ok folks...
here is a new one...
as stated in other postings...
i have no problems with M3s...none at all
my '95 C36 blows it away...
however, this past weekend driving to boston, i beat by a 2000 Audi S4...first off the line and then on the highway...
i am thinking that the guy did a major chip modification. i have read that for that particular car, the chip could do aa 30-50hp increase since it really makes the BiTurbo much much stronger.

any input? i would love to hear some...and perhaps get some answers...

lee?

thanks!

whan
1995 Artic White C36
stock

a correction to my posting....
it should read:
"I WAS BEAT BY AN AUDI...etc."

Audi S4 has alot of potential in it. V6, 5-valve per cylinder with twin-turbo, with 260hp stock rating, and 6-speed manual tranny. It's one hell of a sports sedan. Any turbo charged Audi sold in North America has potentials. 10-25hp can be gained just by raise the boost of the turbo(s), and that's without any mods to the engine at all.

With a new chip in, and higher boost is all need to sqeeze 300+hp out from S4.....

Andy Kuo

------------------

• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
  
• Blue/Red Headlights
  
• Xenon-Look Foglights
  

ICQ#26950002
http://drive.to/akry

This is true, the chip probably adds a good 30 horse power. You have to remember that the S4 is also a manual which gives it a very good advantage over your car. My C class is a second faster if it is a manual (but I can't get it that way, dammit). Think how fast your c36 would be if it was biturbo. That would be a killer project. I was thinking of putting a chip on my benz since it utilizes the kompressor engine but one of the reps at mercedes changed my mind by telling me that my warrenty flys out the window if I do that. That was the end of that. You may not be able to beat the S4, but at least you not losing to all of those hot rodded honda's out their. The S4 is a great car, even beat the M3 in a recent test in one of the car mags. Could it beat a C43 though? I don't know, that would be a close race.
see ya
cavan

i have to admit...the new audi S4 biturbo sounds tempting.
i have read so many simple upgrades that can give this car 300 HP with no problem and very little money spent. for about $500-$800, a special tuner chip can increase the twin turbo boost to get the car at 300HP...the cool thing is that it reaches max torque and HP at very low RPMs...around 1800 (from what i read). i guess this is where the twin turbos kick in. also, the 4 wheel drive is very impressive...

so far, i have read with only 250HP it does 0-60 in 5.6 sec (6 spd stick) and 5.9 sec (5 spd tiptronic). i wonder how fast it would be with 300HP!!

and a fully loaded S4 with GPS is $42,XXX.

can anyone give me any input on recent AUDI quality? reliability? resale value?

the only drawback is that Audi just doesnt have the history, reputation and class of a Mercedes AMG car....no matter what Mercedes turns heads and raises eyebrows...

thanks for any input....

whan
1995 C36, Artic white

The S4 is a wicked little package. Were I to go with something non-MB, I just might look there. Since it is a factory turbo car there is a TON of room for low-cost = high gain mods. The manual 6-speed and AWD help a bunch too. The AWD drivetrain eats a few extra HP but having a manual saves a few (about 2%) vs an automatic so its pretty close. The Audi should really be mean off the line with a big AWD launch. The downside is that slipping the clutch at 5000rpm isn't exactly good for the car no matter what the build quality. Brake torque to 1400-1500rpm and then flooring it is much easier on the mechanicals. Since this fella got you on the highway he was just faster. One thing is for certain, there will always be someone else faster...

On that note, a twin-turbo C36 would be a riot. Since AMG bumped the compression up to 10.5:1 you may not be able to run much boost. (4-6lbs would be my guess) If you went into the engine and lowered it to about 8.5:1 and ran 12-15lbs for the street, about 22-24lbs on the track, you would have one ungodly midget musclecar. In the name of science I've contacted Lorinser asking about forced induction kits for MB. They have "kompressor" kits for the M112/M113 engines but nothing for the older cars. I still know some more people I can call though. For a C36, a turbo or supercharger is the only way to get a BIG power improvement. (well, there is NOS but...) Anyhow, if anyone knows of a kit and can save me the digging please speak up. If not, I guess I'll just have to keep looking.

I'll keep you posted...Lee

hi fellow members...
i just wanted to report that i test drove the 2000 Audi S4 this past weekend.
1st, i was not impressed by the interior at all. i felt like i was in a slightly glorified VW
2nd, i didnt like the way the engine/exhaust sounded. didnt sound deep and impressive. almost sounded like a big 4 cyl.
3rd, when i sat in it it sat very high. i sort of felt like i was driving a sport utility (that that high) but higher than a performance car should be.
4th, the acceleration wasnt incredible and the engine didnt seem smooth.

i am thinking that Audi thinks they could ride on the fact that they have Quattro and that's all they need to have that ace up their sleeve and not pay more attention to everything else.

i am not saying it is a bad car. i still sort of like it in a way, but to compare it to an AMG is difficult.

also, i dont think sales of this car is particularly great. this car full loaded with GPS is $42,XXX. with just simply asking what disount could he give me, the dealer was willing to sell it to me for $40,000. i believe by pushing it, i could get it for $38-39,000. this tells me that the car isnt selling that great.

the verdict:
decent car but not nearly as refined as a MB AMG. this reaffirms my feelings that magazines like Car&Driver are very biased and perhaps paid off magazines. C&D rated this Audi S4 the best high performance sedan.

take care...

Somehow, I have different opinion about S4. And speaking of poor sales, 3 of my friends receive their S4s, 1 on waiting, and 1 is gonna wrap the deal soon. Another 3 also receive their M5s....

1. Interior isn't any impressive other than the cool looking Blue Suede/Black Leather combo. The rear leg room is still lacking...A LOT....

2. Smooth shifter, but clutch can be a bit short....the engine revs, and little turbo lag.

3. No Xenon!!!??? Come on, compare to some other cars in the same class, S4 ain't cheap....if Bimmer 328Ci can have Xenon standard, S4 should, too....

In conclusion, it's still a very impressive little(key word)car. If you are single, or just married, and looking for a sports sedan that's fun...S4 is for you...


Whan,

What you want is RS4... Let's pray that Audi brings it to North America....

Andy Kuo

------------------

• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
  
• Blue/Red Headlights
  
• Xenon-Look Foglights
  

ICQ#26950002
Mercedes Owners ICQ ActiveList ID#61730549
http://drive.to/akry

The S4's AWD has the advantage of making it more of an all-season sports car. Thoug ASR and ESP can make for a pretty stable rwd package. The cool thing about the S4 is that it is a turbo car and turbo cars can be tuned for gonzo power pretty easily/inexpensively compared to the naturally aspirated competitors. The other things like interior, seating position, styling, are all somewhat subjective. Also, I'd be hesitant to say a particular car is really fast or slow until its had some time for the motor to break in. Though I'm not as familiar with Audi's, it has been my experience that MB engines pick up very significant amounts of power as they age (to a point of course). Still, any of the cars in this class (M3, AMG, S4, etc) are great and appeal to a specific type of person. Its just a matter of picking your "tool" for what you intend to do with it.

Just my humble opinion...Lee

can dispute those points lee...
i guess i comes down to personal preference and also what we are used to. the tiniest details can sway someone from making one purchase over another...
i guess in my book, the mercedes still wins for overall long-term owner satisfaction....