol.
Dude, the Altima is everyone's nemesis. Bald tires, 4 hit/runs, low oil light on, and the interior looking like it went to war with the tasmanian devil driven by someone who probably couldn't finance anything else
and they're still late on every payment
The driver is always a single mother who doesn’t need a man because she is independent
@@LiamSnodgrass Driver smoking with the windows up
Trebble on lowest , mids on lowest, bass on highest.
@@RegularCars The younglings call that a "hotbox" goodsir.
god your dialogue about PA roads are so accurate. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to do 75 on the tpk with a truck going 40 in the left lane and an old man doing 60 in the right as you approach the 55 mph tunnel
Thanks!
Are speed limits respected in America?
@@JoseSantos-ys3rj sort of, most cops won't give a shit if you're doing 10 over as long as you're obviously paying attention. The people who drive 10+ under the speed limit are more of a problem to be honest.
Maybe if you had more than 2 lanes....
@@JoseSantos-ys3rj no
The B5 S4 is an ageless classic. Simply beautiful. I've always loved the B5 Audi styling.
Can’t wait to see the rage when people try and correct you to say it’s a 2.7 not 2.6.
Your reviews are hilarious. This is amazing and really perfect for someone who’s like to b5 S4 for the past decade. The gear change comments are so true.
2,671 cc
@@millenniumzeek so 2.7 liter?
I've owned mine for almost 18 years and have enjoyed every damn drive in it. Sometimes I go out to the garage and just sit in it and smell the leather, still good after all these years.
Welcome back, last Monday we were waiting for Dad to get out of surgery so no time for RCR, now he's out and comfortable I can enjoy.
Glad to hear everything's okay❤️
All the best to you and your Dad
I have a fully specced 2000 A4 1.8T B5 sedan as my daily driver. With cream leather sports seats and Bose. One previous owner. I've owned it for ten years, because I just can't think of a reason to sell it. The most reliable car I've ever had, even at 145K+ miles. With a bit of TLC, these cars will last ages.
If you like the looks and overall build quality of the B5 but don't want to pay for the money pit kind of upkeep that the S4 demands, then the 1.8T is a more than reasonable alternative that still feels far from underpowered.It's an absolute bread and butter engine, built across several VW-owned brands in the millions, which was well past its teething problems by about MY 1998/99.
A good fix for the mediocre Bose sound is to swap out the rear deck speakers for more substantial 6.5'' drivers. The previous owner of my car installed Pioneer fiberglass-cone drivers, and it really improves the sound greatly.
I also have a 2000 A4 B5 with the 1.8T and a manual transmission. Great power fuel economy, it has done 330 000km and still runs great.
When you said your new nemesis is the Nissan Altima I jumped up from the toilet in solidarity
one of us, one of us
My 01 S4 has 203k on the clock, just drove it across the country without a hiccup. A simply stage 1 chip adds nearly a hundred horse and torque. It’s fast as hell, stealthy, and can easily get me up and down the ski mountain. What more could you want? I love it.
As a B5 S4 owner it was great to see a RCR on it! I still don’t understand why these get such a bad rap for reliability. If your use to owning VAG cars or really any other turbocharged euro maintenance isn’t much different. Plus, your a tune and Downpipe’s away from 350whp
It's not just maintenance. That's high, but not extraordinary. It's repairing the complex systems that break down far too frequently. It may not be much worse than other European turbo engines of twenty years ago, but that is a very low standard.
@@markmiller3279 Not sure why these get such a bad rap. I had a 2001 gti with 1.8t hit 450,000km (nearly 300,000 miles) and still purr like a kitten. My friend is still driving it 4 yrs later. My 2000 S4 is very similar except for a couple of easy valve cover gasket replacements. Mine is a Euro import, not sure if that would make much difference though.
I've had much more problems with modern vehicles personally.
I owned 5 different S4's over the years, starting with a 2000 and ending with a 2008. I loved every one of them, and never had any real problems with any of them. I'll admit, however, that I never kept any of them long enough for the factory warranty to expire so I can't comment about them over the long haul. But for the couple of years that I kept each of them, they were great. I was already an Audi fan, as I'd owned a 4000 CSQ, a couple of A4's and a couple of Couple Quattros before the S4 made it to the US. I've also had an RS4 and RS7 after the S4's.
