Audi S4 - B5 vs B6
Discussion
A good example of a 2003 B6 S4 can be had for around £12.5k now. A decent 2000 B5 S4 for about £7000.
Has anyone owned or driven both examples and can comment on how they differ? I love the idea of a nice big high-revving V8 with 340bhp, but I also see the attraction of a Twin-Turbo 2.7V6 that can be remapped to about the same power of the V8 for £500.
What would be the better purchase? The lovely burbling B6 V8 taking all my budget, or the B5 leaving plenty of cash to spend on another little 'treat'?
Has anyone owned or driven both examples and can comment on how they differ? I love the idea of a nice big high-revving V8 with 340bhp, but I also see the attraction of a Twin-Turbo 2.7V6 that can be remapped to about the same power of the V8 for £500.
What would be the better purchase? The lovely burbling B6 V8 taking all my budget, or the B5 leaving plenty of cash to spend on another little 'treat'?
Arese said:
doogz said:
Imo, buy the best car you can afford.
But how much 'better' is a B6 over a B5? If at all.If it's kept standard, the B6 is probably a better all-round package. I imagine they're more reliable too- lots of scare stories about B5's munching their turbos at relatively low milage, and a few other foibles (Y-pipes, tiptronic boxes ect). The B6 interior is much nicer too.
I think a good example can be had for less than £12.5k to be honest.
Mine is 53 plate, 2003 car, 4dr manual, I'm the 2nd owner, just coming up to 70k miles, full Audi history, black with black leather, RNS-E, bluetooth and Milltek pipes.
Its mint, but I still reckon its not (realistically) worth much more than around £10 - £10.5k
But there in lies the problem, it is such a good car, ticking all the boxes for my lifestyle, that I cant really see what I would replace it with. I've never owned a car for more than 2 years, but have had this one for 3 years to this very day.
I could trade up to a B7, but other than the different front end and rear taillights, I dont think I'd gain much, especially when the cost to change would probably see me needing to spend at least another £5-6k
A B5, whilst a very good car, is now becoming a little long in the tooth, and with twin turbos, the chances of some mechanical issue being forced upon you, has got be more likely then the NA V8
Mine is 53 plate, 2003 car, 4dr manual, I'm the 2nd owner, just coming up to 70k miles, full Audi history, black with black leather, RNS-E, bluetooth and Milltek pipes.
Its mint, but I still reckon its not (realistically) worth much more than around £10 - £10.5k
But there in lies the problem, it is such a good car, ticking all the boxes for my lifestyle, that I cant really see what I would replace it with. I've never owned a car for more than 2 years, but have had this one for 3 years to this very day.
I could trade up to a B7, but other than the different front end and rear taillights, I dont think I'd gain much, especially when the cost to change would probably see me needing to spend at least another £5-6k
A B5, whilst a very good car, is now becoming a little long in the tooth, and with twin turbos, the chances of some mechanical issue being forced upon you, has got be more likely then the NA V8
I can only comment on the B5 i had, bloody superb car, really regret selling it.
Great handling, nice smooth motor, great interior and really good 'quality' feel to the whole build.
Mine was on coilovers with powerflex bushes all over, but most other things were standard, as others have said the tuning potential is excellent, there are some v good specialists out there but MRC tuning stand pretty much above the crowd in reputation and ability.
These days a lot of B5's have been in enthusiasts hands, so a lot of nice expensive upgrades can be had, mapped ones are quite common, as others have said, turbos can be a weak point but general concensus is that this is due to undetected boost leaks over a long period causing problems.
Suspension components do wear quite quickly, and the quattro system has a lot of bushes/control arms etc to keep on top of.
On the other hand i would really love to own a B6 S4 avant, mainly for that V8. Add a miltek and job's a good'un.
Great handling, nice smooth motor, great interior and really good 'quality' feel to the whole build.
Mine was on coilovers with powerflex bushes all over, but most other things were standard, as others have said the tuning potential is excellent, there are some v good specialists out there but MRC tuning stand pretty much above the crowd in reputation and ability.
