understeer

[RIV]

Have had 3 x GTR's and two x 911 turbos and 1 x evo over many years so get how to drive a 4wd car and how to set up for corner...based on the first 1500 miles I think the Quattro system is inferior to those in the gtr and porsche...perhaps because they are sport cars. ..However the corner i benchmark
on my range rover sports have cornered with less understeer and they way huge amounts

Sell the car then. Simples

[marc1]

There has to be something wrong with it surely? I'm not saying Audi RS cars don't understeer because we all know they do, but if the A4 is handling the corner better than the RS, then there is something wrong. Hopefully the tyres will sort it out and better geo. Anti roll bars would be next on my list after that, but I wouldn't have expected the B8 to need them as much with the rear sports diff.

That said, the RS4 gets heavier and heavier and the B8 still has a big V8 sat where the headlights are.

[adsgreen]

Have had 3 x GTR's and two x 911 turbos and 1 x evo over many years so get how to drive a 4wd car and how to set up for corner...based on the first 1500 miles I think the Quattro system is inferior to those in the gtr and porsche...perhaps because they are sport cars. ..However the corner i benchmark
on my range rover sports have cornered with less understeer and they way huge amounts

Can't really compare the GTR and the 911 - they are not perm 4 wheel drive and react very differently. IIRC they are both Haldex type affairs and only send power to the front when needed in order to balance the car when the rears start to lose traction.

If it's the corner I'm thinking of (the 50mph dial carriageway one that's as you say is along left hander from the roundabout) then I don't any undue understeer.

Probably need to know more about the specific details for the scenario you are hitting - constant speed? or under braking or power? If under power is it gradual increase or booting it?
Is it initial corner entry, stead state or corner exit?

[Henry 14555]

Gtr and 911 have at least 10% of power going to front wheels at any time...you could feel in both the power feed into the front to pull the front end in tight.

The corner i was describing is different it is just off junction 1 of m27 as it becomes a31...national speed limit dual carriageway...corner say taken at a constant 70 will see front just not want to take corner meaning backing off to pull front in. Does not feel right...Audi dealer has asked to have car in to check over and test to see if something up

[Henry 14555]

Have had 3 x GTR's and two x 911 turbos and 1 x evo over many years so get how to drive a 4wd car and how to set up for corner...based on the first 1500 miles I think the Quattro system is inferior to those in the gtr and porsche...perhaps because they are sport cars. ..However the corner i benchmark
on my range rover sports have cornered with less understeer and they way huge amounts

Sell the car then. Simples

I like the car and so does my missus...just need to sort the handling...If something wrong with setup easy and if it needs a geo then simples!

[RIV]

Maybe the DRC is down on pressure?

[adsgreen]

Gtr and 911 have at least 10% of power going to front wheels at any time...you could feel in both the power feed into the front to pull the front end in tight.

this is true but it does make a huge difference to front end bite. RS4 naturally has 40% to the front which does give the front tyres more work to do.
You also do have the polar inertia going against you in the RS4 - GTR has the gearbox in the back and the 911 has both engine and box. Not saying this is it but from a driving point of view if you were to drive the rs4 in the same way it wouldn't work as favourably. But it's one of the compromises from having the boot and rear space compared to those two.

The corner i was describing is different it is just off junction 1 of m27 as it becomes a31...national speed limit dual carriageway...

This one?
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/A31 ... 5ef88c4d54
(interested now as decent corners in Hampshire are few and far between! - this is a great corner to have a play with https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/A32 ... e0343d42b9 YTT logistics joining the A326 heading north ).

corner say taken at a constant 70 will see front just not want to take corner meaning backing off to pull front in. Does not feel right...Audi dealer has asked to have car in to check over and test to see if something up

That really doesn't feel right. Whats the front tyre wear pattern like?

[Henry 14555]

In your map it is corner before stoney cross after travel lodge...will check pressures and good point about gearbox location...However gearbox in the diesel a4 in same place...thinking it a pressure / geo issue

[Astonished]

In your map it is corner before stoney cross after travel lodge...will check pressures and good point about gearbox location...However gearbox in the diesel a4 in same place...thinking it a pressure / geo issue

Thinking of the tyre pressure side of things, what pressures do people run?

On 19"s ?
On 20" s ?

Front
Rear

[Henry 14555]

Just back from a week away...Audi Technical have said they do not provide alternative settings for the geo etc like Porsche and Nissan do...master tech has advised to go aftermarket.

Have an hour in an m4 on Saturday and will then decide...walked up to rs4 today after a week away and my it's a beauty!

[Graeme4130]

Just back from a week away...Audi Technical have said they do not provide alternative settings for the geo etc like Porsche and Nissan do...master tech has advised to go aftermarket.

Have an hour in an m4 on Saturday and will then decide...walked up to rs4 today after a week away and my it's a beauty!

M4 is an awesome car in the dry

[Wavey Dynamicist]

Should have bought a B7 if you wanted an RS 4 that handled well and was fun.

It's a decent chassis just set up badly from factory or rather good for autobahn but rubbish for drivers.

Off to see M4 this afternoon and have Litchfield's who looked after my GTR's looking at geo set up

If you do this let us know how you get on.. I've always been interested in the stock settings on RS cars.. DIdn't bother getting mine checked before i got it adjusted..

People always bring up the whole Audi understeer issue and while i don't doubt them and appreciate there are certain other factors that work against the cars, the stock geometry is 95% to blame.. It's clearly a characteristic the dynamics team are required to meet in development but i don't know why Audi keep shooting themselves in the foot with it even with all the negative press..

That being said.. If you're saying a standard A4 handled better then i'd say theres something more you need to look into.

[drybeer]

I hate to say it, but I agree with most of your comments.
I hate dynamic steering-it does feel wooden. The B8 is a better car in every way compared to the B7, (IMHO which I really connected with over my 3 year period of ownership.
I'd like to drive a b8 without dynamic steering and see if the servo tronic system which was on the b7 , which is standard on the b8, (unless you go for the sport pack) makes the difference.
I bought my b8 new with the intention of keeping it forever. The somewhat dull feel is making me re consider.

I've even done the sums on selling my current one and making a factory order for a new one without dynamic steering, but the cost is prohibitive-lower Audi contribution now, increased car RRP and extortionate cost of 20" wheels and sports exhaust when not purchased as part of the sports pack.

All the journos have said in reviews that a non dynamic car is a better car

Mine has normal steering but also standard suspension (sadly). I definitely think if you drove the normal steering you won't notice more feel than on the dynamic option.

You deffo want the DRC but not necessarily the steering as the suspension adjustment is needed on a daily driver, IMHO.

BUT:

Sports package is a great value option due the amount it contains for the price... Adding 20"s, sports exhaust, Sports suspension plus with DRC AND the dynamic steering for £2250 is a no brainer, which is why so many of us have the dynamic steering.

[Astonished]

Henry

Is the understeer you talk about manifested as loading up the steering wheel and just wanting to push forward and not turn in, ending up in the turning load increasing on the wheel and it feeling unfriendly to turning in.

Having just got my new car and not wanting dynamic steering due to what I'd heard and ending up having it the first thing I've noticed is that at cruising speeds on sweepers that might tighten, but still 5/10s or thereabouts the steering wheel loads up and it's not as happy a place as it should be. And that is on Comfort, but not at low speeds. Seems like the assist should be increased, even on comfort, once speed rises.

Anyone know if the load or assist can be adjusted? I'll be asking the dealer this week.