What is the difference between s4 and a4

I own 08 a4 Quattro s-line tipronic. I bough it secound hand from a dealer last year and i have done 10k. Thank god for the warrenty do to a need of new piston rings and head gasket.

The guy from me was killjng it. Its comfie and pleasent to drive as well as very stylish. Cheap to maintain very stylish. Easy to tune and no need for anything to make it into a head turner it already is out of the box. Audi will definetly bring happyness to u. Damian — I agree. I must it has been one of my favorite cars that I have had. Just wanted to say Thanks to Nick; this site has been a huge help. The FSI engine also suffers from a carbon build-up which gets worse over time and the only real, proven way to clean it is to take off the manifold and manually clean it, which is both expensive and time consuming.

There is a DRC fix by Audi to repair the problems initially experienced with this suspension. The interior also has unique touches and special seats, which can be retrofitted to an S4 but again at a substantial cost. The RS4, when fully carbon cleaned, is very fast, and the supercharging options available for it give it much more potential than an S4.

I live in an area with poor roads. What about the suspension differences A4 and S4? And is there a noticeable extra weight in the S4? Interesting question — the standard A4 has a higher ride height and softer ride, but the S-line or Sport Package A4s have the same suspension as the S4 more-or-less so the ride will be similar. There is extra weight up front for the engine, but not a ton — lbs for the A4 versus 3, lbs for the S4. Are you sure about the a4 S-line?

I was under the impression the sline A4 was cosmetic only. My main goal is to have it sporty looking. The stock A4s are kind of bland. You can add a tune to wake it up a little and enjoy the updated body work, interior and other refinements of the B8. It depends on personal preference though…. Nick, really great info, thank you very much. How difficult is it to add the s-line cosmetics to a stock a4? The 5-spoke wheels are critical part. Roy — the wheels are easy. They just bolt on and are a direct fit.

The body work is a little more complicated, but not that hard. Some folks feel refinements in weight distribution and suspension are worthy? Roy — go test drive and decide for yourself! The interior is very nice, and the electronics are all upgraded. The advantages of the B7 S4 is the power, sportiness, and fun-to-drive factor. Nick, when do these cars start to get problems and what is the likelihood of failures on say the K mileage range on a A4? Roy — you should be fine there, but it depends on how well it maintains.

So then I tried the manual S4 and it was over, I was sold. The manual gives it a fun factor that turns it into a true sports car. I recently purchased an audi a4 S line.

I was looking to modify the exterior a bit by either adding a small spoiler to the trunk or perhaps switching to an S4 Trunk. Would you know if it would fit? Thx ann. Ann — either option should work just fine. I have a A4 quattro with 2. Purchased it with 1, miles for a very reasonable price and need nothing faster or peppier than this car. A joy to drive and more than I ever imagined.

It is the 8 speed automatic triptronic and the smoothest car I have ever owned. Check out APR for tunes, well worth the money if you want just a little more performance…. Hi Nick. Bob, Are you asking in regards to service after you buy the car, or are you talking about buying the car itself? Buying — dealerships are not owned by Audi, they are all independent. Thanks, Nick. Am looking to buy and like one in another state.

Article on A v. S is great — am grappling with that now! Nick, This is a great forum, thank you for initiating and maintaining it. I hope you can help me with this dilemma. What about the A4 V6 3. I found what appears to be a 1 owner flawless S4 with very low mileage approx 40K. But for the about the same price, I can get a A4 3. For the record, im not a tuner but I enjoy having power ready to be unleashed at any point I want.

You can tell what decision I made I had a similar budget and weighed similar options but to each their own. The 2. Very much enjoyed your article. I was initially looking at RS and S models but after test driving a Turbo A4 I was impressed enough with the performance and the lower cost is a benefit. Before I get into one I want to get an idea of what to expect regarding reliability and average cost of maintenance. Do these cars tend to be reliable or are they finicky?

