So far good initial reviews....

<img src="http://www.carenthusiast.com/audi/audi_s4_avant_2009_068.jpg">

<i>Audi's chassis expert's smile is rather forced when I suggest disabling the ESP and ASR. The track is wet and I've only driven around one corner. To his credit he hits the ESP button and a light appears in the dash to tell me the electronic safety nets are disabled. What happens next is unlike anything I've ever experienced in an Audi - save the R8. The S4 turns in sharply on the slippery surface and the rear slowly arcs out under power into a glorious power slide. It's all so balanced, so neutral and controllable that every corner on my four lap stint is taken with varying degrees of opposite lock. I'd expect such playfulness in a rear-wheel drive BMW 3 Series or a Mercedes-Benz C-Class but not a four-wheel drive Audi. Not even an S-badged one. </i><ul><li><a href="http://www.carenthusiast.com/reviews.html?mode=article&amp;id=3067">http://www.carenthusiast.com/reviews.html?mode=article&amp;id=3067</a</li></ul>

if i can't get a wagon, i'd rather have that drivetrain in the sexy body of the S5.

Then that leaves us with the S-Line A4 Avant ... not the same thing.

Not even close especially with the 4-banger. What manual transmission wagons are left these days? 535xi is all I found.