Considering B7 RS4

[stu]

[...]
I'm also going to try to find one of the roll-out boot covers which might make a very small difference.

I have one and it's a nice accessory to have in general. It stops stuff hitting the back of the buckets in van mode too.

[MikeFish]

Surely a de-coke is not a 'must have'. Opinion seems to be divided as to how much real-world difference it actually makes, so yes, it's probably desirable but not a 'must have'. Mine's never been done and you won't find me complaining

I actually would say this is prob something that if its not done and then defo should be factored in when you puchase the car. Eveyone on here who has done a dyno has noted down on power and nowadays a CC is very common on these cars.

I don't agree. There is clearly a power difference when you have a carbon clean but I've heard little difference in real world driving (some say it's smoother). But all evidence I have seen shows that it will need doing again in a few months so unless you plan on doing it every 6 months to a year then it seems pointless. The only reason I could imagine doing it is to be able to say my car achieved xxx bhp on the dyno. No real world advantage but I'll probably do one just before selling for 2 reasons:
1) to prove the engine is healthy and putting out what it should to the prospective buyer
2) because everyone keeps banging on about it being eseential, the potential new buyers coming on here read it and will be only looking for cars that have been cleaned (even if it was 3 years ago and well coked up again) regardless of it actually achieving anything.

[MikeFish]

Best listen to one before you buy - I had a non-res valved and in an Avant the drone between 1000-2000rpm was verging on painful (even with the valves closed), so I switched to a res valved and now both the wife & I are happy.

I've just picked up a Milly (with both sets of pipes) to go on my avant. Going to start with the non-resonated ones and see how it goes...I wonder how much of a difference the in car noise is from 1k and 2k as between the saloon and the avant. Quite a bit I'd imagine but I've only ever heard them from the outside so not sure!

Ah well...it can't be a big job swapping them out later if it's too drony so will give it a whirl!

It's very easy to swap them over. I've swapped them many times on the garage floor with just one side of the car jacked up (on axle stands for anyone reading an attempting, but that's a lie I used 2 trolley jacks). The hardest bit is pulling them off the rubber mounts. Bit of fairly liquid and brute twisting force was the best method I found.

[MikeFish]

Thanks Adrian. Been in touch with Antony and he seems very helpful. The only thing that worries me is the proximity sensor setting the alarm off when a cat goes near the car or someone getting out their car in a car park.

A properly set up alarm will not go off with a cat walking past. If it has proximity sensors it should give a warning (but not full on alarm bell and lights) if somebody is very close i.e face up against the glass looking in. The idea is that they then know the car has a loud and decent alarm (i.e. not the OEM) and that should be enough to put most people off. Only if they break the glass / hit the car / open the door (difficult if it's deadlocked) or obnnet or boot / drop car voltage / towed / move inside the car should it actually go off.
If you did get a cat sitting on your windscreen and set of the prox sensor then short the blast from the alarm should sent it scurrying away and hopefully not return.

[RS6chris!]

I'd suggest your VXR will be as quick and certainly feel quicker than a B7?

Have you driven one yet?

[lee_spowart]

I've driven both b7 rs4 and b8 s4 as another option. The rs did feel quicker than the insignia, but not by much, much nicer drive and better in the corners though.

[RS6chris!]

The B7 can be caught napping so you've gotta ring it's neck!! Lol

[lee_spowart]

I would agree, above 5k rpm is was much better, helped by the noise of cause. It's one of those normal decisions, head and wife says 2011/2012 s4 with sports diff, heart says RS4.

[AdrianD]

Thanks Adrian. Been in touch with Antony and he seems very helpful. The only thing that worries me is the proximity sensor setting the alarm off when a cat goes near the car or someone getting out their car in a car park.

A properly set up alarm will not go off with a cat walking past. If it has proximity sensors it should give a warning (but not full on alarm bell and lights) if somebody is very close i.e face up against the glass looking in. The idea is that they then know the car has a loud and decent alarm (i.e. not the OEM) and that should be enough to put most people off. Only if they break the glass / hit the car / open the door (difficult if it's deadlocked) or obnnet or boot / drop car voltage / towed / move inside the car should it actually go off.
If you did get a cat sitting on your windscreen and set of the prox sensor then short the blast from the alarm should sent it scurrying away and hopefully not return.

Yeah what MikeFish says

It's worth it just to sit and watch peoples faces as they have a nose in the window at the supermarket and it starts beeping at them PMSL

[OskiRs4]

My mate had a standard Insignia VXR my Rs4 was definitely quicker, but there are alot more modding to be done on the VxR being turbo.

I would have the Rs4 any day,full miltek and 100 cell cats, sounded immense, constantly got positive comments at petrol stations etc from all walks of life about the car and sound,it felt a nice special car to be in for some reason, sold mine 3 days ago miss it already, will probably get another one day, get a good example you wont regret it.

[lee_spowart]

Thanks. I keep thinking a b8 s4 is the sensible choice and I'm sure I'd be happy, until the day I see a b7 rs4 and wish I had one

[Timster]

Thanks. I keep thinking a b8 s4 is the sensible choice and I'm sure I'd be happy, until the day I see a b7 rs4 and wish I had one

Exactly. Just get a B7 RS4 otherwise you will always regret.
Sorted.

[RS6chris!]

Thanks. I keep thinking a b8 s4 is the sensible choice and I'm sure I'd be happy, until the day I see a b7 rs4 and wish I had one

Aye

When you see an RS and you're in a S...you will always think should have gone the extra mile and got a RS!!