S4 vs RS4 Differences?

[Ironhorz]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed to death but I tried to find some answers and I didn't really have to much luck. I'd like to know what the *big differences between the S4 and RS4 are. I checked out Audi's website and it seemed like it just referenced some real technical stuff and the HP difference.

I'd like to know what the differences between the two are such as looks, interior, etc...

Thanks in advance for any and all help you guys can provide me.

[2PUTT]

depends if you compare it to a B6 or a B7 S4.

- RS4 has more HP mostly due to a higher redline.
- 40/60 (F/R)
- and the biggest difference of all.....Price.
- almost everything else is the same.

[Lugi20]

-$25,000
-More horsepower
-Better panty dropper
-$25,000

[zachf88]

you have much wider fenders, sportier exhaust, 19 inch wheels that everyone has on their audis, cool looking bumpers with slits, etc..... with the RS4

[tadhgbrosnan]

-$25,000
-More horsepower
-Better panty dropper
-$25,000

I appreciate exaggeration for effect as much as anyone, but the $25k figure is a bit much. The basic 2007 S4 in the showroom at the dealer when I bought my car was stickered at $58k. I've seen loaded S4s advertised at $62k. The RS4 comes in anywhere from $69-73K. About a $15k premium. If I had the money to buy in that price range, the RS4 is worth that extra dough.

[RAudi Driver]

The Rs4 has bigger brakes with floating rotors and real nice carbon fiber for the interior trim.

[Ironhorz]

depends if you compare it to a B6 or a B7 S4.

- RS4 has more HP mostly due to a higher redline.
- 40/60 (F/R)
- and the biggest difference of all.....Price.
- almost everything else is the same.

I was looking at the B7's. Does the RS have a turbo and the S does not?

-$25,000
-More horsepower
-Better panty dropper
-$25,000

I gotcha there!

you have much wider fenders, sportier exhaust, 19 inch wheels that everyone has on their audis, cool looking bumpers with slits, etc..... with the RS4

I thought the fenders looked different on the RS vs the S. Is the B8 supposed to be similar regarding the differences between the RS and S?

Also, does the S4 come with a larger fender flare than the A4 or does it have upgraded pieces on the A4?

Thanks for the information guys, I really appreciate it!

[2PUTT]

no turbo on the RS.

[bigmac78]

The diff between the sticker price is that you can get the $48K sticker on the S4 down to low forties. The sticker on the RS4 prob wont budge.

I negotiated an S4 in Dallas just for fun and was shocked I got it down $10K in an hour. They didnt give me what I wanted on my Porsche as a trade-in so I went to a smaller dealer and picked one up.

I like the RS4 but my S4 is plenty enough for me. If I go any faster I go from from infractions to Misdemeanors...

[xlacrosse]

Both cars are excellent, but if you can afford the RS4... there is no reason no to go for it.


The engine in the RS4 is the same unit that comes in the R8...and the RS4 will eat the S4 in any performance category.


But honestly if money was an issue, the S4 is still an excellent car.

[Chris from Cali]

The diff between the sticker price is that you can get the $48K sticker on the S4 down to low forties. The sticker on the RS4 prob wont budge.

I negotiated an S4 in Dallas just for fun and was shocked I got it down $10K in an hour. They didnt give me what I wanted on my Porsche as a trade-in so I went to a smaller dealer and picked one up.

I like the RS4 but my S4 is plenty enough for me. If I go any faster I go from from infractions to Misdemeanors...

I've had a B7 S4 and now an RS4 - here's my look on the whole thing:

1) Price - My S4 was $57K or something... my RS4 was $69K. For $12K, the RS4 is WAAAAY more car, not to mention built by quattro GmBH, etc.
2) Performance - The RS4 is on par with the 997S I traded in for it. It will crush a B6/B7 S4 all day long, no matter what exhaust/intake/chip is on the S4.
3) Intangibles - The RS4 just feels so much better. It stops better, turns MUCH better, handles better, nicer interior appointments, etc. I love the way it looks - so beefy and mean.

Considering the RS4 is very limited in production (now out of production), it's a no-brainer between the two. Given that, if the RS4 is out of one's budget, the S4 is not a bad substitute. My love for my B7 S4 was one reason why I traded the Porsche in for the RS4 and not an M5/E63/etc. Both are great cars, but the RS4 is definitely worth the price difference.

[bhvrdr]

The RS4 is on par with the 997S I traded in for it. It will crush a B6/B7 S4 all day long, no matter what exhaust/intake/chip is on the S4.

Well now, i'm not so sure "crush" is the right word...

