Today I drove a 2001 S4 with the thought of replacing my 2001 A4 1.8t with the sport suspension. Both cars are manual, and are in Santorin Blue. The S4 has fewer miles than my A4, and it just got the timing belt done.

Having driven the S4 I am not convinced I need the more powerful, heavier engine for the driving I do. I do, however, like the larger S4 front brakes.

If I sold my A4 it'd take the proceeds and about $1500 to get the S4 into similar condition: driver's door inside release, bad read-our display, Air Bag light, questionable tint, rust in both front doors.

Does anyone have any in-sights into living with the S4? Could I put the S4 front brakes on an A4 that has essentially the same suspension?

Opinions would be appreciated . . .

 

i debate selling my a4 for an s4 everyday. s4 is more maintenance and they seem to be down more time then they are running of course depends on maintenance some have no issues DDing their s4s. its all gonna come down to personal preference. BUT, how does the car already have rust in both fenders? Gl making a decision.

personally id go with the s4 if that matters at all haha

 

The rust is in the front doors, along the body side moulding, and not the fenders.

The car was sold in Vermont, and was driven in their weather for about 8 years.

The more I think about it, the more I like going to S4 brakes and letting it go at that . . .

 

The twin turbos on the S4's are ticking time bombs from what I hear. When they go out, that's 2 turbos to replace and an engine pull just to entice things up...

You can easily do a big brake kit/A8 upgrade on the fronts. S4's also have larger rear rotors to balance the braking system.

 

i have s4 brakes front and rear upgraded to 300mm bitch stops 100-0 in a few feet. also have ebc reds and no abs because abs is for pussies

 

that was my bad skimmed and totally read fenders since thats where you always hear rust.

 

For 2001, S4 front brakes are bolt-on. For earlier A4's, you'd need to swap spindles.

If you're worried about maintenance and just want bigger front brakes, stay away from the S4. As mentioned above, you would then have two of everything to worry about replacing as opposed to just one. Two turbos, FOUR cats, two DV's, two IC's, etc...Also, the 1.8T is pretty easy to work on compared to the 2.7t. If you think about it, the cars are exactly the same apart from the front bumper in terms of space, and yet they shoe-horned a V6 with two turbos, intercoolers, and all the related plumbing and accessories into the same space.

 

. . . I'm just going to do the A8 front brake up-grade, and avoid the S4.

Thanks to all.

 

Good choice!

 

seriously? the 2001 uses the larger spacing spindle? i didn't know this