SteveK-O (stock!)

In early 1997, it seems like a good idea. The 2.8 had the sport suspension and the 1.8 didn't. Now I'm wanting more low end torque. I way I figure it, $5000 gets a PES system and $1300 over what I can sell the A4 gets me a used 2000 S4. What's the pros and cons for the PES system compared to the real deal (S4)? Someone must have owned or driven both.

SteveK-O A42.8QMS

Bing

talk to NeilM, he used to have a supercharged 2.8, now he has an S4

zain

Assuming you are not bothered by the work to install the G2 and deal with the little things that come up with modded cars, I'd call the two pretty even.

My car has H&R coilovers, the S4 had Koni springs & shocks. Same tires S02 poles. Both quattro (obviously). Mine is tip, the S4 was stick. I drove some minor twisty roads in the S4, nothing timed or track.

My very accurate metric butt dyno says my G2 is better down low and very hard to tell apart mid to high RPM. Which I suppose gives the edge to the G2 since my car is working though a slush box. But really, "close enough you'd need something more accurate than your *** to tell the difference" would be the best summary.

Of course you can chip the S4... Which does weigh slightly more... blah blah blah.

-Z

SteveK-O (stock!)

Thanks for the note. I don't think I would mind doing the G2 install at all, it looks like a clean installation without too much knuckle skinning. Your accurate butt dyno told me what I needed to know. I know the S4 can be upgraded further, but I think the 295HP would be enough (but then again I thought 200 HP was enough at one point)

I know the S4 has the 17" rims, sport seat?, and nice grill but I don't know what else.

Did you leave the badges the same on your 2.8+G2? I kind of like the idea of a "plain" 2.8 with a surpise inside.

SteveK-O 98 2.8 QMS

zain

Tried to go with "surprise! your little boxter can't keep up with me!" as a style.

(Ok the Boxter S does beat me...)

The S4 still seems to have people upgrading brakes, suspension, wheels and tires - at least the people here... So really, I'm not sure the "S" gets you more than the engine - which is a pretty good one.

S4 wheels are universally descibed as too heavy. I have them on my A4 actually, because I liked how they looked, though. (and because people were unloading them.

If you've already upgraded these things on the A4, you might not be bad off with the G2 money wise - versus an S4 you had to mod for wheels, suspension and the like. Do include the exhaust upgrade cost with the G2 though, when rolling the numbers around.

SteveK-O (stock!)

I just reread my original post. The "sell the 98 A4 and buy a used 2000 S4 plan" will cost $13,000 the way I see it, not $1300 as I posted. If it was $1300, I wouldn't need to ask any questions.

Thanks,

SteveK-O 98 2.8 QMS

John CC

for resale, looks, breaks, upgradibility, etc...

Remember, once you get the S4, you have to get a chip as well which will increase your cost by around 1k )

SteveK-O (stock!)

I have not done a lot of upgrades: 16" Hak 1 tires for winter with extra set of 16" 7 spoke wheels, Neuspeed chip, RamAir filter, custom phone plug (I made) to interface my NEXTEL i1000 to the hands free system. I would love to do more, the PES G2 would be a big step for me. I usually keep my cars for at least 10 years, so I keep them in top form.

You make a good point with the resale value, a A4 with PES G2 will not be worth $5K more and might actually get less due to boy racer engine damage concerns. The S4 will always be worth more. When you wrote "breaks" I hope you mean "brakes", and that's an other good point. Do you know if the clutch and drivetrain on the S4 is beefier to take on the extra power?

I'll tack on the $1K chip to the cost of S4 the path. Is it only that much or do you need to upgrade the turbos with the chip?

Thanks for the help,

Steve 98 2.8QMS

John CC

Do you know if the clutch and drivetrain on the S4 is beefier to take on the extra power?

Yes they are.

16" Hak 1 tires for winter with extra set of 16" 7 spoke wheels

They might fit the S4 - check with tire rack...

Is it only that much or do you need to upgrade the turbos with the chip?

Only if you break them... Lets hope that does not happen if you get the car

When you wrote "breaks" I hope you mean "brakes"

I can't spell worth of ****!!!

brian 4.2

I usually put blowers on my new cars and take them of at 80-90k. You are doing the opposite. I dont know how many miles you have on it or how hard on the engine you have been. You will never get your money back out of the older car as you say. Easy to pull a chip and its almost expected in the S4.