The 8's replacement: Audi S4
10-19-2010, 10:04 PM
#1
The 8's replacement: Audi S4
It's been about a week since I got my new (to me) car in, so I figured I'd post a quick review/comparison and pictures.
The car and mods (short list):
-2000 Audi S4
-2.7L biturbo AWD
-Upgraded turbos: ported Borg Warner K04's
-Upgraded fueling + tuning by VAST performance
-Additional supporting mods for turbos (inlet piping, diverter valves, etc)
-Stage 3 clutch
-VAST water/methanol injection kit
When it's all said and done, I'm probably putting down 400-450 awhp. The clutch had a recommended 500 mile break in period, so the tune still needs a bit of perfecting before I'll be making the most out of my set up.
Interior
I had the red/black 2-tone leather in the 8. As far as looks go, I really enjoyed the sporty look of that set up. I never had too much of an issue with space in the 8, but I did manage to pretty adequately fill up most the space available on a couple occasions. The S4 has a black leather interior with wood grain accents. It definitely pulls off a classier look which is nice, but I do kind of wish it was a little more on the sporty side. Both cars feel similarly comfortable to me, though on a longer drive, the S4 is a bit more comfortable for me. The quality of materials is probably better in the S4, but I didn't have many complaints about the 8's interior. Obviously, the S4 offers more space, especially in the trunk. The 8 had better cup holders. The S4 has one cool/useful cup holder in front of one of the vents. That one holds most cups/bottles rather well and is easy to access. There are 2 more below the arm rest which force me to keep the armrest up and are a bit small for a lot of regular sized cups/bottles.
Interior Features
The S4 offers climate control which is definitely something I wish was in the 8. My 8 had the controls on the steering wheel, which was nice, but I honestly didn't use them that much, so I can't really complain about that. My 8 had the bose sound system, and my S4 also has a bose set up. The set up in the S4 has a lot more bass potential and seems to have better response throughout the range. The mids are pretty good and the highs are definitely better. The S4 offers better controls for adjusting sound levels, which is definitely nice for that fine tuning (which I'm still working on). My biggest complaint with the S4's set up is the volume control. There's not volume level display and the interval is too big so there's not many in between volumes to pick from. At times it feels like one level is too quite and the next level up is too loud for what I'd like at the given moment. Probably something I'll get used to. I'd say ease of use is about the same for both cars... they're both rather user friendly. I feel that the S4 has a few more features overall (it has a tape player! Now I need to go find where I can buy a tape...). The 8's design definitely had a better look to it, though the S4 is not bad.
Exterior
In terms of looks, the 8 is better, hands down. Not even a good comparison really. Right now, the exterior appearance is fairly stock on my S4. I plan on doing some things down the road, but that will be a while. Just a better looking wheel would go a long way with this car. The S4 is a little sporty in appearance, but not a whole lot. I definitely like the sleeper effect though.
Braking
The RX-8 had better braking than my S4 in its current condition. I do have upgraded brakes on the S4, but they need new pads soon and the rotors are shot. Even with those issues, the S4 has pretty good braking for now so I can only imagine that the S4 will brake just as well or better than the 8 once I'm able to take care of the pads and rotors.
Suspension
Not too surprisingly, the RX-8 wins this category. I'll definitely miss the responsiveness of the RX-8. Coilovers are definitely high on my list of things to get for the S4. The suspension isn't too bad, but it's a bit on the bouncy side and doesn't feel as sure or predictable as the RX-8. The steering feel of the 8 is very tough to beat. With a little work, the S4 will definitely be a better contender, but I don't see it topping the 8 in this category.
Gas Mileage
The S4 wins here. I haven't done a good city mileage yet, as I'm on the accelerator a lot, but I can tell that I'll probably get better than the 8. Highway mileage is definitely better. I consistently got about 23 mpg in the S4. Making the same trip, I got about 20 mpg at best at about the same speeds. More typically, 18-19 mpg. When I hit boost, the S4 really burns through a good amount of gas, but out of boost it does really well. I'm getting a boost gauge soon to help me stay out of boost/keep track of how much boost I'm hitting on a more regular basis. I already have a general feel for when boost is hitting, but the gauge will make it a lot more precise.
