B8 S4 vs B7 RS4

[RS4SRS]

Was just about to change the RS4 for a A5 3.0TDI - mainly down to the RS4 not being too great on fuel for my 25k miles a year.... have currently got one on an overnight test drive and whilst I am really impressed with the power I really miss the noise and driving experience of the RS....

So was thinking about a S4 saloon as a compromise between the 2. So I have a question to those that have one. What sort of mpg can you realistically expect to achieve on a 80/20 split between A class roads commute and town driving.

Also, whats the driving experience like, does the engine give a nice kick when you plant the pedal?

Many thanks

Steve

[Nickyboy]

Just went for a spin in mine and yes it has a kick! I have heard many times that at legal speeds the S4 is as quick as an RS4. Parkers say the 0-60 in the avant is 4.9 so pretty quick.

I just nailed an S3 which is meant to be quick.

MPG on my 7 mile commute on a mix of motorway and town equals 23-25mpg. Motorway only gives 33-35mpg. I have done 1400 miles by the way.

[HYFR]

MPG ... 80/20 your probably looking at 28/29MPG

any motorway run will see it do 30+ without trying

go stupid eco and it will see 40mpg MAXIMUM attack ECO mode

the manual has better economy than the s-tronic and is a more involving drive

they are VERY quick, and will easily keep up with a stock B7

[RS4SRS]

Thanks fellas, will now keep an eye out for one to give it a try. The more I think about the A5 the more I think I would likely be trading it in after 6 months or so.....

[longdog]

MPG ... 80/20 your probably looking at 28/29MPG

any motorway run will see it do 30+ without trying

go stupid eco and it will see 40mpg MAXIMUM attack ECO mode

the manual has better economy than the s-tronic and is a more involving drive

they are VERY quick, and will easily keep up with a stock B7

Tried the Eco mode in my S4, won't bother with it again! 35 mph = 7th gear!
I'll suffer poorer mpg and enjoy it.

[Kiteral]

Just about to p/x my A4 3.0tdi b8 for an S4. Was averaging 38mpg (trip computer) in the A4, nice car, bit barge like in handling though could really feel the big lump up front, loads of torque, decent shove but was never an event when driving.

I'm really hoping the S4 will be almost as much fun as my old RS4 B5 (mrc tuned) but I don't think anything will ever match that car

[longdog]

Just about to p/x my A4 3.0tdi b8 for an S4. Was averaging 38mpg (trip computer) in the A4, nice car, bit barge like in handling though could really feel the big lump up front, loads of torque, decent shove but was never an event when driving.

I'm really hoping the S4 will be almost as much fun as my old RS4 B5 (mrc tuned) but I don't think anything will ever match that car

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, I'm over the moon with mine.

[Doug_S2]

I found the big difference between b7 rs4 and the b8 s4 is the lack of front end feel. The b7 is great, probably one of the best Audi have done for feel and responsiveness. The b8 is torquier and faster 90% of the time when you are using torque to make you move rather than power when thrashing it.

[Kiteral]

I found the big difference between b7 rs4 and the b8 s4 is the lack of front end feel. The b7 is great, probably one of the best Audi have done for feel and responsiveness. The b8 is torquier and faster 90% of the time when you are using torque to make you move rather than power when thrashing it.

Do you think stiffer ARB's would help that Doug (any news on ecu flashes yet ?) ?

[Doug_S2]

hoping to finish develpoment of tuning very soon

I'm tracking our one soon with arbs, bilstein coilovers, the big brakes etc and I will have our b7 rs4 side by side with it to compare.

[HYFR]

B8 hands down

will yours be tuned Doug?

[Pete.S]

Steve, you thought about the facelifted S5? Now has the supercharged 3.0 from the S4. Just that you first mentioned an A5 as a replacement.

Can just about get 30mpg on a long steady run @70mph with cruise, mine's S-tronic. Overall mpg after 70k miles ~24mpg.

Agree with others though, had a couple of runs with RS4's on motorways, neck & neck....up to 70mph Absolutely spanked a souped up Scooby the other day who was deliberately annoying me (huge exhaust, dump valve etc etc), not usually one to take the bait but it sure was fun to see the look on his face at the next lights! These things are definitely underated power-wise.

[Nickyboy]

30mpg at 70 seems a little low. Even with my brand new S4 I get around 33 I think. Not a lot of difference but that was with the car not even being 'run in'.

[HYFR]

i thought the same

[gilford]

I don't know how all of you are saying it is s quick as the RS4?

I colleague of mine has an S4 and we regularly have blats and the RS4 is quite noticeably quicker, especially in 2nd 3rd and 4th?

I think the ones you have had a go with are either old "coked up" examples or they are simply not pushing it to it's limits.

The S4 is a quick car, I've driven Paul's, but it's no RS4.