Hello guys. I've been a member/lurker since before I picked up my 2004 S4 back in '08. The Evo has been at the top of my list for a while, but I could never justify the obscene insurance premiums for the 8's and 9's. I'm a MASSIVE audi fan, but the maintenance is astronomical, and the phantom problems are not very appealing. I am considering selling my 04 S4 in favor of an X, but am a bit reluctant to go Japanese. Performace/modability wise, I know there is no comparison. It's night and day. I've driven countless 9's and a handful of Sti's. Love them, but always feel like I may regret my decision if I actually bought one. That being said, I've sat in, but never driven an X. MR's appeal more, but I refuse to give up the manual for slappy paddles.

I have seen a lot of Sti/EVO's for sale where the owner is looking to "go german"... Just wondering if any of you guys have done the exact opposite, and if so, how you feel about your decision.

 

I was in your situation, I owned a b7 A4 stage 3 2.0T and don't regret my decision to get an evo at all.
The pros far outweigh the cons. Do it! you won't regret it!!
I'll always have love for Audi, so when my finances permit it, I'll be back in one. But I'd never give up the Evo for it, It's in a class of its own.

My previous A4,


Good luck with whatever you do.

 

The Evo is the first non-German can I've owned in 30 years behind the wheel. I come from time when German cars were purposeful machines, driver-centered, with minimal gimmicky crap aboard. When I went shopping for another, timed did indeed change, and the Japanese variant was more German than its German counterparts. Not sure if that's what you mean.

 

This... My first car was an Audi (a 4000S! Im old! ) I always have a 3 series in the garage and currently we have a 335xi.

I recently considered going into an 012 S4 or an 09 S5 and I have to say that, while I really liked them a lot (particulary the S5 which was a fantastic tourer), the EVO was just much more visceral and, for me, more interesting.

Now this might be different for a true Audi fanatic. For me, I've always been an EVO fan but couldnt get past the styling of the 7,8 and 9 (the 5 I liked). The 10, to me, was the perfect blend of capabilities and styling.

I've owned 3 NSX's over the years as well, and a Toyota FJ Cruiser, and all of these cars are similar to the EVO in that they have huge fan followings, are very impressive in certain niches, and are well received by the press.

That said they also are missing that sort of mainstream prestige you get if you just went with the "obvious" choice (Porsche vs the NSX, a Land Rover or Hummer vs the FJ, and the german sedans vs the EVO)

If the "brand image" thing will bug you, then proceed with caution. Also, if the "fit and finish" aspects or the interior design aspects will bug you, proceed with caution.

If you are "sold" on the EVO legend, and want the more exciting car (and the better "drivers car") then don't look back.

You've got to decide if having a Mitsu in your garage instead of an Audi will bug you.

 

^^^ This. If you are a brand type of person, go with the Audi. just my .02. I was also looking into the Audi S4's before buying the evo x mr. I do not have any regrets.

 

I know what you mean about japanese have become more german than their german counterparts. I think both the Evo and the Sti may be 1 generation away from what I am really looking for - aka a "new" equivalent of the 2000-02 B5 S4 - provided the Evo isn't axed by Mits.

awesome B7. glad to hear the opinion of a former fellow modern Audi owner. I kind of feel the same way about Audi right now. I will always be an Audi person, but right now they cannot provide the perfect, truly sensible, option for me, and I refuse to pay for a new audi considering how much they depreciate right off the bat.

I am not very concerned about "brand image", as much as I am with my own percieved value. I am not much into the EVO legend, and I am a bit concerned with fit and finish. I don't track my cars. Although I'd really enjoy the opportunity to, I will not base my entire purchase decision on the fact that one car may be much quicker around a track than another.

