Living with an RS4 - comments please

[Madelvic]

I test drove, albeit briefly, a 2015 RS4 with DRC. My better half was not keen on an RS4, and the ride in the car was very poor, to the extent I wasn't convinced I could I've with it. With much regret I didn't do the deal

I've had a B6 and then a B8 S4. The B8 ran on 19inch rims. I've also driven a number of B8 RS4s including at the launch at Oulton Park and don't remember thinking the ride was THAT BAD, in fact I though the ride was fine on all the previous cars

The latest one I had the suspension in comfort. It was running on part worn Bridgestones. Tyre pressures were correct

Any thoughts, comments?

Thanks

[RS_Four]

You sure you didn't have DRC in Dynamic setting?

My B8 RS4 doesn't have DRC and I find it pretty much spot on for day to day road use.

[Madelvic]

Thanks. No I toggled through the settings. Am I right in thinking comfort is slightly softer than standard, non DRC?

[jukka]

Tyres and wheel alignment are critical for RS4. You can't make a firm suspension soft, but that's not the nature of the car. But if you have all the settings spot on (and that doesn't mean "factory standard") the car is so beautifully balanced that you need to go to cars 2-3 times more expensive to experience similar. Bridgestone tyres sound like semi slicks, that combined with alignment off - sounds bad...

My car is with DRC and running on 20 inch wheels - if there is one thing that I absolutely adore in the car is that you get a sports car performance and nature (that engine puts a massively wide smile on my face every time when I get a chance to go above 5000 rpm knowing there is still another +3000 to go) with a fantastic every day driving car liveability.

If there is one thing I'm not that excited about it would be the fuel consumption in bumper to bumper commute - short distance to work and I'm closer to 20 l/100 km. But with current fuel prices (especially in Australia - under 65 UK p/l) I'm not complaining.

Want my opinion? Wheel alignment will sort out a big deal of the poor ride you experienced with that particular car, and swap the Bridgestones for Michelin PSS's - and you'll be in heaven, every day

[FaisalJ]

I've only had a quick passenger ride in a B8 RS4, and I thought the ride in comfort was actually quite comfy indeed. In dynamic, it felt firm, bordering on harsh. Firmer than my B7 RS4 on KW coilovers (set towards the soft end of damper settings).

In fact the B8 RS4 in comfort felt similar to my old B8 A4 S-Line.

From what I remember of my B6 S4, that was the softest of the cars mentioned - but that was too soft IMO. Lots of body roll.

So in order of softest to harshest of cars I've owned/experienced I'd say:

B6 S4
Tied B8 RS4 (comfort) & B8 A4 S-line
B7 RS4 SS+
B7 RS4 KW coilovers
B8 RS4 (dynamic)

[rspj]

I guess only put in dynamic is when on smooth motorways and nice country lanes

[S4WON]

My B8 is comfort is fine, everything is brutal, yes

[innercry666]

The one thing I will say is that the DRC can lose pressure over time, thereby worsening the ride quality. Mine used to be very well damped in both comfort and automatic but now feels very unsettled so much so she is off to Audi in a couple of weeks to be looked at for the second time. Getting the car aligned by a Centre of Gravity has helped to ensure the car steers beautifully. I hear a lot about the lack of feel from Audi A4s including the RS4 and that BMW is the way forward. The wife has a new 4 series GC and it pales in comparison to the RS4.

As a car to live with everyday it is absolutely superb and doesn't fail to put a smile on my face every time I start her up...

[RSQ]

My B8 DRC RS4 was fine in comfort. Even the wife liked it. Must have been a wrong'un you test drove IMHO

[RIV]

I set everything in dynamic!! Suspension to Auto

[Silverfox42]

Ditto to Comfort being on par with my RS B7, Dynamic is hard and only for the right roads/track.

You should notice a distinct difference between the 2 settings.

Maybe try a different car?

[Surrey Sam]

What car are you currently now driving around in, as it reads like the B8 S4 is historical?

I ask because, if both you and your wife are now used to a softer family type of car, then moving straight into a performance car is going to be a very difference prospect and more likely to evoke that type of reaction. Having driven Audi's S products and RS products back to back at a Millbrook event, it was very clear to me that the S products were great and allowed the user to jump straight in and access the performance/handling with the next to no seat time, quite flattering to drive I felt. The RS products are the ones that require seat time behind, to work up to their performance. They're sharper, provide better grip, better feedback (moot point with Audi) and generally faster, the trade-off is some comfort and more road noise. Not conducive points for a short test drive around the block.

With regard to the car you viewed and I'm not trying to patronise you, considering that you had experience of similar Audi products before, but did you actually select the comfort mode or just highlight it within the MMI? The Bridgestone tyres are a very performance focused tyre and similar to the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, if they were anywhere near the 4mm mark then they will be past their best. To be honest though, these are all small aspects that will improve the ride, but only by a small percentage and your comment reads like the expectation was quite some way off the mark.

I've found that the RS4 in comfort mode is comfier and more compliant than BMW's M-Sport suspension in both 335d and 225d models which ran 19" wheels. My only suggestion would be try find a B8 RS4 on 19" wheels, without the Sports Pack to test drive and see how that goes before dismissing the car.

Something like this: http://www.audi.co.uk/used-cars/used-ca ... =se_ce_re_

[Coffee32]

My RS4 runs on 20 inch wheels. In Dynamic mode it rattles your teeth on all bar glass smooth roads. In Auto mode it's a perfectly fine ride given the nature of the car and the profile of the tyres. Much better than the wife's Mini JCW with run flats that make driving over a matchstick feel like a tree.

Tend to drive car in Auto or if requiring more fun in Individual with everything set to dynamic except the suspension.

It's never going to be a "comfy" ride, it's not that sort of vehicle

If I have a complaint, lot of wind noise that sometimes feels like you have left a window open but small price to pay

[miatang]

I came from a B8 S4 to the RS4. The ride is definately firmer in the RS4 with DRC and 20". For me I wouldnt say it wasy enough to ruin the joys of owning it but each to their own. For a car of this caliber a stiff ride is to be expected. Another option for you is to keep the S4 and get the REVO map

[Brooner]

the ride for me on dynamic is no firmer than the standard set up on my old B7 RS4
the comfort mode for me is only ok for the motorway only and the comfort steering set up i find is almost dangerous as i find my self over steering into corners
so for me all dynamic all the time