Stasis S4 vs. a C63 AMG?

[quadexhaust]

Hi folks,

Long time audi owner, but my 2002 is closing in on 130K miles, and not sure how much more it can go (hopefully another 15-20k).

Anyway, I test drove the B8 S4, like it other than the noise of shifting. It was quick, but not as "fast" as I thought it would be. I also drove the C63, which was just a monster, but I don't want to be filling up every 2-3 days, as the car will be my DD, and I drive 60 miles per day for work.

So, has anybody driven a Stasis tuned (ecu) B8 S4, and or compared the former with the C63? I'm all about speed - had some rather quick cars in the past with 500+HP. If the Stasis S4 is "comparable" to the C63, then with the gas savings alone, I'm going to go that route.

Anyone with experience driving both would be helpful.

Thanks,

quad

[myth7676]

If the Stasis S4 is "comparable" to the C63, then with the gas savings alone, I'm going to go that route.

It is not. I drove a C63 and I cannot compare it to my S4 93 GIAC ... the C63 is faster. Stasis does not output as much power as GIAC 93 does, so no, it's not comparable.

[dgszweda]

They are also not in the same price range. The C63 AMG is more near the $75K route (after you add a lot of the options and such). Whereas the S4 you can get for in the $56K route. It is at least a $15K-$20K difference in price which is fairly sizeable. It is really in a different league. It is a bigger V-8 (with associated gas mileage) in a lighter car.

[wildbill]

get a 2.0t and a custom setup. theres some clean looking setups on here and drivability can be pretty high if done correctly

[quadexhaust]

Looks like GIAC is showing around 417 whp, and 352wtq. Is the drivetrain loss about 20% on the B8 S4? If so, I'm guessing at the crank you're getting 475hp, and 420'ish tq? I suppose there's no replacement for displacement, even if the numbers look similar to the C63...

I am looking at a used C63, which would make it a bit more comparable to the B8 S4 in price. What about the B7 RS4, is that more closely comparable? From what I "sense," a tuned B8 is faster than the RS4....

What kind of gas mileage are you getting on your tuned S4's?

Thanks all, appreciate the inputs!

Quad

[marty was here]

i wouldnt bank on numbers.

anyway, the only real similarity imho between the two is that they have 4 doors and that their autos have 7speeds. everything else is completely different in terms of driving experience.

[b6bydesign04]

i wouldnt bank on numbers.

anyway, the only real similarity imho between the two is that they have 4 doors and that their autos have 7speeds. everything else is completely different in terms of driving experience.

Bingo.

[Auditude2.0T]

My Revo S4 put down 387whp on 93 with just a tune. 0-60 is 3.8, 1/4 mile is [email protected] and 60-130 times at 11.8. Through the 1/4 mile I would probably be close to a bone stock c63 with a mediocre driver. Although the 1/4 mile ET might be close the C63's trap a lot higher not to mention there is a guy on 6 speed who ran a 9.79 60-130 in a stock C63 with p31 performance package. The C63 is a lot faster highway car. S4 is quick for a heavy 6 cylinder but the C63 is just a beast....

[myth7676]

What kind of gas mileage are you getting on your tuned S4's?

Before GIAC 93 540 km, after GIAC 620 km on a full tank of Shell 91

[myth7676]

From what I "sense," a tuned B8 is faster than the RS4....

Correct. That's what I know as well.

[2012B8S4]

Two totally different cars imho. Needingor wanting awd is big deciding factor between the two . From a dig the tuned s4 is faster but on the hwy the c63 would be slightly quicker. But if straight line speed is all u want. Buy american. The c63 is very costly to repair and modify. Even more than the s4. Plus the s4 looks better imo.

[Beast]

go for the c63 coupe black edition

[marty was here]

wait, why cant we tune the c63 in this discussion?

[Operator]

Two totally different cars imho. Needingor wanting awd is big deciding factor between the two . From a dig the tuned s4 is faster but on the hwy the c63 would be slightly quicker. But if straight line speed is all u want. Buy american. The c63 is very costly to repair and modify. Even more than the s4. Plus the s4 looks better imo.

True. The new 5.0's will give you want you're looking for in the power deparment. But if like you said you want Performance AND gas miliage, the S4 seems like the better choice.

[dgszweda]

Two totally different cars imho. Needingor wanting awd is big deciding factor between the two . From a dig the tuned s4 is faster but on the hwy the c63 would be slightly quicker. But if straight line speed is all u want. Buy american. The c63 is very costly to repair and modify. Even more than the s4. Plus the s4 looks better imo.

