Mitsi Evo Owner considering an RS4

[R3BB]

Hi, I've owned 3 Evo's over the years, and currently own a 9GT.


But I'm considering making the move to something else as these days it just gets used for town driving and ferrying my toddler to nursery!


I'm thinking maybe an RS4, but they mostly seem high mileage - 80k+.
Are they still ok at around the 100k miles mark?
What sort of things start to need replacing at this age?

[TomRS]

Hey man! FON!

I don't own an RS4, have a RS6 C6, but my dad has a b7 RS4 that i drive a fair bit... having had EVO's and skylines previously i'll try my best to get across some comparison and buying information.
I'm sure someone with deeper knowledge will give you a better in depth "buyers guide" but for now.

The RS4 drives lovely, out of the RS6 and the RS4 the RS4 really is a much more fun car to drive and to have fun in, depending on your EVO's power i think you'll be a tad dissapointed with the overall speed/Accell comparison as imo the RS4 (he does need to get a carbon clean though) lacks a bit, but as a family car and a comfortable car to drive around in its a box ticker on all levels.
Space inside will be similar to that of the EVO, it will be nowhere near as "raw" and you'll not get the same buzz from the b7 as you would the EVO especially round a track, it is a fantastic car in its own right but Audi's being Audi's are sensible and German.

Things to look out for really i couldn't say too much, but Carbon build up on the intakes is common, clutch pedal switches can also be an issue and brakes can be expensive if you don't Shop around, also try find one that's had all its bushes/ball joints etc done as from Audi this is around £2000 for a full front bush/joint kit.

Look out for a notchy gear selection from cold (hard to get into first gear) this can sometimes be a sign the clutch is maybe not gonna last too long.

Oil pipes on the front end and the Auxiliary cooling radiator are also common to leak/corrode so its worth checking out if these have been replaced.
You cant really check without taking the bumper off unfortunately.

Personally i wouldn't let millage be a put off unless its not got the history to back it up, my dads is on 73k and its got thousands and thousands of expensive Audi receipts, car is perfect he's done 10k since he bought it with no problems.
All we've done is change the oil and filter, fuel filter, gearbox oil and diff oil...

As for options and advice on which model to look for etc your better off taking advice from the rest of the B7 page, my dads has heated front and back seats, comfort electric fronts, piano black inlays, flat bottom wheel and sunroof.

Hope that helps a bit and sorry to anyone if i was wrong in my advice!

P.S your EVO is stunning!

[R3BB]

Thanks for the reply Tom!
I thought there would be more, but I guess this isn't a busy forum... or maybe just doesn't like Evo's!

I'm assuming like most, you can go to a specialist for servicing for a much more reasonable amount of £?
Online indicates fuel consumption is about 20mpg - is that realistic?

[Audi Pardner]

Welcome. The forum was a wealth of info for me before I bought mine and has continued to be.

Is it a B7 or B8 you're considering? The B7 is a different animal to the Evo in various respects. I've not owned an Evo but have driven one (an and found it to be a hoot. A bit unrefined but in a good way and a fantastic way of getting from A to B rapidly. The B7 is more refined and less edgy. I didn't fancy an Impreza, and chose an RS4 over an Evo or M3 for a mix of reasons both practical (load carrying - it's an Avant) and age-related (I'm knocking on a bit and thought I'd look a dork in an Evo) I've had no regrets whatsoever in 3 years of ownership and am just gradually improving it (KW adjustable spring kit, 20" rims, spacers etc). The DRC has been OK since one damper was replaced under goodwill just after I got the car at 44k miles. I also replaced the oil cooler using JHM pipes rather than the crappy OEM ones which will corrode again in a short period. Forge in the UK also do a replacement oil cooler kit.

For servicing and specialist care I'd only use MRC or Unit 20 (others are available). Mine's going to MRC for a stage 2 map and deflap later this year and possibly a carbon clean, though I'm not convinced about that yet. Plenty of well cared for cars appear for sale here on the forum, and don't let a high miler put you off. Quite a few owners here have cars with high mileage and report no serious problems. Good luck if you decide to go for one, I doubt you'll regret it. (Your Evo looks the dog's BTW)

[MikeFish]

The buyers guide in the B7 section (I think it is a sticky) is a very good guide but the usual things to watch out for are DRC issues & oil cooler pipes. The rest are just service items that will be a constant cost like brake pads/ discs which are relatively expensive and not many aftermarket options, certainly none that will save you much (you can get better cheaper pads IMO, but some disagree).
Pretty reliable cars really, just got to watch out for the high price items.
Aux rad can go as mentioned above but not expensive to fix.
Never really heard of bushes and ball joints being a big issue on these car other than general wear and tear.
And if you aks me, carbon clean is a waste of time unless you do it regular as it build back up quickly. Just accept the fact the car has 380bhp when standard rather than 414bhp and you can save yourself £800 in carbon cleaning. If you want to maintain it at 414 (or thereabouts) then keep stumping up the money; your choice. Or modify it so that it hits close to that when carboned up.

I get between 12 to 18mpg. On a motorway cruise with people driving in the outside lane stopping me from flooring it then I will see maybe 22-24mpg.

For annual servicing I take it to Audi. For any other work I take it to the specalists or loca lindies depnding on the type of work e.g. DRC issues go to Unit20, remap or any power / running issue then go to MRC, split CV gaitor go to my local indy.

[R3BB]

Thanks for the comments guys

Is it a B7 or B8 you're considering? Good luck if you decide to go for one, I doubt you'll regret it. (Your Evo looks the dog's BTW)

B7 is what I am considering, and thanks!

I get between 12 to 18mpg. On a motorway cruise with people driving in the outside lane stopping me from flooring it then I will see maybe 22-24mpg.

A combined 20mpg is unrealistic then?
I don't mind that, but less would be harder to live with.
My Evo will do about 22 urban, 29/30 motorway... I suppose that is the benefit of being able to choose when forced induction occurs!
Noob question, but I assume as standard they run on standard unleaded?

[MikeFish]

98 RON recommended and written inside the fuel flap. They will run on 95 RON. If it's been to MRC for remap it will most likely have been optimised to run on 99 RON.