Currently looking at a A4 Avant 2. Nice post, man. You know? So far the car has been pretty faithful, and other than a few unforeseen repairs, relatively inexpensive, too. Thanks for the helpful comment, sir. Unfortunately, the the new S4s are probably a bit out of reach for now. My questions for you: 1 Would you budget about double maintenance over your A4 per year?

I know you did the JHM tune, but that was all about more power- is there a way to get more economy? Thanks again, your car is sweet! Given how far you drive, I might give the A4 another thought…. Thanks Nick, thats helpful. I guess the big costs come when something serious fails, but ive researched and budgeted for that. Am test driving an A4 today, i hope i love it- also the B8 S4 is growing on me, but B7 S4 — heart is set on it, such a beautiful, classy machine! I currently own a yellow S4.

My third fourth Audi. I love it, except…. I live in Wisconsin! Lots of snow, potholes, etc. Would getting an A4 eliminate that problem? I think your issue is more related to the quality of the roads. Are you running the stock wheels? Have you replaced the cracked wheels? Here in New England, this price point exists with plenty of inventory. My concerns center around known expenses at this point. Turbo and timming belt, exhaust, brakes, suspension, and tires come to mind. What else should I be checking for.

I have learned this lesson of buying a money pit the hard way with my MB SL Thanks, jim. I highly prefer the 2. Nick, thanks for the heads up on the CVT tran. Any thoughts?

Are these a poor mans Audi? Thanks, Jim. Ha, more or less yes. The Passat and A4 are the same platform. The Jetta is smaller. The Audi has a lot of nice features over the VW brothers, but they are very similar in many regards. Its has 58, miles. Any suggestions on a4 vs s4 for wintery conditions.

Torn btw the two. Thanks again! The S4 has more power, but not so much power that you would have greater traction issues. Hey Nick. Thanks for the insight. I have had a i in the past but, in your opinion, how does the Audi stack up to BMW as far as maintenance. Thanks for the advice. They should be pretty similar in terms of cost to repair both are built in Germany and require German parts to repair but not sure in terms of reliability and likelihood to need repair. If AWD was absolutely essential for passenger vehicles, then, perhaps all Audis would be Quatrros in the first place.

But, this is not true. The CVT transmission is also very expensive to maintain and terrible for performance driving, although it does have benefits in terms of gas mileage. Check out the Audizine classifieds or look on Craigslist for modified A4s, you can definitely find them! This was with the original Multitronic. For the most part, Quattro is essentially an Audi marketing tool. Consumers see the mighty s Audi Quattro barnstorming about in European rallies, or, at Pikes Peak in promotional videos.

To be honest, I drive an Audi to some degree as it has a certain cachet, exclusivity and status. By extension, many, if not most, Quattro drivers bought their Quattro over a more humble FWD for the same reason. The longitudinal 2. I took a garden variety A3 sedan for a spin, as soon as it was released in Australia, back in March. Take it from me, it has all the magic of the original s B5 A4 pocket rocket.

It IS the spiritual successor to the legendary B5. In the case of the B5, as the maxim goes, old is gold. With the A3 sedan, Audi has made new gold. The timing chains is the big one — any chain rattle at start-up, especially a cold start? Also look for any signs of excessive oil consumption in the service records, if those are available. You think this is normal or no? Thats true Nick. I also need to get my Ohlins rebuilt soon, the ride quality has really taken a nose drive.

Just hit a deer last night, both of us are alright, just need to fix the front, so the exhaust and intercooler have to wait while I get the DTM front, and hopefully your hood and those Osir vented fenders. Also having the body shop cut into the front and rear wheel wells this time. Hi Nick, thanks for the great info. You mention that older Audis have not as good of a reputation, so my question is what is the oldest Audi that you would consider? I know there are a ton of factors, but my number one thing is avoiding buying a car that ends up in the shop consistently before too long.

Thanks for any advise! Anything in the s should be fine, although the B5 S4 is known to be a bit high maintenance. Like any car, the older the go the more important it is to get a service history and know the previous owner took care of it and kept up with maintenance.

