Question: Leave it Standard or Modify the car

[JesseJonesJackson]

Hi,

I realise this is a personal decison but what do current or previous owners of the B5 RS4 think?

I'm in negotiations for my first ever RS4. Been an admire for many years but never been in a position to own one......now I am.

So if your an owner, what do you think....tune it or leave it?

For those who say tune it, what do you recommend?

After reading post after post I think if I were to do anything, a remap and exhaust simply enhances the brilliance of the car.

I would love to get some feed back please..

thks in advance

JJJ

[rtd]

depending on what mods you go for i think you should mod it. we all say we will resist however, so far nobody (i dont think) has!!!!

[stumpyrs4]

I had EXACTLY the same dilemma when I bought mine not that long ago.
If you do a search from about 6 weeks, back you'll find my Thread asking pretty much the exact same question!!

I then decided that I had modded all of my last 5 cars to some degree so why should this be any different.

Swapped DPs, for a set already gutted (OEMs now for sale )
Swapped the system for a QST/Scorpion (OEM now for sale )
Had MRC sprinkle some magic dust on it, and hey presto an extra (almost) 100bhp and I guess a corresponding amount of torque

The car is in a different league, put simply.
It's hard to explain coherently until you've actually been in one that has been modded, not sure if you have?

It literally wants to take off. And sounds like a jet too...

Having owned it now for a 6-8 week period, I would definitely recommend sorting the front brakes out. The OEM ones are ok, but they're really not up to hard driving. I'm in the process of upgrading my calipers (pick them up tomorrow), but also need to source the right discs for the upgrade to work (need a slightly smaller diameter disc).
I would also recommend the Hotchkis or H&R ARB setup. Do a search for 'ARB'...
Depending on the state of your car you might want to think about changing the suspension too.

I've added wheel spacers to mine (10mm, but have also buying 15mm ones) I'll be considering the ARB setup in a while probably. May also swap wheels, but not that concerned about the OEM ones really. I've also had the front re-sprayed to get rid of stone rash - much prettier now

Where abouts are you? There's usually someone who not that far away willing to maybe take you out for a spin...

[davs4]

Mod it it's the law.............

[stumpyrs4]

DavS4 - what's happening my man re discs...? PM me will ya? Am desperate - picking my calipers up tomorrow !

[lengster1]

Std theyre ok but nothing special,modded theyre awesome its the longest i kept a car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eyeball]

I would say keep her standard as there becoming a bit of a dying breed. To be honest I havent been in a modded one yet and in a way I dont want to because i just might get tempted.lol. I'm probably being an old fart but I have modded many cars in my time but these cars aren't exactly slow in standard form but if you want to maybe track her and totally p*ss off some very quick modern cars then get it modded. To be honest I bought the car for looks as much as anything as I did with my escort cosworth and I kept that standard aswell...Infact I've just been out in the rs for a 150 mile run tonight and was stuck in motorway traffic for over 3 hrs and the amount of comments and nods I got from admirers was quite embarressing and I was only going 2 mph.... and yet it will also put a smile on yout face when you press the load pedal.
I think it all depends on what you want from the car at the end of the day...you see I'm slowly becoming an old fart.NOOOOOO!!!!lol

[Contigo]

But it's just a remap and if you want it back to standard then it's a simple job. These cars are so much better to drive with a remap, better torque and much more driveable.

[JesseJonesJackson]

Prolific response in favour of the 'tune it' . I guess no surprise there.

Thank you for all the feedback? What a great forum

So what's the consensus?

Exhaust, with Downpipes and remap, giving 450bhp? What will that cost?

£2500?

who should I goto to get the work done?

ARB---- sound like a must, £300 but where do I get then?

[stumpyrs4]

PM me JJJ...

[eyeball]

Yes the response is worrying me. Yes phil I know the remap would be the only real tune I'd go for and you are the one to blame for that.lol. Any other upgrades that would poss be done would be purely because of the old parts waring out. There again if I stick to my guns and keep it standard then I can be one of the odd ones out.lol

[drjones1]

Prolific response in favour of the 'tune it' . I guess no surprise there.

Thank you for all the feedback? What a great forum

So what's the consensus?

Exhaust, with Downpipes and remap, giving 450bhp? What will that cost?

£2500?

who should I goto to get the work done?

ARB---- sound like a must, £300 but where do I get then?

Mine is standard to I'm only going to carry out the works you have listed. If need be all are easily returned to standard.

[don]

I have left mine standard but have gone the other route of upgrading the supsension and brakes. Seems more sensible to me to improve the handling and braking ability of the car first.

Also while I would like to trial 460hp, 380hp is still more than the majority of cars and should still bring a smile.

Audi have also done a wonderful job on the internal acoustics of the car and it is really very quiet when you want it to be. I would always be concerned about increasing exhaust drone.

Though 460hp is very temping and I am sure I will want to tune down the track. However, after four years of ownership 380 hp and improved handling is still keeping me happy.