What would you do?

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

What I have:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7353/11508359936_2727970d13_o.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/11508291925_9d3af5ea1d_o.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/11508292125_9d2249a839_o.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/11508387323_3065410ea5_c.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/11508365486_8fa0615e0c_c.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/11508295755_8546201fcc_c.jpg


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/13637653813_0831857e33_c.jpg

04 S4
-JHM 93 Tune
-FI full exhaust
-JHM mani
nearly 180km

vs.

07 RS4
Bone Stock and Maintenance up to date.
200km
Fellow seems to have a meticulous maintenance history done. Essentially 1 owner vehicle.

Questions:

For the difference of $10,000…

Would you keep the avant and JHM stg1 it?

or

Have a Bonestock RS4

How much would you entertain the cost of an RS4 with 200km on the odo?
What maintenance items would you worry about?

I’m fairly sure I’d lose sleep over the fact that I went to a sedan from an avant…but. RS4.

#2

The Avant factor is hard to pass on. Know that putting the stage 1 on the S4 will make it more like a mild modded RS4.

The S4 with the stage 1 will have a much different power curve then the RS4. I would check the health of the S4 motor and consider getting the stage 1.

#3

I think the biggest thing I’m getting stuck on is the Avant form. I would inevitably S/C the RS4.

Power curve wise, is the s4 in some ways more desirable? Or would a tune to start change that quite a bit as well?

#4

Tough to answer, the S4 4.2 and RS4 4.2 are really two different animals power delivery wise.

#5

To add to the situation. The RS4 or S/C’d S4 would be an all year daily. 35C+ in the summer to -40C in the winter. If the car is not garaged, does that play a significant part for the Supercharger? At the least, the oilpan heater would be plugged in during the cold months.

#6

No, The JHM Vortech supercharger has been out for longer then any offering for any of the Audi cars in the 4.2. It has been tested here in Detroit in well below zero temperatures on both the S4 and RS4. Not to mention JHM has a supercharged car in Alaska and several over the east coast where it gets very cold. Even if you look further, there are tens of thousands of other cars that are using the Vortech units on DD cars and have been doing so in sub zero temps for over 50 years. The blower unit has its own self contained oil. This insures there are no issues. Vortech as several offerings of oil for use in the chargers. You can make sure to choose the oil that best suites your location and needs.

Also something to think about. The oil in the Vortech unit is just like the oil in your oil pan or in any self contained supercharger. The temperature of the oil in the Vortech unit, isn’t any colder then the oil that would be in a self contained TVS unit or your oil pan. Supercharged or not, if you can keep the car out of extreme temperatures it would do you well.

#7

Appreciate the response. Certainly makes sense and of course the advice of keeping it out of the cold as well.

#8

be prepared to spend more than $10,000 to s/c!!! I’d set asides more like $15,000 once you do clutch mounts and other misc. maintainence while the cars in the shop… To do it rite

#9

Go with the RS4. You could push more boost

#10

From where I sit, if you will eventually supercharge the rs4, I would get the rs4.

While the rs4 costs more money, it in all likelihood will have a very different depreciation curve. Will RS4s really go as low as 7,000 dollars? Because that’s what you can buy a high miler b6 for now. I don’t think they rs4 will get that low so there’s that. B5 RS4s in germany still command a good amount of money. Considering they also got the b7 and b8, and rs2, that’s pretty neat. We have exactly 1 RS4 model to choose from. In 20 years.

Also even if it depreciates normally, although yiu are paying more for an rs4 now you will also be able to sell it for more .

I had a b7 s4 with jhm 93, jhm dps, fast intentions catback, jhm lwfr, jhm lwcp, jhm instake spacers. I was looking at thr same decisions you were. I went with the rs4.

#11

Ultimately, the RS4 is a better car overall. How badly do you want the wagon form?

By default, you should go with the RS4 UNLESS you absolutely positively cannot live without a wagon.

