I'm sure this has been asked or discussed in various formats, just need either:
Links to where or just you valued feedback.

Planning to purchase a new car in the next 6 months - getting married, planning on family etc. so the 147 GTA isn't going to cut it...

I understand the merits of both cars, but would like your feedback:

1. If you could chooses between the 2 which one & why
2. If you currently have the C55, do you ever wonder what the B7 RS4 would have been like
3. Had the C55, but now have the B7 RS4 - Why?
4. If you have BOTH, which one?
5. Or should I wait for the new C63?

Oh, they are very similar in $$$ here in Australia & I don't intend doing any track work.

Thanks in advance...

If you can get an RS4 (not an S4) for the price of a C55, then you have a very easy, no-brainer, crazy-if-you-don't choice. RS4. The RS4 will be sold for at least 15% higher price in most markets, for a good reason. It's also a "fresher" model until Benz comes out with the newer C series.

I'd ponder whether to get an RS4 or a C63 instead of C55. C63 is only a bit over a year away. I'd say wait for it, then decide.

I've owned both the S4 and C55. I enjoyed the C55 much more than the S4. That being said, the best advice I can give you is to spend the extra money and go with the E55.

dude, thats not fair. your 55 was over 500 horsepower!!!!!

If I were you...

If I need AWD car, no brainer and no choice - RS4.

If I could wait for C63 (it should come out in about a year, right?), wait fro C63... I think RS4 would have a tough competitor.

If I would like to mod the car, get RS4 due to F/I... it'd be cheaper than modding C55/C63... but I'd spend similar $$$ (assuming aussie's price difference is similar to US) to getting E55... so I think I'd go w/ E55... bigger, as powerful and most bugs sorted out - plus no aftermarket mods, so no issue w/ warranty.

The B7 RS4 is a naturally aspirated high reving 4.2L V8 with FSI. It's not turbocharged or supercharged.

In deciding between the B7 RS4 and W203 C55, I would consider the following things:

The RS4 is hands down faster in a straightline and on a track. The cost for this performance is that the RS4 uses a lot more fuel than the C55.

The RS4 has less interior room for passengers in the back than the C55.

The RS4 has a manual transmission, while the C55 has a manu-matic.

Do you value the benefits of AWD? Launching the car is easier with the quattro, and you get more security in all weather conditions.

In most markets, the RS4 is significantly more expensive ($94200 vs $73600 in Canada). If the RS4 costs the SAME as the C55, that's a huge bonus!!!!

Finally, which car LOOKS better in your eyes? Most people think that the RS4 interior is quite nice. The exterior of the RS4 is also more aggressive looking than the C55. Some prefer the more aggressive look, while others appreciate the more subtle appearance of the C55.

And nobody really know what the next C-AMG car will be like....so you can wait for it if you have the patience.

If you appreciate AWD and/or rowing your own gears, get an S4 or RS4. See if you can lease it over there or buy if you are very confident about its reliability.

PS: I wouldn't wait for the C63 if I were you. Another year before it's introduced in the US, possibly longer in Australia, and you should probably wait a year after its introduction to make sure it's a relatively glitch-free car. And it's not like the E63 is exactly setting the world alight vs. the E55.

the 147 GTA to me seems more like a B7 RS4, if you have to get it within 6 months, go with the RS4, unless you plan to wait for the C63

I'd take the RS4!!

High Revving V8, 4WD (unless you prefer RWD for power slides ), Aggressive Looks, Manual Transmission

problem is.. it's more expensive than the C55 here. So if it's the same price for you ... your choice

I prefer the C55's interior though and the W203's exterior is very elegant.

Both are great cars. Depends if you need AWD where you live or not. Can't go wrong with either one.

Here's a link with some pictures:
http://forums.audiworld.com/rs4b7/msgs/1581.phtml

maybe a lil off topic but video of the RS4 vs M3 by Fifth Gear. Pretty sweet video

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/122116/2007_audi_rs4/

Now that cars are routinely exceeding 400HP, there comes a point where AWD is more than a snow feature. Even my C32 is handcuffed on a rainy day. If I was buying at the RS4/C55 level, I would consider the AWD to be a valuable feature unless I lived in a very arrid environment.

Thank You...

@ DragonAMG
A new C55 is approx AU$161K
A new RS4 is approx AU$165K
A new E55 is approx AU$226K
All the above is before tax (GST 10% + LCT 25%)
For now, the E55 is not an option

@ PC Valkyrie
I like the sleeper look of the C55, the RS4 just looks liek a body kit.
I do I like the AWD aspect, though I would prefer a auto/tiptronic - city driving!
They are both plenty quick enough...
Both the interiors are great - though the RS4 is more sporty, while the C55 is more luxury/comfort

As I have been driving performance based cars - such as my current GTA - my next step is for a luxury sport sedan, with the emphasis in luxury & comfort.

As previously mentioned, I will not be doing any track work or looking for street modified cars to race etc.

The issue is to now find the compromise - also as I am getting married soon (planing for a family etc), hence I thought the C55 would be a good match...

The only issue now is that, I have been told that Australia will never get the C55 wagon but will be getting the RS4 Avant - BUT then, the RS4 will always be a manual (& my SO only drives auto!)...

Maybe I should investigate a S4 Avant as that comes in a Tiptronic...

Back to the drawing board...

Consider perhaps your driving tendancies ... do you like to wind-out an engine and take it to a -very high- redline, or do you like crushing pulling power from 2K rpm up and don't feel comfortable with your engine above 6K rpm?

If you don't take the RS4 up to (or near) its redline , and let's say "short shift it" in the 5.5K - 6K range, that car is not going to be much faster the a C350! No, I'm not kidding and not exaggerating. That RS4 engine reaches its HP figures through low torque, high RPM, so with its short gearing needs to be wound-out to be best utilized. ...so just something to consider... Me, I luv high RPMs and I'm always taking my engine up there -- additionally however, my W202 w/a 5.4L Motor pulls like a monster from 2K too, so I can be happy with the transmission left in the next higher gear then optimal for power, because that engine just pulls like few others from so low. You might not like very high RPMs tho. If you're a torque adict, go for the C55.

It's surprising that Audi would suddenly change to an engine that requires big revs to generate torque. The past 10 years they've been going in the opposite direction, developing cars with lots of low-end grunt. The 1.8t, 2.0t and 2.7t engines all hit peak torque around 2,000 RPM. For daily driving, that's where you want the torque, not at 6,000 RPM.

yep, with power peak @ of 420hp @ 7800 rpm and redline @ 8250 rpm...

But, it sure must be fun to drive!

I think manufacturers seem to think that high performance sports saloon drivers want the ultimate sporting driving experience these days and are being led by BMWs success. Driving dynamics at the cost of comfort and power at the cost of torque seems to be the metrics that the motoring press and buying public measure the driving experience.

IMHO it's this that's fueling the horsepower race that seems to be a growing obsession for German prestiege marks - to be credible you need a headline grabbing power rating ...no mention of torque in there.

To get the high power without forced induction (in the mould of the BMW) you need to make the big capacity engine rev like mad. Simple as that.

So many new sporting cars are engineered in such a way that lends them better to track use than road use, despite the fact that most never even see a track let alone put a tyre on one. Even AMG are following a similar route with the new '63s' - nowhere near as much torque as the 55Ks but with more power.

That said, after years of SUVs being designed for off-road use first and on-road second, most of the new breed (X5, ML, XC90, Pikes Peak, etc) are all road-focussed first, and off-road second. So maybe things will go full circle with sports saloons too?

My two penneth thrown into the pot!!