New member

[KurgenRS4]

Hi all,

Am in the process of buying a new RS4, but undecided as to the saloon or avant.

Currently have a flymo (997RS) as my track toy, but will use the RS4 for daily work and some Ring trips.

Is there a big weight and handling difference between the saloon/avant. Is the sport suspension worth having, and what are the must have options on the car?

Cheers
Rob

[tartan_rob]

Welcome Rob.
I have only ever driven the saloon so can't comment on much but so far as options...

Tech pack
Optics pack
Sports seats
full bluetooth hand free phone kit
rear sunblinds
side sunblinds (if you have kids)
cooler in the glovebox (if you have kids) - but very cheap retrofit
auto wipers
DRL
tyre pressure monitor

[SimonFV8]

Hi Rob

Just been reading above with interest, i have just taken delivery of my RS4 and realized a few things - silly question time sorry - when you say cooler in the glove box do you mean a vent of the air con? and how do you retrofit it? also i see a lot of mentions of optics on here what exactly is the optics pack? Sorry for the silly question!!!

Si

[rAudiguy]

Welcome Rob, I'm new boy myself.

I would say Saloon feels slightly more nimble in the bends not sure if that is because it doesn't feel like it has so much hanging out the back, this may just be because the car feels so much bigger when you glance in your rear view mirror. althought if you have a 997 you may like the feel of extra weight in the back. there really isn't that much in it from what i could tell. I'd go for which fits your needs? I went for the saloon as we already have a practical family car so no need for the avant. some would say a true RS should be in Avant form but I think thats changing now. the sports suspension I would giva a miss if your using the car as a day to day vehicle. I felt the ride is so good and handling feels perfect on the standard why change a good thing? although when giving it the beans on an A road the sports suspension was good I didn't feel the harsh ride was worth it. try and test drive both though as I did. as far as options go..

Sat Nav
Adaptive lights
Rain sensor wipers
Cool Box
blinds
armrest (free)
boot lid
sports seats
check if they do a cradle for your phone before you go for in dash blutooth as otherwise you have a giant block on the dash and you phone in your pocket. I went for an after fit parrot kit in the end as i change my phone regularly.

Hope that helps mate.

cheers

Jim

[S4INT]

Re the sports suspension plus, I would definitely recommend it. My avant has it and I don't find the ride harsh at all and if you are considering doing a few track days/trips to the 'Ring, then even more reason to find one that has it.

[rAudiguy]

Hi Si, the optics pack is the black front surround to the grill black trim around the windows and black ends to exhusts. it looks great on certain colours I think just don't like the black cans look dirty like black wheels!

Not sure about the cool box tho! anyone????

Jim

[KurgenRS4]

Cheers guys, have a demo booked in the saloon tomorrow. Will see how I get on. Will prob end up with the saloon, as I'm sure the extra weight of the avant will compromise some of the handling.

Pic of my GT3 RS at the last Ring trip, I was on.


Rob

[DoctorD]

Hi Rob, it's Steved here from PureGT. I picked up an RS4 Avant recently and as you may remember I tested the RS4 for EVO for the M3 launch, so have now had a good while to evaluate Sports vs SportsSuspension Plus.

The standard car has adaptive dampers (DRC) that seem to respond well to assertive driving, so they firm up plenty enough for road use. If I was using it on the 'Ring though I would prefer the SS+, it just cures the floatiness of the standard car without much in the way of detriment to road comfort. But overall as a road car the standard suspension is fine.

The Avant's extra mass makes little detectable difference handling wise, in fact I would say my Avant handles better than EVO's long-termer, which could become a little squirrely under braking. Performance seems the same too, once I had unplugged the exhaust flaps and let it breath properly. That's something you will have to do too.

As a former 911 driver myself you can drive the RS4 in a similar fashion, planting the front end under light braking into corners and then re-applying power early pre-apex. There is understeer, but provided you stay below 10/10ths you can drive around most of it.

Any further Qs just ask, or over on PGT.

See ya.

