8P RS3 -> B7 RS4?

[BillTheButcher]

Sorry if this should have gone in the RS3 subforum...

IMO the 8P RS3 is a great car - fast, stealthy, practical - but I've always wanted a B7 RS4 and I think I might regret it if I don't own one, at least for a while. It looks like you can get a decent one for sub-£20k at the moment so it seems like a good time to change.

Has anyone made this change? Did you regret it? Was there anything you missed about the RS3?

[TomRS]

From driving my dads RS4 and owning an RS6, the drive is fantastic and the engine is sublime, i think the only thing you might miss is the gadgets, the B7 is quite old now and doesnt really have much in the way of things to play with like i imagine the RS3 does with it being quite new.

Otherwise i think you'll enjoy the change!

[doodlebug]

8P RS3 and B7 RS4 are the same in the tech stakes.

B7 will go around corners, something this RS3 didn't.

[BillTheButcher]

I don't use the multimedia stuff at all in cars. I never listen to music when I'm driving and I've got a TomTom for navigation.

The only tech I use is cruise control and climate control and I think the B7 has both as standard, doesn't it?

[daytonamart]

From what you can read on here re: RS3 I don't think you would regret it.

B7 may be a bit tech light compared to the modern RS car but the level of interaction will be a whole lot better IMO.

[RichieRS]

I would say you would have to go and test drive one.

They are so different in the way they deliver power to a turbo charged car. Im still getting used to it even after over a year with mine coming from GTR's, Evo's, Imprezza's etc. You don't get that kick in the back you do with turbo as the power delivery is very smooth, almost to the point i'm thinking the car is slow!!!, but then I look down at the speedo and see how quickly the needle is flying around up to and WAY beyond 3 figures!!!.

There have been a few that have bought the RS4 only to get bored with it quickly due to it not trying to throw them off the road at every available opportunity (the guy who I bought mine off) and there are those who love it for what it is. I love the noise it makes and the nods of approval from the more mature/refined gentlemen . But it a stunning car also and I would only sell to move up to the next level (R8, 911T, GTR)

[BillTheButcher]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I drove a standard B7 a few years ago and just as you describe, RichieRS, it felt slower than it actually was, because of the power and torque delivery. If I got one it would have to be modded to some degree to give at least a sense of speed lower down the rev range.

The biggest draw for me in any car is the engine and I love the 4.2 V8.

Remap with a nice exhaust and maybe a supercharger later on...

[TomRS]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I drove a standard B7 a few years ago and just as you describe, RichieRS, it felt slower than it actually was, because of the power and torque delivery. If I got one it would have to be modded to some degree to give at least a sense of speed lower down the rev range.

The biggest draw for me in any car is the engine and I love the 4.2 V8.

Remap with a nice exhaust and maybe a supercharger later on...

My idea of the perfect Audi would be the B7 with a Supercharger... they are amazing machines and stupendously fun but refined at the same time.
You can treat it like a motorway muncher or you can abuse it hard and it'll just repsond perfectly, i find Audi's quite dull especially my RS6, but the B7 is far from dull.
It just lacks that little bit in power, but obviously as you say a SC would certainly solve that aspect.

[MikeFish]

In terms of tech, the 8P will have the later RNS-E, but this is easy to change if it bothers you (or if it has not been done already). And the parking sensors are audible only on the RS4 but the 8P also has a visual on the RNS-E.
As others have said, the 4 will initially feel slow compared to the 3. An MRC remap will sort out the throttle response to make it feel more like a turbo car.

[doodlebug]

8P didn't have rear camera, that would've had to be aftermarket.

[MikeFish]

8P didn't have rear camera, that would've had to be aftermarket.

Is that in repsonse to my comment about visuals? I didn't mean camera, I meant the little red bars that show up on the RNS-E to tell you which sensor is beeping and how far away the object is.

[doodlebug]

Aye. Cross purposes on that one

[Simon the sparky]

Having had lots of high powered turbo cars, the thing I love about my rs4 is that the power delivery is so smooth and progressive that your passengers are less aware of the acceleration and speed. You don't see your passengers necks going back due to sudden turbo boost, so the wife's not constantly telling you to slow down!
Also turbo cars are very susceptible to going into 'limp home mode' every time a sensor picks up too much boost, or any number of other readings, but big V8s just seem to be less fussy, and just work!
As the yanks say " there ain't no substitute for displacement "

[Simon the sparky]

Sorry that should be " ain't no replacement for displacement "

[BillTheButcher]

As I said above, apart from cruise control and climate control, in-car tech isn't something I use or bother about.

A supercharger would be some way off. A remap, exhaust and coilovers would be the first order of the day.