Would you advise me to buy the car if yes what should I lookout for before taking ownership? Hi Teekay — I get questions like this a lot, so I wrote up a post to go into much more detail.

Hey Nick, thank you thank you for maintaining this blog and your experienced advice. Also considering a S4. Also with the S4 is it that much nicer to get with the optional rear differential? Additionally is their any more costly maintenance to the 3. I also do not like the looser feel of steer on the A4 with new upgraded electric power steering. Can you recommend best warranty company or company for used Audis? Certainly appreciate your reply. The supercharged V6 is very fun to drive, and with a few bolts and a tune is well over HP.

You can add a tune and some mods to the A4 and wake it up some, but it will require significant work turbo upgrades and money. They dynamic package gives you a magnetic ride so you can choose between softer and stiffer suspension settings and shift points — its a cool feature, but not a must-have, especially if you plan to install coilovers eventually.

For warranties, check out Endurance Warranty — they are an advertiser on this site, you can see a banner to the right. Nick , thanks so much for the insight these are probably relatively minor questions i had asked in last sent blog mail Should i expect any significant difference with cost of maintenance of the S4 vs A4 Quattro? Do you notice the back seat space is tighter in the S4? I dont thnk there is any diff with interior space between the — B8 A4 though there are slight changes to the exterior.

I am confident they will be benefited from this web site. I used to own a B6 1. I did have a lot of random issues from k miles and eventually, had to sell.

I regret that after doing the steering rack, window regulators, and timing. Now, that I have a reliable daily, I am looking for a fun car and have been looking at a B6 S4 or 1. I read above and think the 1. How many miles can I expect it to last?

Have you heard of any issues with the convertable top or engine? Love this detailed and accurate yet concise article. But this winter I fell in love with an B7 RS4 and bought it. I should add that I looked a B8 S4 with the supercharged V6.

I currently drive a BMW i coupe and recently saw a listing for a S4 with k km on it. The price is 19k CAD and I am tempted but for every post that talks about how much fun it is to drive, I run into two that tell me how much of a headache it will be to maintain it. I heard that the timing chain tensioners will need to be replaced around this mileage and that will be a costly fix.

Any experience comparing it to a BMW? Otherwise, it should be fairly straightforward to maintain and no worse than your BMW. If you want it then go for it! Hi Nick, thanks for your blog. I am currently looking to buy a A4 3.

I would expect them to be pretty similar though. Hope that helps! Definitely drive both, the B8 A4s are surprisingly peppy and fun to drive. You might just want to go for the newer A4. I am surprised both options are around the same price, I would think the S4 would be cheaper given its age but I suppose the S4 is relatively low miles for its age and the B8 A4 relatively high mileage for its age. Yeah, you can buy lowering springs or coilovers. Coilovers will allow you to customize the height whereas springs have a set drop.

Thanks for the great article. I originally wanted an S4, but swayed the other way due to many of the points in this article, as well as the history of the timing chains in the S4s. Awesome, thanks! Looks like the car I was looking at already sold between when I posted and when you responded, but that means I can open my range to a little higher mileage on the A4 and likely not experience the same issues. Much appreciated, Nick.

Nick, I just purchased an extremely well maintained not No issues at present.. Are you aware of a reputable warranty company that would cover the timing chain service, if needed. Do you recommend buying an extended warranty?

Hi Michael — Endurance Warranty is a site sponsor of mine and has great service and rates, definitely check them out. Also if there is any difference in the model years worth mentioning. Nick, what do you think about the Audi A4 ?

The 06 and 07 is nearly identical for sedans and avants, but the convertible did change body style between 06 and I usually commute anywhere from miles a day depending on school or not. Hey Nick, thank you so much for writing this informative article and for dillegently answering all of these comments over a few years! Believe it or not I have set here reading every comment because it is so interesting haha. I have a few questions for you since you definitely seem to know your way around an Audi: I recently bought a 3.

