What does the B5 S4 have that the B5 A4 doesn't?

[OldAudiA4]

As the title says, I know they are different but what are the subtle differences that the S4 has over the A4 and are they interchangeable?

[bOOOOstedAudi]

Someone, not me, but someone will murder you on this one.

[BaseDrifter]

Off the top of my head:

2 more cylinders, another turbo + intercooler, more headaches, a thinner wallet, and higher insurance rates
An extra gear
Bigger brakes and bigger wheels
Stiffer suspension
Vented fender liners
Higher rev limit, different instrument cluster
Different bumpers, side skirts, fog lights, grille, headlights, and B pillars
Leather seats with extra support, different headliner (I think)
Paint colors, mirror cap finish

See also: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...e-b5-a4-and-S4

[walky_talky20]

US B5 S4's all had ESP standard. A4's got optional ESP 1 year later, for 2001.

Uprated fuel pump (because twin turbos).

I believe the leather is different. V6 A4's have leather, but S4's have "napa leather". I believe the leather on the door cards and armrest is different as well. Also the wood trim is more upscale in the S4 (if you're into that sort of thing).

The exterior trim around the windows is "aluminum" on the S4, as compared to the chrome trim on the V6 A4's. This difference is subtle.

I believe the Auto-dimming mirrors were standard (all 3 pieces of glass). Not sure if Bose was standard, or if just most of them had it.

As far as the chassis itself, I don't think there is anything that is actually different (save exterior color choices). If you had all the parts, you could swap everything to make an A4 into an S4. Everything bolts on. It's just like a very significant options package for the A4. <<Don't tell the S4 guys I said that.

[Blackstallion]

Jezz another shit thread

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...e-b5-a4-and-S4

[RoadRage]

S4's have an S and A4's have an A.

[redline380]

this question is WAY too broad. We could get into technicalities like rear end ratio's, composition of brake pads, etc etc etc. The list could go on for a very long time. If you are looking for something specific, just ask, but I don't think anyone (on here, at least) knows each and every single difference between the two, let alone actually take the time to list every little difference

[Mad Cow]

US B5 S4's all had ESP standard. A4's got optional ESP 1 year later, for 2001.

Uprated fuel pump (because twin turbos).

I believe the leather is different. V6 A4's have leather, but S4's have "napa leather". I believe the leather on the door cards and armrest is different as well. Also the wood trim is more upscale in the S4 (if you're into that sort of thing).

The exterior trim around the windows is "aluminum" on the S4, as compared to the chrome trim on the V6 A4's. This difference is subtle.

I believe the Auto-dimming mirrors were standard (all 3 pieces of glass). Not sure if Bose was standard, or if just most of them had it.

As far as the chassis itself, I don't think there is anything that is actually different (save exterior color choices). If you had all the parts, you could swap everything to make an A4 into an S4. Everything bolts on. It's just like a very significant options package for the A4. <<Don't tell the S4 guys I said that.

If the leather on S4 seats is the same as my sport leather seats (which it appears to be) it's called Buffalino, which is either made from an actual Buffalo or in Buffalo NY. It's got a lot of texture and is really thick, so I'm leaning more towards made of Buffalo. Ano now the word buffalo looks weird to me, I should stop writing buffalo... Buffalo.

S4 window trim is called "black chrome", although it's more of a dark gunmetal colour. Looks amazing.

[revbjeff]

The A4 leather seats are not the same material as the S4. The S4 seats are a much softer nicer leather. Compared to the S4 seats the A4 seats feel like fake leather.

[walky_talky20]

Yep. S4 has different leather. I got the spelling wrong. Apparently it's "Silk Nappa Leather" in ETKA.

[Mad Cow]

That's odd, my seats look identical to non-alcantara S4 seats right down to the material. Unless Canadian S4's didn't come with nappa leather or something.

[nynoah]

In America it was next to impossible to get an A4 with sport seats in the later years of B5 production. I do think Canada could get them.

[RedB5S4]

Happiness.

[bOOOOstedAudi]

I knew it..

[GrapeBandit]

fuk leather seats. blazing hot in the summer, chilly willy in the winter. I had owned cars with leather since 1997, my current b5 has sport cloth. I couldn't be happier I dont ever want leather seats again.

I have the best of both worlds, sport seats that dont effect my ass temp no matter the weather. plus they are heated in case it gets cold.

[Corrado_Guy]

fuk leather seats. blazing hot in the summer, chilly willy in the winter. I had owned cars with leather since 1997, my current b5 has sport cloth. I couldn't be happier I dont ever want leather seats again.

I have the best of both worlds, sport seats that dont effect my ass temp no matter the weather. plus they are heated in case it gets cold.

Don't forget the last point, they are grippy and not slippy. When you turn hard your butt stays where it should.

[melomandn]

What does the B5 S4 have that the B5 A4 doesn't?

Balls

[GrapeBandit]

Don't forget the last point, they are grippy and not slippy. When you turn hard your butt stays where it should.

true indeed. excellent point I overlooked

What does the B5 S4 have that the B5 A4 doesn't?

Balls

stock a'4s dont have balls, but tuned ones sure as hell do. hell, most even faster than tuned s4's, a lot easier on your wallet and a hell of a lot easier to work on

[melomandn]

true indeed. excellent point I overlooked

stock a'4s dont have balls, but tuned ones sure as hell do. hell, most even faster than tuned s4's, a lot easier on your wallet and a hell of a lot easier to work on

Completely agree with everything besides the faster than tuned s4's, totally depends on what "tuned" means for each car though.

I was just messing around because our cars are painfully slow stock, thats why I went BT

[GrapeBandit]

faster as in throw 10 stacks at an A4 then throw 10 stacks at an S4. A4 will be faster dollar for dollar, besides just chip tuning both cars while stock

[Seerlah]

Owners who think their sh*t smells like fresh daisies. Not all!

[melomandn]

Owners who think their sh*t smells like fresh daisies. Not all!

truth

faster as in throw 10 stacks at an A4 then throw 10 stacks at an S4. A4 will be faster dollar for dollar, besides just chip tuning both cars while stock

and also truth

[Corrado_Guy]

Let's face it, it is the same car with different trim, driveline, and suspension/brakes but what ever you can do to one you can do to the other. The one advantage the 1.8T has is weight which it has less of and the easiest way to make a car go faster is to drop some. What the S4 has is displacement which means grunt and any of you 1.8T guys will have to admit that down low the 1.8T is pretty dead BT/BAT or not. Mods for these cars are cheaper and you can make good power with less coin and less hassle. Working on the car is easier with the 1.8T as well as there is more room under the hood.

The real reason for the S4 is to play with the M5 and whatever MB had to offer in the day. It is a fastish car right out of the box and you take it to the speed limiter without a problem yet it drives smooth and easy. I looked at both and then decided to go with the A4 and dump some money in it and got a car that put the same horsepower to the ground that the S4 puts to the crank for less so it was simple economics.