I'm currently in the position to be getting a new car, and I can't decide between a 2001 S4, and a 2003 EVO. . . . .any big reasons why not to get one car as opposed to the other?

 

Do you want luxury or performance?

Cheap aftermarket or expensive aftermarket?

Comfort or discomfort?

Classy or hardcore?

 

i know that the audi is more luxurious, and has a more expensive aftermarket. I'm still torn, though.

 

i will say, the only reason to look at the audi in my mind is because they generally honor their warranty or certification (if there's any of that coverage) even after you mod the car. however, a stock audi is slower than a stock evo and handles like a couch on wheels imo.

 

A friend of mine has an S4, just got it chipped. The car definitely has potential but the stock suspension kills it. It is a very nice luxo-sport high way cruiser the way it comes from the factory. But yea, its a good deal heavier than the Evo, and it understeers alot. Both cars are great platforms, though you'll have to spend alot more on the S4 to see significant improvement than w/ the Evo. Jap cars simply cost less to modify. All depends on if you want some luxury w/ your sport, and have the money to modify and maintain it. Or you want all out performance for the buck, and the lack of certain luxury ammeneties doesnt bother you. Both are sweet cars. Good luck on your search.

 

Ss4's are sweet, if it is a 6 speed, Ii wowud probably take it. Parts sourced from Germany are CHEAP, you can get 2 K04 turbos for less then $1000, but it costs loot to work on them.

 

EVO

1) easy to make it fast, easy to access everywhere in engine compartment.
rides fine for me, bumpy? a little. really stiff suspension : which i lov. corners better

S4

2) s4 more luxury like everyone here will say, you need to put some $ to make it faster: what i would do get 6spd, chip, catback, 1.4" h&r springs, intake and just drive that car and have fun, if you get an s4 dont forget about extended warranty because of turbo failure, hoses, and trans. thats what i heard. who knows.


damn, its a hard decision... buy both damn i wish i had that much money

 

I dumped my 2000 S4 for my 2003 Evo. Obviously the Evo kills the S4 performance-wise. Conversely the S4 interior is about the best ever designed. That interior was so comfortable and ergonomic, and it looked great too.

I dumped the S4 because once it was out of warranty it would have cost me a fortune to maintain. S4s are notorious for their turbos dying. Right off the bat you're looking at $3500 to $4000 for a turbo swap. Of course you won't want to stay stock so up that to $7000 to $10000 for a turbo upgrade and necessary supporting mods. Then a I've also heard of a few that had transmissions go bad. There's another $5000. Of course I wanted better brakes and coilovers. A set of Stasis brakes and coilovers would have cost me $4000 or so. Screw that...

I'll have $40K total into my Evo when I'm done and I'll have a car that will kill 99.99% of the cars on the street and about 75% or more of the street cars on the track.

 

I had a 2000 Santorin Blue S4 with Alcons, coilovers, Fikses and crap load of engine work. Was a great car but had about $20,000 in mods and it would not even come close to my Evo with $8,000 in mods. So the $60,000 S4 would get the crap kicked out of it by the $38,000 EVO everytime. It was a better highway cruiser with the 6 speed. But I never got better than a 13.6 in the Qtr. I have seen 12.5 with my Evo. Of course I sold the S4 before all the aftermarket turbos came out for it. I had about 20 track days at Sebring with the S4 and had developed oil leaking problems around the main seal. With track rubber I used to surprise the guys at the PCA events. I have not had the EVO at Sebring yet but I can not wait. I have tell you that I love the EVO more than the S4. I have put over 12,000 miles on the EVO in the 6 months that I have owned it and has had the engine work since 1000 miles. The guy that bought the car is a friend of mine. If you live in the Tampa area you could see both at the same time and make up your own mine. Either car will bring you joy everytime you drive it so good luck.

 

I have had an Audi quattro for many years and I have never driven a car that generates as mutch excietmant as an the Evolution 8 in myself. You have to ask your self 3 questions
1. .Do you want to have as mutch fun humanly possible
2. DO you want to have some fun and look great.
3 Do you want to have as mutch fun humanly possible ?

if your awnser is 1 or 3 than pick the EVOLUTION
I LOVE my Evo. I could easly purchase a car for a lot of more money to go fast but you will never beat the fun per dollar of a EVOLUTION .

 

I currently have the SAME situation. Im thinking of trading in my car for an Imola White S4.. Ive had the A4 Qtr. and it was great, but the Quattro system sucks compared to the Evo 8 Awd system. Its a very difficult choice to make. I figure, if im offered what im looking for on my car, i will do it, but if the difference comes out to too much, then forget it. I got a 100k mile warranty on the Audi. A simple chip, intake, and exaust would make the s4 very pleasing. Then again, it doesnt have brembos, sport suspension, it does cost a loooot of money to mod, and has lots of engine oil leaks like the throttle body boot, oil lines run to close to the exaust manifold adding to the k03 turbos to overheat and blow in addition, and to fix this you have to pull the engine out replace the lines with Induktion Motorsports thermal wrapped lines. I dont know.. well see what im offered.. I think the S4 has a muchhhh nicer look, and feel, and is a great traveling car. Crap.. what to do??

 

Keep the Evo. You will like it's power again after the turbo-back and a reflash.

 

i am buying a 2005 audi s4 this week. What the evo lacks is refinement. What the S4 lacks is pure thrill. The Audi has the best of both worlds while evo, operated by mitsubishi is losing track of how to build a car. When i test drove a 2003 evo, i was really not impressed at all. Crappy off the line, clutch never engaged correctly and parts were not solid. these were my reactions to the evo. the 2004 s4 which i drove, had none of these issues. It is heavier (which i like) the evo blows in the wind literally from one lane to the next since it is light. The luxurious interior just can't be matched. Evo might be good for the track, but the S4 is good for the highway road. Oh did i forget the s4 comes with cruise control and such a cool exhaust note coming from the v8 under the hood. S4 all the way until mitsubishi grows up and builds a real car. This is all coming from a guy who owns 2 vr4's (91 - bought new and a 92 - bought used for my brother) and a 1998 eclipse gsx. Mitsubishi is just not an audi.

 

you want luxury get the Audi
you want performance get the Evo

This thread has been done about 50,000 times do a search if you need more info

 

Yea ive decided EVO baby!... I am a performance guy, who cares about the hiway driving at this point in my life.. im still young so i should have fun. Im sure when i add 100 horse to my Evo i will be in la la land again... So as for me. My choice is Staying with my evo. Ill get a luxury sport car when im older, and need the soft suspension to help my back.. hehh..

Performance now, luxury later..