Is the RS4 that much better than the S4?

Is the RS4 that much better than the S4?

Author
Discussion

TGJR

Original Poster:

750 posts

227 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
I am talking about the latest B8 model here and as someone in the market for a fast estate the Audis seem the obvious choice, especially for winter/rural roads with the added security of Quattro.

I am lucky enough to have a couple of other sports cars (1976 911 and a 1992 968) so I am looking for a day to day car that can accommodate the dogs but is also fun to drive and has a bit of interest about it. The congestion we have to endure on todays roads has convinced me that an auto gearbox is the way forward for a car used on longer journeys and any trips near towns. This rules out my initial idea of a B7 model RS4.

I am drawn to the RS4 by the noise of the grunty V8 and the look of the wide arches but for £15K less would the S4 meet me needs whilst, I assume, delivering an extra 6-7 mpgs to boot?

I would be especially interested to hear from anyone who has had both models.

Thanks

Kell

1,708 posts

207 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
Chris Harris talking about chipping the S4...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KfMY96v_Gc


marctwo

3,666 posts

259 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
I think GetCarter is best placed to comment on this.

Dr G

15,159 posts

241 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
I was about to say the same; some of his posts mixed with the B8 owners thread should prove very useful reading.

jetbox

218 posts

160 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
Hi,

I also run a 911 and a 968 and our new daily is a 330d xdrive bmw. It's a sharp drive, 0-60 in 5secs and 50mpg!

Might not do it for you but worth considering?

TGJR

Original Poster:

750 posts

227 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
Jetbox - that is a nice pair of Porsches you have wink

I am not a fan of diesel engines and unfortunately BMW do not offer Xdrive on the bigger petrol engines.

gaz1234

5,233 posts

218 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
Rs6

graeme4130

3,823 posts

180 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
You'll get a million different opinions on S4 vs Rs4 and as you can see, a chipped S4 is RS4 quick at a fraction of the price (worth noting though, that since that video, Chris Harris' S4 ate its gearbox)
However, performance asides, they're very different sounding and looking cars. s4 blends in well and looks like a boggo s-line diesel and sounds like a 2.0t, but RS4 has a mich more aggressive look and sounds IMHO much more like a sports car
You pays your money

s4tronic

245 posts

125 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
S4 sounds nothing like 2.0T.... And dynamically stage 2 is hard to find better performance and practicality for your money...

tomjol

532 posts

116 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
Agreed, I don't know what 2.0Ts graeme has been listening to, S4s sound distinctly six-cylinder to me.

kent_phil

295 posts

242 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
I went from an S4 Avant to an RS5 Cab, not quite the same comparison but can give an opinion.

Real life driving I don't think there is much in it performance-wise, the S4 could cover ground just as quickly as the RS5 - overtaking and alike all the same. Traction just the same but I do prefer the steering feel on the RS5 (I don't have the active steering). RS5 has the edge on engine noise but S4 still had a good sporty noise, a few people on RS246 had after-market exhausts and cross-pipes to improve the sound further. Definitely does not sound like a 4 pot turbo...

Haven't tracked either so cannot comment about on the limit handling, and the level of traction is so high it just wouldn't be safe to find it on public roads under any conditions. I did have to make one high speed swerve in the S4 to avoid a kerb-stone kicked out into the road on an A road and really thought I was going to be in for a big bill but it just followed where I pointed the steering wheel, very impressive.

S4 is a fantastic sleeper de-badged and superbly practical. As a complement to another sports car sitting in the garage it is pretty much perfect, I only changed because I fancied a summer car and we have a Q7 as a load carrier already.

Option-wise the sun-roof makes a huge difference to the interior so would be my recommendation on top of sat-nav / blue-tooth and the usuals.

Thanks,

Phil

Andrew Bird

2 posts

115 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
I drove a few RS4's before just going for the S4. Yes - the RS4 looks a bit more manly and makes a bit more noise but I just left feeling a bit underwhelmed after I drove it. For the sake of throwing all my stuff in and having a practical estate that's a bit of fun, I prefer how useable the S4 is. I don't have to rev the arse off it to get the performance out, I've been left with more money in my pocket and I like how it looks subtle (I've not even got an S4 badge on the back). Although I did get mine with 19" V spokes but otherwise I like how it doesn't stand out and it's a bit stealthy. The interiors of both cars are very similar which again makes the RS4 feel a bit underwhelming given how much more it costs.