Various Feelings
Wasn't quite sure how to name this group, but it's basically a few general feels from driving. The steering response (as mentioned above) is not nearly as good in the S4. The shifter is not difficult to use, but finding gears is not nearly as sure as finding them in the 8. There's a lot more play and it feels messy in comparison. The throw isn't too bad, but I will be getting a short shifter. Hopefully the SS will help sort those issues out a bit more. Despite being a stage 3 clutch, it's fairly comfortable to use. It's a tad firmer than the 8, but it's not a workout in traffic. The engagement is a bit shorter, but it's by no means an on/off switch. I'm fairly picky about the feel of clutches and I feel my S4 has a good set up. It's able to handle the power and still offer enough feeling for easy shifting and control.
Acceleration
Saved the most fun (in the S4) for last. It's honestly not a fair comparison, but I guess it's the counter point to the handling category. I can't tell you how much I wanted to get through that break in period. I was able to boost a little during the break in, and I could already tell that it was going to be a blast. The acceleration is amazing and a ton of fun. I've done a couple light launches and it really puts you back in your seat. I'm running 225's and a good launch easily breaks them loose a bit. The RX-8 wasn't bad, but the S4 takes this category without a doubt.
Conclusion
I loved the RX-8. I love my S4. They're both great cars, perform amazingly and are a lot of fun to drive. There are things I'll miss about the 8, but I don't regret moving on. The S4 offers more space and comfort, as well as a lot of acceleration. I'm unsure of where I'll end up in the next few years, and there's a chance I'll be up north so the AWD might end up being a more useful feature than I realize. Basically, I feel that the move was right for me. Now for picture time!
RX-8 (before I sold mods):
Quick pics of the S4:
Messing around with HDR...
Didn't think to take pictures of the back seats, trunk or engine bay... might post some of those pics later if I find time to take them.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6PrvLQrd9U
The car and mods (short list):
-2000 Audi S4
-2.7L biturbo AWD
-Upgraded turbos: ported Borg Warner K04's
-Upgraded fueling + tuning by VAST performance
-Additional supporting mods for turbos (inlet piping, diverter valves, etc)
-Stage 3 clutch
-VAST water/methanol injection kit
When it's all said and done, I'm probably putting down 400-450 awhp. The clutch had a recommended 500 mile break in period, so the tune still needs a bit of perfecting before I'll be making the most out of my set up.
Interior
I had the red/black 2-tone leather in the 8. As far as looks go, I really enjoyed the sporty look of that set up. I never had too much of an issue with space in the 8, but I did manage to pretty adequately fill up most the space available on a couple occasions. The S4 has a black leather interior with wood grain accents. It definitely pulls off a classier look which is nice, but I do kind of wish it was a little more on the sporty side. Both cars feel similarly comfortable to me, though on a longer drive, the S4 is a bit more comfortable for me. The quality of materials is probably better in the S4, but I didn't have many complaints about the 8's interior. Obviously, the S4 offers more space, especially in the trunk. The 8 had better cup holders. The S4 has one cool/useful cup holder in front of one of the vents. That one holds most cups/bottles rather well and is easy to access. There are 2 more below the arm rest which force me to keep the armrest up and are a bit small for a lot of regular sized cups/bottles.
Interior Features
The S4 offers climate control which is definitely something I wish was in the 8. My 8 had the controls on the steering wheel, which was nice, but I honestly didn't use them that much, so I can't really complain about that. My 8 had the bose sound system, and my S4 also has a bose set up. The set up in the S4 has a lot more bass potential and seems to have better response throughout the range. The mids are pretty good and the highs are definitely better. The S4 offers better controls for adjusting sound levels, which is definitely nice for that fine tuning (which I'm still working on). My biggest complaint with the S4's set up is the volume control. There's not volume level display and the interval is too big so there's not many in between volumes to pick from. At times it feels like one level is too quite and the next level up is too loud for what I'd like at the given moment. Probably something I'll get used to. I'd say ease of use is about the same for both cars... they're both rather user friendly. I feel that the S4 has a few more features overall (it has a tape player! Now I need to go find where I can buy a tape...). The 8's design definitely had a better look to it, though the S4 is not bad.
