If you chipped the Audi you could get close to 350 hp as well as a stick and AWD and for less money. Which would you pick?

 

i might pick the qtro just/only for the fun to drive factor

 

The 2.7t gives you 250 ponies. The chipped version will give you close to 300. And I'll still take the G4. Audi is still a scary car to own outside of a warranty.

 

Isn't there a big turbo lag too?

 

There was some lag on the non-chipped one I drove, but with the stick and the quattro, that thing was fun to drive!

 

Warranty is a major issue at these price... The GS is a more solid purchase in terms of maintenance/reliability after the factory warr..

If you only keep cars a couple of years at a time then go for the A6.. There are chip levels that will get you to 350hp and over in the hp department...

 

Ikon, I suppose if you wanted to do something other than APR or Wetterauer, then you could go north of 300-305 horsepower. But going beyond a 1.0 bar is insane if you can't afford to trash an engine. You know it and I know it. So, a safe 350, IMHO is very difficult to achieve.
It's not like we're talking about a cast iron inline six from Toyota. Right?

 

I've actually considered this exact question myself recently. I love my GS430, but I have to admit that a chipped A6 2.7T 6-speed AWD sounds INCREDIBLY appealing, especially given the price! I just checked out carsdirect.com and you can get one COMPLETELY LOADED for $47,655. Add another $600 for a chip and you have a really fast, incredible handling car for around the base price of the GS430!

However, I have to admit that I prefer the GS4 interior to the A6 interior...just seems warmer with the Indiglo gauges, etc. I also can't stand the Audi navigation system. Why can't the Europeans put a decent nav system in a car?!

People can talk about the turbo lag of the A6 2.7T (which really isn't bad because of the biturbos), but the GS4 has a well-known (and maligned) acceleration lag itself, resolved only by aftermarket torque converters.

Don't get me wrong. Like I said, I love my GS430 and would almost certainly make the same decision again today. You won't go wrong with either of these rides. Drive them both and decide for yourself...

 

I would still get the GS 430 just because it's a V8.

 

That's a curious statement to me. What's so compelling about a "V8?" I mean, the Lincoln LS can be purchased with a(n unsophisticated) 3.9L V8 that only makes ~250HP. Similar with the Olds Aurora (a FWD car at that!). I'd take the Acura TL-S' N/A V6 over those engines!

I mean, a N/A V8 vs. a chipped twin turbo V6...that's a pretty tough decision if you ask me!

Also, at least two other factors come into play: FWD vs. AWD and auto tranny only vs. available 6-speed manual tranny.

Saying "...just because it's a V8" seems so...I don't know...like I said, it's a curious statement.

Also, it's worth noting that the A6 is also available with a 300HP 4.2L V8 in its top non-S configuration. I think that most people getting the A6 for high-perf get the 2.7T over the 4.2 because of the mod opportunities available with a twin-turbo configuration...

 

How much is the aftermarket torque converter, and does it make a huge difference in the gs4's lag?

thanks,
Zach

 

Of course I meant the Lexus V8, theres no way I will take Ford v8 even if they give it to me.

I just love the endless power and torque the Lexus V8 makes, when I take 4 people in my car going up the hill with the tach at 2000 rpm the car just pulls and pulls not breaking a sweat like it's on a flat road.

Sure a turbo 4 cylinder Honda can put out the same amount of power but ask it to do the same thing it has to rev and rev, screaming and yelling at the top of it's redline like a pig.
That's why I would choose the Lex over Audi because of it's V8.

 

The A6 2.7T stock has 250hp 258lbs torque stated from mfg. Might be a little higher in real world.
The 6 speed turns best times of 14.4 1/4 mile (timeslip) dont know the 0-60mph in real world. The average times are in the 14.6-14.8 range, so its in GS 400 and on a perfect launch GS430 range.
THe Tiptronic is slower and runs 14.9 best times and averages 15.0-15.1. The 0-60mph recorded was 6.45 sec.
A chipped 6 speed with the regular 1 bar program runs 13.8's. The 1 bar is not too bad and produces ~310-315hp and ~330-366lbs torque. It would be wise to upgrade the BPV's to the TT225 valves or get the new MTM bosch or forge valves.
A chipped 6 speed using APR's 100 octane program ran 13.6 at Carlsbad with leaky valves. I dont know the specs of that chip.
The chipped Tiptronic with a 1 bar program produces same hp and lbs and runs 14.0 1/4 miles (timeslip) with a 5.45 0-60mph recorded.
GIAC came out with a new chip, the "x" chip. really nice and produces more than the 320hp figure. It is a 1.1-1.2 bar chip that spikes at 1.35-1.40 bar. Kinda stout for the Tiptronic but decent for the 6 speed. The Tip is rated for only 313lbs of torque, who knows what the actual rating is maybe add 10-20% for engr fluff.

Audi has a 4 year all inclusive warranty, includes, brake pads, rotors, wipers you name it, except tires. If you are planning on keeping the car after that period get aftermarket warranty, or else get a 2nd or 3 rd job to pay for Audi stuff!!. THe Lexus is a rock and will run forever, the Audi is finicky and will own you when out of warranty, especcially with the turbo's and chipping.

Sorry to be so wordy. Thought this general info would help. I like the GS and really like the reliability and the service. Audi is nowhere close to this, although service is improving , its still far behind. Resale is much better with the GS also. Audi nav stinks. If you decide A6 get the 2002, not the 01 or 00. They have worked some of the kinks out of the car, plus it has exhaust thru the rear valance now!!! Damn...
Tough choice, maybe if you want a dependable car that goes good and has good service so you dont need to worry, get the Lexus, if you want something you can "hop" up for $600 maybe try the A6. Both are very nice cars and you should not regret any decision between them. Maybe quattro is needed where you live? Maybe the easiest decision is, if you want stick , have to get the A6 , if you want Automatic, go with the GS, because you have to subject the A6 Tip to more stress and strain to get competitive.

 

To those who are more knowledgeable. Wouldn't the GS4 be better at top end since it has a bigger displacement engine and the Audio A6 only is 2.7Liter. Maybe at the low end, the car is fast, but can i keep up with the GS4 from like 100-100+.

 

I'm one of the guys with one of the faster/quicker 2.7T's. I've run a string of 14.4's. The car is not particularly quick at the low end. Perhaps I'm not the best at launching my car (don't want to trash the clutch, despite being under warranty), but even on my best runs, I only pull 2.2-2.1 60' times. Any one of you GS4-430 guys can do that with your high HP traction limited starts. With a 220 lb driver and 1/2 tank my 2.7t weighs in at over 4000 lbs. That's a lot of weight for a relatively small engined car. (even though its got good HP/TQ, unless you get the boost up, it's a 2.7l weakling. This is my opinion however.) I don't have much lag at all, almost unnoticable in normal driving, but in a launch if you hold the revs constant in any turbo car, you have 0 boost. It's not unless you blip the throttle constantly, or until you place the revving engine against a load (weight) that you begin to make boost. So, that's probably why my 60' times will suffer, and my 1/4 mile times will stay in the low 14's. I'm not willing to try harder.
A manual transmissioned 2.7t is dangerous on the highway. I can (and have) run with GS400's and 540's, but only up to about 130. Stock 2.7's are limited to 135 indicated, so all fun ends there. The gearing is short (80 mph is 3000rpm in 6th gear), and closely spaced, so acceleration doesn't taper much at high speeds. Bigger vs smaller engine won't make a difference at high speeds, high speed acceleration is really a HP vs aerodynamics contest. The car with the most available HP will win a high speed acceleration contest.