Ur-S Double Take: 1992 Audi S4 v. 1995 Audi S6

As Paul and our reader John both noted in last week’s 1991 Audi S4 post, the price of that appealing and clean example of was fairly high relative to what you could purchase a slightly higher miles but still clean model in the U.S. for, even not taking into account the cost of importing the car to the U.S. To underscore that point, today we’ll look at both an early and later version of the venerable 20V Turbo C4 chassis Audi – the enthusiast dubbed “Ur-S” cars. First off we’ll look at a 1992 S4, then a 1995 S6:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1992 Audi S4 on Craigslist.org

Year: 1992
Model: S4
Engine: 2.2 liter turbocharged inline-5
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 136,000 mi
Price: $7,800

Up for sale is my “rare” Pearl White/Black leather Interior 1992 Audi S4 with the 5 cylinder 2.3liter 20 valve turbo engine in excellent condition (CLEAN TITLE) . All original paint with an immaculate “almost flawless” interior.I have all the original manual/literatures, service records over 1″ thick. Has very nice tasteful modification like MTM stage 1+ chip ($600 cost), around 270HP (stock is 227hp), Stromung cat back exhaust ($1600 cost) -sounds nice!, Porsche turbo big red front brake kit ($2500 cost), All bilstein sport shocks & aftermarket springs (cost $900), forge turbo valve, Samco silicone hoses (blue). I have 4 boxes of parts that will be included with the car. Registered until Jan 2015!
Car passed CA smog just this January 2014. Will get it smog again when sale is finalized. Contact me thru my cell phone for fast reply. Asking $7800 obo

This car certainly appears very clean overall, especially the interior. Outside, the 22 year old Pearlesant White Metallic paint looks nice in the photos, but you’ll want a closer look as these are often subject to clearcoat failure and color-matching the panels is very difficult with that color. There are some modifications but they’re of the desirable nature; better brakes in the form of Porsche “Big Reds” to match the MTM chipset and Stromung exhaust, along with Bilstein suspension. While this car does have 50,000 miles more than the example Paul came across, properly maintained that’s a bit irrelevant on these Audis and this car has a lot of life left in it. But if you want something a bit flashier, perhaps the refreshed and rebadged S6 would suit your needs:

To most non-Audi folks, the differences between the S4 and S6 are probably imperceptible, but the refreshed bumpers and wheels really changed the look of the C4 quite a bit. Also nice in the U.S. was the addition of the Avant to the lineup, although we’re looking at a sedan today. The miles covered by this S6 are nearly identical to the S4 above, and although the base spec is very similar this car doesn’t seem to sport any modifications:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1995 Audi S6 on Craigslist.org

Year: 1995
Model: S6
Engine: 2.2 liter turbocharged inline-5
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 136,646 mi
Price: $11,500 Buy It Now

This is a collectors enthusiasts car! 95 Audi Quattro S6 20 Valve Turbo, 136K miles. $11,500 obo Tornado Red W/Black leather interior. Heated/power seats, Exterior is in show room/mint condition. Interior is in good condition. The drivers seat has wear on the outer seat side bolster. Trunk carpet is in excellent condition, Also has 10 disc CD player and ski sock in the trunk. All wood grain is excellent condition. New Head lights, Side markers, Grill, Badges, Mirror Glass (Both drivers & Passenger), new windshield, wheels have been reconditioned, New Bridgestone Potenza S-02 225/50 R16 92W. Windows have been tinted. Aftermarket rear spoiler (has very small crack) The rear rubber brake lines have been replaced. Exterior has been repainted with Glasurit Paint, Color sanded and polished. All trim, glass, moldings were removed for the paint process.
A must see car for the classic enthusiast. It has not been a daily driver, only occasionally on sunny Sundays.

With virtually the entire exterior refreshed, this is a stunning looking example of a S6 with the bonus of being stock and unmolested. In my mind, it’s a shame that they went through a full repaint and left that spoiler on the rear – I’ve never liked the look of the C4 with a spoiler and it looks out of place here, too. Condition appears even better – as it should – than the S4 outside, and inside appears also to be the match. Despite the detailed exterior work, there’s no mention of mechanical work that’s been completed and that’s certainly something that you’d want to check. While this car appears to be a really great example, if it is a repainted car that wasn’t previously maintained getting it back to serviceable condition will be quite expensive.

While I really like the idea of fresh paint and the Tornado Red looks nice on the S6, my money would go towards the S4. It’s priced right given the condition and mileage, the modifications are perfect, and I love those early Fuchs-made wheels. I think the Tornado Red car has the potential to be a good value too, considering the repaint. It’s not outrageously priced presuming the maintenance is up to date, and if you were looking long term, as long as the paintwork was done properly it could be still a good investment. Which would you choose?

Thanks to our readers Brad and Jeremy for sending these in!

-Carter