Why an S4? I live in Southern California, but was a weekend ski instructor in the local mountains (Big Bear) or Mammoth (in the Sierras) for all of those years. That meant up to 600 miles in a weekend, which is why I turned them over so often. With snow tires on all 4 corners, the cars were unstoppable. I didn't want or need a bigger car, although 3 of the 5 were Avants. Notwithstanding the narrator's remarks, they were great cars on mountain roads and very few cars ever passed me. Particularly in the early 2000's, pretty much the only cars you could get with awd were Audis and Subarus. (I can't stand trucks or SUV's. They always feel like they're going to tip over.) If you wanted some degree of luxury and performance, with winter driving ability - the Audi S cars were the only show in town.
I still get nostalgic every time I see one, which occurs more and more infrequently. Since then, although I still drive an awd drive car with power, I've upgraded a bit - to a Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo. It's conceptually similar to my last S4 Avant - just bigger (quite a bit) and faster (HUGELY!) Not to mention the price...
This was a car I fell in love with solely based on the engine. But seeing this one, well; if a sedan doesn't look 'dated' at age 20... that's good styling.
Winter storm outside and a new rcr. What a morning to be up on a holiday.
My father’s first car as a college grad was a 97 B5 a4 quattro 1.8t s line with a 5 speed, it was the first car I ever rode in and the first car I ever loved. Despite it not being an s4 I yearned to drive it and shed tears when he parted from it after 15 years due to poor maintenance by jiffylube. These cars are special no matter what trim level or even engine as long as they ran they served their purpose diligently. Without that silver on silver a4 I would never be the enthusiast or person I am today, so a solemn salute to the b5 a4 is well deserved.
OH my god I had a 2002 Laser Red S4. Watching this kills me. Intimate interior at night with the red lightning overhead. Smooth power, but savage at stage 2 with downpipes. I miss it so much!
As a Pittsburgh driver and an S5 owner (if you couldn't tell already lol), you're right on the money about Pittsburgh dads driving 68 in the left lane on 376 and 76, but I'd say that also goes for 79 and 279 as well.
I have a stage 3 Nogaro Blue B5 S4. Makes ~double the stock HP. It is my favorite car I have ever owned, hands down.
A friend had one of these in the late 2000's, I absolutely LOVED it. Understated speed and luxury in a timeless design
A bit generic looking from the side, but the front of this car is absolutely beautiful. The face of this car is the height of late '90s early '00s maturity in design.
@@12ealDealOfficial The tail end is also excellent, with that angled-out bit at the top and the just-right taillights (ignore the stupid foglight).
Had the same drivetrain in a 2004 A6 - last year of the stick and bi-turbo. It made a gentile executive express (but you really had to rev it for the express piece, thus losing the gentile part). I'm sure the vast majority were sold auto by people who then thought - it isn't that fast. Interior looked great, and I could get my Starbucks in that holder no problem. But it had ultimate FWD handling characteristics as most Audi quattros do. Was sad to see it go but it was time for a 5 series and by that point Audi had abandoned stick in the middle sedan market and BWM was still hanging it there. Agree about the Bose - I was very happy when I first stepped into the car, having come from a Lincoln Alpine that gave up the ghost. But quickly realized the sound is what Bose wanted you to hear, and adjustment for preference or even music type was pretty much moot.
My first ever car was a 2001 A4 Quattro and I absoltely loved it. That was 6 years ago now and ever since then I've wanted a B5 S4 but they're just so horribly unreliable and everyone has modded them to 400hp 😔
They are not unreliable
Roman really dropping in here with a fire Boyz 2 Men parody and then dipping, I love it
Looks better than 90% of modern cars. Reliability doubtful tho.
Also, this one has 184k on it. It's waiting to blow up on you.
@@LLG47 Yeah, if the turbos have not been replaced yet, they're due for it. The rest of the drivetrain is reliable though. The engine itself is perfectly fine and will last a ton of time if serviced regularly.
If you take the time to let it warm up before stomping on it, and then let it cool down before you flick the key off, these are nowhere near as unreliable as some people would lead you to believe. If you rag on it when cold, don't replace your oil regularly and don't let it cool down after hard drives though, you'll be swapping turbos along with the timing belt.