US Spec RS4...

http://forums.audiworld.com/rs4b7/msgs/64381.phtml

versus US spec S4 with exhaust and chip...

http://www.mjbmotorsport.com/sitebui...medatabase.htm

:)


cheers! Mike

[Lugi20]

Well now, i'm not so sure "crush" is the right word...

US Spec RS4...

http://forums.audiworld.com/rs4b7/msgs/64381.phtml

versus US spec S4 with exhaust and chip...

http://www.mjbmotorsport.com/sitebui...medatabase.htm

:)


cheers! Mike

I agree that "crush" is not the right word but the RS4 is deffinetly faster.

I also don't like those numbers comparisons b/c things like altitude, temp, humidity, and specific material of the track will all have an impact on results. Oh yeah, and of course the biggest factor is the driver.

Have there been any head to head comparisons of the S4 v. RS4, preferably done on the same day, same track, and by the same driver?

[toaster]

I've had a B7 S4 and now an RS4 - here's my look on the whole thing:

1) Price - My S4 was $57K or something... my RS4 was $69K. For $12K, the RS4 is WAAAAY more car, not to mention built by quattro GmBH, etc.
2) Performance - The RS4 is on par with the 997S I traded in for it. It will crush a B6/B7 S4 all day long, no matter what exhaust/intake/chip is on the S4.
3) Intangibles - The RS4 just feels so much better. It stops better, turns MUCH better, handles better, nicer interior appointments, etc. I love the way it looks - so beefy and mean.

Considering the RS4 is very limited in production (now out of production), it's a no-brainer between the two. Given that, if the RS4 is out of one's budget, the S4 is not a bad substitute. My love for my B7 S4 was one reason why I traded the Porsche in for the RS4 and not an M5/E63/etc. Both are great cars, but the RS4 is definitely worth the price difference.

this response should be stickied and used as a "threadblock" every time a thread spirals into "the rs4 isn't worth it."

[bhvrdr]

I agree that "crush" is not the right word but the RS4 is deffinetly faster.

I also don't like those numbers comparisons b/c things like altitude, temp, humidity, and specific material of the track will all have an impact on results. Oh yeah, and of course the biggest factor is the driver.

Have there been any head to head comparisons of the S4 v. RS4, preferably done on the same day, same track, and by the same driver?

It's hard enough getting the RS4 drivers to post up their slips. It took a long time for the B6 S4 drivers to do it as well. A lot of S4 drivers were running in the 13.9 to 14.1 range and I dont think wanted to post them. Likewise i'm sure the RS4 non pro guys are running 13.2 to 13.6 or worse and not wanting to post them.

That guy's RS4 was run at Atco (a very fast track) which sits at 93 feet in 76 degree weather. I ran my car in Kentucky (little higher elevation) somewhere between 60 and 81 degrees, I need to check again as I pulled similar times both times I went. The launches were both decent within a tenth of a sec of each other in the 60ft. and more importantly the trap speeds are within 1mph of each other.

The only other RS4 slips I can find is syko who ran fricken fantastically in his euro spec (lighter) RS4 at a 12.88 and then Car and Driver did a 13.1 in a euro spec or lighter RS4. Some guy did a 13.6 in the euro spec RS4 also... http://youtube.com/watch?v=lkKd3Ai6OZE

I'd say you cant get anywhere near the 414hp of the RS4 with a traditionaly bolted on S4 but you can definitely outdo it in the torque department. Of course you could put a full exhaust on the RS4 and widen the gap again. Not that any of this would make much of a difference except on a track. That being said, I'd rather have an OEM RS4 then a modded S4 if only due to the warranty gods at audi wanting to blame anything in the world to avoid taking responsibilty for a claim.

cheers! mike

[Chris from Cali]

I'd say you cant get anywhere near the 414hp of the RS4 with a traditionaly bolted on S4 but you can definitely outdo it in the torque department. Of course you could put a full exhaust on the RS4 and widen the gap again. Not that any of this would make much of a difference except on a track. That being said, I'd rather have an OEM RS4 then a modded S4 if only due to the warranty gods at audi wanting to blame anything in the world to avoid taking responsibilty for a claim.

cheers! mike

This is really what I was getting at... I really hope someone comes out with a reflash for the RS4. It's the only reason I haven't pulled the trigger on a full Milltek exhaust yet. Don't get me wrong, the S4 is a GREAT car, but the RS4 is quantifiably better in every respect.

[zachf88]

i think the RS4 is really worth it... It seems like a lot of the stock b7 S4's look the same as B7 A4's....... Geez , i hate how people compare two cars by using mod numbers....