That said - I'm probably just a miserable tight old bugger wink

TGJR

Original Poster:

750 posts

227 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
Interesting to read the comments as a lot of points are ones I have found for myself. The RS4 I test drove was great but it was possibly a tiny bit less great than I had expected. I think this is down to the nature of the engine being a high reving V8 and as pointed out in press reviews it needs to be pushed towards the redline to get the absolute best from it - difficult to do though on day to day driving without loosing your licence or looking like a bit of a boy racer! Wide arches look good though.

Kent Phil - how does economy compare between the S4 you had and the RS5 you run? I am quite prepared to live with a car that does early 20's to the gallon (most of my cars have been in that area) but the thing that could be an irritation for me is touring range. I often drive into Europe and if a car can't do a good 300 miles at motorway cruising speed it becomes a nuisance stopping at petrol stations too often and spoils your journey time when trying to beat the satnav!

D4VDJ

134 posts

131 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
The RS4 will do 330 miles to a brimmed tank and 25 to the gallon with ease.

The S4 is an excellent car but in my opinion the RS4 is better in terms of looks, noise and performance... Whether it's worth the premium over the S4 is down to the individual at the end of the day.

rs4al

925 posts

164 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
My S4 definitely does not sound like a 2.0T, especially as I have an AWE exhaust fitted cool

kent_phil

295 posts

242 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
TGJR said:
Kent Phil - how does economy compare between the S4 you had and the RS5 you run? I am quite prepared to live with a car that does early 20's to the gallon (most of my cars have been in that area) but the thing that could be an irritation for me is touring range. I often drive into Europe and if a car can't do a good 300 miles at motorway cruising speed it becomes a nuisance stopping at petrol stations too often and spoils your journey time when trying to beat the satnav!
I'm with you on range being the issue rather than the cost of fuel, wish you could get the 90litre tank they put in the R8's in the RS's...

On a long run can easily get 25-26mpg in the RS5, haven't really seen it go above this and about 300 miles between fill-ups is right. S4 was about 31-33mpg, I think on a cruise I saw 36mpg once but I don't feel like I'm particularly filling the RS5 up more than I did the S4.



djc206

12,244 posts

124 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
I only have one car (B8 RS4) so I want it to do everything. I want it to go fast, sound good, look good and take mountain bikes/dogs in the back and feel special. The S4 was close but not enough, and having had a NA V8 before that clinched it for me.

As you have other cars to satisfy your needs then the S4 makes sense at £15k less.

Regarding economy on a motorway run at 70 about 28mpg ish, 90 about 23-24. Around town or in heavy traffic mid teens. I think my average is ~20 and was about the same in my old RS5.

One of the guys at work runs an S4 and can get over 30 on a run, I can't see the RS4 ever getting that.

Hol

8,359 posts

199 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
OP

No,

I didn't think so.


Although, the interior is better in the RS.

Hom

22 posts

137 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
Hey

I've owned both B8 S4 and now B8 RS4 so well placed to comment. My S4 was a sprint blue avant with all the essential options and I thought it was great.

Economy wasnt good though, normally getting 290-300 miles out of tank....in the exact same journey my RS4 is now doing 280 so really comparable and I didn't hang about in either car. I believe the B8.5 is slightly better on fuel.

Performance isn't as good in the S4 obviously, pushing on 60+ you can definitely feel it. Lower speeds comparable. Getting the RS4 over 4k and it makes you grin every time....the noise is not in the same league as most would agree with

S4 always felt hamstrung in performance and again most would agree it has been with the results from tuning . Not going to compare tuned vs standard since its an endless debate

Is the RS4 worth it over the S4 ? For me yep, for that extra drama when pushing on.

I love them both....really good cars and its a nice decision to have.

Adrian E

3,248 posts

175 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
Our v6t S5 Sportback (same floorpan as S4) averages 23mpg if you cruise at 3k in 7th wink you can tease mid to high 20s out of it if you drive like a saint, but ONE prod of the throttle will see the average tumble!

Range is pathetic - 64 litre tank is too small, but you can blame legislation for that and most modern cars are the same. I did 230 miles in it yesterday after brimming it and range this morning was about 80 miles. Filled up with 48 litres so roughly 22mpg calculated.

I love the look of the RS4, but for me it should have the twin turbo motor from the RS6 to give enough clear distance in performance terms over the S4. In real world terms the S4 is more than quick enough, especially with other toys in your garage. Pano roof and ADS with damper control and diff (avoid the steering option unless you try it and like it - I find it goes from over-assisted to over-heavy at the speeds I'm coming out of junctions and going around roundabouts) would give additional refinement when wanted but the option to tighten it up and have a play when required.