I dunno Audi B5 are very reliable .... at least the 1.8 turbo lel
Our old one had 600,000km (I don't know what it is in miles sorrryyyy) and all he ever had was oil changes
I had a 2001 A4 Avant Quattro. I wanted a S4 so bad, but I loved my A4. The Quattro system was amazing and the ride was so smooth.
I used my 3rd break light just to mess with people at night 😜
I will always love the B5 S4.. Long Live the B5 S4
I've owned my 2000 S4 since 2019. And honestly it's the best daily driver I've ever owned. It's a permanent fixture in my car stable now
I thought you were going to say a permanent fixture in my yard now 😂 I like them too especially the look of this generation and interior
1:39 This drives up my desire for Regular and Roman to review my Nissan Altima to untold levels
As someone how had this car for 10 years including colour and gave it up a few years ago. I envy and console you when you win this. I loved this car more than anything.
An Acura forum I used to belong to while owning/modding my TL Type-S had an audio section simply titled; Bose Blows. It was a given that people would be changing the speakers so that title was sufficient.
I daily a B7 A4 Quattro, “durable but delicate” is exactly the takeaway message. And mine is the common version with less turbos, less cylinders, 2 gens newer etc. but for anything turbocharged with quattro and 6mt, it’s worth the trouble. Most of the time.
I had a B5.5 Passat in HS. This was my dream car back then.
I bought one of these over ten years ago. I now drive a b9 Audi S4. Nothing else compares.
Say what you will about bose car speakers, but my QC25s are one of the best audio products I have ever bought from a utility and longevity standpoint.
It can be so infuriating as a brand. My first experience was with my 2008 Mazdaspeed 3 and I agree with Mr. Regular and/or The Roman (whoever wrote the script plus the comment they reference) and many others in that this era of Bose car audio was arguably a mid range option, sold as a high end.
My QC35 are still solid, it has it's own audio profile but they're not terrible and the noise cancellation is damn good, plus everyone makes earcups for them so when you wear those out you have a huge choice of materials/plushness for the replacements(I can't say the same of some Shure BT headphones I bought to replace these). I only hear great things about their aviation headsets.
Sold mine in 2016 for the same $7k I paid for it seven years earlier… though easily sunk $25k on mods and maintenance during that time. Looks kinda silly at a glance, but any comparable newer car would’ve cost just as much to own when factoring in depreciation, loan interest, taxes, insurance, etc. Zero regrets - very special vehicle.
I would love to win this car!! I have been an Audi fan for as long as I can remember and the B5 S4 has been my dream car ever since I was in high school back in 2004. In college I was able to afford a very nice manual B5 A4 and I LOVED it! After that car I briefly had an Audi allroad (the same one that Doug Demuro crushed) with the same 2.6 V6 twin turbo that the B5 S4 had. But that car was heavier and it was automatic…so even though it was nice and smooth, it wasn’t all that fast or fun to drive. My current daily driver is now a B8.5 S4 and having this B5 sit next to it in the garage would look great and be a perfect completion of my journey to owning my dream car. 😍
On the commute to work the day after a snow storm a couple years ago, I remember spotting two (2) Altimas who didn't clear the snow off the rear window. Almost rear-ended one in a separate incident bc the guy had tinted brake lights.
I always wondered why this hadn't been done sooner, but I'm glad you looked at it now. These things are incredible in their engineering and their ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. Also the car doesn't have any cup holders. Just a drink dumper that ruins the Aircon controls.
I worked at Circuit City in the late 90s where I heard the "No highs, no lows, that's Bose" and I'll be damned if we could keep the all in one home theatres in stock.
God damn. That "nuthuggers" bit is the stuff that keeps RCR alive after all these years..
That’s the Diesel engine of the Le Mans winning car that was converted to a gas engine. These engines came with forged internals and can handle quite a bit of power before needing a rebuild. Also the timing system and turbos are problematic in this car and suspension parts tend to wear out faster because of the engine lay out.
That sounds interesting. Can you link the article or video where you read/saw that?
