Audi RS4 vs. Ford SVT Cobra

[flylwsi]

let's see.
a 4 door (another one )
that outhandles the cobra.

i'll take the rs4. better handling stock, better handling modded.
more power, more potential.
nicer overall car.

ever driven an s4?
far better than a cobra already, and almost as fast...
get the rs4, which is even better, and handles even better...
is this really a question?

[syr74]

The RS4 is a much better every day car than the Cobra, but for the price difference (huge) I couldn't imagine taking the RS4 over the Cobra.

Don't get me wrong, the RS4 is very, very nice. But, even as nice as it is I think it is a bit overpriced. And, as far as the "modding" thing goes.....c'mon. If you like the Audi better I totally understand, but the Audi is already twice as much as the Cobra before you mod it.....and the Cobra is no doubt the cheapest car to mod to insane hp levels currently made.

I think the real difference is wether or not you want a very powerful American hot rod with amazing bang for the buck, or an autobahn rocket with excellent power and luxury, not to mention the "to be expected" price tag.

The current Cobra is on it's way out however, and I will be interested to see the rematch between the nest Cobra and the Europeans like the RS4 given the new Mustangs improved chassis, interior, and greater hp. Maybe Lexus will finally drop a tweaked 4.3L V-8 in the IS series and Infiniti will have their new Skyline by then as well? Perhaps even a LS2 powered GTO to round out the pot? The more the merrier.

[flylwsi]

http://members.ij.net/gg/rs4vsm3_2.mpeg

alot of people will agree that the m3 is better than the cobra...
that's an rs4 eating an m3 for lunch...

[syr74]

Originally Posted by flylwsi

http://members.ij.net/gg/rs4vsm3_2.mpeg

alot of people will agree that the m3 is better than the cobra...
that's an rs4 eating an m3 for lunch...

"Better" and "faster" are two different things. Faster is not an opinion and generally just relies on cold numbers to judge (it does however vary depending on what form of "racing" you employ) Better is a matter of opinion, and can be measured money considered or not.

As far as the faster argument goes, I wouldn't hold my breath looking for any M3's to outrun an 03 or 04 SVT Cobra in sheer acceration unless it is because the M3 driver is much better than the guy piloting the Cobra. An M3 will not accelerate with a Cobra all things being equal....it isn't even close. An RS4 wont out accelerate a Cobra for that matter.

Both the Audi and the BMW would take the Cobra on the vast majority of road courses. I would assume that is a given. But "faster" takes all different forms.

[flylwsi]

ok...
i didn't say overall better (like you've mentioned)

handling and acceleration on the rs4 are up there...

anyone have 1/4 times to compare the two?
the cobra is 13.1 ish. what's an rs4?



(one more thing.....)
someone said that the cobra has a race bred heritage.
what do you think the rs4 and s4 have?

what cars, with their revolutionary quattro awd systems, ruled rally racing, and most forms of touring car racing?

the audi quattro equipped cars. the s and rs lines.

race background. completely.

[flylwsi]

well... i found my own answers.

from evo magazine, here's some times:

----------------M3-----------RS4----------911
0-30---------2.1------------1.6-----------1.6
0-60---------5.1------------4.8-----------4.8
0-80---------8.1------------8.0-----------7.9
0-100------12.3----------12.1----------12.1
0-110------14.8----------14.6----------14.8
0-120------17.7----------17.4----------17.7
0-130------21.3----------22.5----------21.7
0-140------26.1----------27.5----------26.1
1/4 mi.----13.7/105---13.3/105---13.4/104

so the rs4 is right on the cobra's tale...

i guess we'd have to take it to a top speed run...
or just run them on a road course, where the rs4 would eat the cobra...

[syr74]

13.1'sh is a little pig'ish for the 03-04 Cobra. Even mainsteam auto mags have coaxed the car into the twelves. In the hands of a good driver the Cobra is a solid mid 12-second car. The RS4 offers it's driver easier access to it's best acceleration numbers due to it's awd. But, it doesn't offer near the acceleration to those who can drive well.