[B18b1ex]

It's hard enough getting the RS4 drivers to post up their slips. It took a long time for the B6 S4 drivers to do it as well. A lot of S4 drivers were running in the 13.9 to 14.1 range and I dont think wanted to post them. Likewise i'm sure the RS4 non pro guys are running 13.2 to 13.6 or worse and not wanting to post them.

That guy's RS4 was run at Atco (a very fast track) which sits at 93 feet in 76 degree weather. I ran my car in Kentucky (little higher elevation) somewhere between 60 and 81 degrees, I need to check again as I pulled similar times both times I went. The launches were both decent within a tenth of a sec of each other in the 60ft. and more importantly the trap speeds are within 1mph of each other.

The only other RS4 slips I can find is syko who ran fricken fantastically in his euro spec (lighter) RS4 at a 12.88 and then Car and Driver did a 13.1 in a euro spec or lighter RS4. Some guy did a 13.6 in the euro spec RS4 also... http://youtube.com/watch?v=lkKd3Ai6OZE

I'd say you cant get anywhere near the 414hp of the RS4 with a traditionaly bolted on S4 but you can definitely outdo it in the torque department. Of course you could put a full exhaust on the RS4 and widen the gap again. Not that any of this would make much of a difference except on a track. That being said, I'd rather have an OEM RS4 then a modded S4 if only due to the warranty gods at audi wanting to blame anything in the world to avoid taking responsibilty for a claim.

cheers! mike

I took this at Fixxfest, stock RS I was told that the guy had just gotten it.


And this was a chipped and exhaust 335 for comparison purposes only.


Stock RS4 is pretty quick, I did not see any b6/b7 s4s in the 13's.

[Lugi20]

Looked like it was wet/raining in those pics?

[B18b1ex]

no, I was up @ 5:00 am after going to bed @2:00 am then drove for a couple of hours, my mistake on settings.

The track itself was good according to the people I spoke with and the day was in the 70's in the morning.

[pyro]

that 335i is my buddy's...pretty damned quick...the c55 is ridiculous as well!
..and apparently the kid with the rs4 is only 16 or 17 or something...

[B18b1ex]

that 335i is my buddy's...pretty damned quick...the c55 is ridiculous as well!
..and apparently the kid with the rs4 is only 16 or 17 or something...

that's what I heard but I don't like to spread things I'm not sure of, wish it was mine. Oh well.

[Ironhorz]

Just a question I originally had but didn't see an answer for; is the body of the S4 and A4 identical as far as fenders go? I know the S4 and RS4 are different but am not sure about the S & A4's.

[B18b1ex]

Just a question I originally had but didn't see an answer for; is the body of the S4 and A4 identical as far as fenders go? I know the S4 and RS4 are different but am not sure about the S & A4's.

I believe the fenders are the same, the major body differences between the S and the A are Bumpers, grills, door blades, Seats, on the B6 chrome around the windows vs Black on a4, suspension is different, brakes are larger and cluster is color. I may have missed somethings.

[bhvrdr]

The fenders are flared on the RS4 more to occupy wheels with more offset or the wider stance it has. This is why you cant just buy an RS4 front clip and bolt it to your S4.

cheers! Mike

[SebringSilver]

I doubt many of you would agree, but I find that a lowered (but otherwise unmodded) S4 actually looks better than an RS4.

The S4 just looks more elegant, at least in my eyes, without the bulging fenders on the RS4.

To each his own, I guess.

[PaperishPlastic]

I was passing by my local audi dealership the other day and they had a titanium sprint blue RS4 in the front and I got a boner and almost crashed. I stopped in later on that day to get some parts and to complain about the RS4 being a traffic hazard.
They also had an Imola titanium RS4 that was almost as beautiful.

[youry]

There is far more differences than one things on the RS4 V8 vs S4 V8 B7:

Body works:
* front bumper, rear bumper, rear doors, front fenders (wider and in aluminium), front bonnet (in aluminium), side skirts, rear trunk (on the sedan).

Engine: FSI for RS4, revs to 8200 rpms, the internal parts are all different incl forged pistons on RS4, the RS4 is controlled through two electronic boxes compared to one, the exhaust headers are 4/2/1 on each side, exhsu tsi also differnet with valve system

Suspension: DRC system with lowered car

brakes: 8 piston + much marger disks on the front (rear might be the same although I doubt it as well.

