Topic: Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S4 vs 2014 Lexus IS 350

[Autos_Editor]

In our last weekend with the Audi S4, we finally land Lexus's exciting new IS 350 sport sedan, but can it match our reigning sport sedan champ?

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[JohnM]

OK, two cars which are so fast and handle so well that anyone driving on a public road could never differentiate them substantively.   Gas mileage is not a factor, nor overall comfort unless bad roads are encountered regularly.

Basically for me it would come down to reliability - how much time do I have to spend in the dealership - and the decision would therefore be Lexus.

Not that Audi isn't getting better.  Luxury for me is time spent not maintaining one's tools.

Cheers,
John M.

[aquadorhj]

OK, two cars which are so fast and handle so well that anyone driving on a public road could never differentiate them substantively.   Gas mileage is not a factor, nor overall comfort unless bad roads are encountered regularly.

Basically for me it would come down to reliability - how much time do I have to spend in the dealership - and the decision would therefore be Lexus.

Not that Audi isn't getting better. Luxury for me is time spent not maintaining one's tools.

Cheers,
John M.

that's one measure.

for me, it's having the best interior money can buy, having the POWER to get out of anything, having the handling to instil confidence while looking good.  audi does that better.

[Snowman]

OK, two cars which are so fast and handle so well that anyone driving on a public road could never differentiate them substantively.   Gas mileage is not a factor, nor overall comfort unless bad roads are encountered regularly.

Basically for me it would come down to reliability - how much time do I have to spend in the dealership - and the decision would therefore be Lexus.

Not that Audi isn't getting better. Luxury for me is time spent not maintaining one's tools.

Cheers,
John M.

that's one measure.

for me, it's having the best interior money can buy, having the POWER to get out of anything, having the handling to instil confidence while looking good.  audi does that better.

Agreed, after almost a year and a half of Audi ownership I am prepared to eat crow and take back all the negative things I have said previously about FGC ownership. It is a trade-off I am willing to accept.

[SeaBlueS4]

OK, two cars which are so fast and handle so well that anyone driving on a public road could never differentiate them substantively.   Gas mileage is not a factor, nor overall comfort unless bad roads are encountered regularly.

Basically for me it would come down to reliability - how much time do I have to spend in the dealership - and the decision would therefore be Lexus.

Not that Audi isn't getting better. Luxury for me is time spent not maintaining one's tools.

Cheers,
John M.

that's one measure.

for me, it's having the best interior money can buy, having the POWER to get out of anything, having the handling to instil confidence while looking good.  audi does that better.

Agreed, after almost a year and a half of Audi ownership I am prepared to eat crow and take back all the negative things I have said previously about FGC ownership. It is a trade-off I am willing to accept.

2.5 yrs here and no car could have been more reliable than the S4, but few would have given me as much fun.

[JRM]

For me, the Lexus is a much better value proposition.  As a bonus it has plenty of well delivered power and the handling would likely be more than adeqate too.  I love the sensational styling inside and out.  (I'm no fan of Audi's flimsy looking dash top info screens). 

[JacobBlack]

For me, the Lexus is a much better value proposition.  As a bonus it has plenty of well delivered power and the handling would likely be more than adeqate too.  I love the sensational styling inside and out.  (I'm no fan of Audi's flimsy looking dash top info screens).

Huh? No such thing in the S4.

[hemusbull]

Sports cars? Someone forgot IS is a kind of luxury car. But it mimics so well Audi's sport character adding unmatched Lexus reliability!

[Northernridge]

I'm of the view that as time goes by Lexus is providing an increasingly legit alternative to the Germans. The argument is moving away from better/worse and more toward different and preference – I think the IS offers a different approach to sport sedans than the S4. If I had to sum it up I'd say the IS appeals to the technical thinker while the S4 has more appeal for the expressive...uh, feeler. 

[ChaosphereIX]

it is a rare day when a FGC, especially and Audi, is touted as the car having emotion and feeling and chassis tactility etc. etc.

The Lexus must really be a numb ride, or the Audi has come a long, long, long way from the Audis of old...

[Vanstar]

Indeed, the Audi wins the competition and so it should. It costs 30% more, a fact that I note was left out of the article.

[SaskSpecV]

Indeed, the Audi wins the competition and so it should. It costs 30% more, a fact that I note was left out of the article.

You note wrong, as you obviously didn't read the following statement from the first page of the article:

"and a price discrepancy that could buy you a subcompact car (okay, you might need some incentives to actually drive away in a car for less than $14K)".

[Northernridge]

it is a rare day when a FGC, especially and Audi, is touted as the car having emotion and feeling and chassis tactility etc. etc.

The Lexus must really be a numb ride, or the Audi has come a long, long, long way from the Audis of old...

It's a two car story...unless you mean that they are both dead.

[dkaz]

The S4 can be had in manual, IS350 not. My choice would be clear. Too bad my wallet doesn't agree with either.

[rrocket]

I suppose it depends on the review.  I've read a couple other reviews where they preferred the interior of the Lexus.  Which is a big deal in the luxury segment.  And they preferred the handling...which is an even bigger consideration in this segment.  This review seems to sorta agree with that...but in the end it's not enough for the Lexus to win. Value, handling and price slightly tipped in the Lexus favor?  But not enough for the victory?

FGC bias, maybe?

FWIW....I think the S4 lost it's soul when they got rid of the V8.  The V8 S4 is still one of my all time favorites. 

[ChaosphereIX]

FWIW....I think the S4 lost it's soul when they got rid of the V8.  The V8 S4 is still one of my all time favorites.

I agree. It may be slower than the new S4, less tunable, and worse on gas, but it had so much more character with the snarling V8. Will be a sad day when Audi finally gets rid of that venerable 4.2...

[bombastic]

For me, the Lexus is a much better value proposition.  As a bonus it has plenty of well delivered power and the handling would likely be more than adeqate too.  I love the sensational styling inside and out.  (I'm no fan of Audi's flimsy looking dash top info screens).

Looks like you did not read the article. Troll.

[bombastic]

Sports cars? Someone forgot IS is a kind of luxury car. But it mimics so well Audi's sport character adding unmatched Lexus reliability!

Minus unmatched Audi interior.

[bombastic]

Indeed, the Audi wins the competition and so it should. It costs 30% more, a fact that I note was left out of the article.

Was it left out? No it was mentioned and said that Audi is well worth the premium.

[jyarkony]

I suppose it depends on the review.  I've read a couple other reviews where they preferred the interior of the Lexus.  Which is a big deal in the luxury segment.  And they preferred the handling...which is an even bigger consideration in this segment.  This review seems to sorta agree with that...but in the end it's not enough for the Lexus to win. Value, handling and price slightly tipped in the Lexus favor?  But not enough for the victory?

FGC bias, maybe?

FWIW....I think the S4 lost it's soul when they got rid of the V8.  The V8 S4 is still one of my all time favorites.

Handling went to the S4, but comfort was in Lexus's favour.

S4 won on interior, power, transmission, drivetrain, handling, while lexus got the nod in comfort and value.

if buyers are shopping to a price point or brand reliability reputation, they wouldn't even consider the S4, just as the IS would be a no-go for anyone wanting a manual transmission.

I'm with you about the character of the engine - as strong as the V6T is, the sound and feel of that V8 was sublime, something i noted in a previous long-term update on the S4... I think...