I would say that the AMG would probably beat the S4 in a dig, unless we are talking up to 20 or 30mph. 0-60 the AMG is quoted as getting there anywhere from 3.6 seconds to 4.1 seconds. Quarter mile is in the 11.9 to 12.1 seconds.

I do agree that if all you want is straight out speed, go with something else than an C63 AMG. That will be one expensive car to keep up.

[dingosatemyaudi]

the S4, even with tune does not compare to the C63. Not only is the Merc faster, it has an awesome exhaust note.

a seldom mentioned cost of ownership on the C63 is that it burns thru tires like you can't believe. Count on 7000 mi for a set of rears - no kidding.

[Axxlrod]

Not to mention that if your commute is 60 miles per day, after adding in the miles you drive for personal reasons, you'd prolly average at least 1,500 miles per month. With that kind of mileage, fuel economy def comes into the equation.

You'd need an oil refinery in your back yard to keep the C63 gassed up.

[dgszweda]

Not to mention that if your commute is 60 miles per day, after adding in the miles you drive for personal reasons, you'd prolly average at least 1,500 miles per month. With that kind of mileage, fuel economy def comes into the equation.

You'd need an oil refinery in your back yard to keep the C63 gassed up.

I don't understand this too much. If you are paying $75K for a car, why is gas mileage that massive of a concern. Yeah gas mileage is always a concern, but the C63 is rated at 14/20. I guess if you are a person who has to get a 10 year loan on the car to afford it. But some of us buy these cars outright, and for us and others who are looking at this type of car, paying an extra $10 bucks a week or so isn't going to kill us.

[marty was here]

wait, who is paying msrp on a new c63?

[2012B8S4]

I would say that the AMG would probably beat the S4 in a dig, unless we are talking up to 20 or 30mph. 0-60 the AMG is quoted as getting there anywhere from 3.6 seconds to 4.1 seconds. Quarter mile is in the 11.9 to 12.1 seconds.

I do agree that if all you want is straight out speed, go with something else than an C63 AMG. That will be one expensive car to keep up.

A bone stock c63 will not do 11.9 in the 1/4. I used to stomp on stock ones with my 335. And i would beat tuned ones with meth. The s4 will get there. We need.time.

[theKB]

For me I would leave the C63 until they drop the new 5.5 Biturbo in there. I love the exhaust note of the C63 and considered it when I was buying this car but Mercedes wouldn't let me go for a test drive. Also when MB realigned the options packages and forced you to buy the P31 package to get the LSD. I had no interest in paying a premium for their "tune", red calipers and a wing just to get the LSD.

It's not like the fuel mileage on the S4 is stellar by any means. It's not bad on the highway but in town it's no better than most.

That new 5.5L biturbo is returning some pretty amazing numbers. With a tune and exhaust cars are running in the 10's with slicks.

[quadexhaust]

I'm going to buy used. Call me cheap.... for the "big ticket" item I don't mind paying the cost, but every time I fill up, I know it'll naw at me - "With the S4, you wouldn't be spending this kind of money on gas...." At the end of the day, I had a 550HP GTO, which ate gas by simply sitting in the car, let alone driving it. It didn't matter too much because my commute was a lot less. My current Audi has been terrific, just oil changes. If I go with a 2010/2011 C63, I'll buy an extended (100K) warranty on the thing so WHEN something breaks, it's the dealers problem.....

Just call me cheap - I don't buy new socks unless they have more than 1 hole in them.... ;)

Quad

[ahcow]

Totally different cars..

When I was buying my car, I needed AWD as I had to drive up north in the winter months to clients. Now that I no longer need to, I would have gone with the C63 or M3 instead. Really tempted by the C63 coupe right now....

[audisarecool]

I think it comes down to whether or not you need quattro.

At least for me, It'd be tough to say no to a C63 coupe if quattro was not a requirement.

Once you start mixing new vs used, I'd prefer to buy new.

[willyspub]

For what it's worth, a first gen CLS 63 AMG (more aggressive tune of the 6.2) got me pretty good on the highway recently, and I have pulley and all the usuals.

In my opinion, the 6.2 has the best factory exhaust note of any sub-100k car.

