Checked out an rs4 today....

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

And to be honest I was a little underwhelmed. Not at all a shot at the car because I love them. It was a forum members on AZ old car, sprint blue with 75k on it. Interior was trashed, exterior looked good from far but far from good (my expectations at least) for what they were asking. Also had been in at least 2 accidents and ha no service records. Not that any of this is gay renters to take away from the car but I think I was trying to force myself to like the car at that point.

Love the sound (for a stock exhaust), looks, and ride. It was a little more enjoyable to drive at times compared to my JHM s4 which you have to be a little more attentive with in terms of the clutch at low speeds. I think a lot of what I missed was the responsiveness of the JHM tune. My s4 I hit the pedal and it throws your head back, rs4 was just…meh. Like I said I know this is mostly due to the tune my s4 felt the same way without a tune. Handling, didn’t really get to test out but I would assume it was about the same as the s4. Thankfully I drove the s4 to check this car and another out so I could have back to back tests of difference. Second rs4 (63k miles) was a pretty clean car actually (former Audi corporate car) but also lacked records and looked as if the owner drove past a set of branches on the drivers side everyday as there were scratches all along the side. Didn’t even test drive it as I was tired from the long day (it was 8pm by then) and I didn’t want to waste the salesmen or my time on a car I knew I wasn’t happy with.

Guess I’m questioning if I would be satisfied with a stock rs4. Don’t know if the one I drove was carbon cleaned ever so that could be part of the lack of get up. If I were to make the jump I might have to go right into getting the car tuned lol. Other thing is my car is in extremely good condition paint wise etc. Is pretty heavily modded for what can be done an I think I might be hard pressed to find a similar example on cars or autotrader. But you have to pay to play or in thing case pay top dollar for a top condition car which is what I did with the s4. I’m in not rush, I was really just looking, but has anyone else come from a heavily modded s4 to stock rs4?

#2

It would probably help to mention my mods

JHM IM spacers, trio shifter, lw rotors, tune, stage 4 clutch and flywheel, miltek dp, FI exhaust, KW v3 and hotchkis rs4 rear sways, Michelin PSS tires.

#3

Sakimano did lightly modded S4 to RS4. No regrets at all it seems.

#4

Im sure there would be no regrets at all, just wondering if a JHM S4 is deceiving because of the throttle response. It will probably take some time to find a real clean rs4 and I need to decide if I want to go down the road of parting out the S4.

#5

Yeah my rs4

Handles better
Looks better
Goes just as fast and is maybe quicker
Has forged internals and can handle 500 whp + in its sleep
Is crazy rare
Will depreciate not too bad vs an s4 I believe, meaning cost of ownership

So it was an easy transition

However it is definitely, performance wise, is a bit of a lateral move vs a Jhm s4.

However don’t forget that with a tune and piggies an rs4 is performing like a supercharged s4.

#6

From another thread, I forget which, we summarised that:

  • If you’re keeping the car forever, want something crazy, already have significant money in the car (I would consider the clutch part of that) and understand that the money you put in, you will never see again, go full retard on your S4

  • If resale/residual is an issue, then the RS4 is the way forward. The money that you put into changing up, you will see again as the RS4 is holding great value in the used market. If looks are of high concern then the RS4 is a no brainer.

I do remember saki trying out my car at the Cayuga parking lot shortly after getting tune/clutch etc and commenting on how much more responsive my car felt… and then proceeded to spank me all over the park in a number of head to heads down the 1320 lol.

#7

Yeah my rs4

A handles better
Looks better
Goes just as fast and is maybe quicker
Has forged internals and can handle 500 whp + in its sleep
Is crazy rare
Will depreciate not too bad vs an s4 I believe, meaning cost of ownership

So it was an easy transition

However it is definitely, performance wise, a but of a lateral move vs a Jhm s4.

However don’t forget that with a tune and piggies an rs4 is performing like a supercharged s4.
[/quote]
I can imagine the beating a tuned rs4 would put on an tuned s4 lol.

Well I actually bought the car with the majority of the big mods done so thankfully I wouldnt be getting hosed on items like the clutch install etc. Not worried about resale for either car. Just like the idea of a car that has a ton more potential in the motor. The RS4 is also likely one of the last manual RS sedans we will get!

#8

I can’t even explain how much I prefer “full retard” over stage 3/4/23 ±÷3.

Guy: Hey man, nice car. What is it and what do you have done to it to make it so fast?

Me: It’s a 2004 Audi S4… full retard.

#9

LOL, I have to start using that. I’m tired of trying to list all my mods whenever I’m asked. “Full retard” sums it up nicely and is somewhat accurate seeing how much I’ve spent so far :slight_smile:

#10

I think k you’re half retard. Built motor is full retard.

#11

I cant wait to see a full retard S4 as well as a S/C RS4

#12

problem is there’s demand for the built motors and they take ages. So everytime Jhm gets one they can’t really keep it because everyone wants it.

They had one for testing a while ago and when they took it to the strip, they did so knowing they have exhausted the ability of the fuel system to keep up with the blower. The car can make an insane amount of power. They didn’t use the rpms over 6000+ and set a record. Imagine shifting at 5900 rpms and beating the record… Its nuts. They have redesigned the entire fuelling system as a result. This is the s4 of course… On California 91. There isn’t an audi on earth that will touch this pump gas time when they’re back in other fuelling sorted.

I can’t wait to see what they do.

#13
#14

Stage 2 stuff is really exciting…I wish it was a faster process, but I can appreciate the amount of time and testing being put into things.

I would love to jump on it and get a motor built now, but I think the long lead time will let me do some other stuff I’d prefer to get done before hand. Like buying/acquire another JHM IM, upgrade my clutch and FW, and slap on a set of headers. I also plan to throw some RPF1’s on the car and see if I can’t throw down a 12.6x all motor.

#15

I think k I’ve got that right. They had three strip attempts and had three problems to iron out. All part of development when you own the cars. Easy to do but annoying.

The rs4 did one shakedown pass, but I will say that even the base $8000 Jhm kit with a knackered clutch was able to accomplish things that other companies have created press releases and multiple threads about.

#16

Saw you put your car up for sale on AZ got me thinking I’d love to get into an RS4 as well. Not sure if it would be worth the switch considering all the time and money I’ve put into my car to keep it mint. And without spending 45k + seems like its hard to find a clean one.

#17

Yea that’s what I’m starting to think as well. Like you said the time money and how clean some of us keep our personal cars is outrageous lol. But I would have a hard time trading up to a car that is not in as good condition. Till I decide, I will continue modding! Just installed the STE gauge today unfortunately I’m dropping the car off to get its bumper replaced so I won’t really get to mess around with it.

#18

Not to mention with it being summer time it is not when I want to be parting out my car attempting to sell. Will probably wait till later in the year.

#19

Have you decided to keep your B7? Exciting if you are, I’m also considering paying a little more attention to mine, the IM, clutch and FW is where I would also start.

If I missed it somewhere in this or another thread, I apologize.

#20

You should are your b7 to PBIR. Would be neat to see how it does vs your b5