“Design me a fast but comfortable grand tourer, with a 420HP naturally aspirated V8 at the front, mated to a six-speed manual.” Could this design brief result in two more different cars than these? The question came to me as a friend was asking for advice about purchasing a low mileage RS4. It was optimistically priced, so I had to point out that for the same money he could get a V8 Vantage. This was a bit like saying “Why go to Berlin when you could go hiking in the Lake District instead?” Not helpful.

But it did get me to thinking about how two cars that are so similar on paper could be so different.

Aesthetics: A brute in a suit versus a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Both cars are understated and generally go under the radar. The Aston nonetheless vies for Most Beautiful Object on the Planet. The RS4, on the other hand, passes for just another Audi sedan. You need to know what you’re seeing before you see it. 90% of thumbs up come from people driving S4s.

Performance: both adequate.

Handling: Not as dissimilar as you would think. The Aston clearly has an advantage with a low-slung, dry sump engine behind the front axle, with a near perfect 49/51 weight distribution. How the Audi handles so well defies comprehension. The V8 is hung way out at the front, with a 58/42 weight distribution, so cornering should be terrifying. There are a few things that start to make sense of it. First, Audi lightened the front end with aluminum panels. The four-door sedan is actually 150 lbs lighter than the two-seater roadster. Huh? Next there is the venerable Quattro drivetrain that puts 40% of the power to the front wheels. The much maligned, hydraulically interconnected DRC suspension is actually really good. Beyond that, the gods must be permanently smiling on this car. Makes no sense.

Practicality: Stating the obvious, the Audi wins hands down. Truly good for four passengers. Trunk volume is a cavernous 13.4 cubic feet, with a handy hatch in the back seat for skis. The Aston … 5 very oddly shaped cubic feet. See my packing post. Here is a subtler thing, though. Both cars have 6 speeds. One 6-speed needs to get to an electronically limited 155 mph, while the other has to get to a theoretical 186 mph. The difference in gear ratios for real-world use is profound, making the Audi far more driver friendly as a daily.

Rarity: Surprise! The Audi wins hands down again. Of the ~10,000 B7 RS4s built only 2000 made it to the US. Astons are thick on the ground by comparison, despite being very rare compared to, say, Ferraris.

Ownership: The maintenance and repair bills for the Aston can be eye-watering. That deserves its own post. Much of the maintenance on the RS4 is similar in cost and complexity to an everyday A4. The greater problem for the Audi is unobtanium. A simple front plate delete? Unobtainable. The DRC suspension gives out? Time for Billsteins. Bad curb rash on a wheel? Forget about it. Increasingly over time the owner will need to be resourceful to find the needed parts.

In summary, two very different cars, both wonderful in their own ways. I never want to part with either.