Exterior
In terms of looks, the 8 is better, hands down. Not even a good comparison really. Right now, the exterior appearance is fairly stock on my S4. I plan on doing some things down the road, but that will be a while. Just a better looking wheel would go a long way with this car. The S4 is a little sporty in appearance, but not a whole lot. I definitely like the sleeper effect though.
Braking
The RX-8 had better braking than my S4 in its current condition. I do have upgraded brakes on the S4, but they need new pads soon and the rotors are shot. Even with those issues, the S4 has pretty good braking for now so I can only imagine that the S4 will brake just as well or better than the 8 once I'm able to take care of the pads and rotors.
Suspension
Not too surprisingly, the RX-8 wins this category. I'll definitely miss the responsiveness of the RX-8. Coilovers are definitely high on my list of things to get for the S4. The suspension isn't too bad, but it's a bit on the bouncy side and doesn't feel as sure or predictable as the RX-8. The steering feel of the 8 is very tough to beat. With a little work, the S4 will definitely be a better contender, but I don't see it topping the 8 in this category.
Gas Mileage
The S4 wins here. I haven't done a good city mileage yet, as I'm on the accelerator a lot, but I can tell that I'll probably get better than the 8. Highway mileage is definitely better. I consistently got about 23 mpg in the S4. Making the same trip, I got about 20 mpg at best at about the same speeds. More typically, 18-19 mpg. When I hit boost, the S4 really burns through a good amount of gas, but out of boost it does really well. I'm getting a boost gauge soon to help me stay out of boost/keep track of how much boost I'm hitting on a more regular basis. I already have a general feel for when boost is hitting, but the gauge will make it a lot more precise.
Various Feelings
Wasn't quite sure how to name this group, but it's basically a few general feels from driving. The steering response (as mentioned above) is not nearly as good in the S4. The shifter is not difficult to use, but finding gears is not nearly as sure as finding them in the 8. There's a lot more play and it feels messy in comparison. The throw isn't too bad, but I will be getting a short shifter. Hopefully the SS will help sort those issues out a bit more. Despite being a stage 3 clutch, it's fairly comfortable to use. It's a tad firmer than the 8, but it's not a workout in traffic. The engagement is a bit shorter, but it's by no means an on/off switch. I'm fairly picky about the feel of clutches and I feel my S4 has a good set up. It's able to handle the power and still offer enough feeling for easy shifting and control.
Acceleration
Saved the most fun (in the S4) for last. It's honestly not a fair comparison, but I guess it's the counter point to the handling category. I can't tell you how much I wanted to get through that break in period. I was able to boost a little during the break in, and I could already tell that it was going to be a blast. The acceleration is amazing and a ton of fun. I've done a couple light launches and it really puts you back in your seat. I'm running 225's and a good launch easily breaks them loose a bit. The RX-8 wasn't bad, but the S4 takes this category without a doubt.
Conclusion
I loved the RX-8. I love my S4. They're both great cars, perform amazingly and are a lot of fun to drive. There are things I'll miss about the 8, but I don't regret moving on. The S4 offers more space and comfort, as well as a lot of acceleration. I'm unsure of where I'll end up in the next few years, and there's a chance I'll be up north so the AWD might end up being a more useful feature than I realize. Basically, I feel that the move was right for me. Now for picture time!
RX-8 (before I sold mods):
Quick pics of the S4:
Messing around with HDR...
Didn't think to take pictures of the back seats, trunk or engine bay... might post some of those pics later if I find time to take them.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6PrvLQrd9U
Last edited by 8 Maniac; 10-19-2010 at 10:08 PM.
10-19-2010, 10:41 PM
#2
The RX-8 is missed
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good read man, thanks for sharing.
my main peeve with audi's is lack of interior and more-so exterior styling. it's just too bland for me. some new wheels would help change that!!
as would tinted tails b/c those lights are boring to me.
i can definitely agree with the added space being nice. it's nice to have 5 seats and a bigger trunk.
and, well, like you said, i'm sure the acceleration is a blast!! overall a very nice change imo
my main peeve with audi's is lack of interior and more-so exterior styling. it's just too bland for me. some new wheels would help change that!!
as would tinted tails b/c those lights are boring to me.i can definitely agree with the added space being nice. it's nice to have 5 seats and a bigger trunk.
and, well, like you said, i'm sure the acceleration is a blast!! overall a very nice change imo
10-19-2010, 11:21 PM
#4
10-19-2010, 11:30 PM
#5
Thanks for the nice comments! The tails do stick out a bit much I guess. I was planning on getting some cheap-ish wheels and tires this winter but the tires needed replacing a lot earlier than expected so I had to get tires for the stock wheels, which are different spec than what I was hoping to get for my new wheels. I guess I could settle for smaller wheels later on. We'll see.
