Audi S4 (B7) vs Audi S4 (B8)

rickchild

rickchild

rickchild

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With a slight variation on the spec me a car for £XXX I have already decided on a model which might be a keeper and this is the S4 Avant.
But the question posed is newer always better?

Both the current 2009+ and previous model are in budget, but the newer S4 seems more like an A4 3.0T than a true S4.
Wouldn't like to spend the extra 12k+ for an inferior car.


S4 (B7):

4.2 V8 Engine (The chance to own such engines seems to be disappearing)
Gas Guzzler tax & 22mpg (No problem on my mileage but must hit depreciation)
Tiptronic


S4 (B8):

3.0TFSI Engine (Yawn)
New platform
224g co2 & 30mpg (Easier to sell)
Stronic DSG


Surely as technology improves so does the vehicle, and the B7 was only a B6 facelift, so we are talking two iterations here between them.

Maybe the newer model has it when upgraded with the dynamic dampers/steering/differantial, but I am still drawn to that V8 rumble...

Has anyone had experience of both?
 
I'd personally have the B8. Looks better, probably better put together, better kit. Much better fuel economy, better resale values, cheaper tax. 6 cylinders aren't exactly *yawn*, they can still sound very nice.

Only benefit of the B7 is the V8. That's it.
 
The S4 is not an M3 rival - it's more like a 335i rival. The S Series Audi's have never and will never be truely special cars, they are quick normal Audi's.

The RS series are the 'special' models.
 
[TW]Fox;18287928 said:
The S4 is not an M3 rival - it's more like a 335i rival. The S Series Audi's have never and will never be truely special cars, they are quick normal Audi's.

The RS series are the 'special' models.
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This.
 
Housey said:
Half arsed heaps, get the RS4 and stop being gay.
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[TW]Fox;18287928 said:
The S4 is not an M3 rival - it's more like a 335i rival. The S Series Audi's have never and will never be truely special cars, they are quick normal Audi's.
The RS series are the 'special' models.
Click to expand...

Yes maybe the fairer comparison would be RS4 (B7) vs S4 (B8), as while the budget isn't the key factor, this does level the field a little.

Even in that case I am still leaning towards Cripple's point and the newer platform. It seems better all round except for the V8.

But going back to Fox' comment on this being just a top end A4 rather than something special, and with the Audi Drive Select etc. coming in as extras, it doesn't seem to offer much over the 3.2FSI S-Line, which has depreciated nicely in the last year or two since release compared to the S4 which is holding up.

(PS. I would love a 335i but have experienced not getting to work in the bad weather with a 330i, which isn't an option due to £ per day lost, so do want the quattro)
 
Quattro makes snow a total non issue, it's light and day compared to a BMW, but it's not something that would be a consideration for me, simply a nice to have. I haven't driven the new S4 and I believe it's much better than the previous one but I can't believe it will be as special as the RS4. I've been hard on the RS4 and have grown to like it a lot if never love it. Temperamental for sure and far from perfect but the best Audi I've driven bar the R8 and as an all round road car about as good as it gets. Likes a drink though, scary with current prices but good car.
 
exactly.
I mean sure, there is a bit of effort that you have to swap them every year but if you look at it in the long run then you have 2 sets of tyres so they will last twice as long.

Just put your winter ones on in November, take them off in March and snow (at least the tiny amounts people get in the UK) and icy roads/slush will never be a problem.

All this costs you an extra £100-150 a year for tyre swapping and 2-3 hours of your time but really when you are looking at these sorts of car and running costs it's absolutley nothing.

Not to mention that a 335i even with half decent winter tyres will distroy absolutley any AWD car with summer tyres on if there's a bit of snow on the road. :)
 
Cristian said:
Not to mention that a 335i even with half decent winter tyres will distroy absolutley any AWD car with summer tyres on if there's a bit of snow on the road. :)
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I wouldn't go that far. You still need skill to keep a RWD in check, even on winter tyres.
I drove my Leon Cupra 4 across some snowy mountain roads in Norway on summer tyres on my way down home to pick up the winter tyres and I had zero issues.
Granted, it was compacted snow that had been there for a while and it was rather cold, but you could blat along at 60+ with no fuss.

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See that's because it was compacted snow and the hills don't look too steep.

This winter in the UK I drove my 125bhp Astra on roads with fresh/slushy snow and it was ok-ish in a straight line (although I could make itwheelspin in 4th at around 30-40mph). As soon as you hit an incline or hill it would be a whole different story, the middle pedal was absolutely useless as ABS would instantly kick in all the times and although I could get up hills I was wheelspinning a lot even though I was taking it easy in 2nd gear. All of my tyres had 6mm+ of thread left and while they weren't CS2s they weren't linglong's either, it's just that summer tyres aren't really meant for snow. Don't get me wrong I drove around without crashing with only one pant-browning moment when I barely stopped when going downhill even though the car was in 1st travelling at 5mph.

By comparrison I drove an Astra with budget winter tyres on and although you could also make it wheelspin on snow if you tried the overall stopping and handling was a completely different story on much harsher road conditions.


Sure, if you floor a 335i like an idiot you will make it slide all over the place (you can probably do that with a dry road and summer tyres on), but with a bit of brain use I'm fairly certain you'll be much more in control than any car with summer tyres.
 
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I think 95% of the posters on this forum would bite your hand off to be in an S4 over what they drive today, some perspective I feel is important. New one's alright I believe, 335i will be nicer to drive but the new S4 is no dog.
 
Housey said:
I think 95% of the posters on this forum would bite your hand off to be in an S4 over what they drive today, some perspective I feel is important.
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True but if we used that take on things any comparative discussion between two cars would be worthless? Whilst I agree comments like 'The S4 is a pile of ****' from somebody who drives a Kia Rio would be nothing short of hilarious, I don't really think anything said in this thread is particularly out of place.

If I felt the S4 was a thoroughly decent car then I'd buy one - I don't, so I won't, and I'll happily comment on what I think about it.
 
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