Increasingly disappointed with RS4’s dynamics

[Diesel]

It's a shame to have to say this, but my RS4's road manners and poise at times are truly atrocious and sometime bordering on dangerous. The more I drive it and get to know it the less I trust it and the slower I go

I am talking of issues such as torque steer or/and bump steer, tramlining, intolerance to small bumps, kickback on steering and fiddly straight ahead stability. Whenever there is anything imperfect with the road surface or camber it all starts to go wrong, particularly under power. It lost so much grip on a bumpy corner the other day that the full ESP came on and it should SO have taken that corner at that speed in its stride – my previous Subaru would have SO laughed it off.

It has 4 new F1’s and has had a successful full 4-wheel alignment check (this fixed 90% of tramlining issues). It is pushing out about 440bhp.

What can be done to improve the road manners of this great looking practical car that has such a FABULOUSLY awesome engine?

D

[romario]

if your running the stock suspension then a wise move would be to go with the H&R PCS kit and even swap the anti-roll bars.
I went for just the spring/dampers in September and the car has become much more enjoyable as a result. Not sure how the others have set their ride height but I kept the front standard height and raised the rear as Audi's set-up is to have a lower rear end to allow for safer understeer with ESP backup.
Now I hardly ever see the ESP light on the dash though I don't drive to induce it. Mine runs Michelin Pilot Sport boots.

However I too am disappointed in my RS4, perhaps expectations were too high. An Evo VIII FQ300 which I ran was so much more fun, but too full on for daily use so once my dealer couldn't source a new set of Yokos and I drove it on less appropriate rubber I sold it.

Still it's the best Audi I've driven and more fun than AMG Benzs

[johneroberts]

Diesel,
you are now finding out why we first owners all decided to change the"Dynamics" by uprating the brakes and and stiffing the suspension, god when i put my car back to standard i asked myself why did i buy it?, But thats with 380bhp under the bonnet, can you imagine what it was like with 520bhp!
The answer is simple transform the car into what AUDI should have done in the first place and you will be the happiest man around.
Cheers
jr

[carlosfandango]

Ditch the F1's they are the worst tyres I have ever had, My car was the same changed tyres new car trust me its true!!!!

[Jani]

ESP light doesn't mean you are anywhere near the limit -in most cases

Stock suspension is comfort oriented, I'm happy with GmbH. You need at least the rear ARB.

[sitas3]

yes i'm beginning to find the (medium) limits of my car now although i still think it is a marked improvement over the S4 - don't think the stock Dunlops are helping things either on wet roads. I will look to upgrading the suspension in the next 6 months but the first thing to be changed has to be the brakes.

Ditch the F1's they are the worst tyres I have ever had, My car was the same changed tyres new car trust me its true!!!!

Which tyres did you subsequently buy?

[Prawn]

Stasis Motprsports, H&R ARB Kit and Yoko AVS tyres.
Car is a whole different animal, just as it should have been built

[DaveP]

Need to try and arrange a ride in your car with that suspension sometime Shaun....Gordon said it was awesome...

[kiwi_mtm]

It's a shame to have to say this, but my RS4's road manners and poise at times are truly atrocious and sometime bordering on dangerous. The more I drive it and get to know it the less I trust it and the slower I go

I am talking of issues such as torque steer or/and bump steer, tramlining, intolerance to small bumps, kickback on steering and fiddly straight ahead stability. Whenever there is anything imperfect with the road surface or camber it all starts to go wrong, particularly under power. It lost so much grip on a bumpy corner the other day that the full ESP came on and it should SO have taken that corner at that speed in its stride – my previous Subaru would have SO laughed it off.

It has 4 new F1’s and has had a successful full 4-wheel alignment check (this fixed 90% of tramlining issues). It is pushing out about 440bhp.

What can be done to improve the road manners of this great looking practical car that has such a FABULOUSLY awesome engine?

D

Make friends with a RS4 modded owner, and go for a drive. Maybe you'll change your mind (or maybe the car).

[simple1]

Any car with fat, low profile tyres will be upset by road changes, but not to the degree you complain about unless the roads are terrible where you are. I suppose it is something you get used to after a while, I found an increase in having to input steering movement after fitting 19" wheels, having driven the car standard for nearly four years.....

[TarmacTerrorist]

I'm actually thinking about a set of light weight 18's (the best I can afford) and the h+r roll bars to see if this will help with the cars characteristics (both on and off the track) before I start changing the suspension from the oem quattro gmbh kit I have on atm. I dont really want to stiffen the car up any more than it is because of the amount of miles I have to do in it on a day to day basis on the public road (32k last 18 mths).

The standard 18's are really quite heavy and what with the cars very wide track I find I get pulled to the kerbside with a combination of the camber and bumps in the road. This will happen whatever side of the road I drive on, but will always wander to kerbside. I automatically tend to drive more towards the centre white line on roads where I feel like I'm being 'sucked in' to counter this, and on country lanes will generally straddle the center line completely to sit the car on the crest.

Sounds silly but how do you hold the steering wheel?? I found the car seems to get worse the harder you grip on to it..........Perhaps maybe an idea to let someone have a quick scoot up the road in her to see what they think, I would also check the obvious like theres not a ball joint about to let go on the front end somwhere.

[Jani]

Been thinking about this and observing: mine doesn't torque steer or tramline. It was quite bad with worn Rossos though, but not as bad as the former RS2. Maybe it depends what you are used to. Or maybe something is wrong, wheel alignment, dampers, springs?

Or then the roads there are really bad.

[urq20v]

Just a small point.With respect to tramlining,have you checked your tyre pressures lately?I have noticed a real reduction in tramlining if the pressures are set correctly and checked on a regular basis.Over time the pressures change differently in each wheel and as its a gradual thing you dont notice it straight away.It seems only to take a few pounds difference to cause instability.

[bjacks]

Been thinking about this and observing: mine doesn't torque steer or tramline. It was quite bad with worn Rossos though, but not as bad as the former RS2. Maybe it depends what you are used to. Or maybe something is wrong, wheel alignment, dampers, springs?

Or then the roads there are really bad.

Same as. Soon as I changed the tyres the car was much better behaved. I seriously get no noticable torque steer and the car drives pretty true. And Kim Collins said the tracking was shot

I'd expect you've got worn suspension which will make the car move about a fair bit more.

Cheers

Ben

[kcsun]

Diesel
Try and find someone local to you who has AVS or Bridgestone tyres and will let you swop wheels for an hour or so. I am convinced that it is still your tyres (even though you have just purchased a new set) Best of luck
Ken