Been a big Audi fan for a good few years now since owning a '98 A4 TDi Q, which has been chipped (QST) - find it a good all round car. But since selling my Porsche 2 years a go I really miss a quick sporty car. I love the A4 avants and have recently looked at a few of the S4's and RS4's. Trouble is I'm struggling to work out if the extra £10k for the RS is worth it.
Any help appreciated.
BTW, great site and what sound like a good bunch of people that use it.
S4 (B5) or RS4 (B5)
Really only you can answer if the extra 10k is worth it.
Comparing standard S4 and standard RS4 there is just no doubt at all (IMHO) that if you could afford it you would want the RS4. That 10k though pays for some mods to the S4 to make it a lot closer performance-wise to the RS4. Having said that though a chip on the RS4 takes it to 420bhp with no other mnods for around £1k.
Don't forget though that that money is lost - you will not get any mod-money back when you sell it and may well put some potential buyers off.
Add to that the fact that the RS4 was made in limited numbers, which should help to keep its value a little more bouyant.
If you ask me it is a no brainer if you can afford it.
A harder decision would be between a B6 S4 and the RS4...
Happy shopping
Comparing standard S4 and standard RS4 there is just no doubt at all (IMHO) that if you could afford it you would want the RS4. That 10k though pays for some mods to the S4 to make it a lot closer performance-wise to the RS4. Having said that though a chip on the RS4 takes it to 420bhp with no other mnods for around £1k.
Don't forget though that that money is lost - you will not get any mod-money back when you sell it and may well put some potential buyers off.
Add to that the fact that the RS4 was made in limited numbers, which should help to keep its value a little more bouyant.
If you ask me it is a no brainer if you can afford it.
A harder decision would be between a B6 S4 and the RS4...
Happy shopping
Too many toys, not enough time
The RS4 is best of breed in the A4 range and was limited in numbers therefore holds it's value much better than the S4 will. The trouble is, they have always been (and still are) around TWICE the price of an S4, so it boils down to whether you are prepared to pay that for nothing like TWICE the performance. It also depends on whether you want the macho wheelarches of the RS versus the subtlety of the S (not that I'm biased or anything) 
Thanks for quick responses. JohnW you guessed my next question, S4 (B6) or RS4 (B5), I kind of think if I'm spending that much do I wait a while for the B6 to fall in price. I did drive the S4 B6 the other week and loved it. Haven't had the chance to drive an RS4 yet - I'll have to search one out!!!
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I had also decided to go over to track tyres (Pilot Cup Sports) so lots of changes to take into account in one go, was my first time on these in the RS so I was a bit of a pansy to be honest while trying to find the limits.
Turn in was very good, tyres seemed to generate enough heat fairly quickly and grip was awesome.
Handling is now neutral to oversteer so I have managed to get the front end to grip ok, worth checking your ARB settings if you have the H&R bars as this makes a lot of difference, inner hole on front and outer hole on rear will give a tendency to understeer and outer hole front and inner hole rear a tendency to oversteer, outer hole is near to the end, inner hole is nearer to the bearing points of the ARB, inner hole will give you more roll stiffness, i.e. less lean in curves.
Still not happy with the amount of body roll so will be upping the springs by 100lb/in I think at both ends.
I am also going to add the adjustable links front and rear to get more camber and caster to allow the cups to work better and improve the turn in further.
Turn in was very good, tyres seemed to generate enough heat fairly quickly and grip was awesome.
Handling is now neutral to oversteer so I have managed to get the front end to grip ok, worth checking your ARB settings if you have the H&R bars as this makes a lot of difference, inner hole on front and outer hole on rear will give a tendency to understeer and outer hole front and inner hole rear a tendency to oversteer, outer hole is near to the end, inner hole is nearer to the bearing points of the ARB, inner hole will give you more roll stiffness, i.e. less lean in curves.
Still not happy with the amount of body roll so will be upping the springs by 100lb/in I think at both ends.
I am also going to add the adjustable links front and rear to get more camber and caster to allow the cups to work better and improve the turn in further.
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Prawn
Prawn
Matt, I test drove an RS4 and a B6 S4 almost back to back.
Do a search on here as others have also done the same and posted thier thoughts.
For what its worth, my thoughts were along the following lines:
The RS4 gives a turbo punch which makes you aware your going quickly. The S4 on the other hand just pulls like a train at all revs, and so feels effortless (or not so exciting, depending on how you look at it).
The rear seats in the B6 are much better than the RS4, and have a little more leg room.
The S4 looks are not as pronounced as the RS4, which again depending on where you live/drive could be a good thing.
I expect the S4 prices to drop faster than the RS4, purely based on it being a full production quantity car.
Finally, does the RS4 being a 3yr old car feature when compared to a new S4 ?
Its a very close call. For me though the RS4 was the choice.
Happy shopping
Do a search on here as others have also done the same and posted thier thoughts.
For what its worth, my thoughts were along the following lines:
The RS4 gives a turbo punch which makes you aware your going quickly. The S4 on the other hand just pulls like a train at all revs, and so feels effortless (or not so exciting, depending on how you look at it).
The rear seats in the B6 are much better than the RS4, and have a little more leg room.
The S4 looks are not as pronounced as the RS4, which again depending on where you live/drive could be a good thing.
I expect the S4 prices to drop faster than the RS4, purely based on it being a full production quantity car.
Finally, does the RS4 being a 3yr old car feature when compared to a new S4 ?
Its a very close call. For me though the RS4 was the choice.
Happy shopping
Too many toys, not enough time
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