Should i worry about buying an RS4?

[rees1974]

Hello-

Am looking at an RS4 amongst a couple of other cars (cls55 amg and e92 m3), much of what i have read on here suggests that the rs4 is a bit of a dog in that they make 350hp and suffer blocked up engines with oil and suspension collapses?

Also warranty prices are on the way up as well? Are these cars actually reliable or is it that what people post is always the bad news, as there are not alot of positive posts about them here. I am attracted mainly to the v8 and security of 4wd but the stuff i'm reading on here scares the s**t out of me. ARe these cars pot luck as they sound about as reliable as something italian and i need something dependable to commute to work?

[HYFR]

this forum is getting a bad name for all the cr*p people post on here regarding carbon build up / power issues

the RS 4 is an absolutely AMAZING car, nothing out there does it better and its 5 years old!

You will not regret buying one for 1 second I can guarantee you, and if you do, just buy a Milltek exhaust and its game over!

Its got everything

Power, Pace, Speed, Looks, Build Quality, Handling, Comfort, Sound, Image, Fun, Stealth, Respect

literally endless

[PetrolDave]

Don't believe all you read - remember that people who post on internet forums like this are likely to be either enthusiasts or people with a problem that want to air. There's also some posters here who don't appear to have an RS4 - I don't get why they seem to take pleasure rubbishing a car they don't even own?

The RS4 has a complex engine management system which is very sensitive to, among other factors, inlet air temperature and restricts throttle opening in lower gears - so most dyno runs of an RS4 won't show it's true power - especially as few dyno operators properly measure powertrain losses (most use a "typical" guesstimate).

My 6p worth - my RS4 has had all the updates that Audi offer done completely free and under warranty, it still pulls acceleration times that suggest it easily makes the claimed 420PS.

My RS4 has NEVER let me down either in the UK or in the middle of nowhere in rural France. Last winter in the worst of the snow I drove to my wife's work and rescued her and 3 colleagues - no other car got in or out of their location until the next day (that's on normal summer tyres, and with a sensitive right foot).

My RS4 is the ONLY car that I still love to drive every day after 4+ years, every other car I've got bored of within 6 months.

[neckarsulm]

Just had one of those drives today which reminded me why I have tied up nearly what I paid for a good flat in 1996 in a car.
Took it easy on the way out as bit low on fuel and, I kid you not, saw over 30 mpg.
Then on the way back on some give and take Herefordshire roads picked of slow moving traffic with ease which gave me a free run on the twisty bits where it really showed its hand (Bromyard to Worcester road if anyone knows it).
Near Worcester saw a gleaming B7 RS4 saloon in Daytona coming the other way and thought what a beautiful car!

[P_G]

this forum is getting a bad name for all the cr*p people post on here regarding carbon build up / power issues

the RS 4 is an absolutely AMAZING car, nothing out there does it better and its 5 years old!

You will not regret buying one for 1 second I can guarantee you, and if you do, just buy a Milltek exhaust and its game over!

Its got everything

Power, Pace, Speed, Looks, Build Quality, Handling, Comfort, Sound, Image, Fun, Stealth, Respect

literally endless

+1

This is the first car in my 19 year car ownership history that I have kept over 3 years and I intend keeping it another 2 years at least. Nothing comes close to it is terms of dynamic ability, speed, grip, cornering and all weather driving capability coupled with peerless build quality, reliability and a car that I want to drive every day which I do.

The supposed issue the cars have are sensationalised beyond the reality and it is human nature to focus on the negative and not report the positive as much.

You will not regret buying one and compared to prices for cls55's and e92 M3's it is a steal.

[karl]

Awesome, awesome car. Still nothing out there to match it. Buy one, you won't be disappointed, buy mine and you'll be chuffed to bits!!

[^Qwerty^]

The only thing to really worry about is your visits to the petrol station. I also got busted for speeding the first time in my driving history last month, so keep the little red devil sat on your shoulder shouting, "faster faster" in check

[ArthurPE]

actually, there is much positive stuff on here, you have to sift thru crap to get to it...

RS4 = best car I've owned to date
e30 M3
e36 M3
e46 M3
plus some normal 5 & 7 series...
I chose it over a e90M3, for practicality...
I have 0 regrets

[RS6chris!]

As above 110percent!!

Love mine to bits....the only car ive ever had more than a year!!

Theres nothing better than a mint gleaming RS4 in any colour...they look awesome...

and remember.......ONLY THOSE IN THE KNOW,,KNOW ITS AN RS4!!!!!!!!

[thedoluk]

Just traded in my S4 b6 yesterday for an RS4 avant in grey with optics looks the dogs, its got a catback milltek, 33k and goes amazingly was wondering how much faster than my S4 it would be as it was fully decated and remapped with intake spacers and H&R roll bars. But the RS is different ball park and it handles the speed amazingly never driven anything as precise and well planted.

[ArthurPE]

believe it or not I've never heard an RS4 from the outside
in fact haven't seen another on the road...
(saw one at a car show a few weeks ago and a couple at the dealer when shopping)

well today I was hanging around outside and my wife took it to get get some stuff for my nieces birthday party...
my wife loves driving it...it was warmed up so I told her pop the 'sport' on
watched her leave and come home...

the car sounds great! nice thrum from the motor, deep rumble, and a real mechanical, gear whine from all the diffs, tranny, etc.
it sounds like a monster...it looks like a lamb...a nice, low, muscular lamb lol and she wasn't 'getting on it'
the car sounds agressive in stock form....

I like it better now knowing what those around me are hearing

[neckarsulm]

a real mechanical, gear whine from all the diffs, tranny,

isn't this the cam chains?

[MSLRS5]

Should I worry about buying an RS4

Absolutely not...take your time and buy the right one and the only problem you'll have is what to eventualy replace it with

[ArthurPE]

a real mechanical, gear whine from all the diffs, tranny,

isn't this the cam chains?

from inside it sounds like the tranny whine...
I ran 75W90 LubroMoly for a month, it was quieter, went back to oem...
and back came the whine, lol

but I'm sure it's a bunch of things, not any one:
diff(s) x 3; F, R and F to R
tranny
cam chains
and lord knows what else
a lot of the accessories are internally driven iirc

a cacophony of mechanical music

[karl]

actually, there is much positive stuff on here, you have to sift thru crap to get to it...

Oh yes, indeed......