[chanceparker]

I'm a long-time BMW owner (E36 M3, E46 sedan, E90 sedan) and have recently gone down the Audi path after moving to Colorado. I thought I would pass along my impressions of my 2007 335 vs. the 2012 S4 I just bought. Both are wonderful cars and you can't go wrong with either one, but they do have their distinct strengths.

First, the cars (I won't go into gory detail...both are loaded and comparably equipped):
BMW: 2007 335i 6-speed
-Grey with Terra interior and aluminum trim
-Sport package, cold weather package, etc.

Audi: 2012 S4 6-speed
-White with red/black interior and CF trim
-Prestige package and Sports Differential

335 strengths:
1. Steering: the RWD BMW simply has better, more alive feeling steering. The S4 steering is good, just a bit heavier and less precise. This is likely an artifact of AWD, as I drove a 335 x-drive and noticed heavier, less precise steering as well.
2. Shifter: Frankly neither shifter is as good as, say, an S2000 but I thought the BMW shifter was a little bit better.
3. MPG: The S4 is a little thirstier, especially when you drive it like it's mean to be driven. My 335 would routinely get 28-29mpg on the highway. The S4 gets more like 25-26 mpg.
4. Engine sound: Frankly, both are too quiet from the factory but the 335 has a growl that the S4 does not. It's really too quiet.

S4 strengths:
1. Interior: I know the buff books like to rag on the B8 interior as being dated, but I think that's just because they are used to it. To me, the S4 interior is simply better than the E90s. And the Red/Black...stunning.
2. Engine: Both are great engines, but I find the super-charged 3.0 in the Audi to be a bit more impressive. Very linear power delivery all the way to 7K, no lag, and very smooth.
3. Handling: My car has the sports differential and it is spectacular. It eliminates all the under-steer you associate with AWD Audis and simply rockets the car around corners. It almost feels like the faster you go, the tighter you can corner.
4. Back seat: This might not matter depending on how you use your car, but the Audi has a much better back seat for people to actually sit in.
5. "Tune-ability": Although they are a bit more expensive, it's a piece of cake to get 400+HP out of the Audi.

There you have it, my quick-and-dirty after owning both cars. Again, both are great cars and you can't go wrong with either one. But so far, I'm very impressed by the S4.

[NGEE]

Yeah, it's a nice car for sure. I also like the interior, and that red/black must be gorgeous. Thanks for taking the time to write up the compo!

[335BOY]

Well thats refreshing .Thanks for the review. Sport diff actually helps eliminate UNDER steer.

[stevers314]

My friend had a B6 and I loved those recaro seats. B8s have the same?

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by chanceparker

5. "Tune-ability": Although they are a bit more expensive, it's a piece of cake to get 400+HP out of the Audi.

Just to comment there is no way the Audi responds to tuning and mods as well as the N54. A flash alone can get you above 400whp in an N54.

I thought to get much out of them you had to do a full exhaust, intake, and pulley?

Glad you like your new car! any pics of it?

[richpike]

B8 S4s are beautiful and the interiors are fantastic. Where are you located in Co? If you are near Denver, you should come out to Bandimere for one of the test and tunes in the spring. I'd love to line up against a B8 S4.

-Rich

[chanceparker]

Sorry, I meant under-steer. Fixed.

Thanks

[chanceparker]

Regarding Torgus's comment, I don't agree. I checked into a number of tuning options with my 335 and they all had one caveat or another. With the S4, a simply ECU flash with no other attendant mods provides 400HP. Just watch this video. They take a ratty S4 wagon and line-it up against a brand-new RS4 with Audi's acclaimed 450HP V8. The results after the flash are pretty amazing. (FYI, the "before" race is at about 2:30, the "after" race is at about 5:00)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KfMY96v_Gc

Again, I'm not bagging on the N54 or the 335. They are both great cars and depending on your tastes, you should feel fine about preferring either one.

Also, someone asked about pics, so here are a few. (FYI, I live in Denver, but picked up the car in Vegas)

[Mardio]

Love those seats...

[AllBlackBimmer]

Nice ride.

Most Audi's I have looked at/drive... it always feels like the "nose" of the car is too long.. BMW's have that short front end which makes for very precise steering IMO.

It is probably a subjective thing, but Audi A4/S4's feel much larger to me than the 3-series... which possible gives the Audi more room in the backseat like you stated.

Dont really think you could go wrong with either an S4 or 335.

[AzureHaze]

You lucky dog you!

[e92_enthusiast_1]

Sick car grats. An "ass" shot of the rear end would be awesome if you get a chance

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by chanceparker

Regarding Torgus's comment, I don't agree. I checked into a number of tuning options with my 335 and they all had one caveat or another. With the S4, a simply ECU flash with no other attendant mods provides 400HP.

Do you have a link? It's not that I don't believe you I just can't find the same results. Like: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...Pulley-Upgrade tune/pulley/intake/exhaust/100 oct is 402 93 octane is like 380 whp.

What caveats do you speak of?

That interior looks SICK. I bet the car is a blast to drive.

[curiouz_g]

I think he means 400bhp, not whp. You also can't just match whp vs whp due to the AWD drivetrain.

[chanceparker]

OK, I'm not going to go to the grave on the tuning issue. I just remember that when I checked into any serious tunes for my 335, people were commonly bringing up fuel pump issues, drivability issues, codes...stuff like that. Granted this was 2-3 years ago so maybe those issues have been solved for the N54.

As for the S4, maybe the dyno numbers are more like 380hp but that video is worth a 1,000 words.

And yes, the S4 is a blast to drive. But then again, so was my 335i

[AlpineSwift]

To each their own but I will never own another Audi product as long as I live after the maintenance hell I went through on my first and ONLY Audi I owned a few years ago.

Nothing will ever replace BMW as my primary brand. Just swapped the plugs today over at ar design and it feels even smoother than before (@ 45k miles, the car was ready for them).

Welcome to Colorado. Look forward to seeing you around. Feel free to look up vwunion. It's a local VW Audi misc euro group on Facebook that I run the web and promotional stuff for.

[Ubersmooth]

I love B8's. If I could find a B8.5 S-line A4 6MT I'd be saying bye to my E90 haha.

[E46driver]

Nice my friend is thinking about getting an s5. What do the supercharged 6 cylinders need for 400+hp?

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by E46driver

Nice my friend is thinking about getting an s5. What do the supercharged 6 cylinders need for 400+hp?

FBO and 100 octane apparently.

[Hokie_BMW]

Nice B8, both my parents are audi drivers and I may get into an Audi after my 335 depending on how the new 235/435 prove themselves over time.

My dad's new A6 avant with the 3 liter supercharged motor is tuned and is a monster of an engine even in that big car.

[chanceparker]

"ass" shot as requested. And yes, that is aftermarket exhaust.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by e92_enthusiast_1

Sick car grats. An "ass" shot of the rear end would be awesome if you get a chance

Yeah, I'm an ass man myself. Sweet!