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Helloo, new here , been studying the forum a while and finally registered, always had the rs4 itch but never done it.. been looking and studying them for about a month or two now and wanted some views on coming from A6 C7 avant to the B7 rs4 avant? (Not a fan of the b8) Has anyone on here took the step back into time? Does the sheer driving experience counter act the niggly issues/less space/less gadgets/age etc? I mean im happy with the room, gadgets and modern looks of my c7 (which always makes it harder when you like the car you already have!) But it does lack the driver feel which the rs4 offers..and that v8 of course
So any input would be appreciated if anyone has done this change before? Thanks in advance

Welcome, and FON!

Only one way to find out!

Ok - more helpful reply..

I guess, of the issues you mention, I'd ask how much you'd miss the rear passenger space? That's the thing you can do little about.

You can add gadgets (I upgraded the sat-nav/audio as the Audi system felt ancient).

Of the common issues, it's only carbon buildup that has no "solution", in the sense it'll come back fairly quickly; so just make your peace with either having less power than quoted, or paying for periodic cleans.

You can bin DRC and fit coilovers if you don't want to replace DRC of/when it goes.

Leaky aux rads and oil coolers can be replaced. You just need to be aware of the costs, and perhaps find a car that has already had these jobs done.

So go into it with eyes open, and then consider how epic the V8 is, that the car is a dying breed, that you can't buy a new car with that combo of V8, manual-box and quattro, and then wonder why you ever thought that a C7 A6 was a better choice

The kicker - work out how much your A6 will depreciate over the 2, 3 or however many years you intend to own it, and then consider that B7 RS4's are not really depreciating.

I think the B7 will feel like a go kart compared to the C7 A6, especially if you're coming from a 3L. Biggest negative you'll notice is comfort and luxury imo. If you can live with that then you'll be alright.

I would say take one for a test drive and see if it's your thing..... if it is you will not regret it...

I sold my B7 RS4 last year and I'm now looking to get back into one... they are fantastic cars and so versatile.... but beware .... the missus might shout a lot from the passenger seat!!

Seriously though, yes the driving experience does make up for the other bits, drive it 'normally' and the carbon will stay at bay (once cleaned) and keep on top of the brake calipers, the oxidisation of the material grabs the pads and knackers the discs...

But you are buying a 10yr old car, so they need a bit of love that's all....

Personally I think I might go for a B8 this time, but I've not driven one yet, and it must be as good as the B7 or I'll be buying another one if those!!

Choose carefully, there are some cared for examples around, those will be your best bet and will have had the usual stuff done ...

Thanks for the input guys some good valid points there! I did test drive one a while ago and from what i remember it felt amazing and tight compare to the c7, alot more nimble and very responsive too, but it has been a while since i drove one and have kind of forgotten the room inside etc (too busy planting it in the test drive haha) but obviously wanting the avant i have 2 nippers so just trying to work out if it will be ideal for them room wise also! Maintenance of the rs4 doesnt bother me as i wont be buying a old dog with problems, as you mentioned ill make sure the things are done! So about this depreciating... would you say the rs4 b7 has hit its lowest? Or is there more to drop? Buying a 10year old car is a bit scary for me especially coming from a 3yo one! No matter what it is i always have this annoying feeling im going backwards, suppose just got to ignore that because its wearing the Rs badge right? Right...

You'll be fine with nippers in the back, it's only tight for adults really. You can only make your own mind up, but it seems like you already have, just make sure you buy a good one, and enjoy!

The nippers will love the car, there is enough room for a holiday to Cornwall... with a roof box!! Plenty of room leg wise for nippers... so no excuses! My lad (was 5 at the time) cried when I sold the car! They too love the V8 !!

'Nuff said

Well room wise its all there then judging by those pics cant complain there! Love the trim btw, performance wise its definatly there! so suppose it boils down to the move backwards in time... to swap from a 2013 to a 2006-7 for the same sort of money... that's something ive got to have a little think about, the c7 has served well witg zero issues and very well refined.. suppose it doesnt help with the mrs and family members doubting the move to an older car! But what do they know its and Rs4! Haha.

Take it no one else has moved from a newer bigger car to the b7?

Well, yes in a word.

XC90 to B7 Cabriolet as you ask but I guess I can't add much to what you seek in terms of comparable advice.

What I would say is that with 4 seats you can fit kids and some gangly teenagers in the rear ones but it is 100% about the driving experience, the handling and the performance.

If you grin from ear to ear every time you fire up your C7 and ease her out onto the road and think about taking the slightly longer, better driving routes then keep it.

If you don't get the B7..

Don't get a Cabriolet unless you love your wife more than the car as you'll never see it or her. Hubs gets nothing but grief from other drivers when he drives mine...

Hope that at least stirs the petrol in your veins...

Lady P

telrs wrote:Take it no one else has moved from a newer bigger car to the b7?

Not into either of the B7's I've had, but I've moved from a newer car to a B5 RS4 about a decade ago and had no problems then. Like you say, they're RS4's! The slightly more analogue interior is still no bad place to be and I still think the B7 cabin (with the right spec (subjective I know)) is pretty much perfect. You can upgrade the RNSE to the gen 3 version and include AMI and Bluetooth streaming, so you're not really missing a massive amount.

I had a B8 but couldn't shake off the B7 RS4 and went back to it. I had those feelings you describe of wondering if I was mad going from a 1 year old car back to the B7 but I can honestly say for me I've never looked back and don't even miss the new tech of the B8. For kids though it's a more delicate car inside, wife doesn't like driving it at all (she loved the B8) so I ended up buying her a car. Upside is nobody goes near the RS4 now apart from me . If I had to guess you will love it but the family will have mixed opinions at best about the change.

I was going other way from b7 rs4 avant , tried a b8 rs4 / amg c63 etc
Bonkers sound on amg but that's it! , b8 rs just not my thing . Will keep the b7 for the forceable!

I went from a B8 A4 s-line to the RS, so a little newer, and a bit more rear legroom.

The only thing that felt dated, as I mentioned, was the Audi nav and sound system...had the B&O in the B8. However, I just swapped the headunit for a pioneer unit with Apple CarPlay, and upgraded the speakers, amplification, and added a sub in a stealth box (to not take up boot space).

I now plug my phone into the car, and have an apple menu on the headunit from which I can navigate, access my music, and make calls. You can even use Siri to set the nav, place calls, or dictate text messages. Spotify and SoundCloud work too (although SoundCloud doesn't have a native CarPlay app), so you can stream music. Music and calls work over Bluetooth too if you don't want to plug the phone in.

Damn you guys are good! petrol is definatly running through the veins now haha, ok suppose next step is buying a daytona avant with buckets and fbw with carbon inlays then
Have been speaking to a 2007 one with 85k and spec as above with full audi health check of drc and clutch all fine, aux rads and oil cooler and lines replaced, fsh mainly audi and just had the carbon clean.. theres a possibly swap avaliable... do i just go in for the swap and get this done with.. or sell mine and then buy theirs and have a few extra quid in the pocket... being told im mad doing a straight swap from a 2013 to a 2007