Is the B9 RS4 too competent to be fun?

[RS4John]

Yeah - I haven't lost it completely...

So I have had mine for since late October and have huge respect for it's capabilities - the bonkers acceleration, the mind-warping cornering ability - everything. Love it.

Maybe it's me but I kind of miss reaching the ragged edge of a car's capability - the point where trying a little bit harder would almost certainly end badly. The previous RSQ3 was like that, properly quick but one could reach the point where the vehicle's balance was close to being overcome by a combination of a higher CofG and the available straight line performance.

I never get the feeling that I can get even remotely close to the RS4's limits - it behaves as though there's a wicked grin and a 'bring it on' challenge issued.

Is it just me or has anyone else drawn the same conclusion?

[OU812]

Nah! Personal thing, but on my risk profile - I’m blown away by the fact that it’ll absorb with ease anything I’d be able to throw at it. I absolutely love it, 9000 miles in and it just gets better and better - on winter roads in west of Scotland it is just the most complete vehicle out there. Love it.

[RS Owner]

I agree the handling is benign up to the limit.
Obviously there is a limit and it will all go wrong if you exceed the limit but all seems well under control up to the limit. Also I find an understeery car easier when exceeding the limit.

As regards fun, this is a daily driver for me (not a track car). I find arriving at my destination in one piece to be more fun than going into a ditch backwards.

[PieterZ]

My daily too, the handling is ok for me.
If I wanted more buttcheek moments I’d have bought a ‘90s or so 911. Lol.

[Eddie555]

At a recent trackday at Bedford Autodrome, there was a Sonoma Green B9 RS4 participating. It looked very planted and sounded really good on the flyby of the pit lane. The only problem with it is after 2 full laps it appears it had to cool down as it appears it was cooking the brakes (assumption).

[Surrey Sam]

Have you tried switching the ESC system to its first off stage? Doing that should allow a little more play, but not leave you totally on your own.

[RS4John]

Have you tried switching the ESC system to its first off stage? Doing that should allow a little more play, but not leave you totally on your own.

Thanks Surrey Sam - I'll give that a try, I had an RTFM moment as TBH I thought ESC was binary on/off and didn't realise it has multiple settings so your suggestion came as a complete surprise. The Sportdiff has settings in Drive Select, I guess unless on a race track it will be hard to detect what it's actually doing - though that sensation you get of driving something much shorter in overall length than the Avant actually is - is probably entirely down to it.