Autocar - the finest RS model

[the911 sc]

I assume you have already driven one with the sports pack and couldnt get on with it? I love how kids drop you right in it infront of the Mrs....

I love the drive of the B8 in dynamic mode, I know its not to everyones taste, but my other car is far stiffer so it is still comfortable for me and I havent had too much issue with it tracking on the road.

End of the day I would rather have an RS4 than no RS4, the whole thing of B7 v B8 is down to personnal choice and some money is a factor. They are both bloody lovely cars and I cant wait to get mine out over the weekend

Nicely said!

[carsarecool]

Good fun reading all these. Horses for courses…..

My B7 was way beyond my capability to fully exploit it on public roads and I'm pretty sure the B8 will be the same so I think I'll have just the same amount of fun in my B8 just with better sound, tech and looks.

[adsgreen]

tbh I'm not sure what options were spec'd but it just didn't press the right buttons.
But I'm not a fan of electronically assisted suspension setups they just don't feel "right". I can't help but think (and I've said it before) that if the engineers didn't have the option to have the suspension change electronically then they would get a better compromise.
I also don't like the thing of having performance options not as standard... just bugs me.

[P1 Dave]

LOL there are a whole load of things that should have been standard on a top of the range car that arent when you deal with Audi, heated seats is the first one...... I do see that it gives the owner a choice on how they want their car to be if you have performance ungrades available (not that the sports pack adds any performance) but still there are some things listed as options which come for free even with a Kia!!!

[N13LXC]

LOL there are a whole load of things that should have been standard on a top of the range car that arent when you deal with Audi, heated seats is the first one...... I do see that it gives the owner a choice on how they want their car to be if you have performance ungrades available (not that the sports pack adds any performance) but still there are some things listed as options which come for free even with a Kia!!!

Thats it Dave, You've convinced me. I'm cancelling my order and getting Cee apostrophe D. hmmm, perhaps not!

I am considering asking for a colour change tho, Estoril Blue B8 RS4 anyone?

[carsarecool]

LOL there are a whole load of things that should have been standard on a top of the range car that arent when you deal with Audi, heated seats is the first one...... I do see that it gives the owner a choice on how they want their car to be if you have performance ungrades available (not that the sports pack adds any performance) but still there are some things listed as options which come for free even with a Kia!!!

Hill Hold Assist £65. Why not as standard??? Probably costs more to admin the addition of it to an order. If you don't want it…..never turn it on.

[Rutters4]

Fair point who ever said it earlier on, (did they?!) there is a vast difference between a, 'basic..!' no option B8 and a fully specked up £75k bad boy... I mean if you want the ,'drivers B8' you can spec it, take the 19's, ceramics etc... I don't deny that the steering won't quite match the B7 but, everything else is better.....

Anyone agree...?!!!

[AMB]

Similarly I too had a couple of B7's, avant and saloon.
I was younger then and they suited me for many reasons; being that I'm older, the B8 RS4 seems to have matured accordingly. Perfect fit you might say?!
Oh, still a kid when it comes to colour though.....

[nial335]

There's a few things I miss about my B7, but I'd never have another one after owning my B8. The game's moved on quite a but now and the B8 suits me down to the ground
I had a drive of my mates B7 just a few days ago and despite the sound and steering being better than my B8, it looked and felt really dated. The indicator click/clack noise, for example, sounded like it was more suited to an 80's escort

I'd agree about it being the sweet spot of the range at the time. If you look at the BMW and merc competition back 7yrs ago, then the Audi was miles better, and a fair bit faster
BMW's are largely irrelevant now as they don't make a fast estate, but merc have come good with the C63 and when it goes 4wd.......

Autocar is talking about now, not then. In short, they have driven every RS, including the B8, and they clearly rate the B7 as being the best. I know someone with a B8 and, having seen one it the flesh, it doesn't have the presence of a B7 and you wouldn't give it a second glance on the road because it looks pretty ordinary, unless it's got some bigger wheels than the standard. As for dated styling weren't the B8 wheel arches first seen on the first Audi Quattro? As a passenger, yes it's very comfortable and modern but it just feels like a luxury Audi rather than an RS Audi. The overall impression I got was of a bit of a compromise. I mean, what place has "comfort mode" got on an RS Audi? I reckon a C63 is closer to a B7 than a B8. B8 is for those who are going a bit soft!

[Graeme4130]

This is turning into B7 owners slagging off B8's, and B8 owners defending their B8 choice.
The main difference in tact of argument is most B8 owners have owned B7's, but I'm not sure any b7 owners have owned B8's ?

It's a silly argument as everyone is entitled to like their own car's and this whole thread was started as a dig at B8's in the B8 forum by a B7 owner, so you just tootle off back to your B7 with your vac leeks, carbon build up and a string of excuses for when it makes circa 370bhp on a rolling road

[the911 sc]

Totally agree...

[HYFR]

Totally agree

B7 is/was a great car
But let's not get over ourselves, it's no McLaren F1 .... B8 RS 4 is fine

[Nickyboy]

It's a common theme with some B7 owners on here, I've said it ever since my first day on this forum.

[blueaudi]

In the end you can't provide an objective case. Technology is king and cars are now safer, faster, smarter and overall better, but they are not more fun.

Someone mentioned that electronic set ups let the engineers off the hook and I couldn't agree more, I find it much harder to judge grip levels in my 991 when compared to my last 997 and I found the same issue with the B8 I tested against the B7 I owned some years ago. If the B8 suspension, steering and ride were as well resolved as the B7's it would be a superb car, but for me it misses the mark in the same way as the 991 has, but it didn't stop me buying one!

[Bacardi Jo]

You might want to have a look at Autocar's article on the history of the Audi RS, and which is regarded as the finest RS model - and it's not the B8!

This is what EVO think is the best RS, can't wait to try /buy one in fact if it would of been available to order in July i would of jumped in with two feet and not bought an RS3. http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarr ... specs.html