@@JoseSantos-ys3rj I have to correct myself. I got my engines mixed up. So this v6 is based of the Diesel engine that Audi was building. In mid 2000s they used a v12 which was developed based of the 2.7 diesel at the time. I was thinking backwards. The r10 RDI was the first diesel to race at Le Mans
"Le Mon"
Lol
@@tim3172 thanks I saw that. I’ll correct that
It took a moment for “flesh clackers” to fully register, but once it did, I just about choked on my own saliva in laughter.
Audi: sounds great until you receive your first repair bill.
Yes I knew many people who bought these , may they Rest In Peace . The repair bills killed the owners
All "special" models of cars are expensive when they fail. I drive a normal Audi A4 B5 and the parts are dirt cheap.
People sleep on the 1.8t A4. With a tune and small turbo upgrade they are very quick too, maybe better in the corners with a bit less weight and more economical. B5 and B6 Audis have a nice timeless look IMO.
Bought an 04 A6 2.7. Love it... Still have it nicest car I've ever owned!
I remember driving one of these for the first time. It was kinda beat up and I took it on a test drive not thinking much of it other than OOO its a V6, not realizing the turbo mess that was under the hood. I got it out on to the high way, punched it and *Que images of the Millennium Falcon hitting light speed*.
No highs, no lows, it must be Bose. That has got to be one of the funniest lines I've ever heard
The Bose audio system in my UrS6 is great. One of the best audio systems in a car I have heard.
Straight pipes stage 2 these are such a blast. Ko4d ones are animals.
Having owned a same model A6 Allroad, I can attest to how accurate this whole review is. Nothing quite like boating your way forward only to realise you've somehow hit 20 over the speed limit.
I lived in fear of the next service or broken part every time I looked at that thing.
Why?
Had one of these for 3 years back in 2016. Loved it. Crashed it into the back of an Escalade in the rain. Good times 🤦🏻♂️
Some people "debose" their Audis from those years. I had an '04 and at the time, I thought the stereo was okay. But apparently, it's just a little chip thing that's in-line with the stereo, and can be removed.
Upkeep can't be worse than the 3000GT VR-4 I had. Barely 1100 miles between oil changes. Got really good at reconnecting the y-pipe in traffic.
This car is not for the faint of heart, you will constantly be wrenching, put bigger turbos on and a standalone ecu and you'll have a blast
I dunno, once you do the maintenance on these cars, about $1000 worth depending on how neglected it was, they're pretty solid and reliable. I have a 2000 S4, that used to be a "construction vehicle." The previous owner destroyed this car. 5 years later from purchasing it from him, and over $3500 in repairs, I am madly in love with this car. I even ran into (serendipitously) the original owner of this car when I was at the mechanic shop (emergency repair for leaking fuel line - common in cold weather). The shop even still had the VIN in their system! I got all the service records for the car and saw between the original owner and the "butcher" that owned my car previously, it was very well taken care of. I've started a log book of maintenance on the car again, picked up from the original owner who loved this car (upgraded himself to a Porsche GT2), and even have the original printouts of the sticker price of the car from the Audi dealership in Frederick, MD. Today, I just have an exhaust leak from the OE exhaust on the car, and will be the next thing to replace on the car. After that, full paint restoration and fix the sagging headliner. Everything else in the car is solid, reliable, no oil leaks (makes me nervous and always check the oil when I fill up at the pump), and runs and starts every time. I love the car. I hope whoever wins this car enjoys the car as well. It's a load of fun! And be sure to join Audizine forums. A great wealth of knowledge on that site that helped me learn how to fix my car and maintain it.
"No Highs, No Lows, It must be BOSE!" HAHAHAHA!! I laughed hard!
9:00 - i thought that one guy to the left was just casually off-roading through that ditch.
I don’t know if this has been said, But the guy that is always singing at the end has a beautiful voice. I hope he has a music channel
CKY 96 Quite Bitter Beings had a blue S4 featured in they're music video. Just ties more into the rural Pennsylvania vibe
The b5 platform with AWD handled beautifully. I had a 2002 vw passat 2.8 v6 awd for $300. Just a rebadged a4. Got it as partial payment for a car i was selling. Thing was _*rough*_. Could still bomb corners all day with no matching tires.
