rs4 vs rs6

[NickB]

Sadly I'm going to have to sell the RS4 - second sprog on the way and not enough room in the back - me and the missus are both very tall.

I had a test drive of an standard RS6 Avant yesterday. Looks and feels like a slightly bigger RS4 when you sit in it but start the engine and there the similarity ends! The noise of that V8 is just awesome compared with RS4's V6. It also feels more 'refined' to drive - you definitely feel the rubbish uk roads more in the '4 but the upside is that it feels more engaging to drive.

One of the most noticeable differences for me was the engine characteristics. The '6 is massively torquey right from idle and just blows the '4 away at low revs. It's also far more linear across the rev range - which is actually slightly disappointing. I've got the MTM Stage I on my '4 and you'd definitely describe it as 'brutal' when it gets to 5k revs. I was expecting the '6 to be the same and give a real kick at the high end but it just kept pulling the same as the mid range.
Does anyone know how the MTM (or similar) Stage I chip changes the RS6 engine?

[PhilT]

Sounds like this should be in the RS6 forum

[NickB]

Doh, numpty! That's where I meant to put it.

Thanks Phil

[Steve_Mc]

I'm maybe about to do the same trade, RS4 to RS6. How did you find the legroom in the back of the 6 compared to the 4? And which one did you test drive? I was supposed to take out one from West London Audi the other day but had to cancel due to illness, so still not driven one

Oh, and thanks for the writeup, very helpful!

[NickB]

The '6 is definitely much more comfortable than the '4, but you wouldn't describe it as massive. I've just taken a new shape A6 avant on a test this evening and that's bigger than the old shape and makes really good use of space.
However the power steering is too light with no feedback, the brakes are overassisted and not progressive enought and it wallows like a barge. That said I was really impressed with the 3.0TDI engine!
So the RS6 it is - it's big enough for what we need - you've just got to check it out. I've seen the black one in Croydon and the grey one in Whetstone - got to find an Avus one before I make a decision.

[zeke]

After all what car is the fastest in and out of the track? We are talking stock both of them.

Regards

[mwcltd]

I have had the stage 1 MTM upgrade to my RS6+. It changes the car significantly especially the mid range acceleration. The additional torque makes it easier to drive and, as I have found, slightly more economical.