Hi B6 or B7 2005 S4 saloon

[donl76]

Hi all

Just registered last night as I am going to buy an S4 saloon soon. I'm looking for a 2005 model. I prefer the look of the B6 apart from the twin exhausts, I prefer the quads on the B7, is the rear bumper valance on the B6 compatible with the B7 one so I could swap them?

I know the exterior and interior differences between the 2 models but is there any mechanical/engine improvements on the B7 model?

Are both models ET45?

I guess I'm looking for someone who has owned both B6 & B7 models to advise on this.

Any info would be a great help.

Excellent site by the way.

Cheers
Don

[tweek]

Hi Don,

I have owned both a B6 Saloon and a B7 Avant, I believe mechanically they are the same and the changes were cosmetic (might be wrong though). Personal opinion would be to buy a B7 if you can live with the grill as it is newer, I had nothing but grief with the B6 and eventually got a refund after 6 months and then got the B7 which I am happy with (still have a nagging doubt I liked the B6 more but mine was a PITA). Suggest you drive both and see what you like..

Pete

[nidfix]

ESP 8.0 on B7 (instead of 5.7) and on the last year of B7 power split 60/40 instead of 50/50.
As far as I know, everything else is cosmetic.

Personally I would go for a B6 and keep the money to buy extra parts that you will probably look for anyway (coilovers, rims etc...)
One thing that may require some caution: you can find B6 with RNS-D nav or RNS-E. As much as possible buy one with RNS-E

[philipwalker]

As above go for a 2003 with 50/70k miles and put some decent/nice wheels, anti-rollbars, APR re-map and maybe a milltek.

Nice ones are out there for less than £12,000.

Dealers still ask 25k+ for 05 models.

[S25MRS]

Just got mine '03 Avant 60k, alcantara, etc - all very nice, I think.....good price, too - Milltek/remap aswell soon.

[mbelle]

Just got mine '03 Avant 60k, alcantara, etc - all very nice, I think.....good price, too - Milltek/remap aswell soon.

Pics?

What made you sell the RS for it?

[S25MRS]

Marcus, just me being nervous about turbo's/mileage, etc really. Really liked the RS, but the B6 feels so much newer, and I do love that V8 noise. I like to think I had all these plans for the RS4, but in reality, the day to day costs meant I didn't have the dosh to spend on the things I 'wanted' to spend it on.
Hope to have a Milltek soon on the new one, then after paying out for a few other things (not car-related), will look at a remap aswell.

as requested, couple of pics too......

:

[mbelle]

Thanks Mark.
I've been thinking about moving to a B7 S4 for similar reasons to you - nervous about turbo failure etc. and I do do a lot of miles in my daily driver, but I do LOVE my RS4.
Reason for the B7 is simply because its newer - thinking of test driving one fairly soon just to have a feel...

How does the difference in performance feel for you? Power figures are similar but being NA as opposed to forced, I'm wondering if its a massive difference?

[S25MRS]

RS is obviously a quicker car, but the delivery of the V8 is lovely, and not a huge amount in it so far in real-world driving, certainly gets up to speed quickly, just does it in a differnt way. It does feel like a big jump forward in time after the B5. My RS was completely standard, and like I said above, realistically, I wasn't going to do much with it, but if youre coming from a modded car, the decision might be harder, however, I'm much happier (confident) now that I'm not going to be stiffed for the price of a couple of turbos, and once I get the exhaust on there, purely for the aural difference, I'll be a very happy boy

[davs4]

Don't forget Mark you can supercharge your's...... go on you know you want too lol
Looks good buddy drove passed it yesterday, glad your happy. The turbo fairy can be a worry (unless you fit RS6 turbo's ) but for me forced induction is the way

[S25MRS]

Are they what you've decided on chap - RS6's? Sweet, yes, very happy cheers bud......,hope you are too?