Well, to be quite frank, the CTS-V feels faster than stock S4's, but the V feels like a Fischer Price toy inside. It rattles like a son-of-a-bitch and the driveline feels like it is straight from a Ford F150. I just drove a friends 25 Anniversary S4 and was hugely impressed, though it wasn't as fast as my V. My question to you guys is this: does the S4 retain it's high quality even after say 30k miles. I would be looking for a lightly used new style S4. Do you have alot of rattles? Is it smooth driving around town (I don't mean Rolls Royce smooth) and is the shifting ever jerky? Any help would be fantastic. I started with a GTO then got a CTS-V in addition for I wanted a more refined car, which it isn't.

 

It has a MUCH higher build quality, fit & finish over you CS-V. It also holds it value a lot more. The car will be solid for many years to come.

Yea, it's also a lot more refined.

 

All audis feel solid and almost connected to the road. Really fun cars to drive. By the way why would you compare a cadillac to a ford? If you want something around the same power but a little fasteras the CTS-V, try an RS4. Cadillacs are really nice cars and drive fantastic but don't feel solid. You will be very satisfied with the S4 if you decide to get it as it combines performance and luxury!

 

They are incredibly smooth and they can easily be tuned to beat your CTS-V.

 

well it all depends on tyhe S4 your looking for to. Either B5,B6,or B7. All a little different with the B6 and B7 haveing the NA V8 motors in them.and the B5 you got the 2.7bi turbo v6. (B5 2000-2002) (B6 2003-2006 B7 Present.) As for tuning i think the CTS-V isnt that much faster than a B6-B7 but hey maybe it is i know it doesnt handle as well or hook up form a dig as well. but the b6 and b7 dont have much tuning potential and are more of what your prolly looking for in the very cumfy ride and good interior aspect. The B5 might as well be classified as a luxury "tuner" car just because of the majority of B5 owners decide to modify their cars which can easily be tuned to beat out your CTS in every aspect and will cumfly take your family on a road trip where ever you wanna go and get decent gas mileage.
Hope it helps

 

i have an 06 with about 18k on it and no rattles to speak of and no warranty issues either. shifting with the v8can get jerky if you don't rev it high enough.4k rpm is perfect, butshifts can be made at lower rpm in traffic with the right foot work.this clutch has a very shortlearning period, but if i'm not paying attention in traffic, i still have the occasional jerking shift. i've talked to others and it's the same. no one shifts perfect all the time. there was an episode of top gear that pitted the cts-v against the s4 on a track, and the cts-v won. but, the cars were run on the track at the same time and the caddie is quicker in straights, so it would pull ahead, but need to mash the brakes to take turns. even on screen you could see some massive body roll. the s4 couldn't take it in the straights,but would always be right back up its *** when the cts-v would brake for cornering. if given separate runs, the s4 would have beaten it in time easily, but the track was just too narrow for the s4 to get around it in the turns.