Test drove S4 today . . .

[drhendrix]

Today was a bad day for SC'ed 3 series' in Orange County. Temperatures topped 95 degrees Fahrenheit and my supercharged 330 felt more like a N/A 323. Driving was pure pain as I had none of the usual torque I am used to now. I was a very unhappy camper :(

For whatever reason, after dinner with my wife, we stopped by the Audi dealer and I asked to drive an S4. Salesman got the keys an we were off. My impressions, very nice handling car, good acceleration, 0-60 is supposed to be 5.2 sec. (same as my ESS 330i). 340 hp V8 makes a really nice sound at WOT.

Got back in my car and to my surprise, my butt dyno reading told me that my 330 is a hair faster than the S4 :) :) :) Also, what is up with the gearing on the S4 6 speed? It was tacking higher RPMS on the freeway in 6th than my 5-speed 330i in 5th gear.

[BMWintoxication]

the 4x4 ... really kills the feeling of acceleration.. especially on the butt dyno..
I think the only good thing on the s4 is the V8 engine...

[kashif]

that v8 should be having a good tuning potential, imagine installing a turbo or supercharger to it.

[drhendrix]

that v8 should be having a good tuning potential, imagine installing a turbo or supercharger to it.

Yep, and there is a big space where the intake is. More than enough room for a supercharger.

[kashif]

isnt there a turbo available for it.. if there is that just might be my next car.

[JCz04Bimmer]

My dad has the S4 and the real draw of it is that its got that quattro spinning all four wheels intelligently. The car pulls damn hard but I have no basis for comparison to a SC'd 330i. Nevertheless, its very nice to be able to pull hard has hell when the roads are slick or its very nice to swap on some snow tires and romp it up in the winter.

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/10954File0034.jpg

[RKing4441]

Isn't the motor in the s4 the same as the S6 without the TURBOS? 340hp without turbo- 450hp with turbo. I'm pretty sure. A kit will come out from someone soon. Just look at the specs. That Sh*t would be :drool: !

[kashif]

Isn't the motor in the s4 the same as the S6 without the TURBOS? 340hp without turbo- 450hp with turbo. I'm pretty sure. A kit will come out from someone soon. Just look at the specs. That Sh*t would be :drool: !

if that really is true and the engine has been built for F/I.. then achieving even 600+ might not be much of a problem :thumbup:

[Iceman1]

if that really is true and the engine has been built for F/I.. then achieving even 600+ might not be much of a problem :thumbup:

they have different compression ratios. S4 is 11:1 and RS6 is 9.8:1

even though they have same displacement, the bore and stroke are slightly different as well.

[TaZaM3]

The S4 will eat up a S/c 330i. Sorry.

[mtfour]

I test drove a 2004 S4 last weekend. Simply amazing!!!

[drhendrix]

The S4 will eat up a S/c 330i. Sorry.

In what way?

[vaio76109]

The S4 will eat up a S/c 330i. Sorry.
They should be pretty close.

[Nt_loader]

The S4 will eat up a S/c 330i. Sorry.
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[kashif]

The S4 will eat up a S/c 330i. Sorry.

it will be a drivers race.

[TaZaM3]

In what way?


In every way.

[Nt_loader]

are you going to buy 1?

[vaio76109]

In every way.
:lmao: :rolleyes: :loco:

[Juha 323Ci]

In every way.


U seem to know more than we do, care to share some of that knowledge?

The S4 is a heavy a$$ biatch, tipping the scales at almost 3,900 lbs whereas the 330i weighs only 3,250 lbs. AWD drivetrain loss is more than 25% which makes the 340 crank hp only 255 wheel horsepower. I've seen ASA supercharged 330's dyno at 300 wheel horsepower. :rolleyes:

Keeping those power/weight ratios in mind, I just don't see how that S4, even though being a very respectable car, would walk over SC'd 330's in every way... :dunno:

[Nt_loader]

Keep in mind that with 1500.00 you can turn the S4 into a 500hp beast :yikes:

[vaio76109]

Keep in mind that with 1500.00 you can turn the S4 into a 500hp beast :yikes:
Um, your thinking of the RS6. That is unless your talking about a 150 shot of nitrous :lmao:

[mtfour]

The V8 S4 is an awsome car. But a manual SC 330 should definitely stay neck and neck with one.