[binder]

The cool box is quite handy for keeping drinks etc cool on a long trip but takes up space which I soon fill with Cd's etc. I had it on my previous S4 but would not specify again as I prefer the roomier glove box. It is really just an insulated door and a vent from the air con so only useful on a longer trip

[KurgenRS4]

Hi Rob, it's Steved here from PureGT. I picked up an RS4 Avant recently and as you may remember I tested the RS4 for EVO for the M3 launch, so have now had a good while to evaluate Sports vs SportsSuspension Plus.

The standard car has adaptive dampers (DRC) that seem to respond well to assertive driving, so they firm up plenty enough for road use. If I was using it on the 'Ring though I would prefer the SS+, it just cures the floatiness of the standard car without much in the way of detriment to road comfort. But overall as a road car the standard suspension is fine.

The Avant's extra mass makes little detectable difference handling wise, in fact I would say my Avant handles better than EVO's long-termer, which could become a little squirrely under braking. Performance seems the same too, once I had unplugged the exhaust flaps and let it breath properly. That's something you will have to do too.

As a former 911 driver myself you can drive the RS4 in a similar fashion, planting the front end under light braking into corners and then re-applying power early pre-apex. There is understeer, but provided you stay below 10/10ths you can drive around most of it.

Any further Qs just ask, or over on PGT.

See ya.

Hiya Steve, posted the thread on puregt..and got mixed reaction.

Cheers for the input, will see how I get on tomorrow.

Does anybody know the weight of the saloon and avant? Can't seem to find this info on the Audi website. Dimensions are apparently similar in length.

Rob

[DoctorD]

Hi Rob, it's Steved here from PureGT. I picked up an RS4 Avant recently and as you may remember I tested the RS4 for EVO for the M3 launch, so have now had a good while to evaluate Sports vs SportsSuspension Plus.

The standard car has adaptive dampers (DRC) that seem to respond well to assertive driving, so they firm up plenty enough for road use. If I was using it on the 'Ring though I would prefer the SS+, it just cures the floatiness of the standard car without much in the way of detriment to road comfort. But overall as a road car the standard suspension is fine.

The Avant's extra mass makes little detectable difference handling wise, in fact I would say my Avant handles better than EVO's long-termer, which could become a little squirrely under braking. Performance seems the same too, once I had unplugged the exhaust flaps and let it breath properly. That's something you will have to do too.

As a former 911 driver myself you can drive the RS4 in a similar fashion, planting the front end under light braking into corners and then re-applying power early pre-apex. There is understeer, but provided you stay below 10/10ths you can drive around most of it.

Any further Qs just ask, or over on PGT.

See ya.

Hiya Steve, posted the thread on puregt..and got mixed reaction.

Cheers for the input, will see how I get on tomorrow.

Does anybody know the weight of the saloon and avant? Can't seem to find this info on the Audi website. Dimensions are apparently similar in length.

Rob

Rob, from memory the Saloon is 1655kg and the Avant 1730kg. These are DIN weights without fuel/driver/luggage. So the Avant weighs roughly an extra person more than the Saloon.

[KurgenRS4]

Just found weight info...

Saloon is 1650kg
Avant is 1845kg

Fair bit of extra weight, imo.

[DoctorD]

Just found weight info...

Saloon is 1650kg
Avant is 1845kg

Fair bit of extra weight, imo.

That doesn't sound right. They must be to differing weight standards.

OK, here are the correct figures according to Audi's brochures.

RS4 Saloon is 1650kg
RS4 Avant is 1710kg.

The RS4 Cab is 1845kg...

[t_urbo]

Go for the saloon unless you intend on transporting Dead people, the car is heavy enough without having even more weight of the avant.

Sat Nav, Adaptive lights and Auto lights/wipers are the must haves.

[W8PMC]

Go for the saloon unless you intend on transporting Dead people, the car is heavy enough without having even more weight of the avant.

Sat Nav, Adaptive lights and Auto lights/wipers are the must haves.

*LOL*