VerrÜckt

should get itself checked out for problems.

There should be a large difference in power.

ELEVENS

*(hand covers mouth)*

Vijay

Believe me, I know EXACTLY what you are talking about --that huge swell of torque that comes on between about 3500 and 5500 rpm. But remember how short that intense pull is also. The RS4 may not have the same peak level of pull, but it pulls so hard for so long that the rush you get is just as intense. and, it does it with such an incredibly smooth and secure feeling. There was a sense in the B5 that the car was on the verge of out-of-control...I think you know what I mean. No such sense in this machine.

Vijay

A full and proper B5 S4 to RS4 conversion will cost close to $200k. "No way" you say. The car was featured right here on Audiworld. Look it up. You are only focused on the pure speed element. Why didn't you just get a used 'Stang. It will seat four, and can easily be made faster than a B5 S4 for significantly less money.

Vijay

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/561/dsc00011-1.jpg"></center><p>There is no question that B5 tuning has evolved since 2003, the year in which my car was "completed" in terms of the build-up. I will also never dispute that currently, a B5 can be built to be faster in straight line than the stock RS4. That, quite honestly, is a no-brainer. Nobody should dispute this. But now you are talking cams, new differentials, etc. which after a certain point translates to a whole different car. The point I am making is that given the WHOLE PACKAGE in which straight line speed is only one component, the stock B7 RS4 is superior to a modded B5 at a certain price point comparison. It is definitely a subjective thing. It is the same reason, the Audi S6 beat the BMW M5 in Car &amp; Driver's latest comparison. It is the same reason that a Honda S2000 is far more entertaining to drive than a comparably priced Mustang GT.

In 1988, I was choosing between a Mustang GT, Then 225hp, and a Honda Prelude, then 140hp. One drive in the Prelude was all it took. It wasn't anywhere as fast as the Mustang, but the overall execution of the car was FAR superior.

I was seriously into moding for many years. Still, in the end, every car was somehow deficient in the way everything worked together. It is more than simple 1/4 mile times, or lateral G's. Give a team of dedicated high level auto engineers money and time, and the results are spectacular.

Look at it this way: you can get equally as drunk on a cheaper New York wine as you can on a fine French Bordeaux, but the subjective experience of the latter will be far superior to the former.

I really don't know how else to describe all of this.

Anyway....I came across this pic.....It is an interior shot of my old B5. Check out some of the interior mods....

VerrÜckt

And of course that's fine. Vijay, it sounds like the RS4 was the natural choice for you. I'm sure you will be happy with it.

Others may prefer the B5 even with the obvious shortcomings it has.

B5 tuning has come a long ways. There's a guy over on the B5 forum right now with stock K03's with over 130k miles on them. He's full weight and running 12.5 at over 112 mph in the quarter mile with just bolt on parts.

That's seriously quick for stock turbos. More an more full weight cars are getting into the 11's with K04 turbos.

As you said, that's just one part of the equation...but it's one part that the RS4 will not catch up to any time soon.

Bauer

As I said in a previuos post I do agree the the RS4 is an overall better package and that I enjoy my B7 on a daily basis then my B5. But for 2 days a week my B5 is unbeatable. The B5 is a more raw driving experience and B7 more refined.... as Verruckt said it sounds like we agree:^)

kraeburn

Vijay, Bauer, and Verr?ckt, kudos to you guys for the informative discussion.

Cheers

A4AdMan

Stay tuned to this forum for announcements as we plan the future GTG's

40valves

z is a lost child, he will one day find himself : P