Also, notice the acceleration numbers to 140. The Cobra cuts off your fun early due to the Mustangs sub-par aerodynamics(140-150 if I recall), but, while a Cobra will pretty handily beat an M3 or RS4 in the 1/4, it destroys them from say 60-130. On the interstate, a Cobra is going to embarass a M3 and decimate a RS4 until you get well into illegal territory.

And, how many people are really going to push it past 140mph? When you take into consideration that in reality the SVT powered pony delivers over 400lb-ft of torque at the crank, under-rating be damned, it should outrun them in that kind of match-up. No shame there

I said before that both German cars have better handling overall, but lets not get ridiculous with the acceleration thing here. As far as top speed goes for the RS4, I can't tell you what it is but as long as it isn't limited like the Cobra's I am sure it is higher than the Mustangs. So yes, the RS4 pilot will ultimately pass the Cobra, when the Cobra hits it's rev limiter.

[NISSANSPDR]

RS4 all the way...screw the Cobra due to the fact that it's not living up to its true potential and that a wagon could possible beat it down if not in the hands of a capable driver

[Jimster]

Originally Posted by syr74

13.1'sh is a little pig'ish for the 03-04 Cobra. Even mainsteam auto mags have coaxed the car into the twelves. In the hands of a good driver the Cobra is a solid mid 12-second car. The RS4 offers it's driver easier access to it's best acceleration numbers due to it's awd. But, it doesn't offer near the acceleration to those who can drive well.

Also, notice the acceleration numbers to 140. The Cobra cuts off your fun early due to the Mustangs sub-par aerodynamics(140-150 if I recall), but, while a Cobra will pretty handily beat an M3 or RS4 in the 1/4, it destroys them from say 60-130. On the interstate, a Cobra is going to embarass a M3 and decimate a RS4 until you get well into illegal territory.

And, how many people are really going to push it past 140mph? When you take into consideration that in reality the SVT powered pony delivers over 400lb-ft of torque at the crank, under-rating be damned, it should outrun them in that kind of match-up. No shame there

I said before that both German cars have better handling overall, but lets not get ridiculous with the acceleration thing here. As far as top speed goes for the RS4, I can't tell you what it is but as long as it isn't limited like the Cobra's I am sure it is higher than the Mustangs. So yes, the RS4 pilot will ultimately pass the Cobra, when the Cobra hits it's rev limiter.

The RS4 is electronically limited to 155mph, German gentlemans agreemetn, though Porsche managed to weasel out of it, somehow.

So uummmm....Yeah

[Kurtdg19]

Originally Posted by syr74

Perhaps even a LS2 powered GTO to round out the pot? The more the merrier.

Call it picky, but if memory serves me right the GTO is equipped with the LS1? Like I said picky.

I'll have to agree with the Cobra out accelerating the Audi if not fact.

Still and RS4 would be the choosen one given myself the option. A 13.3 quarter is well fast enough for my everyday priorities.

[Jimster]

WEll, yes it does have an LS1, but I have little doubt Holden will put an LS2 in the Monaro once the engine comes out.

[freakonaleash1187]

like kurtdg19 said, 13.3 quarter mile will do for me. and then its always fun to throw corners into the mix. so i would have to go with the rs4. plus, the rs4 looks much much better than the cobra.

[mommaslilinjun]

the cobra handles like a pig... the rs4 is quicker through the twistys, as quick in the straightaways, has inifinitely more potential (pick up the february issue of european car), and does all that with a v6 as opposed to a v8. sick.

[Mr Payne]

Ok, no way no how the RS4 has the same potential as an 03/04 Cobra. Get that out of your heads people. Chip, exhaust, intake and pulley regularly acheive 450rwhp+. Maybe you people don't understand what the means. That means this car is in the 11's with bolt ons and less than 3K involved. You want to get big power? Get a bigger blower and cross the 600rwhp mark EASILY. People have gone 9's on stock bottom end. Nuff said really.

[flylwsi]

so you can't get into the 11's with an rs4?
with 2 turbos, you get your chip intake exhaust, and you can be right there with the cobra.

get bigger turbos, and you're doing the same, crossing the 600 mark EASILY. and that's to FOUR wheels, not 2...
hmm...

a car with 2 turbos doesn't have the same potential as a car with a supercharger?

riiiiight...