Let the trim decide for you with a heavy bias on the RS4 sedan. I had to make the same choice from a blank slate and decided to go with the Avant because I absolutely wanted a wagon. That was the decision maker.

#12

yeah, wagon just fucks everything up (as in makes the decision hard)

I love a B7 wagon…they look so good. I looked for one for months (B7 S4) and eventually gave up, buying a sedan back in 07 or 08.

#13

How much longer are you talking about owning each car? Bc if it hasn’t been done yet, you should probably go ahead an plan that a timing chain service will be needed which just adds to the cost (rs4 also uses chains, but thus far show to hold up much better than the b6 and most b7 s4’s)

If you “need” the avant, that’s one thing, but if you just love the looks like most of us, it’s another. I think I would personally go to the RS4, unless you just wanted to wait and send your whole car for a 15-20k overhaul and keep it for another 10 years (sc, all supporting hardware, chain job, etc or even stg 2 motor).

Personally I jumped ship from my B7 (even though I LOVED it) bc I knew a couple things were around the corner:
A)my only other mod options were motor build for stg 2
B)even though it wasn’t an issue yet, chains would inevitably need to be done in the next 50k
C) as saki said, with new platforms coming out, the b7 was about to hit another steep depreciation curve just as the B6 did several years before. So it was either sell it now, or keep it for another 5+yrs (all my opinion obviously).

Best of luck, tough decision for sure! (But a good one to have to make!!!)

#14

Tough decision it is. Do you absolutely have to have avant as in space? If no, then there’s your answer, RS4. If you want to keep an avant, I’d suggest getting together with Axel, as he has JHM Stage1 B7 S4 avant, to give you an idea of what yours will be like.

#15

I think he’s in Alberta (I see red in his rear license plate in one of the pics). I’m on Ontario. Not all that close to each other :slight_smile:

#16

Thanks for the response everyone!

The timing chain/tensioner maintenance is also a weighing factor in my mind. If I choose to keep it and start sinking serious money that will be on the list. And of course, doing that correctly through a good indy shop is still going to be in that 6-8k range.

Looking at the room the RS4 trunk has and then with seats folded down it would be enough to haul what I need for now. I think the biggest factor though that has me leaning to the RS4 is the depreciation curve, Like you said Saki. $7000 for an RS4? not any time soon. I could potentially get 18k out of my S4 even. * I think this is a good enough reason alone. *

Another Factor is the styling… I’m not a huge fan of the B6 gen looks… and to convert to an Rs4 body is extremely cost prohibitive. $15k in parts + shipping + labor… youch.

We’ll see what the bank says…

#17

Also Axel, I’m a SK boy. Got the red S4 from Alberta though! =) If I was on your side I would certainly bug you to show me your S/C’d S4!

In regards to RS4 maintenance are there any items that come to mind that I should be mindful of? As it is a 130k mile RS4 I’m not expecting it to be peachy. But I’d like to be prepared.

#18

To add to the questions:

How does the rs4 differ in terms of the S mode. Sharpens throttle response? Does negate that change in throttle sensitivity from idle to moving? Easier to rev match?

I guess my question is, what features on the rs4 are not possible to achieve on the s4?

Ie. would an upgraded clutch and flywheel make it as easy to rev match as an rs4? Or am I just out to lunch on this…

#19

Why is rev matching a key concern to you?

The RS4 is worlds different if your a true enthusiast, IMHO. Honestly though I’d say the biggest perks are the engine (forged, no chain issues) and the style (wider track, better suspension, wide body). You can also appreciate the better gearing and massive brakes.

S mode is a cool thing to show a friend, but your not going to be amazed by the difference.

You have a beautiful Avant, but I’m sure someone would love to snatch it up. I think it makes more sense to move onto an RS4, by the time you upgrade everything you can to make it comparable you could buy and RS4.

#20

Honestly, my level of car knowledge is quite limited. (Probably pretty evident) Just trying to figure out what benefits I would be gaining leaving the wagon. Looks pretty obvious that the rs4 is the way to go. Now to unload the s4!