I paid more than a Challenge car for a set of wheels... and they were worth it.

FMJ's Audi S4 needed new tires and the OE wheels were a bit scruffy and she wanted something more stylish and wider, so we went wheel shopping. She discovered that she really liked the TSW Mechanica with the mirror-cut face and just had to have them. I've never had new name-brand wheels before, and this is easily our favorite car, so what the heck, we did it! 

I know that taste is subjective, but those do look good right? She's happy and that's all that matters (along with being safe, those new DWS06 Plus tires make me feel a lot better than the aged Barum's that came off of it). Wanted to share the excitement!

They do look good.

We are a friendly group but  at some critical juncture in time we will remind you about spending challenge money on rubber covered aluminum bits.....just saying.

New wheels are always exciting. Those factory wheels are some of my favorites, but the TSWs look really good too!

In reply to Tom1200 :

Well technically it was the wheels AND tires that made it more, and I never feel bad spending money on good tires. FMJ can sell the OE wheels too to offset a little bit.

But when it comes to berating me for dumb purchases, I think there's lower hanging fruit...

I spy BRE stuff!  Can't fault you there

In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :

Dumb; that looks like a totally sound investment strategy to me. There's some EBay gold there.

Now you are getting wiser!  I just put $1700 in wheels and tires on a $3500 car.  
I will admit I both loved and hated my S4s.  They may be the greatest daily driver ever, but as a sports car they have their unique Audi quirks.  I will be interested to watch this one progress.  

Tom1200 said:

In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :

Dumb; that looks like a totally sound investment strategy to me. There's some EBay gold there.

The AMC section hidden in the bottom right is easily worth deep into 4 figures. And I'm going to build them... 

In reply to AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) :

Did your S4 have the ADS and Sport Diff? I found those options to literally completely change the character of the car and how it drove. It doesn't stick and dance like my Boxster, but it's dang close.

Ya know, the cost of the wheels is irrelevant. The wheels can be transferred to any car of similar lug pattern and size. The tires are expendable. So you can't really count those.
 

And you're right. the performance of good quality wheels and tires cannot be overstated. It should be the first thing anyone does to a performance oriented machine. 
 

and, ya know what else? I just remembered, a long time ago, someone on this very forum giving me this very advice. Well, whattaya know... I've absorbed enough to regurgitate it. 

Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) :

Did your S4 have the ADS and Sport Diff? I found those options to literally completely change the character of the car and how it drove. It doesn't stick and dance like my Boxster, but it's dang close.

Honestly, I'm not sure.  I've owned four Audis, A B5 S4 M6, a B7 A4 2.0T, a B8 S4 with DCT, and an older A6 wagon for the wife.  I loved them in daily use.  In bad weather, the S4 dominates.  I've seen them do awesome in rallycross too.  The launch control on the DCT S4 was a blast.  I just found the balance of the cars off.  It's muscle car like but with AWD instead of massive rear wheel drive torque which you can use to overcome the balance.  My Subaru is a complete econobox compared to any of my Audi's but it does have better front / rear balance.  With the new tires it's actually loose (on dirt), which for an AWD car is pretty shocking.  I can't imagine an Audi being anything other than tight and pushing ever.  I suppose it's possible, but I've never experienced it. 

I wish I could find any videos of the B5 RS4 SCCA speed TV world challenge cars.  They were beyond awesome.  They were the Skyline GTRs of US auto racing in 2000-2002. 

In reply to AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) :

I love your fleet! We went from B6 A4, to B7 A4, to B8 A4, to the B8 S4, all 6-speed manuals. The B8 A4 pushed bad, and so did every S4 we drove until we drove one with a Sport Diff, and it made all the difference in the world. The Sport Diff cars actually rotate! You can drive ours if you're ever in the area.

I remember watching those RS4's on Speed...

Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) :

I love your fleet! We went from B6 A4, to B7 A4, to B8 A4, to the B8 S4, all 6-speed manuals. The B8 A4 pushed bad, and so did every S4 we drove until we drove one with a Sport Diff, and it made all the difference in the world. The Sport Diff cars actually rotate! You can drive ours if you're ever in the area.

I remember watching those RS4's on Speed...

Don't make promises like that.  I lived at the sub base in WA for 7 years and love going back to the NW.  It's one the best places on Earth in the summer.  If an inexpensive driveable B5 S4 came into my life, I'd probably sell the Subaru and build a crazy rallycross car with one.  For all the headaches of working on an S4 they are amazingly fun to drive.  The turbo V6 is just amazing. 

 

I wish I could find any videos of the B5 RS4 SCCA speed TV world challenge cars.  They were beyond awesome.  They were the Skyline GTRs of US auto racing in 2000-2002. 

these? 

In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :

I've spent nearly half a Challenge budget on a pair of bicycle wheels (yay for team a discount - otherwise they would be 3/4 of the budget), so I cannot say anything.  I'm still trying to figure out why spending $1000+ on a pair of bicycle wheels is "logical" to me, but spending that much on FOUR car wheels gives me pause...  

I remember so many of those model kits from when I worked at a hobby shop back in the mid-80's (my first job).

In reply to Vajingo :

YES!  Video!