These days a lot of B5's have been in enthusiasts hands, so a lot of nice expensive upgrades can be had, mapped ones are quite common, as others have said, turbos can be a weak point but general concensus is that this is due to undetected boost leaks over a long period causing problems.
Suspension components do wear quite quickly, and the quattro system has a lot of bushes/control arms etc to keep on top of.
On the other hand i would really love to own a B6 S4 avant, mainly for that V8. Add a miltek and job's a good'un.
The B5 has a far higher tuning potential at reasonable cost, if that's your bag. The B5 is smaller in the back, so if you're planning to carry passengers, then consider the B6 (or even the B7 if you can afford it).
Both models have a few known weak points that can be expensive - the turbos on the B5 are known to be a common problem (but you could aways upgrade them if the old ones fail
) The B6 is known to eat radiators - it has a couple of auxilliary rads in addition to the main one to cope with the V8; they are not properly rust-proofed and tend to rot at the bottom where they're exposed.
Personally, I'd go for the B6 - it's what I'm planning to buy as soon as I get the money together. Tiptronic Avant for me.
Both models have a few known weak points that can be expensive - the turbos on the B5 are known to be a common problem (but you could aways upgrade them if the old ones fail
) The B6 is known to eat radiators - it has a couple of auxilliary rads in addition to the main one to cope with the V8; they are not properly rust-proofed and tend to rot at the bottom where they're exposed.Personally, I'd go for the B6 - it's what I'm planning to buy as soon as I get the money together. Tiptronic Avant for me.
Edited by Witchfinder on Tuesday 7th September 14:11
Thanks for all the replies guys, some good arguments for both cars. As far as tuning a B5, all I would ever do would be a simple remap. It would be a daily driver so I'd need to retain some kind of reliability and driveability.
Another question if I may; the automatic gearbox with paddles on the B6, is it a DSG system or a typical auto with manual over-ride?
Another question if I may; the automatic gearbox with paddles on the B6, is it a DSG system or a typical auto with manual over-ride?
Arese said:
Thanks for all the replies guys, some good arguments for both cars. As far as tuning a B5, all I would ever do would be a simple remap. It would be a daily driver so I'd need to retain some kind of reliability and driveability.
Another question if I may; the automatic gearbox with paddles on the B6, is it a DSG system or a typical auto with manual over-ride?
AutoAnother question if I may; the automatic gearbox with paddles on the B6, is it a DSG system or a typical auto with manual over-ride?
TonyHetherington said:
remember that you need £1500 of exhaust for the B6 S4 (v8) to sound good. Mine's got one and it's well worth the money - as standard they don't sound like a V8.
Hmm. I can categorically say that I won't be spending £1500 on an exhaust for purely aural pleasure. So, I either find one already modified or make do with the standard noise. Is it that 'muted' as standard? Is yours Milltek?Yeah I have the middle-loud miltek, it sounds good but is not boomy or anything at speed.
As standard you barely hear it at all - nothing from outside, and barely a whine inside. If it's V8 experience you want, you only get the drive of it, not the aural pleasure. Even at massive revs. Drive one to find out, please please do, but it's worth knowing in advance.
However, the engine is absolutely brilliant.
As standard you barely hear it at all - nothing from outside, and barely a whine inside. If it's V8 experience you want, you only get the drive of it, not the aural pleasure. Even at massive revs. Drive one to find out, please please do, but it's worth knowing in advance.
However, the engine is absolutely brilliant.
TonyHetherington said:
B6 was up to and including '54 plates (so yes, before 2006). Mine, as standard, would have the single twin exhausts rather than the quad.
Must admit, I haven't been in a B7 (quad exhaust) standard car so don't know, but have a B6.
ok, sorry, im not enough clued up ob the b5, b6, b7 lingo. Must admit, I haven't been in a B7 (quad exhaust) standard car so don't know, but have a B6.
to the op: i have seen b7`s for around £13k too, worth considering? much better looking imo.
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