Very true… the S4 really is an adult car that I’m proud to drive (even though it’s almost 10 years old).
Prior to buying the S4, I was really leaning towards an STI. Then my wife brought up a good point… “What would you think of you, if you saw yourself driving through your parking garage at work in an STI? With that ridiculous wing and hood scoop.” (Keep in mind that I work at an investment bank… BMWs and Benzes as far as the eye can see)
My 04 B6 Avant is just about perfect for my needs. I live in the greater Cincy area and my Lady lives in St Louis. Probably 95% of my driving is interstate. My .528 sixth gear gets me 24-25 mpg depending on how much the other superslab drivers want to play. The Recaro’s are the most comfortable seats I have experienced since the Recaro I had in my 80 Jetta. I put over 430,00 miles on that one. Comfort and performance. That’s what I need. My Avant does it for me, and as I keep improving it, it just gets better.
The should be quoted to every punk on the forums that turns up and says “get a chip moar boost, NA is crap”. There are so many supporting mods to be done with a turbo car, cooling being one of the trickiest. As I am finding out with my 5cyl 20vt
I just wish someone in Utah had a car with a JHM SC on it so I could take a ride and feel the powa. Or at least one with tune, exhaust and all the other goodies. I’m sure that I’m just underestimating how truely awesome 330-400 is in an S4.
Why Audi? (“almighty RS4” for me 
)
Sure an RX with a bunch if mods would be quicker for cheaper but it would rattle like fuck, not be nearly as comfortable, would be retarded in rain being 2 wd…never mind the snow, would not feel very grown up should you need to drive your boss/parent/grand parent/girlfriend somewhere, and would sound embarrassing. There are twenty reasons not to want a heavily modified cheaper, small engine car. There are like two reasons not to want a beautiful, unique as hell, German V8 powered sport sedan.
Those reasons not to buy the RX are actually, if you take the opposite of them, reasons TO buy the Audi for me. As I mentioned though my search begins and ends with AWD, and I hate Subaru and evo, don’t like the BMW moniker…and the only interesting Benz that can make power and is AWD is going to be an e, CLS or s class 550 4matic, and those are all way too big and sloppy…not to mention automatic only.
I’m probably older too, so keep that in mind with my comments about the rx or similar small motor, loud as fuck fart can cars. I just won’t be seen in one lol.
I have yet to find a car with an interior like an Audi. Also, AWD sedans are pretty slim pickens and those that do exist cannot compete as far as looks and the amazing ride. Plus I will never find another car that makes peoples face light up when you mention it has a 4.2l V8 shoe horned under the hood!!
I’m probably older too, so keep that in mind with my comments about the rx or similar small motor, loud as fuck fart can cars. I just won’t be seen in one lol.
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Wait til you get to be my age (70). Then you will really appreciate comfort and performance.
Haha Saki… I knew that you would notice the “allmighty” comment.
I totally agree though. My Rx-7s did not have near the build quality of my S4. But for pure cost/performance and performance overall, they were hard to beat. I remember just smelling like Hydrocarbons for hours after I would drive it somewhere. The fast ones were scary when driven in the dry and I never dared to take them out in the rain… not on purpose at least. And yes, I can admit, one exhaust configuration did include the 5" tip fart can exhaust. I hated the look but that was the only exhaust setup that made the rotary sound even remotely deep. But after a few years I learned the importance of quiet exhaust and never looked back.
That being said… I’ve heard some seriously loud S4/RS4s out there. Mostly on Youtube etc but anytime I see the words “non-res” in a car description… my ears bleed.
But you nailed it. The difference between many other “fast” cars and something of S4 caliber is maturity. The B6/B7 can be civil and also fast at the same time. Great balance between handling, styling, ride (although if I didn’t know better I would think that mine has aftermarket suspension… the ride is quite rough), and speed. All other car builds generally sacrifice creature comforts and reliability in the name of speed. That’s just something that most Audi owners are unwilling to agree with. I guess I just need to realize that I’m getting older and I’m not willing to sacrifice everything else in the name of having a car that runs a xx.xx @ 1xx in the 1/4 mile or that can beat the guy down the street in his xxxx. (BTW… my Rx-7 didn’t have A/C, a heater, power steering or a radio and constantly had my laptop in the passenger in case of tuning issues etc :-X )
I would never do a Benz though… can’t do automatic cars. They are just boring. And in terms of Subarus, I will quote my local Audi mechanic… “Have you ever closed the door on one? It’s like slamming the door on a ToughShed”.
The sc makes a considerable difference. Just on Friday, I drove a JHM tuned S4 Avant with full catless exhaust and it felt slowish now (I daily drive mine). I then let the other owner drive mine for a bit and as a passenger, my car felt even faster (I truly felt pushed back into my seat).
However, you believe your RX-7 was pushing 400 rwhp or so, so you should know what that feeling is like (and heck, I’m sure your RX-7 was a tons lighter than the S4).
Yeah, that’s kinda why I want to feel it for myself though and probably why I’m not giving the S4 enough credit. The 7 was a little over 2900 lbs and also 2wd/rwd. Curious what difference the extra weight and AWD makes. I’m sure Saki can quantify it for me. 
I drove an AWDbig turbo Eclipse that my buddy owned that was around 450 awhp iirc and it was very fast, just less tire spinning drama.
That’s worlds apart when same power but one car weighs 900 lbs less.
Are you at altitude?
Where in UT are you? I have a stage III APR S5 you can check out (pretty much JHM tuned)
Well, I had my Rx7 in Arizona at 1,200ish feet. Currently I’m at 4,300 feet.
I’m in the Salt Lake City area. That would be awesome though… The S5 is also on my want list. What all is involved in the APR Stage 3?
stage 3 is their TVSr1320 supercharger kit.
Good for around 425 whp or thereabouts. They had one run 11.9 @ 116 a couple years ago, but since then the S5 world hasn’t done much with the kit.
Im all about advancing this platform but I live in a DA 5000-7000ft :(. therefore all my times would be like 1 sec off!
yes, but G-rat was asking what stage 3 was for the APR S5
Correct, but I would like to advance my platform! ;D
So where are you in Utah? I need to see this beast!
Slc valley as well. South sandy area