Modified S3 versus S4 (anyone with experince)

[2015S3]

I currently have a stage 2 15" S3 and was looking at a 18 TTRS as a replacement. I however hear very good things about the new S4.

I was wondering if any of your S4 guys have experience performance wise stock versus stock, modified versus modified. I had a run in with a modified SQ5 and found it to be very fast although I was able to pull away, off the line it was right on my ass.

Let me know your real life experience was also considering a new RS3.

[OverBoosted]

I'm assuming the SQ5 was the last generation with the supercharged V6 since the latest gen hasn't touched down in the states yet. In theory a tuned 3 liter 6 cylinder turbo car should beat a 2.5 liter 5 cylinder turbo and 2 liter 4 cylinder turbo car but power to weight ratio, gearing and turbo flow rates will factor into which car is faster.

[Tony@EPL]

I have 1000 miles on my B9 S4 so far... while it was a great car, have not missed my S3.... not even for a second.

[mrpoker]

I have 1000 miles on my B9 S4 so far... while it was a great car, have not missed my S3.... not even for a second.

I really don't know how a lower class vehicle can be better. It's like saying is the S6 better than the S4, well clearly not! You pay for what you get my friend...

[JohnEnglish]

It depends on how you define "better".

[mrpoker]

It depends on how you define "better".

With every manufacturer as you move up in the class the car is more powerful and more fully loaded. I really don't know how you can pick a S3 over S4 when you have the money for it...

[will13k7]

size, weight, and agility. the smaller cars are more fun to throw around in the corners. it really depends on what you're looking for which indicates what's better for the purpose chosen for the car. I like the S4 as a daily driver work horse, and the added size and weight is nice at higher speeds on the highway. The s3 is much more fun on the mountain roads though.

[VipinLJ]

I really don't know how a lower class vehicle can be better. It's like saying is the S6 better than the S4, well clearly not! You pay for what you get my friend...

size, weight, and agility. the smaller cars are more fun to throw around in the corners. it really depends on what you're looking for which indicates what's better for the purpose chosen for the car. I like the S4 as a daily driver work horse, and the added size and weight is nice at higher speeds on the highway. The s3 is much more fun on the mountain roads though.

will13k7 hit the nail on the head. I personally think my A4 is a "better" car than my A7 even though my A7 was $30k more. Mainly because I love how the A4 handles and can be thrown around compared to the boat that the A7 is. That is why my A7 doesn't get much love from me (I don't post much in the A7 section on these forums). But there are people who would swear by the A7 and say it beats the B9 in every department.

[JohnEnglish]

With every manufacturer as you move up in the class the car is more powerful and more fully loaded. I really don't know how you can pick a S3 over S4 when you have the money for it...

size, weight, and agility. the smaller cars are more fun to throw around in the corners. it really depends on what you're looking for which indicates what's better for the purpose chosen for the car. I like the S4 as a daily driver work horse, and the added size and weight is nice at higher speeds on the highway. The s3 is much more fun on the mountain roads though.

Exactly.

[RingNut]

I like my B9 A4 better than my S3 and my B8 S4. The chassis is the biggest improvement, even though the car got a little bigger, it's much more nimble and fun to drive. Add to that the super quite and comfortable interior, awesome tech and killer fuel economy and it's the complete package.

[2015S3]

Guys I know as you go up in model things get more prestige, that wasn't the question I was strictly keeping it to performance.

mrpoker, I have seen many lineups with lower models that blow the doors off the higher priced prestige models.

I am looking at the TTRS right now versus the S4, two completely different classes of vehicles, but I am more concerned on which performs better performance wise. The S3 at stage-2 in my opinion is very fast and coming from a 500WHP /STI it can hold its own.

I am worried that even coming from the smallish 4-door to a very smallish 2-door I will miss the 4-door. The RS3 to me would be the best resolve, but the car is too much like the S3 in the looks department, I would basically be driving almost the same car with different under ware.

[Drof]

well now with the s4 being turbocharged instead of supercharged that decision is a little harder. if it was the old supercharged engine i'd say TTRS FOR SURE! but I think the S4 will have very nice potential with modifications / tuning bigger turbo etc.

If you are wanting to go real big, then depends which engine will hold up better. the cars are just too new to determine. the bonus for the s4 is obviously 6 cylinder, larger displacement, rear wheel drive biased. Bonus for the TTRS is it is lighter, if you are sticking with stock turbo's then the TTRS will probably put out more power. Im not sure how robust or different the levels of the rods/pistons but that would come into play once you add more and more boost. The TTRS (at least to me) will sound better and gives you that "uniqueness" factor.

I haven't heard of anyone comign out with a tune for the new s4's but there are videos of a shop across the pond that has tuned the new TTRS and software, no hardware....squeezed out 500hp, and large amounts of trq (it was in nM so I"m not sure the exact number). Its 0-62mph time was 3.2-3.5 seconds and quarter mile time (vbox data) was between 11.2-11.6

[RudyH]

I don't know if my posts keep getting deleted, or I keep biting my tongue and not posting it.

In it's class the TT RS hasn't received the best reviews when compared to it's competitors that have a proper power train layout. The power is great, but it seems to be lacking in other departments - especially in departments where numbers can't tell the story.

So by definition of performance, the OP sounds more like they are looking for a straight line car, and I personally think the TT RS /RS3 is the better way to go then the S4...as for S3 vs S4 - no brainer on the S4.

When you start looking at other aspects, I have owned enough FWD and RWD cars to know that I enjoy a RWD biased car, even when factoring in AWD. If I wanted to save money, I think the RS3 (TT RS isn't practical for me) is where I will be going after my B8, but I think I will be opting for a nicely optioned B9 S4. To be honest, it has more to do with the Haldex + engine placement - otherwise I know for a fact I would be 100% on board with the whole platform.

[Tiggz911]

@2015S3- the only reason I bought an A4 over the S3 is because I had to ditch my 911 before I moved to the desert and I drive over 120 miles a day to work. The S3 was a noisy son-of-a-bitch and the thought of hearing that clunk in the rear over every bump (even with mag-ride) was the primary deal-breaker for me. Now, I'm looking to get another coupe for some good back-road, mountain fun and the 2018 TTRS is squarely on my radar. I was, and still am, considering another 911 as it is easily the best road car I've EVER driven to date but I'm also fighting the performance/value issue. A vehicle that can be tuned to 500hp with software only, in a two-door sports car type configuration with a 0-60ish time of mid-3 seconds is flat out fast and the car is a capable one. It also doesn't look like the chick car of the previous generations. They finally introduced some masculine and aggressive features that are smooth and look, quite frankly, amazing.

How it handles is the real question. Personally I'm not out for a straight-line car but a small car that can get up to speed quickly is amazing on a track and a necessary option. Will it compare at all to the feel of a 911? Doubt it. But if it performs admirably with intuitive feedback through the steering wheel, I will be sold. If it is as numb and boring to drive as the A4 then I will go for a 2009-2012 911S of the 997.2 style which can be had for less the new TTRS in most cases and is only a touch slower but with a fun factor of 1000,0000,0000 (that's right, four decimal places because that's how awesome).

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