Some good news about camshaft wear...

[neckarsulm]

..all I know is that mine's had an easy life of motorways and school runs and the cams are fine so maybe it's how the car's been driven then?

A basic rule of car buying is to not buy cars that have obviously been caned ('ring stickers, pics of car on 'ring in avatar/sig ) because they can be prematurely worn out, may be it's as simple as that

[Contigo]

Nah doubt it, unless every journey was recorded in a logbook. I mean I only know the histtory of mine from 39k -60k cos I've drivne that and I really can't rely on any other information I've been passed from the previous owners or the logbook. These cars are going to have been driven hard at some point in their lives so I don't think you can say it's simply just motorway miles or school runs etc....

[neckarsulm]

I don't think you can say it's simply just motorway miles or school runs etc....

Well it had a child seat on back seats and before his wife drove it, the chap commuted for a number of years a distance that would account for a large amount of the mileage. Unlike many current RS4 owners I did meet the original owner.
My friend has one with 120k miles on the clock which I got for him from the original owner, a retired vet and classic car enthusiast with no track days, but regular trips to Germany (not 'ring) - again still on original cams.

[TopBear]

I've got a child seat in mine, doesnt mean every mile I drive it is with a child in it though.

All RS4's are given some stick once in a while, not many folk get the chance to thrash them routinely, using them as daily hacks with our traffic jams and commutes.
In some respects those low mileage garage queens that get taken out infrequently have 'harder' miles done, on balance.

I still think its down to materials and manufacturing.

[Contigo]

Ours had indentations on the back seat "Child Seat" when we got it and is immaculate inside, seats and everything is like new, after sitting in the 70k miler yesterday I'd say it's definitely a minter and also the bodywork is tidier but I'd still not be able to say for sure it's had an easier life. The clutch went at 40k though so that could say that the car has had more of a town life rather than a mway life. Is that a good thing? I'm not convinced really.

All I know is that I'm glad that I've now got the warranty on the car in hope that if I do suffer from cam wear etc.. then it might go someway to giving me that extra piece of mind.

It's getting silly all this worrying about having a car but it's only cos we love these bastard so much that we do it

[Timmilne]

A company like Audi should still be able to make an engine that doesn't wear out–with or without child seats, ring stickers, re-maps etc.

The best car I ever owned was a 964RS for one simple reason: you could cane it round any track, an airfield or the 'ring and when you finished you just drove it home and not once did I ever wonder whether I'd damaged it or worn it out prematurly. It didn't chew tyres, brakes or anything else. It was made to go round tracks.

But the best thing of all was the peace of mind in never ever worrying about it.

[Contigo]

I agree, I think everyone else will but the fact of the matter is that these cars are now out of manufacturers warranty and as such Audi will not give two hoots about these problems.

[Nige_RS4]

A company like Audi should still be able to make an engine that doesn't wear out–with or without child seats, ring stickers, re-maps etc.

The best car I ever owned was a 964RS for one simple reason: you could cane it round any track, an airfield or the 'ring and when you finished you just drove it home and not once did I ever wonder whether I'd damaged it or worn it out prematurly. It didn't chew tyres, brakes or anything else. It was made to go round tracks.

But the best thing of all was the peace of mind in never ever worrying about it.

Shame it couldn't go round corners very well, eh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqM3i9Nd_Mc

[Contigo]

Nice nige, Love it how the Porker just doesn't bother taking the corner and drives between the cones

[S4INT]

..all I know is that mine's had an easy life of motorways and school runs and the cams are fine so maybe it's how the car's been driven then?

A basic rule of car buying is to not buy cars that have obviously been caned ('ring stickers, pics of car on 'ring in avatar/sig ) because they can be prematurely worn out, may be it's as simple as that

I don't think you are paying attention. Its got nothing to do with how its been driven, oil changes, re-map, or 'Ring stickers, or avatars, its to do with poor material or poor hardening process.

And the fact that my car has done a number of trackdays (and to the 'Ring, obviously) does not mean it has been "caned". Nothing else on my car has prematurely "worn out" beyond what would be classed as normal wear and tear.

[Timmilne]

Shame it couldn't go round corners very well, eh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqM3i9Nd_Mc[/quote]

Built to withstand crappy drivers too

[Contigo]

Tim,

I'm assuming that you aren't going to buy an RS anytime soon

[Timmilne]

I tell you what... I really would if I thought I could afford one. When I had them before, they were deeply disliked and cheap but now they're deeply desired and expensive, unfortunately. Why?

[Contigo]

Just from the comments you are making really, I can tell you want one but am sort of getting a negative vibe from you about these issues, The forums are a bitch catch 22 really as you could easily go out, buy one and not ever read the forums and have lots of trouble free motoring. Then you can come on here and read other people's horror stories about cam wear, Diff problems and Bent wheels and really start to be paranoid.

I come sonewhere in between but have a warranty on and do hope that if something major goes like turbo's then I'm covered. Life's too short to worry about these sort of things and these cars are so enjoyable. If you want a safe car go and buy a mondeo but if you want something that gives you pleasure everytime you get into it whether driven hard or soft, go and get an RS. It's swings and roundabouts really.

HTH.

Phil

[Timmilne]

Oh, misunderstanding... I thought you meant 964 RS (doh!)

Yes, I've ummed and erred about the RS4. I really like them as a concept–a car that does everything and looks fantastic–but everytime I've been in one, it hasn't grabbed me by the throat like it does for many people here. I have the feeling that I'd be really pissed off if i had to fork out several £££ for some the stuff people talk about here.

I do get the feeling that they're unrealiable from this forum–and in some quite scary ways (camshafts, wheels)–but people here clearly love them so much that they forgive them all that stuff, and i guess that's what makes the difference. It's not the car, it's the person.

Reading this forum, it almost sounds like people enjoy spending all this money.

I guess I'd be the same about the 964 RS, even though paradoxically, it seems to be the one car that–in my experience of having two of them–didn't miss a beat.