P.S. I may buy an S4 tomorrow... :eeps:

[vaio76109]

But a manual SC 330 should definitely stay neck and neck with one.
When u said SC 330 i was thinking of Lexus.

[mtfour]

When u said SC 330 i was thinking of Lexus.

LOL

[JCz04Bimmer]

My dad as an S4 and it'd be a close match up with the s/c'd 330. However, the S4 is just so damn smooth with its power and throw some wet roads ahead of it and that quattro system will chew up that road, spit it out and then ask for seconds

[mtfour]

My dad as an S4 and it'd be a close match up with the s/c'd 330. However, the S4 is just so damn smooth with its power and throw some wet roads ahead of it and that quattro system will chew up that road, spit it out and then ask for seconds

I may pick up an S4 today.

[vaio76109]

Hey MTFOUR, do u have LSD?

[pimpinCI]

The S4 would win hands down. The 330 s/c might have a bit more power to the ground but unless u have an LSD (and some damn good warm rubber) there is no way a 330 can match the launch of an AWD car. I saw a race between an M3 and an S4 and the S4 would beat the M3 till the end of 3rd early 4th gear. Off the line the M3 would struggle for traction meanwhile the S4 was off and running.

[TaZaM3]

U seem to know more than we do, care to share some of that knowledge?

The S4 is a heavy a$$ biatch, tipping the scales at almost 3,900 lbs whereas the 330i weighs only 3,250 lbs. AWD drivetrain loss is more than 25% which makes the 340 crank hp only 255 wheel horsepower. I've seen ASA supercharged 330's dyno at 300 wheel horsepower. :rolleyes:

Keeping those power/weight ratios in mind, I just don't see how that S4, even though being a very respectable car, would walk over SC'd 330's in every way... :dunno:


Yes i know of every way. I had a sc 330, I now have a M3 and S4. A S4 is faster then a SC 330 in every gear at every speed. The S4 stock will outhandle the 330 (stock). The S4 feels better then a SC 330. Now have you driven a S4?

[Jarn0]

If you want to make a beast with your S4 .. get a turbo ( I'm sure there is one somewhere) then buy the Revo Kit .. my dad sells it that's like a chip but it simply modify your ECU .. so more power to ya ! I guess there are some in the States because I live in Canada but it comes from Europe .. I know a guy with a 00 S4 (not sure?!) with revo .. nice sound, nice performance, ncie car :)
Edit : Revo technik .. you can get a 5 hours free trial.

[vaio76109]

2000'S4=biturbo V6
2004 S4=NA V8

[Pitti]

I think that his 330 stands a chance...if he has about the same horse power as the M3 that is...A few weeks ago a was at a 400m sprint meeting and there was a standard M3 and S4 racing....The M3 won...But that was in a straight line....If you would race on track you lose(M3 lost also due to the s4 has 4x4).
greetz!

[vaio76109]

rwd>awd>fwd in road course/track conditions

However in a tight course such as autoX awd usually has the advantage.

AWD doesnt make a car handle better.

[VivaM3]

Yes i know of every way. I had a sc 330, I now have a M3 and S4. A S4 is faster then a SC 330 in every gear at every speed. The S4 stock will outhandle the 330 (stock). The S4 feels better then a SC 330. Now have you driven a S4?
ok...

does that necessarily mean that other s/c 330's will have the same results you had with the one you owned? to say that the B6 S4 will take a s/c 330 in every way is just a not well thought out statement. there are several S/Cers for the 330 running at various levels of boost. there are S/Ced 325's out there running 8 psi and keeping up with M3's when not in the southern summer heat (and i'd imagine a 330 running the same boost would be even quicker than that). if the M3 and S4 are about neck and neck, and there are S/Ced 325's and 330's keeping up w/ M3's, then simple logic would suggest that these S/Ced cars would be neck and neck w/ an S4 in the right conditions as well(temperature, etc).

i'm certainly not calling BS here, as you do have first hand experience. but i doubt all S/Ced 330's are so similar to the one you owned that your statement that "an S4 is faster then a SC 330 in every gear at every speed" could possibly hold weight. you may win the launch against a BMW everytime b/c of quattro, but i certainly wouldn't count on pulling away in every gear everytime you come across a S/Ced 3er who wants some...