GOT THE CAR... advice? -PICS from track!

[johntesi]

Hey all,
I've been trolling Audizine for the past few months, along with a few other forums for the other cars I've been considering. It looks like I'm going with an A4 (B6 S4 still a possibility) so I decided to go ahead and register so I can search and start bugging the heck out of yall with questions. Not decided on color yet, but definitely leaning toward Black/black 2.0T quattro with the 6 speed manual. Not so convinced on the S-Line package, I plan to do coilovers, S4 doorblades, RS4 or other aluminum pedals, etc. The only thing that kills is that everywhere I see selling the RS4 grill says it only works with the S-Line package. What would it take to get the RS4 center grill to fit with the standard bumper?

Here's my plans so far, I'm definitely open for suggestions:
Tint (will be done before I even take delivery)
S4 doorblades
Blacked out sidemarkers
RS4 grill (probably the titanium package black one)
18" OZ Ultraleggeras with 245/40/18 PS2 tires
H&R (or KW?) coilovers- Would love some feedback on these, I've been perusing the searches but haven't found everything I need. As for ride quality vs. handling/agressive setup, consider this- I was looking at the Evo IX.
H&R swaybars-Do the ones meant for the S4 work well? what's the deal with people only putting on the RS4 rear sway? Does that really give the car a better slightly oversteering balance than upping both bars for an all-around neutral setup?
Stasis brake rotor upgrade
APR or Revo Flash
Turboback exhaust-Milltek, any others you reccomend?
Autotech fuel pump upgrade
Forge DV
May be forgetting a few things, but this should keep it fairly tame while at the same time getting a little bit of the Evo's fun factor but none of the 3-star side impact rating.

Any other upgrades or mods that ya'll reccomend, please chime in! Look forward to learning and contributing. I'll post a full review of how it compares to everything else I looked at (and what else that was) this weekend! [az] I know it's a lot of questions, but I really appreciate the help!

[viperdsa]

If your going to do an RS4 grill get the s-line package. If you dont you will have to hack up the RS4 grill and hope you get it right or your out $150. For the exhaust I'd suggest AWE its not turboback tho, just a catback. For sway bars just do the RS4 rear bar, it's cheaper and will work well. The reason just the back is to get rid of the understeer, if you do the front too they will basically cancel each other out and u will still have understeer. One other thing you might want to consider is a boost gauge.

[Buttafuoco]

For sway bars just do the RS4 rear bar, it's cheaper and will work well. The reason just the back is to get rid of the understeer, if you do the front too they will basically cancel each other out and u will still have understeer.

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

[rbecker]

If your getting an 08 it comes with the sline exterior standard - so the RS4 grill will fit.

[viperdsa]

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.
I do what i can

[johntesi]

Buttafuoco- what's different about your experience with the sways??
I know about the 08s, but am not positive it will be one. Thanks for the help so far, keep it coming!

[Buttafuoco]

viperdsa...sorry if i was a bit harsh...

These are some wise words from 'old guy' and 'jet jockey':

"If your main objective is to reduce understeer and your are happy with the other aspects of your car's handling, get only a rear sway bar. This will stiffen the rear part of the chassis and reduce your understeer and maybe even provoke some oversteer.

If you want to reduce understeer and reduce roll to improve your handling, a combo set like the H-Sport kit is your answer. Because now not only are you stiffening the rear but also the front. H-Sport claims that their set was designed to reduce roll while keeping the car's handling characteristics almost identical to stock, perhaps reducing some of the understeer on the least stiff position and having the car's handling become more neutral to some oversteer at the stiffer setting. BTW, this is by far the best way money wise (cheap) to improve your car's handling but not necessarily the best way technically.

Finally, if you have money and time, you do it the proper way. You either design and test a suspension kit like STaSIS (Motorsport coilover). You see sway bars are only a Band Aid solution. The proper way to reduce roll, improve handling and reduce brake/acceleration squat is to fine tune your shocks and springs. Usually that means getting stiffer springs and shocks that work well with each other and the chassis. Then a final tuning can be done with the smallest sway bars available. The bigger the sway bar the more independence you will loose in your suspension. On a bumpy road or on a wet surface the two sides of the same axle will be tied together by a bigger bar actually creating wheel lift on the opposite side as the outer wheel's suspension gets compressed, this will also cause the car to skip across a bumpy road a lot faster if they are interconnected by a bigger sway bar, like a live axle on a Mustang or Camaro."

