Audi S4 Cabriolet – Review: When empty roads and bright blue skies beckon, few machines are more appropriate for a road trip than a performance-tuned, luxury-lined convertible. Fortuitous it was that we snagged the keys to the updated 2007 Audi S4 Cabriolet during a rare February heat wave in California; that we had a long holiday weekend with nothing better to do than drive Highway 58, which cuts across a third of the state from Bakersfield to Santa Margarita; and that the rest of the nation was frozen in winter’s icy grip while we dropped the top and blasted along freshly paved two-lane roads. Days like that make you glad to be alive, living in California, and driving the impressive Audi S4.

Our Brilliant Red 2007 Audi S4 Cabriolet carried a base price of $56,420 including the $720 destination charge. Add the mandatory gas guzzler tax of $1,700, and the least expensive S4 Cab will run $58,120. Heated front seats tack on another $450, and we’d recommend the optional $1,200 Tiptronic automatic transmission if you plan to do lots of city driving. The premium Bose audio system is an even grand. A Convenience Package is priced right at $1,050 and includes a wind blocker, adaptive front lighting, rain and light sensors, driver’s seat memory, auto-dimming mirrors, and a Homelink transmitter. Our test sample also had Audi Navigation Plus ($1,950) and carbon fiber beltline trim ($400) to bring the total price to $62,970.

Audi’s 4.2-liter V8 is a refined, powerful, mellifluous engine with what feels like a dead spot smack dab in the middle of its torque curve. The car launches quick and features a welcome well of motive force at the upper end of the rev range, but in between delivers less punch than one might expect from a 340-horsepower V8 with 302 lb.-ft. of torque peaking at 3,500 rpm. The S4 swills fuel like an SUV, delivering EPA ratings of 14 city and 19 highway and 16.1 mpg over several hundred miles of mixed driving. Launching the S4 is tricky due to sudden clutch engagement, but the six-speed manual is a pleasure to row between gears.

With standard Quattro all-wheel drive and a rigid chassis, the Audi S4 handled the twists, turns, and whoop-de-doos of California Highway 58 without fanfare. Pitch the car into a hairpin at twice the posted speed and there’s a hint of understeer as the 235/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sports grapple with all the weight over the front end, but stab the throttle at the apex and the S4 gathers itself up and exits with grace and agility. Around town, the ride is stiff and the Servotronic steering light and effortless, which is not to be confused with numb and senseless. Parking is a snap thanks to a tight turning circle. The brakes are easy to modulate and bring the S4 to a quick and clean stop.

With the top up, rear visibility is almost nonexistent. The fabric roof’s rear “pillars” are wide, the glass rear window is small, and the back seat headrests are large. Reversing requires a prayer and an educated guess. Forward visibility is outstanding thanks to thin windshield pillars, and the large side mirrors offer a good view of adjacent lanes. As with any convertible, when the top is down visibility is dramatically improved.

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