Harris sums it up!

[hlbeckley]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBSWGy0X ... re=related

subtitles

Autocar review very favourable too. Me likey

[neckarsulm]

What a great thread, how did I miss it.

I am sure they is one in the archives were B5 owners were saying how disappointing the then new B7 was, same scheisse, different day.

I've had B5s and a B7 and have bought a B5 again - I only use them at weekends so my priorities will be different to the daily drivers.

The B7 was technically great but was flawed with many minor but costly niggles which crop up sometimes in but mainly just out of warranty period and I don't think justify the ownership experience IMHO and never get mentioned by journalists e.g £700 per backbox if the flaps stick, DRC leaks, vacuum issues, carbon fouling due to FSI, active seat bolsters failing, aux rads leaking, parking sensors failing, glovebox lids breaking due to soft drop dampers sticking, TPMS aerials/ECUs/sensors packing up, airbox flap failing, oil cooler pipework corroding ( yes same a B5 but surely they should have dealt with it on B7?)
And how much of that is necessary really? But the residuals can't be argued with - people still want them at least when average miles or below when the risk is perceived as lower.

The B8 will no doubt have more issues with that auto box , electric parking brake and more tech generally and is unlikely to do anything better than a B7 and again IMHO it's too frikkin large to capture the compact feel that an RS should have to appeal to keen drivers (as RS6s have failed to do so in the past).

I can't suggest you buy a B5 to drive daily as that would make me a luddite but I find modern cars pretty depressing, even Porsche, the last bastion of relatively simple cars have gone tech mad with the 991 and does it get better reviews? Errr no. Even Skoda have f**ked up the Fabia VRS, before it was a quick diesel hot hatch that would do 150k miles easy and 65 mpg, now it's an oil guzzling turbo & supercharged petrol engine with untrusted DSG box which when just out of warranty could create bills that will write if off.

So 3 previously well regarded drivers cars (997 911, B7 RS4, Fabia VRS TDI) now have new models that have the double issue of poor reviews AND potentially hefty bills - depressing.

So enjoy 'em under warranty and move on.
Maybe that's their master plan? Make the risk of buying one so great if it doesn't come with a main dealer warranty that you only buy one from them?

[lengster1]

Ive also ran both for many years,the b5 was by a far more costly to run with many more issues than a b7,two gearbox rebuilds and it still shifted about as quick as a leyland truck!! Turbos/ clutch just to name the biggies,warranty picked up the tab for box n turbos thankfully,certainly not a patch on a b7,ive had some issues on my b7 but pennies in comparison.Ive not heard of many failures on the new generation gearboxes? Im sat 50/50 as to wether i will EVER own a b8 rs4 after hearing what i feared regarding handling.

[lengster1]

Have to agree with you regarding new technology not always being an improvement,it sounds like the b8 has the equivelant of a Goodmans graphic equalizer for DRC! Loads of buttons but still produces cack!

[neckarsulm]

Was your b5 stock lengster? I can't speak for modified b5s as this inevitably can shortern lifespans.
All the b7 issues listed above are inherent from factory

Torque kills Gearboxes hence why b7s don't go wrong!
If u habitually thrape a car with as much twist as a b5 things will start to fail especially if mapped.
The lack of torque in a b7 and the relatively small impact on it by remaps is good for longevity.

Isn't the c6 rs6 a torque convertor auto rather than dsg/ s tronic?

[lengster1]

Neither car was stock,b5 gearbox was nothing to do with torque,it was chocolate syncro gears that they all suffered from (mine was the improved later model too).My b7 has 495nm and is sweet as a nut.The new generation gearbox that is in the b8 is i believe totally different to the old RS6 boxes.Ive not heard of any RS5 gearbox failures as yet.

[neckarsulm]

Sure RS5/B8 RS4 auto box is different to old RS6 box as it's a DSG effectively.
My point is that the C6 RS6 doesn't have the DSG type box presumably due to potential reliability issues i.e. a torque limit well below that produced by that (turbo and thus torquey) engine.

Where the torque appears in the rev range matters more for wear than how much torque, low down Id' expect it to be more damaging - might be wrong though

I agree re syncros, Doug once told me they also have issues with 3rd due that being the one most used for full throttle, shafts I think.
There were 2 box codes so Audi responded as latter is more reliable, must check the code on my, being a 2002 reg I hope it's not the old FDP still!

[adsgreen]

Torque generally bends things but revs can be hard on a gearbox too.
If the oil isn't up to scratch or there is insufficent oil cooling then it's amazing just how hit the oil can get too.
I've personally been shocked to find that my track car gearbox had oil temps higher than the engines.
Once oil breaks down, component temp hits the roof and things break