pentosinjunky

Do these figures seem more or less on par?

OEM USDM S4 F/S/R - $2000-2500

OEM USDM S4 Front/Sides + Euro S4 Rear - $ 3300-3500

RS4 Front, S4 sides, Euro S4 Rear - $5 grand

The RS4 options are kinda tough to rationalize without taking extra aftermarket parts insurance for the possibility of someone whacking the car...not too expensive, but nonetheless...

After seeing the OE RS4 front bumper, the S4 front on a light silver car just isn't as satisfying...In the end I think I might just cram a Racetec under my stock front bumper.

tehaudi

but if that is what you are into...I would be perfectly content with the mods you already have on your car. Actually, they are exactly what i would like to do to my car...anyways, if I had some extra, extra, extra cash lying around I would prolly go the RS4 route and get the insurance coverage.

pentosinjunky

its all about what you want.

shaag81

Sell your car, buy an S4...

tehaudi

unless you really do have alot of excess cash to burn. Each to his own though...but if I had a few K extra I would open a Money market account and wait for when I am going to need the money, like if the economy does what some are predicting after the election.

But, I think sometimes I think on too much of a macro level. Do what you want, an RS4/S4/Euro would look really good. However, if you ever think about selling your car, remember you will not really see any of that money again.....maybe I am just getting too old at 23...

pentosinjunky

My 1.8T has 126k on the clock from a 40mi/day commute. Although I have good service records from day one, I doubt I could get more than $7500 for it simply because of mileage. Moreover, car shoppers in this area prefer auto trans 325 Bimmers which they then proceed to shod with bargain-basement no-name tires...

With an S4 for "performance" you're buying simplicity and someone else's answers. I'm familiar with the issues of my particular B5, and it seems simpler to maintain than the S4, even in particularly high states of tune. HOWEVER, to achieve good power numbers, which is what, essentially, this debate is about (and FMIC fitment being the mother of this debate), it is easier to simply open one's wallet and throw money at AWE, ASP or APR for a full-on turbo setup, plus the assorted supporting mods. When you factor in coilovers, brakes, chassis reinforcement, mandatory use of 18"s and running expensive 18in tires with the effectual BBKs, blah blah blah, to a Stage 3 S4, the numbers add up quickly. Suddenly the A4 with a GTRS, or even a 2.0l + whatever on stock EMS, seems cheap.

The S4 does seem to have some saving grace in the fact that Stage 3 S4s have a bit of a following and can fetch ~20k with mods, saving you the time/stress of a partout.

Same thing with the 944/S2000/E36 M3 vs B5 A4/S4 track car scenario...you're buying simplicity.



My original question was whether the quotes seemed on track.

pentosinjunky

If you keep thinking in ten-year terms, it's all good, but occasionally you have to balance the here-and-now and be willing to make a mistake.