[Axxlrod]

I don't understand this too much. If you are paying $75K for a car, why is gas mileage that massive of a concern. Yeah gas mileage is always a concern, but the C63 is rated at 14/20. I guess if you are a person who has to get a 10 year loan on the car to afford it. But some of us buy these cars outright, and for us and others who are looking at this type of car, paying an extra $10 bucks a week or so isn't going to kill us.

If you're a person who drives a lot of miles, say 20,000 per year, and you have a car with big, thirsty V8, then you're prolly filling up the tank 2 - 3 times per week. At $100 per tank, that's an easy $800 per month fuel bill... no just an "extra $10 a week"...

[jdwk]

It is a joy to hear my neighbor fire up his E63 every day. Yes it is is the best exhaust note under 100k. What kills me is the lack of a manual, automated or not. All that power into a slush box is a crime.

I'm with the OP on gas. I buy my cars outright, but the higher the cost of the vehicle, the higher the value of the car as well. It is a depreciating asset, but it is an asset. Spending money on gas on the other hand is just throwing money down the toilet.

[dgszweda]

If you're a person who drives a lot of miles, say 20,000 per year, and you have a car with big, thirsty V8, then you're prolly filling up the tank 2 - 3 times per week. At $100 per tank, that's an easy $800 per month fuel bill... no just an "extra $10 a week"...

Let's take a look at this. According to Road & Track the Manufacturers mileage information for the Audi S4 is 18/27, with an observed combined of 21mpg. The C63 AMG sedan is 15/22 with a combined of 18 mpg. So if we take your comparison of 20K miles, and the combined mileage, the Audi would need to fill up 952 gallon. The C63 would need 1,111 gallons. That means in the given year the AMG would need an additional 159 gallons. At $4.50 a gallon this would equate to an increase in gas spending for the year of $715/yr, or about $13.76 a week.

If we would go to the extreme and look at just the manufacturers numbers for both cars and pick the biggest swing between the two, the C63 is 13/19 on MB's website and the Audi is 18/28 on the Audi website. If we pick the highway numbers (which have the widest difference), then the additional costs of the C63 in fuel for the year would be $1525 a year, or about $29 a week. Hardly a massive concern either way for someone who has just written a check for $75K on a car.

To get to your 800 a month fuel bill or $9600/yr on 20k miles, the C63 would have to make less than 7 mpg combined and the Audi S4 would need to make 28mpg combined.

[Brooklyn]

Having driven in a C63 recently (2011 vintage), that car is in a different county by the time it gets to 100. You'd have to be mind bogglingly terrible at planting your foot on a gas pedal while driving that car to have the S4 or a fricking 335 still on your 6 within megaphone distance. As for fuel, I had a b6 S4 and I was filling up on average about 6-7 times per month with DC traffic. Fuel economy in 8-cyl engines has come a long way since then, but I'm guessing you'd be looking at 100-120 per week in fuel based on the $75 it just cost me to fill up with premium here in VA.

[Brooklyn]

This ranks high on the puzzling comments I've ever read here meter. How much you pay for a car has nothing to do with it. You're looking at an extra $400 per month, easy, to gas up a daily driven c63 on top of your monthly car note. I've seen some of the threads here that show what people are paying for their S4's, and I know for damn sure some of these people are fricking drowning in a sea of red. If an extra $400 a month doesn't peg your wallet's tear glands, I need to ditch this fricking government job ASAP and get to the private sector where the dollars must clearly be flowing.

I don't understand this too much. If you are paying $75K for a car, why is gas mileage that massive of a concern. Yeah gas mileage is always a concern, but the C63 is rated at 14/20. I guess if you are a person who has to get a 10 year loan on the car to afford it. But some of us buy these cars outright, and for us and others who are looking at this type of car, paying an extra $10 bucks a week or so isn't going to kill us.

[quadexhaust]

Well, this week I'm driving my wife's MB ML500, which is rated around 14-17'ish, so probably close to real-world as the C63 (although the ML has a V8, it's not a 6.2L SUV - which would be nuts). I filled up Monday morning, and I'll probably get to work Friday before I need to fill up - so that's 9 "trips" 1 way, or 270 miles or so I'll get out of the tank (I'll confirm when I actually need to fill up - 20G tank). I'd imagine in a C63, I would not get to Friday morning before needing gas, which means another $85 (91 Octane) to fill up. With my Audi 3.0, I can get through the week driving the 60 mile commute x work week, in addition to some miles around town for errands. To the other poster's comment - the car is a depreciating asset, but gas is basically thrown to the wind. Living in CA., I have pretty high gas prices. Although I'm quite certain I'd prefer driving the balls off the C63 every day, with my heavy right foot, my mileage is going to be down right pathetic. THAT, will knaw at me....

