hnada

I have to decide whether to keep my 2007 RS (which I love) or get a new '10 or '11 S4. Does anyone have any thoughts ?

ItsDubC

What's important to you in a car?

NWS4Guy

Exactly. If you want to play the waiting game, there will likely be a new RS 4 coming in a year or so. B8 S4 can currently outperform the B7 RS4 in 0-60, on the track, newer/polished interior, and fuel economy.

Newer is usually better, but the S4 lacks the in your face V8 growl, and swager that the RS4 has. It's a sleeper, more subdued version of the RS4 - and to be honest, is really more of a souped up A4 than anything like an RS is.

SMK_RS4

Just traded my '07 RS4 this morning for a loaded 2010 S4 with S-Tronic. So far, absolutely no regrets. Simply loving it.

Just brought it home a few hours ago. It is more refined, feels more powerful at the speeds I typically drive, has a great interior with all the goodies I was missing in the RS4.

I think ego has a lot to do with it. If you care what other's think, the RS4 is the more classy car due to the rarity and cost of ownership. Otherwise, the S4 is better in nearly every respect.

kwikwi

Two thinks B7RS4 has that S4B8 doesn't have: V8 growling sound and push the S4 toward high revs and then the RS4 takes the flag. But it seems that APR is coming with something to overcome this weakness on the S4
as stated on an other forum. But for a daily driver, B8S4 all the way with the sport diff and S-tronic.

All this depends on what you want to do with your car.

ItsDubC

I read that Audi in fact will not be releasing a B8 RS4 because they are focusing on the RS5 (which is already a B8), plus it seems that the RS4 makes an appearance every other generation (B5, B7, ...). Pure speculation tho I think.

The B8 S4 has already proven itself to be highly tunable even tho it's already extremely capable from the factory. The B8 platform is superior to the B7 platform in almost every way. Also, used RS4s are notorious for suffering from carbon build-up issues that rob their engines of their true power over time. I'm not saying that the S4 won't suffer from these issues as well, just that they are new at the moment.

In the RS4's favor, it just looks absolutely mean. Its widebody is a clear distinction from the B7 A4 and S4, and the concavity of its wheels is amazing. It's a beast in the upper bands if you like high-revving engines, and sounds awesome. Finally, it is an RS. Nuff said.

NWS4Guy

Not what I hear from GmbH but I didn't hear this firsthand, I heard it 4th hand so take what you will...

ItsDubC

Apparently we're hearing different things from two different 4th hands

Regardless, the OP has not yet revealed to us what he/she values in a car, so any advice is not as applicable as it could be.

GregB7S4

Well I agree with you on the fuel economy....Where did you read the S4 is faster at the track and 0-60? Car and Driver tested an RS4 twice and achieved 0-60 in 4.5 and 4.6 sec. C&D just tested an S4 and got 0-60 in 4.9. RS4 was faster in 1/4 mile as well.

With regards to track performance they are closely matched, you cannot say the S4 outperforms the S4 at the track, RS4 wins 2 out of 3:

http://www.fastestlaps.com/compariso...udi_S4_B8.html

kwikwi

If you take a look a this:

For the 0-60 of the S4, it all depends on how they manage to do it. Here we have it at 4.6 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip.

http://www.insideline.com/audi/s4/20...and-video.html

And on the "Virginia International Raceway", the S4 beated the RS4. So at the end , that's what it is.

/EDIT

To be honest, you may also look at some interesting numbers from INSIDELINE.

http://www.insideline.com/audi/rs4/2...exus-is-f.html

http://www.insideline.com/audi/s4/20...-bmw-335i.html

B8S4
----
Conditions for Testing
Temperature (°F) 70.56
Humidity 67%
Elevation (ft.) 1,121
Wind (mph, direction) 1.62 mph headwind
Performance
0 - 30 (sec.) 1.9 (2.2 with stability control on)
0 - 45 (sec.) 3.3 (3.6 with stability control on)
0 - 60 (sec.) 4.9 (5.2 with stability control on)
0 - 75 (sec.) 7.2 (7.5 with stability control on)
1/4 mile (sec. @ mph) 13.2 @ 106.1 (13.4 @ 106.0 with stability control on)
0-60 with 1-ft rollout (sec.) 4.6 (4.8 with stability control on)
30 - 0 (ft.) 27
60 - 0 (ft.) 109
Braking rating Excellent
Slalom, 6 x 100 ft (mph) 68.8 (67.2 with stability control on)
Skid pad, 200 ft diameter (lateral g) 0.90 (0.92 with stability control on)
Handling rating Excellent
Sound level @ idle (db) 36.3
Sound level @ full throttle (db) 76.4
Sound level @ 70 mph cruise (db) 63.0


335i
----
Conditions for Testing
Temperature (°F) 74
Humidity 29%
Elevation (ft.) 421
Wind (mph, direction) 3.12
Performance
0 - 30 (sec.) 2.1
0 - 45 (sec.) 3.6
0 - 60 (sec.) 5.3
0 - 75 (sec.) 7.8
1/4 mile (sec. @ mph) 13.5 @ 103.8
0-60 with 1-ft rollout (sec.) 4.9
30 - 0 (ft.) 27
60 - 0 (ft.) 111
Braking rating Excellent
Slalom, 6 x 100 ft (mph) 68.4
Skid pad, 200 ft diameter (lateral g) 0.92
Handling rating Excellent
Sound level @ idle (db) 43.1
Sound level @ full throttle (db) 80
Sound level @ 70 mph cruise (db) 64


B7RS4
-----
Conditions for Testing
Temperature (°F) 68
Elevation (ft.) 421
Wind (mph, direction) 2.0 NE
Performance
0 - 30 (sec.) 1.6
0 - 45 (sec.) 2.8
0 - 60 (sec.) 4.3
0 - 75 (sec.) 6.4
1/4 mile (sec. @ mph) 12.8 @ 108.5
30 - 0 (ft.) 29
60 - 0 (ft.) 117
Braking rating Excellent
Slalom, 6 x 100 ft (mph) 70.5
Skid pad, 200 ft diameter (lateral g) 0.89
Handling rating Excellent
Sound level @ idle (db) 46.9 ("S" on 49.3)
Sound level @ full throttle (db) 78.5 (79.5)
Sound level @ 70 mph cruise (db) 67.9 (68.4)

LEXUS IS-F
---------
Conditions for Testing
Temperature (°F) 62
Elevation (ft.) 421
Wind (mph, direction) 1.5 NE
Performance
0 - 30 (sec.) 1.9
0 - 45 (sec.) 3.3
0 - 60 (sec.) 4.8
0 - 75 (sec.) 6.8
1/4 mile (sec. @ mph) 13.2 @ 109.3
30 - 0 (ft.) 28
60 - 0 (ft.) 112
Braking rating Excellent
Slalom, 6 x 100 ft (mph) 70.2
Skid pad, 200 ft diameter (lateral g) 0.93
Handling rating Excellent
Sound level @ idle (db) 46.9
Sound level @ full throttle (db) 80.5
Sound level @ 70 mph cruise (db) 67.2