[SEXICÄN]

I have a RS4 rear sway, and it make a tiny difference, but if i didn't have it, i probably wouldn't notice the difference. I don't realy track my car or drive aggressivly

[johntesi]

Thanks for those quotes! I'd seen two of them before, and this is why I'm so torn. I know I'm doing the coilovers, so it seems like a front/rear upgrade would be the most effective. Any input on coilovers/swearbars as a whole package?
Kind of a bummer about the S-Line package and the RS4 grill.. Has anyone done this successfully with the standard bumper?

[SEXICÄN]

the S-line bumper is the only bumper that will hold a stock RS4 grille. If you are goign with a 2008 all those cars come with a S-line bumper. Any other year and your out of luck. I work at Audi and there is no way you are goign to fit a s-line grille on a non s-line car.

Stasis makes a great Coilover kit, you should check them out

[Noffy]

I have a RS4 rear sway, and it make a tiny difference, but if i didn't have it, i probably wouldn't notice the difference. I don't realy track my car or drive aggressivly

I don't track but I drive pretty aggressively at times and rear bar upgrade helps out quite a bit. I wouldn't dare disagree with the other comments about the different bar solutions. But there is definetly a nice difference with the RS4 rear sway upgrade.

[SEXICÄN]

I don't track but I drive pretty aggressively at times and rear bar upgrade helps out quite a bit. I wouldn't dare disagree with the other comments about the different bar solutions. But there is definetly a nice difference with the RS4 rear sway upgrade.

I agree, when i have gotten into a turn pretty hard, i feel the car less wanting to roll or flex, so i would say the rear sawy i a cheap upgrade from stock! 16mm to 22mm

[johntesi]

Based on these comments, I'm kind of leaning towards the front/rear H&R setup. Is there any problem with chosing the H&R upgrade bars for the S4 vs. the A4?

[viperdsa]

viperdsa...sorry if i was a bit harsh...

These are some wise words from 'old guy' and 'jet jockey':

"If your main objective is to reduce understeer and your are happy with the other aspects of your car's handling, get only a rear sway bar. This will stiffen the rear part of the chassis and reduce your understeer and maybe even provoke some oversteer.

If you want to reduce understeer and reduce roll to improve your handling, a combo set like the H-Sport kit is your answer. Because now not only are you stiffening the rear but also the front. H-Sport claims that their set was designed to reduce roll while keeping the car's handling characteristics almost identical to stock, perhaps reducing some of the understeer on the least stiff position and having the car's handling become more neutral to some oversteer at the stiffer setting. BTW, this is by far the best way money wise (cheap) to improve your car's handling but not necessarily the best way technically.

Finally, if you have money and time, you do it the proper way. You either design and test a suspension kit like STaSIS (Motorsport coilover). You see sway bars are only a Band Aid solution. The proper way to reduce roll, improve handling and reduce brake/acceleration squat is to fine tune your shocks and springs. Usually that means getting stiffer springs and shocks that work well with each other and the chassis. Then a final tuning can be done with the smallest sway bars available. The bigger the sway bar the more independence you will loose in your suspension. On a bumpy road or on a wet surface the two sides of the same axle will be tied together by a bigger bar actually creating wheel lift on the opposite side as the outer wheel's suspension gets compressed, this will also cause the car to skip across a bumpy road a lot faster if they are interconnected by a bigger sway bar, like a live axle on a Mustang or Camaro."

It's all good, got a lot to learn about modding cars cars anyways so just more info. As for the S4 sway bars, the rears should be fine the fronts idk, they should work unless they needed to change them to fit around the v8.

[johntesi]

So the A4 H&R swaybars are: 32mm front and 20mm rear.
The B7 S4 bars: 32mm front and 22mm rear.

Seems like they would fit, the S4 bars might give it a slightly more aggressive oversteering demeanor. I know I've seen at least one or two peoples' sigs who have this setup. If it fits with no major extra work, I think I'll go that route. Any more coilover advice?

[tomasmdiego]

I would get koni coilovers....

[johntesi]

Can you elaborate on why? You have them listed as "coming soon", have you experienced a car with them and really enjoyed them?