It was abysmal to wrench on. The vacuum system still makes me mad 5 years after selling it. No rubber hoses. All vacuum lines were hard plastic with 15 years of heat cycling would shatter with a mild grip. Also the tcu had water damage because b5 platform
If I could somehow get free maintenance, I would love this S4
I had a 97. By the time I got my hands on it it was no longer too expensive for young folk lmao. Wasn’t a fan of the steering, but otherwise handled pretty well, I mean it was no mx5 or brz, but not bad for a “luxury” sedan from the late 90s. It was clean, only thing that didn’t work was the cassette player, which made me kinda sad because that left radio. So I upgraded the head unit lol. Had heated seats and auto climate too, I was balling with my early era Bose equipped luxury sedan lmao I sold it at 240k still running strong. I do miss that car, was surprisingly reliable given their reputation.
I really wish you all offered a variety of options for entries besides a coffee mug. Like hoodies, shirts, or something. As a (recovering) coffee mug/tumbler addict, I really cant justify another one each giveaway.
Damn, 241 HP out of a twin turbo V6? My 03 Accord makes 260 HP with an NA V6. No AWD of course, but so much less mechanical complexity.
It’s a 2.7 biturbo V6 from 20 years ago, nor is it an RS4. Can’t expect too much, can you
No it doesn't, it's 240 HP stock and 212 lbs-ft for your Accord. Also a problematic year; trans problems. "In general, the Honda Accord line is very reliable with the exception of four years, 2003, 2008, 2009, and 2013. These four models stand out for having a concerning number of consumer complaints and issues, a common one being the Honda Accord transmission problems." Apples & oranges when compared with a manual S4.
And do you have 400nm torque?
@@JJ-df4kx I don't know who you're replying to but my personal car has 450nm of torque
It's an autobahn car. Long gearing, massive top speed and torque and the size is perfect fir Europe. Its a continent crosser. Breakfast in Berlin, evening meal in Madrid.
FINALLY. THE ONE CAR TO RULE THEM ALL!
Good alternative is the 1.8t with the manual. Bulletproof trans and motor. Ran mine ag 24psi boost and sold it to the original owner at 300,000 miles.
Did all the servicing with TH-cam and some torx bits/torque wrench lol
Audi Quattro GT rally cars from the early 80s were amazing
Came up on this car while riding my ninja 300, he dropped a few gears and took off. I did the same and the ninja was screaming at 115 while this dude was straight giving me a free coupon to Gapplebees. The worst part, he wasn’t even past 4th gear and that thing was hauling ass. Granted the 300 isn’t anything crazy at all, this car surprised me a lot!
Oh, shoot - the Windmill! Right in Morgantown on rt. 23 and rt. 10! Fricken landmark for the past 40+ years!
I literally just bought a b5 s4 so happy about you doing this review
I've taken mine entirely apart and put it back together. The wood is real.
That’s why I always thought that Audis had electrical issues because so many of them were driving around with the rear fog light on!
On German Cars and cupholders:
"In Gemany, we drive ze car, we do not drink ze coffee. If you want ze coffee, you stop and drink it in ze cafe." -German People Who Make German Cars
Seriously. I've owned roughly a dozen German cars from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and 2010's from VWs, to Audis, to Mercedes. The first one I owned that came with cupholders was built in 2014.
My highway commute nemesis is still the 328i. Usually in silver or black.
The official car of "oh these aren't homemade, they were made in a factory...a BOMB factory. They're bombs."
There were some pretty flashy colours for the S4. Imola yellow and negaro blue definitely stood out back in the day, on a sedan that didn't have giant chrome wheels, underglow, a blitz body kit and a double decker wing.
This is by far the most fun I have had reading TH-cam comments. About pissed my self!
This was hilarious hahaha thanks for the confidence boost.
Loyal owner of 2000 Audi s4
On the way back from the dealer in DC to NC, my dad’s following. He calls and tells me my tail light is out on my brand new 911. Turns out I accidentally pulled on the headlight knob when turning them on. Knowing how insanely asymmetric it is, makes me want to use it sometimes. 😈
If you want a smooth Highway cruiser, i would recommend the 1.9 TDI Version rather than the thirsty 2.7 v6
The trim is definitely real wood, just is coated a ton
Bose is good for that old person driving down the road listening to AM talk radio that's so loud you can t even hear your own cell phone conversation. 😂
You're selling this sweepstakes like a parent selling broccoli to a toddler, lol. Anyone who gets this car will be spending $$$$$ on repairs.