Help is always appreciated... I've already got a list of stuff to do, just need money. The things that need to be replaced I can deal with for a little bit so I'm hoping to get a good amount of stuff done after christmas time. We'll see I guess.
Help is always appreciated... I've already got a list of stuff to do, just need money. The things that need to be replaced I can deal with for a little bit so I'm hoping to get a good amount of stuff done after christmas time. We'll see I guess.
10-20-2010, 07:36 AM
#6
Speed is all you FN NEED
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Nice choice!!! I've always been a fan of the Autounion. An as far as sedans go, I'd take an Audi over a Bimmer any day of the week!! Congrats!
10-20-2010, 01:13 PM
#7
Yeah, one of the other cars I considered was the older M5's. They're a pretty good package from the start, but there's little room for modification and the interior just looks dated to me. I know the S4 is an older car as well, but I feel the design has held up a bit better in terms of looking modern. The biggest thing was the ability to mod though... it's just something I enjoy (when I can actually afford it... dreaming of it is nice too).
10-20-2010, 01:45 PM
#9
Pedobear approved
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The S4 is an awesome car. We have one in our shop at the moment that we're replacing all of the suspension and installing coilovers. I test drove it before hand, and it's a really fun car
10-20-2010, 07:16 PM
#10
Forgot to mention the cost of Methanol when considering mileage. I've gone through about a gallon of methanol in a week, though I'd imagine it'll slow down once I'm done with the honeymoon phase. Even at that rate, I'd be looking at about 4 gallons a month @ $5/gallon so about $20/month of methanol... not too bad overall.
10-20-2010, 07:39 PM
#11
Nice pick. I love the S4 starting from your model to the current line up. I've seen some modded S4 launches on youtube and it made me **** my pants while watching in my computer chair; can't imagine what the real deal must be like. I've heard the bi-turbo S4's are a nightmare to maintain though so good luck with that. Audi's are great cars though. They're discrete and classy but will put you on your *** if you mess with them and aren't packing some serious heat.
10-20-2010, 08:10 PM
#12
Nice pick. I love the S4 starting from your model to the current line up. I've seen some modded S4 launches on youtube and it made me **** my pants while watching in my computer chair; can't imagine what the real deal must be like. I've heard the bi-turbo S4's are a nightmare to maintain though so good luck with that. Audi's are great cars though. They're discrete and classy but will put you on your *** if you mess with them and aren't packing some serious heat.
I'm honestly surprised about the mostly positive comments... figured I'd have a bunch of people telling me what car I should have picked or why it isn't an appropriate replacement for the 8. I was REALLY expecting someone to say something about sti's/evo's lol.
10-23-2010, 01:24 PM
#14
Strength/Confidence
Sweet car man. I was seriously looking at '06+ s4's, but then I found my rx8 and had to go with that since I have a cts-v already, but seriously, sweet car man.
10-23-2010, 04:56 PM
#21
Which models are you talking about? Stage 3 B5's (mine) are quite a bit faster than the V8 models. The new ones would probably have better features and handling, but I really like the biturbo engine more than the V8's. I probably would have picked the older M5 over the V8 S4's.
10-23-2010, 05:54 PM
#23
Which models are you talking about? Stage 3 B5's (mine) are quite a bit faster than the V8 models. The new ones would probably have better features and handling, but I really like the biturbo engine more than the V8's. I probably would have picked the older M5 over the V8 S4's.
10-23-2010, 08:03 PM
#25
Ehh... I'm kind of split on it. When I first got pics, I thought it looked a bit different than it does and I didnt like it. Once I actually got the car, it kind of grew on me. The lip spoiler is definitely something I'm thinking about though. There's more important things on my list though... Taking care of boost gauge, wheels, replacing fans, etc are all higher on my list lol.