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Made the switch last weekend as I needed to scratch the V8 itch. And having driven a couple hundred miles to the dealer, then swapped seats for the journey home, I wasn't ready for such a dramatic change. These two cars are poles apart!

So first impressions - the RS4 lacks the start-up torque and initial liveliness of the S4's forced induction, despite the bigger capacity. So a right-foot recalibration was needed to avoid disappointment. As a result, it is very docile until you poke it with a sharp stick, so the future Mrs A will have no trouble bumbling around when she drives it, despite seeming fearful of the RS... Have seen 28mpg but I know it won't stay there. And who cares?

It steers so much better, hides its bulk and mass better too - the S4 always felt heavy when you leant into a corner. The RS is sharp and pointy, like my TVR. Hard to believe they are so different.
Seats are much more comfy, MMI is more informative too, though a little lazy. It's slightly lower geared too, no doubt to make more use of the 8200rpm red line, and when you get going, it calls the devil to unleash its power. DSG is way better, though its a nearly new car so should be slick and smooth.

Things that make me howl:
- the bark of downshifts in Sport mode. Epic. Could slow down all day, for that alone.
- the childish nod to Eco with a silly green upshift arrow that sits alongside the gear indicator when you balance the throttle in a low gear in manual mode.
- the cacophony of noise on cold start (though it does make lots of noises at he sharp end until it settles to idle, and I think it's a little too brutal on a cold engine and makes it sound like a diesel!).

It really needs a bit more exhaust noise - it is way too refined, even with sports exhaust and dynamic setting permanently enabled in MMI.

It's Nov 14 car, and its modest spec includes:
[WC9] Sports Package
[0P6] Sports exhaust system
[2MC] Dynamic Ride Control - I'm still listening for clonks
[1N8] Power steering (dynamic steering)
[PQW] 20x9J 5-arm rotor high gloss alloys - while easy to clean, v-spokes were my preference. Will be easy to swap.
[4A3] Heated front seats
[9VK] Bang & Olufsen sound system - a deal maker for me.
[9ZW] Phone prep - High with Connect
[3FU] Open Sky Panoramic sunroof - a deal maker for me.
[VW1] Privacy glass
[EA6] Audi Warranty 4yr 75000 miles - a big attraction on a two year old car.

And while I loved the S4, this is in a different league. Sorry about the phone pic, will post better when I've had a chance to make it gleam. Then I need my boy to run the polisher over it, to take the swirls out and make that Misano paint pop, to compliment the brightwork. Merry Xmas to me

Merry Xmas indeed, nice motor! I totally agree with your observations against an S4. It is a different animal and the last of the breed in my opinion.

Also with you on the exhaust. I've been taking advice and think ive finally worked out what I'm going to do. As a 5 min quick fix you can plug the vacuum near the battery to keep the flaps open. This will give you a much nicer noise on the overrun and open up the noise below 4k rpm.

Cheers Deano, will stick my head under the load floor later and sort that one.

Geoff A wrote:Cheers Deano, will stick my head under the load floor later and sort that one.

There's some pics in here: viewtopic.php?t=121447

Top work Deano - bloody useful thread is that.

Will fit my LEDs this weekend (had a set off Trups for the S4, so they were removed and will be going in the RS). Will need someone to do some coding though eventually, as I too would like the ambient lighting sorted - it's pitch black in there at night.

You've been a busy boy, and it looks great. Like the rear calliper badging too. Nice finishing touches, even the washer jets. I'd have gone for Daytona, but my last but one motor was a grey merc. Fancied something bright this time, and the red ones are allegedly faster lol

Thanks mate. I've been in company cars for years so it's nice to tinker. All bigger, more expensive jobs up next though!

Red is 100% faster. My last car was a red Leon cupra 290 and it was a hoot!

All it needs now is a nice number plate

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Cheers Stevie..... ha ha ha.

Is there any way of turning off the laptimer completely, or does it always stay visible when its on zero? I like the oil temp display above it, but it is in the wrong place. Needs to be more visible within the trip computer display. Anyone had any luck doing this or got any know-how?

I've got to adjust my lights later so i will have a play on VCDS

I've already tried. You can turn off the lap timer screen via VCDS but unfortunately it also turns off the oil temp. Which is crazy having the most useless display tied into the most useful.




BTW - nice comparision between S4 and RS4

Where is this mysterious lap timer screen. I don't think I have come across it. Unless it's the screen that looks like a list of times that I've never paid more than 1 seconds interest to

Thanks Sam

Sammyb349 you've found it. It sits below oil temp.

Ah - I did wonder what an earth it was. Obviously oil temp is useful. Initially I thought it would be a record of all your 'drives' but never populated so dismissed it as a useless screen