The maintenance report looks really clean and it has been regularly serviced. Do you think I got a fair deal on this car? Now, I also read that the 3. However, I was wondering what kind of tuning you could do to a 3. My second to last question is, with this subpar FE, are there any things I can do while driving to improve general efficiency?

Finally, I heard that these babies can quite easily last past k miles with good care, and since I want this to last me at least 8 years, I was wondering what steps I can do to make sure that it is properly maintained also the minimum fuel rating I should fill it up with and which problems I should be looking for down the road, and what budget I should prepare for.

I really apologize for all of these questions, I would have posted on your buyers guide but was unsure if this is a b7 or b8! Thank you greatly though and have a great day :. Like the V8, the biggest gains are to do high flow cats or piggie pipes and a more free flowing exhaust to unleash some HP and make the engine work less hard to acheive same speed. Getting the car up to speed kills mileage, maintaining the speed is not so bad.

So driving fast just to race to the next stop light burns a ton of gas, cruising slower, accelerating more gradually, and trying to time the lights helps. Thank you so much for the quick response and great comprehensive answer! I just picked up the car yesterday and I was definitely not disappointed. I should definitely look into some of those mods to get more oxygen into the engine!

I definitely want to make this car last at least 10 years, so in terms of oil changes, how often is often? Enjoy the car! Thanks Nick I will! I had one more question concerning this car: so I read that most or all? How do I determine if I have the real sport edition? My front grille says S line on the front and I have those lil silver door stops below the doors, but how can I figure out if I really have the upgraded suspension and tire sport option?

I believe the interior should also have a three spoke steering wheel with an s-line badge, rather than the four spoke wheel.

Thanks a bunch for the info and quick replies though! Hey Nick I actually have one more question to run by you here: So I found out that the same dealer we purchased my black 3. While I love the 3. My question is, if I could work out some sort of deal with this local dealer to see if I could pay some extra money to swap out my B7 for this B8, do you think I should do it?

Both cars seem to have equally good service records and maintenance, but my B7 has had 4 previous owners and the B8 has only had two. Hey Nick thanks for the recommendation; unfortunately that 09 2. I had to wait for them to inspect my tires and brakes after I purchased the car, yet somehow my rear tire was largely deflated over only 1 and a half weeks of driving only on paved roads and my rear brake light is not working all of a sudden.

Thanks have a great day man. Was a very fun drive with great take off. I am after an upgrade and keen to buy a B7 S4 for its shear V8 power. The ones i am looking at have done around Km. You still might have a problem down the road but not as likely in short term. Should i buy S4 or A5? I like S4 because of performance and A5 has nice body?

Which one is recommended? The A5 is certainly beautiful. Would you rather have 2 doors or 4? I currently have a A4 Cabriolet 2. I am thinking about a A4 Cabriolet 2.

What does the S-Line package offer, and is it worth the upgrade? And as far as lifestyle and what I would use the car for…. I work only 30 min from home.

So I would only use it to get to work and back. No road trips. Give me your opinion! Some bigger engines can be more efficient than smaller ones thanks to modern technology and how aggressively it is tuned, and forced induction i. Your TL gets 18 city and 26 highway, and the S4 gets 18 city and 28 highway, so in theory they should be about the same, with the S4 maybe even being a little better.

The motor produces hp at 6, rpm and foot-pounds of torque at 4, rpm. A transmission in the Audi A4 is an eight-speed automatic with a sport shift mode ; there is an optional six-speed automatic transmission. The Audi S4, on the other hand, has a six-speed manual transmission or, optionally, the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters.

The Audi A4 has a weaker acceleration than the Audi S4. The A4 2. The Audi S4 is a noisier car between the two, also. Because of its powerful motor, it produces a range of snarling sounds while accelerating. The S4 has always been a more expensive car than the A4. The two models, despite all the similarities, belong to different classes, and compete with different rivals.

Difference between Audi A4 and S4. The engine is the 2.