F451

Hey gang, I iust had to post. I just took my new to me S4 5 speed out for a romp on some of my favorite twisty roads out here (High Bridge Road for you Seattle area listers) and holy cow! I love it.

It is sooo much more fun then my automatic. I knew I would enjoy it more, but I didn't realize how much. I'm so happy I decided to find a 5 speed.

The fun part of my loop consists of a 10 mile or so long twisty, semi-rural road that is taken in 2nd and 3rd gear. Its a favorite of the local sport bike crowd as well as the sports car crowd. I know the road very well from hitting it on my Ducati as well as my old 944.

In the last couple of weeks of owning the S4, I haven't really pushed it at all. I drove it all the way across country after buying it, and more or less babied it home. Then I drove it to work back and forth a bit but haven't really taken it out to see what it can do.

Today, after putting in a long day of working renovating my house, I decided at the last minute to jump in the S4 and head out to see what the car could do.

I'm happy to say, it totally rocks. The handling is solid, the acceleration is bwaaaaaa, and the grin factor is huge!

And its not even sorted out yet. I can't wait to see what it can do once I get it dialed in.

Anyway, just wanted to share the fun.

Ed

ps: For you Seattle area guys, once I'm done renovating our place, I'll have to host a "meet and drive" on some of my favorite roads out here in the Snoqualmie Valley. They're great roads that can really be enjoyed at a moderate, sane pace.

macreel

Ah, Ed... wish you could've been with us yesterday.

Now, get all your work done so you can come out & play.

Glad you & your 5 spd shark are getting along.

G'luck.

F451

No doubt! I saw the pics from your cruise, looked like a good time Bruce.

Bill Ball

If I was on the road with you, you wouldn't be able to tell I had an automatic. Frankly, I find the auto shifts faster - none of the long throws and gates to worry about.

F451

Don't get me wrong, I'm not disputing the sporting cabability of the auto, I love mine, but for me, the 5 sp is just more fun to drive. Much more fun. It has a more connected feel to me, it shifts when, and how I tell it to.

For those that prefer the automatic, more power to you.

And I'm wasn't looking to start an auto vs 5 sp thread, just wanted to share my enthusiasm over my buying decision to go with a 5 sp.

85fortheDrive

I've never had an AT 928, but I know what you mean by that feeling. Leaving it in 3rd past 3500 rpm will never get boring for me.

Happy shifting!

Bill Ball

I understand and I sure don't want to start an AT versus MT argument either. I just find that people who own the AT cars don't shift them and drive them like little old ladies. People who have driven with me on funrides swear I must have a stick. I can control the gears just about as well as in an MT, and if I installed one of the kickdown mods, there would be almost no way to tell.

redpathtribe

And a wise buying decision it was Ed, a wise decision it was...

Andre Hedrick

Welcome to club 5sp!

Oh yeah, riding with Bill Ball with him in control of the AT

I'm thinking about an AT for pure street launch at a later date.

Cheers,

danglerb

MT has more smiles per gallon.

When I get old I can see maybe getting a AT.

Bill Ball

danglerb - you need to take a trip up North in May and come to Sharks in the Park. I'll give you a ride around Bear Creek Canyon Road, our little funride loop. You will have different impression of the S4 AT after that. This is not your dad's Buick slushmaster. I really don't mean to take away from Ed's excitement, but if people with ATs would move the handle and take control of the gears and run it up to 6K+ before shifting, they would unleash the beast within that MBZ tranny.

IcemanG17

Bill
If he was following you he would probably crash from all the tire smoke you left behind!!! :>)

After spending some time in an 87 5 speed......it does have some advantages....but not many....on 87-88 S4's essentially the 5 speed and auto share 4 gears......1-1, 2-2, 3-?, 4-3, 5-4 so basically an auto is 1-2, 4-5 in the stick...or fairly close anyway.....the bummer in 2.20 rear end auto S4's is that the power really drops off in 3rd since it will do 140mph in 3rd gear! Now the 89+ autos have slightly different gears and the 2.54 rear end which allows the 120mph 3rd gear.....which is better IMNSHO

Dan_N

3rd is my favorite gear in winding roads. The car just rewards you for stretching out the rpms.

Mike Frye

Ed,

Congratulations and welcome to the club.

OPTION CODE 5SPD: Twohandsentwofeetsin

AO

Nicely put. I believe in some very rare intances the 928 autos are actually better suited to the car than the 5-speed, but overall I am enthsiastic about my choice in having a 5-speed. You do feel more connected to the car.