Can a tuned Audi S4 match a stock RS4?

Whenever you read pissing competitions on automotive internet forums you’ll often hear the phrase, “Yeah, but if I chip my car it will be as fast yours.”

The inference being that someone can buy a cheaper car, a Golf GTI for example, get an off the shelf Stage 1 tune from APR/GIAC/Revo/whoever, and end up with performance on par, or thereabouts, with a Golf R. Of course, such discussions usually end up in a massive tanty and probably a banning or two as well.

Thankfully, then, we have an adult to try the comparison for real. The adult, in this case, is respected motoring hack Chris Harris and the cars in question are the Audi S4 Avant, with a supercharged 3.0 litre V6, and the RS4 Avant, roaring with a naturally aspirated 4.2 litre V8.

Harris has already filed a great review of the B8 RS4 and has, at various times, shared his appreciation for the supposedly lesser S4. Here, then, in a relatively simple comparison Harris shows us how the effects of some aftermarket trickery from Revo can improve the performance of his recently purchased, well used and poorly cared for S4.

True, we don’t get the exact details of all the mods Harris has done to the car, so as a scientific comparison take this with a grain of salt. As usual, though, Harris has made sure the comparison is worthwhile viewing.