I liked the TT Quattro. Always thought it was great looking and sporty.
This is why I own a B8 S4 Avant. Comfy long distance touring. Tows a trailer. Muscle car torque at the lights. Makes me excited to drive to the corner store for milk. In fact we already have milk, I just went anyway. Audi S4: I’m happier to drive slow, knowing how fast I am
I'm not positive on the A4/S4, but the A6 of the same generation had real wood accents.
that "leave my big ass dog" album actually sounds pretty alright
The Bose sound system in my 2004 Porsche Cayenne S is really good believe it or not I believe the Bose speakers on Chevy products don’t last
Own one of these, stage 1 tune woke the car up, will never sell it
you said it best ..."need to be accountable for its upkeep in a more demanding way."
I am so tempted to enter this contest.
This still looks like a new car over 20 years on
Still waiting for the Sentra Spec V review. Seriously, you can use my 04 Spec V for your video. I live in Washington State, but it would be a real honor to have a B15 Spec V represented on RCR!
Did you say GMC ARcadia? Might that be the ultra rare Simon LeBon edition?
About rear fog lights.
If there's no fog and the rear fog light is on, that's how long my high beams stay on.
Great review as always. I envy the guy that wins that S4, it's absolutely gorgeous! Also, what's up with people hating on Bose? This is the second time I've heard someone use that quip about Bose and I still don't get it. I have a factory Bose system in my '06 Miata and I think it sounds great, it's clear and crisp with plenty of bass and top end. My dad also has a set of '80's Bose 901 speakers that he's been using as TV speakers for years now and those sound great too.
Generally Bose is great but this one is not. The speakers are also probably worn out.
its because bose likes to use full range drivers which usually aren't as good at reproducing high and low frequencies as traditional 2 and 3 way systems that have dedicated drivers for each frequency range
The damn service mode. The reason I ditched my RS6 in the same Misano red
[Important note: I´m not american]
When he mentiond the GMC Acadia somehow in my head there was either a 80´s Van or an early 90`s sedan but very certainly NOT a run of the mill modern SUV and I was really disappointed when I googled it.
Goodyear American Eagle tires are rated for 180mph and they aren't to expensive... The police used to use them
9:19 - that was comedic gold!
Honestly these are my favorite kinds of cars (Grand Touring, or GT cars). Cars that have no business performing as well as they do because of what great regular cars they are. Sadly they don't really exist anymore for any reasonable price tags, at least new or CPO. Other than the manual trans, this thing is an outright GT car. Good power, decent handling, great ride, and enough luxuries without being over the top. Now GT vehicles are either luxury vehicles or crossovers and it kinda kills the joy. Really the only GT car I can think of in a reasonable price range that isn't a crossover is a chrysler 300 and that's on its last legs from being neglected for a decade
Mr. Regular ya should do a review of regular CD you and Roman have found in cars over the years.
My step dad bought one of these new and immediately modified it. Don’t know exactly what he did to it but it made something around 530 horsepower. That thing felt truly scary to drive. The worst part is that he traded it (+ cash) for a stock A4 so my brother would have a car to drive to learn to drive. The guy who got the modded S4 ended up blowing the engine after a week. Sued my step dad but we won thanks to a dash cam the guy kept in the car. As it turns out, redlining the engine in first, second, and third gear from a stop can do a number in damage to such an engine and the court recognizes this. The A4 we got was also a lemon, so that whole ordeal was a net negative because my brother couldn’t even drive the car since something kept breaking. So anytime I see an S4 I see potential for a spine tapping experience and it’s changed the way I look at these cars forever
Bummer. Redlining an engine like that isn't bad. It was probably not a good tune that killed it.
@@Planetary13 well by that point we had the car for something like seven years, with it getting modified a year into its life. So maybe it’s time had simply come. Still a magnificent experience though, it was the first car I ever rode in that truly left me in awe afterwards
Gosh this is making me miss my old A4...
I always used to look this up in the mid 2000s after joined the service, always wanted one in nogaro blue. At this point your paying big money for an unmolested example. Loved the boys 2 men at the end lol.