Top Gear magazine Long Term Test RS4

[neckarsulm]

Would Audi UK press office rather have large but negative reports on the car or the vague ramblings that have made print?
I think the latter.
It's clear Evo don't like the RS4 and I respect their integrity with so much advertising revenue from Audi coming in.
I think to maintain a good relationship they have decided if they can't say anything good to say very little.

Sometimes we have to accept "the thrill of driving" isn't our top priority with a car or we'd all be driving Atoms.

[535dboy]

Atoms aren't that great either ...

[bam_bam]

I think to maintain a good relationship they have decided if they can't say anything good to say very little.

Well perceived and nicely worded, man.

Sometimes we have to accept "the thrill of driving" isn't our top priority with a car or we'd all be driving Atoms.

Something Monkey Harris has learned to approach differently. He's got such a different tact now compared to the Harris of old. He can at least appreciate the RS core values without bashing the safe/dull bits, thus expanding his column inches and not offend the everyday Audi quattro buyer. It's a very simple approach and one that can see him still be a RWD hoon and be respected by 'us'.

In reality, when you're a hack bashing Audi, who are you really writing for? 'Rarri drivers? Nope, they don't give a fcuk. Porker squarkers? Nup, they know where they sit on the totem pole. Really all they're doing is sexing up the Beemer clowns and realistically they're at opposite ends so it's pointless journalism. They'd be better to think like an Audi driver (a perplexing proposition, I admit) to engage with why the RS brand is still alive and in rude health amid their constant bashing. I get that it ain't a part of the evo 'Thrill of Driving' elite but it needs to be embraced for how a piece of engineering can deploy power and amaze with their Herculean grip. To me, it never gets boring, I guess that makes me a different type of driver... that still reads evo.

Bah, waffle waffle. I've been sat in a city strippy drinking since 4pm so this post was never going to hang together like I'd hoped.

neckarsulm said it better in less words. Innit.

[neckarsulm]

Back on topic, I agree BAM BAM, Monkey must have had a knock on the head before he did the RS6 review as he considered the real world usage of the car which was a novelty. I suppose with his driving skill, he can manhandle a Merc all year round even if he lives in the Brecon Beacons but for the average driver it would be a premier in in Ross on Wye for the night. I'm slightly uneasy about racing drivers reviewing cars for an audience that largely will never drive on a circuit.

Dean, do you witness frustration by the drivers during a shoot when they can't get Audis sideways for the camera?

Anyway, I think we should all choose cars that match our hair colour

[bam_bam]

Monkey's knock on the head lasted well past the RS6 review. He started his B3 Aplina review with "this a road car so we'll review it on the road..."
He did end the review ontrack with some sideways stuff. Hypocrite but forgivable.

[evodeansmith]

Dean, do you witness frustration by the drivers during a shoot when they can't get Audis sideways for the camera?

Nope. We all know they won't do riotous power-slides out of every slight bend on the road, unless it's an R8. It does make our jobs harder to make Audi's look dynamically exciting though.

[bam_bam]

Dean, do you witness frustration by the drivers during a shoot when they can't get Audis sideways for the camera?

Nope. We all know they won't do riotous power-slides out of every slight bend on the road, unless it's an R8. It does make our jobs harder to make Audi's look dynamically exciting though.

What about Tiff, he could drift the continent of Russia. Or is he only driving a desk these days?

[Surrey Sam]

Dean, do you witness frustration by the drivers during a shoot when they can't get Audis sideways for the camera?

Nope. We all know they won't do riotous power-slides out of every slight bend on the road, unless it's an R8. It does make our jobs harder to make Audi's look dynamically exciting though.

What about Tiff, he could drift the continent of Russia. Or is he only driving a desk these days?

Even Tiff struggled with the RS4, Plato gave him 7/10 and I certainly wouldn't want to be a camera man nearby.

[bam_bam]

Plato is only good for taking photos of custard, Tiff managed 90° so he wins. Besides, it'd only be for a static shot, no one watches evoTV and 90° slip angle is more than enough.
...am I coming across as a Audi fanboi, yet?

[neckarsulm]

Anyone remember when Evo's (and now Monkey's mate) Neil Carey spun his M3 CS on a patch of diesel and ended up down a bank after which a (rear wheel drive) pick-up truck smacked into it? A very photographically dynamic accident no doubt.
The M3 CS and the B7 RS4 were very closely matched back in the day yet I seem to recall Evo (Jethro?) preferred the M3.
What I don't get is how a car that wants to kill the driver gets rated more highly than a car that is virtually dynamically its equal yet will possibly save the driver's life if the unexpected occurs on a public road in the real world (or the 'ring for that matter).
I am a big Evo fan (got all issues from 7 >) but I have realised it's escapism for me and bears little relation to reality much in the same way Top Gear TV does very little the average driver can relate to - both offer great entertainment however but neither should be seen as prime sources of consumer advice.
Is it coincidence Evo's longest serving columnist works for Top Gear TV too???

[Graeme4130]

Comparing an M3 CS and an RS4 is like chalk and cheese
One's a road legal track car and one's a family wagon that happens to be quite handy
The only real comparison between those two is straight line performance (on bm's optional Cup tyres)

[neckarsulm]

..actually thanks for reminding me of the CSL.
Take a car that's already a handful in the wet (M3) and then fit it with tyres that come with warnings for driving in the wet and cold and sell it in Blighty- brilliant!

I love the irony in RS4 dealer Nick Johnson crashing an M3 CSL while trying to drift at the 'ring - should have tried it in the wet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm2sNobk2BE
(the comments are worth reading too)