Standard RS4 is unreliable and not such a great car... TRUE?

[Golfather]

RS4's in standard form are nothing special.
They need modding to get any joy out of them:
Remap, suspension, brakes a MUST.

As well as that a warranty as any major job is expensive.

[RS4ever]

And how long have you owned yours?

In standard form they are very special and untouchable. Suspension and brakes are required for track only, not for the road. This is the same as any other car. BMW's also need new brakes on a track. Remap is nice but not required unless you go drag racing.

[Golfather]

"very special and untouchable"

they are if you've come from a Micra

[Doc]

RS4's in standard form are nothing special.
They need modding to get any joy out of them:
Remap, suspension, brakes a MUST.

As well as that a warranty as any major job is expensive.

Interesting comments, some I agree with but as in your brief review of the RS4 I disagree with your comments......particularly the "in standard form are nothing special"......on a factual basis compared to any car of similar price the performance is pretty special never mind for an estate. Even today as a 4 year old car the same holds true.

Indeed, performance alone is not the only consideration in what makes the RS4 a special car, it has many other attributes that have been debated on this and other forums ad infinitum.

The RS4 has its faults, but I have yet to own any car that could not be improved by addressing its deficiencies through after-market tuners. Let's not forget that after-market tuners are precisely that, specialists in improving elements of a package, not making the whole package to begin with and herein lies their business, focussed improvements in areas of deficiency or what some may say are the compromises that mass car manufacturers make in creating such cars in the first place.

Having said all that please give us the benefit of your experience and share the special cars that you have owned as the RS4 is not one. Pray tell.

[itaplikeabiatch]

i'm interested as well as to what cars "in standard form" are an exception to this theory?
i agree with many people here, the car is lacking in a few things, but it's got what i want and what it didn't i added.

[Franzino]

The way I see it is that if you buy a used RS4 these days, even low miles you are going to be saving around 40% or more on the new car cost. That's a huge saving and it's going to take a lot of expensive repairs, turbos, gear boxes, wheels etc., before you even get close to what you saved from NOT buying new, and if you choose wisely you probably wont have any big repairs at all.

If you look a it this way, then you are correct.

[Franzino]

wheels easily sorted if you want the hard ones fitted,\

The problems with the soft wheel seem a little problem if you live in the UK. You guys have the lifetime exchange warranty. I called to Audi Belgium to ask them a couple of questions. They know about the wheel problem, but they don't have this warranty in my country. If you bent a “soft” wheel you are on your own. Bugger:(

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You can buy a 3rd party warranty from Warranty direct for £730. This covers the turbos and gearbox etc etc. I would recomend this as I reckon after your first year of ownership your going to find any major failures.

I bought my RS4 privately and was able to have an Audi warranty placed on the car via the dealer. All they need to do is a "pre warranty inspection" and if the car passes you can buy a warranty. If you decide not to buy the warranty then you'll need topay teh dealer for the inspection.

As well as that a warranty as any major job is expensive.

Also it's not possible to have an additional Audi warranty that a lot of you guys have. The only warranty I can get is if garages you buy a used car from give one. But most used RS4's are from private owners and so there is no way to get an additional Audi or other warranty... Bugger again:(

Conclusion: If you have or buy a used RS4 is Belgium you are on your own for everything…. So that’s why I was asking if a normal RS4 was a reliable car…

[RS4ever]

RS4's in standard form are nothing special.
They need modding to get any joy out of them:
Remap, suspension, brakes a MUST.

As well as that a warranty as any major job is expensive.

An estate car that in standard form hits 60mph in under 5secs and has a 170mph top speed sounds pretty special to me. A Porsche would struggle to stay with that especially carrying 20 cases of wine back to blighty