A4 to S4 worth it?

[jcicchetto]

I am currently in a lease with an A4 but was fairly disappointed with the performance. I have the opportunity to get into a b7 S4, but I'm not sure if it is worth the extra money to move up to the S4. There is always the option of chipping the A4 I have, but I'm not sure if I will still be disappointed with the performance of the car. For reference, I came from a 300 SRT8.

Has anyone made the switch, and what are your opinions?

[MTLA4]

well the s4 will be slower than the srt8 but you will have more features and it will be nicer and handle better. The srt8's are fast but thats about where it ends. Id get the s4 and never look back

[V8S4Fun]

It is ABSOLUTELY worth it!

[Lugi20]

The SRT8's are definitely quicker off the line, but I'd give the edge to the S4 on the highway.

[Maverick]

why not a nicely used RS4 if that's not too much money for you

[FastB7S4]

SRT8's are fast but Audi > Chrysler. S4 definitely > chipped A4 unless you plan on heavily modding the A4.

[mcster]

I went from an A4 3.0 to an B6 S4 ... tremendous difference. I used to have a s/c mustang gt as well.

If it's in your budget, step up to the S4 ... just consider the high fuel cost as compared to the turbo A4.

Chipping the A4 will not give you torque, which in my opinion contributes substantially to the S4's fun factor.

[jcicchetto]

there aren't many used RS4's in my area that I have found. They generally tend to be almost brand new and command a much higher price compared to an S4. Thanks for the comments so far.

[Buegie]

There is always the option of chipping the A4 I have, but I'm not sure if I will still be disappointed with the performance of the car.

To keep up with the S4 you're going to have to go BT on the 2.0T. That will cost you a bunch and in addition, an NA V8 is always going to be more reliable than than a BT two liter.

[B6_Rakete]

A Stasis big turbo + chip kit for the A4 (assuming quattro) will probably be the best compromise. You still get some warranty, you get pretty close to S4 performance, and you get much better fuel economy...not to mention not having a heavy V8 up front to kill the handling.

[EuroB6]

^^ stasis setup is expensive!! anways, the seats alone are worth the upgrade, A4s have ugly seats.

[JMG]

I went from a B5 A4 to a B7 S4 and yes it's worth it provided you can afford it after gas prices.

[StillclaimngDP]

Not worth it for a new one at 54-59k that's for sure... either buy a used B6 or get a used 335i. The V8 S4 has terrible gas mileage and mediocre performance without any easy performance path. Although it is definitely an all around nice car to be in, it's not worth anywhere near 55k for a new B7. You can grab a used b6 for 20k right now as long as you don't want Nav, pay 30k for a used 335i and then $575 for a piggyback good for 80hp/80tq at the wheels and have a 400+hp/400+tq daily driver that gets 23-24mph vs 17-21 on the heavier and yet lower torque v8 s4... I sold my 335i to put almost 20k in the bank and bought this 2004 S4 for under 20k so I can do some real estate investment :)

[Eurotrash8]

APR 93 gives you 292lb-ft and the stock B7 S4 is 302lb-ft!

You might want to get your facts right before giving unrealible info to others.

"

Chipping the A4 will not give you torque, which in my opinion contributes substantially to the S4's fun factor.

[WaySloS4]

I honestly have not been to impressed with the S4s fun factor. I loved the car on test drive, but i stepped out of a '96 Jeep and into the S. After driving the car for a few months, its actually quite boaring to me. I have honestly though about giving it up for a nice low mile (under 50k) B5 S4, and going stage 3 with it. Good luck with your decision!

[Cargo8]

I loved the car on test drive, but i stepped out of a '96 Jeep and into the S. After driving the car for a few months, its actually quite boaring to me.

Isn't that just the way it is with most daily driver cars? That's unfair to say its not a fun car because you've gotten used to it.

My car was rear ended in a bad accident and went to the shop for 2 months, during which time I was lucky enough to drive my mom's SL55. It is a shit fast car, and every time I drive it and then my car, sure... my car is "boring". Then I drive our family's GL550 for 2 weeks, hop back in my car and I'm in a fucking go kart!

[AudiOso]

S4's are pretty quick cars but compared to a SRT-8 they don't pull as strong off the line. The fun factor with the S4 comes in the handling. The SRT-8 would be the bomb if it was AWD. I never understood why MoPar didn't develop the big Hemi cars without it.

[WaySloS4]

Isn't that just the way it is with most daily driver cars? That's unfair to say its not a fun car because you've gotten used to it.

My car was rear ended in a bad accident and went to the shop for 2 months, during which time I was lucky enough to drive my mom's SL55. It is a shit fast car, and every time I drive it and then my car, sure... my car is "boring". Then I drive our family's GL550 for 2 weeks, hop back in my car and I'm in a fucking go kart!

In all honesty, no. While staioned in NorCal, i had an '02 Trans Am WS6 as a daily and i can honestly say that car NEVER became boring to me and i loved every second in it. Also, my B5 S was pretty much the same way, always had fun in that car. I can't say that about the B6 S. Don't get my worng, i love the car, its great in almost every way, but i feel the "fun factor" is lacking a lil.

