I always thought dyno charts were pretty good...
 

...lemme see, I've seen APR's, European Speed's, a rolling road dyno, Don's printout of an AP-22 road dyno test -- those all showed a lot more torque than 258.

I gotta agree, I think stock N.A., S4 torque is 280-290 lb/ft
 

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/442/s4torque.jpg"></center><p>

On a...
 

1999 Civic Si. I echo your feelings about how Honda has gone downhill. Especially in the last 2 years. I consider myself fortunate to get one of the last "good" Civics.

No need to worry, there are no stickers, wings, or giant exhausts on my car.

I graduated and needed a car, for under $20k nothing could come close.

I see that you race a Civic so I will be asking more advice in the future, hope you don't mind.

Pete that description is so vague yet the most pointed description of Japanese cars that I have
 

ever read, and I completely agree. Driving an Acura is just like driving a nice car. The S4 is a machine.

I just don't like the idea of all that power going through the front wheels.

...but crash tests aren't super-severe accidents like flying into a telephone poll at 80mph is...