URS4 DIet

Hey GRM,

Recently picked up a 1994 S4 that has been awaiting daily use while I enjoy my newly finished boosted E30. I am anticipating driving this car as a DD in the near future but I am a bit concerned about the weight of this guy.

The famous Audi 20V AAN is fantastic and making extra power is simple and well documented. I have been doing some searching an have yet to find any information about how low people have managed to cut weight. Perhaps the enthusiast community is not entirely interested in this but I am much more used to sub 3200lb vehicles, not a 3800lb behemoth.

So my question to the GRM brain is... Has anyone heard of successful weight reductions with these vehicles? If so how extensive is the weight stripping?

Any help or experience will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Just increase power and enjoy a smooth quiet ride.

Doesn't it all depend on what you're willing to put up with?

You could completely gut the thing and use lexan and keep only the drivers seat and cut out all kinds of amenities but at what point would you hate driving it?

Well, aside from the usual things (sound deadening, underlayment).

Thinner carpet?

Replace the windows with plastic?

Replace body panels with composites?

Lightened wheels. Composite or aluminum drivelines?

Most people reduce weight by replacing the bodywork with 4000/80/90/Coupe Quattro.

I don't really advocate this if the starting point is a running, driving, non-wrecked car. But, at the same time, the car is not a light car nor will it ever really be a light car. It's big by huge and power everything.

I daily drive a 1995 S6 (same exact car, different name). It's had a small number of power upgrades, but it is mostly stock. I absolutely love it, as is.

Keep it stock, it'll only appreciate in value. They aren't making them anymore.

Wow, that car is a lot heavier then I would have guessed. Things that I can think of that could drop a noticeable about of weight without de-contenting the car. Lighter wheels, flywheel, seats. The factory exhuast on lots of cars can be very heavy. Lighter battery. All the above could net you around a 150lb. savings, with a good chunk being rotational weight.

Your best solution IMHO would be to finish the E30 and drive that when you want speed, drive the S4 when you want to cruise in style

The older large Audis are extremely heavy cars by design. Especially if everything works, leave it stock, they are hard to find these days...but if it's a beater, Audi uses THICK sound deadening, the power seats are monstrously heavy, A/C components can go, etc...

Like everyone else says. Leave it alone. It's not a lightweight race car and never will be.

Thanks guys! It is not pristine by any means but certainly a respectable driver. I will go ahead and leave it as is for now.

Thanks

There are things you could do to loose weight and improve other aspects as well. An exhaust might loose significant weight and improve performance, some sparco seats would be comfy, cool and loose major weight. Plus the seats are transferrable to your next rig too.

carbon wrote: There are things you could do to loose weight and improve other aspects as well. An exhaust might loose significant weight and improve performance, some sparco seats would be comfy, cool and loose major weight. Plus the seats are transferrable to your next rig too.

An exhaust is the first plan with the car, although I will keeping the OEM setup for re-installation upon sale. Not only will the weight savings be a big plus, but I will be able to here the full symphony from that inline 5!