[whartung]

SRT's suck

[CHECKERED]

SRT's suck

THANK YOU


I sat in a dodge charger SRT8 last year at the OC auto show...I was like... ha??? WTF is this prototype interior?...this a disgrace...”my 98 altima has better looking interior then this…and it has poop brown dash…then sat in an "upscale" 300C and it’s the same shit...

every A4 owner wished they had S4. just look at all the conversions.

any way....Turbo Lag <<<< V8

[DuncanC]

Do it. I just did.
I had a 05 A4 3.0L 6M Quattro. Still do. Have it up for sale right now.
Just picked up a 06 S4 6M last week. The S4 is better in every way. The suspension and steering feel are much improved. The tranny feels tighter, the clutch engages quicker, the brakes are sharper. The seats are WAY nicer. And an extra 100hp or so defiantly wakes the car up. Its not a red light racer so if that's was your looking for stick with a POS Chrysler I guess but the S4 is a great mix of all around sporty performance and Audi luxury. When that Chrysler is 5 years old, rusting, rattling like a tin can, and depreciated to being worthless the Audi you could have had will still be looking great, running great, and be worth something.
My vote is it most defiantly is worth the money, even if you could get the same engine performance out of the A4 it still would feel soft and sloppy compared to an S. By the time you modded the car to keep up to the S4 in area's other than engine power you would have spent more than it would cost just to upgrade.

[EuroB6]

APR 93 gives you 292lb-ft and the stock B7 S4 is 302lb-ft!

You might want to get your facts right before giving unrealible info to others.

"

yes, but that's just a spike, that's how most turbo cars are..NA motors are nice and linear. A chipped 2.0t, does provide nice daily driving torque, but the S4 is in another league.
BTW, nice M3!! love them

[jcicchetto]

guys I'm never going back to an SRT-8 unless it is a toy like the challenger. I was merely using it as gauge for performance that I was used to. I am currently in a B7 A4, so I definitely wanted to stay in the family. Maybe I'll wait another year and see where the RS4's are. That seems to be the closest to the performance I am looking for in a DD.

[FastB7S4]

have you test driven the S4 yet?

[akitamike]

Yes, take the test drive if not done so already. You'll find B6's and B7's on many independent lots now adays, and B6's into low 20's. I took 4 test drives of 6 mt's before I got my B6. One even had a full Militek full exhaust, and was chipped b/c I never hit redline even at 7800 rpm. The S4 really flies at 7800 rpm! Anyway, those 4 test drives convinced me.

[gjc]

jcicchetto - I had the luxury of having my '07 Ti Sline A4 being totaled, no fault, so I went to an '06 B7 S4 CPO'd recently.

I'll never be going back to an A4 (especially with the new B8's costing ~$40k for prestige/sline). The handling, torque, luxury blow an SRT away.

People bitch about the gas, it's a V8 what do you expect? Also, you can get some pretty nice deals on B7 S4 now considering the economy and the new chasis.

Where in NH? Going to be a beautiful wknd, I'll probably be up in the white mountains/Kangamangus playing around if you're interested.

[Rothie]

Go with the S4. After I totaled my B7 A4, I could not find any A4s that I wanted, but they had the perfect S4. The S4 was $10,000 off sticker price and after driving it, I was hooked. Gas mileage sucks, but you have to pay to have fun, right?

[jcicchetto]

Where in NH? Going to be a beautiful wknd, I'll probably be up in the white mountains/Kangamangus playing around if you're interested.

I live in Nashua, NH area. I love the Kangamangus highway, it's a great drive. Have fun!

[StillclaimngDP]

I honestly have not been to impressed with the S4s fun factor. I loved the car on test drive, but i stepped out of a '96 Jeep and into the S. After driving the car for a few months, its actually quite boaring to me. I have honestly though about giving it up for a nice low mile (under 50k) B5 S4, and going stage 3 with it. Good luck with your decision!

+1 that happened to me on my first S4... Just loved the nogaro blue with blue alcantara seats so much I had to have it lol.

[Tiny2000]

I have both A4 and S4. I like the A4, easy to drive and good on gas. The S4 is fun for the weekends, and you can still drive everyday if you need to. However, the S4 feels much heavier, I feel like the A4 handles better (but this might be b/c of the coilovers, sway bar, and closer to 50/50 weight in the avant)

I just test drove the new 2.0T B8 version, and man am I impressed! Very smooth and powerful little engine, not buzzy at all. Can't wait to see what a stage 1+ could do for the newest A4s. Perhaps you could move into that instead of the S4?

[808quattro]

I'm having the same issues. I'm in an A4 now and just not too excited about it performance-wise. I'm considering chipping it, but I've also found a pretty good deal on a S4. I just can't seem to pull the trigger because of the fuel economy. I was driving an R32 (which averaged around 20mpg) but it scares me when people talk of driving a S4 and getting around 10-12mpg.

I do love the seats in an S4 and the sound of the V8 though!

[Fuffler]

I am currently in a lease with an A4 but was fairly disappointed with the performance. I have the opportunity to get into a b7 S4, but I'm not sure if it is worth the extra money to move up to the S4. There is always the option of chipping the A4 I have, but I'm not sure if I will still be disappointed with the performance of the car. For reference, I came from a 300 SRT8.

Has anyone made the switch, and what are your opinions?

The jump from A4 to S4 is worth it. The engine and seats alone are worth the cost. The 300 is junk - designed and built to live a short life (think disposable camera vs a real camera). Put an Audi and the 300 side by side and really study how they are put together.

[moroblues4]

i had 06b7 a4 sline with mods and it was just as fast if not i think it was faster i had ko4 on it but now. i got a 04 s4 and i yhink it feels 100 times better then my a4 the seats the brakes and the sound ant the trans 6speed
my b7 a4 had the suckist trans i broke it like 4 time the s4 trans feels so much better and the sound of that v8