[johntesi]

Got a black one. No S-Line, but that's ok. I plan to get a filler plate (what are all of the options) ASAP. And are there any companies that sell paint-color matched side markers in place of the orange lenses?
Pics tomorrow, it's dark out now.

[3.2some]

Got a black one. No S-Line, but that's ok. I plan to get a filler plate (what are all of the options) ASAP. And are there any companies that sell paint-color matched side markers in place of the orange lenses?
Pics tomorrow, it's dark out now.
Hook it up with some pics man!!!!!

[AvantYeti]

When I installed my RS4 rear sway, it definitely stiffened the rear of the car, but like was stated, it takes away from the independence of the suspension. I also plan on trying out stasis or bilstein.
The RS4 rear sway also subtly change the steering feel, definitely less under steer. I'm satisfied with it.
Best of luck!

[johntesi]

Pics tomorrow! Not much to look at so far.. bone stock.
Taking it out to the track tomorrow, should have some good "action shots" for ya'll. Should be fun ripping it around with the stock 17s and Continental CS2s..

ALSO: Consider this a WTB for almost any B7 part you're thinking about selling!

[johntesi]

Just got back from a full day at the track, couldn't have picked a better/nastier day!
The curse of fresh wash and track days was in full effect, rain came pouring down. Never fear, quattro is here! I was driving the "house" Mazda6 for a little while to get a feel for things, and laid down the best time by a solid two seconds (not to brag or anything) but it gets better- my A4 down 60ish horsepower to those mazdas topped my best time in the mazda by another 2!! [hail] Makes me appreciate the quattro vs. getting a GTI or Mazdaspeed3 (more on all of those later)! The stock sways and suspension are definitely not up to scratch, but if there was ever a time to have soft sways, it was today.

On with the pics! Most of them are cleaned up, but I left one raw shot so you can see just how nasty of a day it was!

Yours truly:
http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/mugshot.jpg (http://www.audizine.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=31350)

The Mazda6:
http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/mazda_autox.jpg (http://www.audizine.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=31349)

Mean...
http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/audi_pitlane1.jpg (http://www.audizine.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=31348)

Quattro:
http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/A4_rear.jpg (http://www.audizine.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=31346)

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/A46.jpg (http://www.audizine.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=31345)
The day unedited by Photoshop:
http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/rainy.jpg (http://www.audizine.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=31351)

Working on embedding... :/

[Quigaboo]

Looks like someone has some expendable cash.....

I love to see how much all this ends up running you!

[bunnn]

the S-line bumper is the only bumper that will hold a stock RS4 grille. If you are goign with a 2008 all those cars come with a S-line bumper. Any other year and your out of luck. I work at Audi and there is no way you are goign to fit a s-line grille on a non s-line car.


not exactly NO WAY..depends how far you're willing to go...requires bodywork but works...

[johntesi]

I'll be looking into that.. What kind of bodywork are we talking? I think I'll go for a black-out or DTM standard bumper grille. The car looks fairly aggressive as is, and personally until I've got serious money to start spending and my car is 100% from a handling/braking/go perspective, looks are a minor importance.
As for expendable cash... maybe not. Neccessary expenditures? Absolutely. :) I'm sure it's a losing proposition as far as money goes, but once I post my review and buying considerations, you'll see why I didn't decide to 'save some money' on the handling goods and go for the Evo.. I think the A4 does a fine job considering how safe of a car it is, and with a bit of input I can have a fairly serious backroad thrasher/weekend plaything. I'm not neccessarily competing for lap times with anyone else, but just trying to make it as good and enjoyable as I can. No big turbo plans, no HRE wheels, or any over the top stuff. Not to mention, this isn't all happening at once! Getting each new part or small group of parts is part of the fun! Hoping to have this weekend: ECU flash, Forge DV, JHM shortshift. We'll go from there..

[bunnn]

we're talking pretty extensive...my bumper was in the bodyshop for 2 weeks, grinding and fitting...but i'm just pointing out that it's possible if thats the route you chooose to go..

edit: actually...it probably can take much less time..but it was a project on the side for them...so it took a bit longer..

[johntesi]

Ouch..! Thanks for the input, that's definitely not the route I want to take. Glad to be forewarned though!