Which car to go for?

[agentsmith988]

Please don't turn this into a flame session. I'm really just looking for advice and insights on the topic!

I'm going to be in the market for a car in the next couple of months (been using fleet vehicles for the past couple of years with my work assignment)

Here's the question: I've wanted a S4, meh, practically lusted for one, since the days when I was driving around my B5 A4. Naturally, coming into the market again I'm drawn to get an 01.5 or 02 S4.

On the other side, I've got a father that has an 06 Mazdaspeed6 GT with 25k miles that he's ready to part with if I want to buy it from him.

Those are my two choices I've narrowed to. What's everyone think? I'm not new to the VAG scene (mk3's, b5 passat, the b5 a4) and I know pretty much what to expect getting into the S4. The Speed6 I'm worried about when it starts hitting the 100k mark (wrist pins have been letting go with any mods, and who stays stock...)

Cross posted on Audizine
http://audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=332760

 

[TX Speed 6]

I love my MS6, but really, if you've wanted the S4 for so long I would just go for that. I know thats what I would do because I would hate to get something only to regret it everytime I see the car I missed out on.

 

[amillman2]

well not too many speed6's are close to that milage yet.. its a relatively new car. As for the comparison.. i know everyone here knows about Speed6's and the S4's and they are both amazing cars and I personally am sure that which ever car you decide you will be more then happy with.. Speed 6 is an amazing car and i love mine.. I think the speed 6 has a slightly better interior and its has 25 more HP and about 25 more Tq.. the speed 6 is more suited to fit my needs.. my advice.. test drive multiple times and decide. Good luck on the buy.

 

[agentsmith988]

well not too many speed6's are close to that milage yet.. its a relatively new car.

It's still my biggest fear. If I went with the speed6 I know that I would had least get it flashed. The high rpm boost cut drives me nuts... But then that puts me in the "you've taken up smoking cigarettes, now you're pretty much going to get cancer and die" category (unamused)

 

[ms6bb0y]

aside from age/newness of vehicles

two diff animals. S4 = potential, MS6 = practicality. it comes down to your personal cost analysis. on the same budget, a modded MS6 will not deliver results like a modded S4. in fact, i think it takes too much money to make the MS6 a real threat on the streets. if you get into MS6 modding, you will have to dig deep in those pockets before achieving substantial gains.

don't get me wrong... i love my MS6, but i bought it knowing that it would be a nice dd with some room for fun. it is a nice blend of style and power for the price - straight out of the box. if power was most important, then there would have been other options to explore.

take the MS6 if you want a dd that you can still enjoy some light mods to keep you in the game. take the S4 if you want more power for the money.

 

[mglavina]

I think I read somewhere that the front breaks are the same on both cars...

Anyway, couldn't add much on to what's posted above. I think they're both great cars but I wonder if the maintenance is more expensive on the audi. I could be wrong, but definetly something to look into... Good luck with the purchase.

 

[zinger002]

i dont like the s4's, a friend has one, and he hates it now... why, because my car is just as nice and was almost half the price lol.

 

[Stealth01]

Well, there are pros and cons to either car.

The S4 will take mods better and they will cost you less in relation to the power gains they provide. We have a 356 AWHP MS6 in our local club, but the owner spent $12K to get there. And the MS6 is a mod-finicky car...you have to do it right and be careful or you break rear diff mounts, axles, etc. Even blown engines, though that happens on any modded car...

The MS6 is newer and will likely still have some factor warranty left on it. If it's like mine, it has a 4-year 50K mile warrant, but that will be voided if any of your mods can be REMOTELY blamed for any failure or breakdown. The S4 will be out of warranty, and we all KNOW how expensive it is to buy parts for an Euro car, Audis included.

Both are AWD, and while Quattro is a better AWD system, the MS6's AWD system is, IMHO, very good. Not AS good, but good nonetheless.

So test drive both, decide what your goals are, and then buy them both!

 

[tbot]

Many good replies, with lots of good advice. I'm really good friends w/ above mentioned 356 awhp ms6 and I know first hand the time, money, blood, sweat, and tears that went into making that car was it is...was...whatever, another story.

Anways, like others have said, the S4 will take to mods a lot better than the speeds. I know my buddy is looking at getting an S4 now that he's done his thing w/ the 6. I'm not sure much about models or anything like that, but the research he's done (which is ridiculous I might add) has led him to narrowing down his search to the 4.2L V8 S4's. Apparently they are comparatively as fast as the 6 initially and can made MUCH quicker in the long run.

I really think it comes down to what you really truly want out of the car. Most people out on the roads (out here anyways) have no idea what a speed6 is let alone how quick it is (many many personal stories on that) but most people know that an S4 is gunna have some balls to it. Price in the long run is another thing to consider. I think in the long run w/o TOO many mods, the speed6 is probably going to be cheaper than the S4, as well as the up front cost (granted not by much, but again thats in my market).

I agree w/ Stealth, test drive both, maybe write down what YOU think are the pro's and con's of each car, think about YOUR long term goals for your car and then go from there.

 

[desertmike680]

Heres a list of cars your shouldn't get: BMW, Mercedes, Range Rover, Cadilliac (Escalade) and specifically a Hummer. GMC is approved. I think we all know why we shouldn't purchase any vehicles from these manufactures......