ESP: fully diconnectable (in two stages)

interior: carbon parts on the dash board and door pannels, RS bucket seats in kevlar so very light(europeen models), slighlty different leather arrangeemnts on the recaro S4 seats (US cars). all the displays are different (speedometer in diffeent colors ,etc...), with a lap timer included in the computer... i ma forgetiing some stuff I am sure, battery is in the trunk

wheels: are also different and specific for the RS4 (standard in 9X19 for the US, optionnal 19 for europe(everyone takes them). tires are specific and are either 255/40/18 or 255/35/19 pirellis or michelin only

so really not that much in commun....

[Jrunr]

it makes me wonder if itis really worth it to spend $10K on modifying my S4... When I still wont be in the ball park of the performance of the RS4...

[Chris from Cali]

it makes me wonder if itis really worth it to spend $10K on modifying my S4... When I still wont be in the ball park of the performance of the RS4...

It's not worth it... consider that in depreciation alone, the S4 takes a MUCH larger hit than the RS4. If you add that up, the RS4 is actually a BETTER deal. The only way an S4 is worth it budget-wise, is to get a lightly optioned one and keep it under $50K. If you are going to mod it, either get a used one to save money or just get an RS4.

[bhvrdr]

it makes me wonder if itis really worth it to spend $10K on modifying my S4... When I still wont be in the ball park of the performance of the RS4...

If you put $2000 into a full exhaust and maybe $500 into programing and then $4000 for Stasis Motorsports and $700 into a true 4:1 TorSen you will have a car that pulls consistently 1.2g on the skid pad and can accelerate about as quickly (definitley within a couple tenths). In essence it will be a bit lighter and handle much better than an RS4 with the crappy DRC. Now that being said, you will also have a car that has no warranty and lacks the little subtle touches that come along with an RS4 (such as the piping on the Recaros or the flared fenders). I agree with Chris. You can now spend $26,000 for a 2004 S4, put the 7 grand into it and have a car that for $33,000 will outhandle an RS4 and will accelerate near as quickly (with cars that are now a couple tenths from each other it will come down to driver). But then you are talking about a car with miles on it so high it is out of warrany and I would never ever own an S4 out of warranty without the finanical ability to not be able to feel a 10 grand repair.

cheers! Mike

[SungTT]

does the B7 S4 have the 40/60 torque split like the RS4 but the B6 S4 still has 60/40 split that normal A4's have?

[B18b1ex]

does the B7 S4 have the 40/60 torque split like the RS4 but the B6 S4 still has 60/40 split that normal A4's have?

B6 50/50

[SungTT]

so the B7 has 40/60? and is the engine further back like the RS4 or is that a difference of the engines?

[NewImageS4]

If you put $2000 into a full exhaust and maybe $500 into programing and then $4000 for Stasis Motorsports and $700 into a true 4:1 TorSen you will have a car that pulls consistently 1.2g on the skid pad and can accelerate about as quickly (definitley within a couple tenths). In essence it will be a bit lighter and handle much better than an RS4 with the crappy DRC. Now that being said, you will also have a car that has no warranty and lacks the little subtle touches that come along with an RS4 (such as the piping on the Recaros or the flared fenders). I agree with Chris. You can now spend $26,000 for a 2004 S4, put the 7 grand into it and have a car that for $33,000 will outhandle an RS4 and will accelerate near as quickly (with cars that are now a couple tenths from each other it will come down to driver). But then you are talking about a car with miles on it so high it is out of warrany and I would never ever own an S4 out of warranty without the finanical ability to not be able to feel a 10 grand repair.

cheers! Mike

I understand your S4 is just bit slower then the RS on the 1/4 mile, but show me one other S4 that runs like yours?

Your car is a freak! Most v8 S4 are not that fast.

I had an 04 S4 with all the same mods (chip, DP's, CB and Intake). My RS is hands down a faster car! Oh yeah, and still has a warranty.

[Chris from Cali]

does the B7 S4 have the 40/60 torque split like the RS4 but the B6 S4 still has 60/40 split that normal A4's have?

I believe all B6s and B7s until 2008 MY had 50/50. IIRC, the 2008 S4 has 40/60.

As for the S4 vs. RS4 debate, get what makes you happy. Personally, I am fine with DRC, Gallardo brakes, Cosworth-tuned engine, the loaded interior, etc.

[nyunyi]

what will happend if i put a b7 rs4 ecu to my b6 s4? Is it work?

[Mr.Wrong]

what will happend if i put a b7 rs4 ecu to my b6 s4? Is it work?

Not sure if serious or just trolling You sir take the cake for the necrobump of the year or what might even be AZ history - 9 year bump with utterly useless post.

[doug97gxe]

holy necro bump batman

[wednesday]

what will happend if i put a b7 rs4 ecu to my b6 s4? Is it work?

It will not.