Honestly - B6 S4 or B5 RS4

[s4seeker]

Hi all,
Having owned a B5 S4 and now have an s3 I am going to need to change to an Avant. The question is which one?
RS4 will be older obviously and more miles - lots of talk on forum about how difficult it is to find a good one.
S4 may have less miles but what about that engine? - does it drink more than RS4?
Any comments or pros/cons please.
many thanks
paul

[SimonS4MTM]

RS4, more fuel efficient, lower tax if X reg, better residuels.

And faster!

[graemep]

Have been down this route myself just over a couple of years ago, when the S3 started feeling a bit small after a new arrival in the family. I also test drove the RS6 and previous M5 at the time.

What swung it for me was probably the fact that the RS4 was a car I had liked for some time, and as much as I liked the S4 - the V8 is great - the limited numbers and my preference for turbocharged cars swung it for the RS4. This is probably a good thing as it has saved me a fortune in depreciation.

I also went into it knowing I was likely to have it remapped at some point, so a better return for the money in that respect - although the majority of B5 RS4's are now likely to be remapped and you would probably be hard pushed to find one that hasn't. I'd also say if a reputable specialist has been looking after the car, that would generally be as good, if not better than a full Audi dealer history.

There is a buyers guide you may have seen on the forum which lists the main points to look for, but so far I haven't had any necessary big expenses with the older car.

[S25MRS]

Just changed my B5 RS4 for a B6 S4 Avant, so far as fuel consumption, a couple of mpg difference, both standard cars. My feelings on the 'change' is in the B6 S4 section, if it helps at all

[TiggerS4]

I had the same question before I got my B6 S4 Avant, what swung it for me were 2 things - first the age of the car, the S4 is significantly more modern inside, and secondly finding a modified S4.

I bought an AMD Stage 3 modded Avant, with a full Miltek exhaust and 19'' RS6 alloys. Standard S4's don't quite do it for me, but my B6 S4 pushes all the right buttons - particularly the awesome noise of that V8 through those big pipes!

[RED_ROCKET]

RS4 B5= big power and tuning flexibility...

[ChappeRS]

Hi guys, new to the forum. Was just about to post this very question but saw this post!

I'm currently in the market for a fast audi of some sort and have been looking at the B6 S4 and the B5 RS4.

The RS4 looks an amazing car, but all my friend keeps telling me is that it's an overstressed engine and it will surely break down and cost me an absolute fortune. On paper the B6 S4 performance doesn't look all that different, but it's much cheaper and has a V8!

I've also read that the RS4 can be a bit understeery, and make the driver feel disconnected from the whole experience.
I'm looking to change cars in the next month/ 2 months and i'm trying to do as much research as I can at the moment.

Hope you can help, cheers guys

[Nige_RS4]

To answer your question on performance, these should help (but bear in mind a midly tuned RS4 should be even quicker!)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Be1ZgvsDGxk
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LFrpY3lqT ... re=related

I doubt there's much in it in the chassis department - antiroll bars will reduce the understeer.

The RS4 engine is pretty bulletproof - the achilles heel (if there is one) are the turbos, which like any other turbo'd car can wear out - wheh depends on a number of factors.

HTH

[rtd]

Have been down this route myself just over a couple of years ago, when the S3 started feeling a bit small after a new arrival in the family. I also test drove the RS6 and previous M5 at the time.

What swung it for me was probably the fact that the RS4 was a car I had liked for some time, and as much as I liked the S4 - the V8 is great - the limited numbers and my preference for turbocharged cars swung it for the RS4. This is probably a good thing as it has saved me a fortune in depreciation.

I also went into it knowing I was likely to have it remapped at some point, so a better return for the money in that respect - although the majority of B5 RS4's are now likely to be remapped and you would probably be hard pushed to find one that hasn't. I'd also say if a reputable specialist has been looking after the car, that would generally be as good, if not better than a full Audi dealer history.

There is a buyers guide you may have seen on the forum which lists the main points to look for, but so far I haven't had any necessary big expenses with the older car.

mine hasn't been mapped!

[tartan_rob]

the 2.7 B5 engine is in no way stressed. Most owners on here run a stage1 or more, a serious %age of them run 500+bhp. To my knowledge, NONE have gone bang and certainly not in std guise or from mild reputable tuning. The car must be looked after, but isn't that the same with all things mechanical?

[ChappeRS]

Ok, fair enough. So I should just make sure I get a good one and not dwell on the stories of £6000 turbo replacements and £10k engine failures?

[mikeyquattro]

B5 problems are turbo failure and cam wear. I know of a couple of engines that have had to be replaced due to valve drop and engine destruction.

New cams and followers etc is a few thousand pounds....

[rtd]

just out of interest whats a ball park figure to replace two turbos if they go pop and do the cams?

[mikeyquattro]

To do both at the same time I would guess in the region of 6k

[jimbo1234567]

half that mike