I am worried about rattles, shakes, thin paint, and wind noise on the highway of a car that costs around the same price as the higher-mileage B7 RS4's that I am currently looking at. The RS4 is my comfort zone, while the evo is not. Any Audi product newer than '08 is simply uninspiring in my book. The problem I've encountered is that older cars (obviously) have more miles, and are not new! I need something newer and more reliable for my daily, and thus cannot buy the 2000-2002 S4 that I will always love more than any other small AWD sedan.

 

For reference:

Current Car


RS4 I'm all but sold on

 

Sounds like you should just go for the RS4.

 

see I love the RS4, but I know it isn't super practical. It will be a lot to maintain, and it has 65k miles on it.

the smarter choice would be something that would not be as expensive to maintain, has fewer miles, and is not a massive liability (as RS cars tend to be).

for as much audi love as I'm throwing out there, I really am 50/50 with my decision right now. The fact that so many former Audi owners seem to love their X's is good to hear as far as I'm concerned.

 

Honestly, you have to really love the Evo though to see past it's flaws. It is first and foremost a driver's car. You have to be able to see past issues such as fit and finish, rattles, and yes, very thin paint.

Not to mention, if you are only considering the GSR, it will only have 5 gears and have a relatively stiff suspension. The MR is much more suited to comfortable daily driving with an extra gear, comfort tuned suspension, and extra sound deadening.

It sounds to me from your criteria that you would be better off just going with the RS4.

 

i still haven't quite grasped why Mits never offered the MR with a manual transmission. i get the overall move towards DCT's for maximum performance, but with a range-topping driver's car, it seems more logical to stick with a manual (ala porsche with the gt2/rs, and gt3/rs.

 

I hate to be the one to say it. But the B6/ B7 S4 was not what I personally would consider to be a true performance car. Your comparing two terribly different things aside from a manual and AWD. It would be a trade-off. Sacrifice some (a lot) of luxury for raw performance. The B6/ B7 seemed to be tailored more toward a "sporty sedan" not a "rally performer". I came from a 335i and modded B5 S4. The B5 was fast comfortable and super low key. But the maintenance costs and little problems associated with an older German car became too much for me. I still have the B5, but don't daily the car anymore for a reason. The Evo X a blast to drive, but its far from German in fit, finish, and comfort. If you enjoy the drive more than the comfort, you wont ever look back.

 

I think this pretty much sums it up. No one can answer this question for you perfectly as it is mainly preference. Would you car more about rattles or having a better performing car?

 

b6 s is far from a true performance car. never said it was anything of the sort. i'm just asking what people have felt if they once had a b6/7 s4 and now own an X. i enjoy the drive, believe you me. i have driven almost every exotic you can imagine within reason for my job (599's, murcielagos, gallardos, slr's, bentley's, ford gt's, maserati gt's, an alfa 8c, db9s, v8 vantages, etc) and my absolutely favorite of all time is the 997 gt3rs. that being said, i would never ever want to daily drive the thing.

for all intents and purposes my Lightning is my toy... doesn't make much sense to many, but my dad left it to me, and is has more sentimental value than almost anything else i own. until i can afford to own a small fleet of cars, i will have to consider it my "weekend driver". it offers zero comfort, zero practicality, etc. my daily must be something i enjoy, but something that meets some creature comfort needs.

if i had it my way, i'd have a low mile gt'ed b5 in my garage as my toy, but things did'nt quite work out that way.

 

I agree 1000% with this. If you really love the Evo, the rest doesn't matter.

To the OP, gotta say I'm leaning RS4, or staying with your current (gorgeous and perfectly fine) ride. Don't want to see you end up in the X and then be disappointed.

Find the highest mile used one you can and test drive. That will give you a good sense of "worst case" fit and finish issues.

Mine is an 08 that was a pretty low mi one owner owned by a guy my age, yet you can see that the paint and interior materials are "damage prone". That said I love it as much as I loved my NSXs (this is saying a LOT from me) and everytime I see it I want to hug it flaws and all

By contrast my BMWs have been like tanks looking new even at 5 years and 76k, but they've never really tugged at me emotionally.