Quad

[Axxlrod]

As a person that drives close to 30,000 miles per year, I def pay attention to the fuel economy and efficiency of any perspective car. My wife drives an Escalade with the 6.2L V8, and she puts 20,000 mile per year on that rig. Whether or not I can afford it (I can) isn't the issue. I just don't like paying high fuel bills; plus there's the (in)convenience factor of having to go to the gas station all the time.

In regards to the OP, he admits he likes to romp on the gas, so a C63 driven hard everyday would prolly end up averaging around 12mpg, and with gas inching ever closer to $5.00 per gallon here in CA, that car is gonna cost a lot to keep fueled. That's my point, irregardless of the car's original purchase price.

Just because you can afford to purchase the car, doesn't mean you have to like paying high fuel costs.

[quadexhaust]

Can I get an "amen brother!" I'm cheap, I want to drive my old 2002 A4 everywhere with family and put miles on it vs. the ML, even thought it has 1/3 the miles and none of the "toys" the kids enjoy using in the SUV.
I'm with you Axxlrod, I can afford it, or I wouldn't buy it to begin with - but it just makes me ponder the 5.5L biturbo coming out, and paying around the same $$$ (possibly) and getting better fuel economy - economy and biturbo and 5.5L, can anyone say "oxymoron..."

And yes, I'm beginning to feel like one :)

Quad

[dgszweda]

This ranks high on the puzzling comments I've ever read here meter. How much you pay for a car has nothing to do with it. You're looking at an extra $400 per month, easy, to gas up a daily driven c63 on top of your monthly car note. I've seen some of the threads here that show what people are paying for their S4's, and I know for damn sure some of these people are fricking drowning in a sea of red. If an extra $400 a month doesn't peg your wallet's tear glands, I need to ditch this fricking government job ASAP and get to the private sector where the dollars must clearly be flowing.

See my Post #28, it is not really that more. I don't want to get into a who makes more money on here, but my Mantra has always been if you can't pay cash for a car then you can't afford it. I know others have different philosophies, and I respect that. To each his own. But in terms of that, I don't care how wealthy you are, to write a check from your checking account for $60k to pay for a depreciating asset takes some guts. For me personally, a few extra thousand a year on gas for something fun, isn't a big deal, and typically gas mileage isn't a consideration, the bigger consideration is how much you willing to write a check for. I agree with you, I think there are plenty making $40k trying to buy this car, and are trying to stretch out the smallest payment possible, in that case gas is a consideration.

Maybe I miss the boat here, I don't know. But for a lot of us, we are not that concerned about gas, otherwise, why the heck am I buying an S4 and not a Volt. It is because we like nice cars, that are fun, and we are willing to spend for that. Gas mileage is not the driving factor. The C63AMG is not marketed to gas conscience consumers. If you are concerned about gas, great, I am not knocking that. I just think when you are getting into $75k to $100k for a car, the decision isn't boiling down to 5mpg. Just like a Bugatti owner isn't concerned about repair costs.

[PaperishPlastic]

A little off topic but I raced a CLS63 AMG to yesterday the new Twin turbo ones. we started at a low speeds of about 20MPH. The first second he wasnt pulling that hard, but then he would just start running away everytime.

ok Back to the C63 and fuel economy.

[quadexhaust]

A little off topic but I raced a CLS63 AMG to yesterday the new Twin turbo ones. we started at a low speeds of about 20MPH. The first second he wasnt pulling that hard, but then he would just start running away everytime.

ok Back to the C63 and fuel economy.

Are you a stock B8 S4?

[audisarecool]

Are you a stock B8 S4?

Signature says Revo Stg 1.

[marty was here]

A little off topic but I raced a CLS63 AMG to yesterday the new Twin turbo ones. we started at a low speeds of about 20MPH. The first second he wasnt pulling that hard, but then he would just start running away everytime.

ok Back to the C63 and fuel economy.

first second he was hitting traction control intervention.

[PaperishPlastic]

first second he was hitting traction control intervention.

Im sure
He was with his dad or grandpa also which was funny. Ive seen those cars trap over 130MPH with a tune, they are in a different league.

[marty was here]

Im sure
He was with his dad or grandpa also which was funny. Ive seen those cars trap over 130MPH with a tune, they are in a different league.

you mean like c63s?

haaaaa back on topic.