IN THIS FEATURE Oozing appeal Reassuringly expensive

All the average A4's credentials have been passed on to the S4 Cab: impeccable build quality, smooth engines and power delivery, accurate manual gearshifts, predictable road manners and a reassuringly solid feel, to go with that reassuringly expensive price tag. However, the mainstream model's shortcomings have also made it to the party: despite the modified steering rack and lighter-weight, tuned suspension, the S4 retains the slightly numb, feedback-free steering feel and obedient, rather than inspiring, handling. There's no doubt that it's an awesomely quick car, but it doesn't beg to be thrashed, and it's easy to overlook how much performance potential it actually has.

The most frequent reminder of the S4's sporting character is its occasionally unsettled ride and tendency to judder over broken road surfaces, roof up or roof down: not the smoothest-riding car anyway, with the 18-inch alloys and rubber-band tyres it is even less compromising, which would normally be no bad thing at all - if only it were more exciting to drive by way of a trade-off. The BMW M3 Convertible is far sharper and a lot more interactive. The spiritual home of the S4 Cabriolet is the German autobahn, rather than the Nurburgring: it's very good at travelling very fast, in a very straight line. But then that £27,450 diesel version is good at that, too.