Life after your RS4

[OliF-H]

I've just sold mine too

was a combination of quite a few reasons but ultimately it came down to a Cayman S test drive when I was at a loose end one afternoon and a sudden realisation that, having had a Mk V R32 before the RS4, I wanted something completely different for a while

I do fear slightly for cars like the RS4/ M3/ C63 though as imo due to spiraling running costs we may see a more polarised car market - sports cars and non sports cars - it's not that hard for example to get near m3 pace with a chipped 335d and 35-45 mpg into the bargain...

oh by the way if there is anyone out there looking for an RS4 and has seen the black saloon at Leeds Audi on for £48,850 PM me and I'll tell you what they paid for it - they have got a RIDICULOUS mark up on it

Hey that was the trade I was thinking of doing. How are you finding the CaymanS compared to the RS4. I have a feeling I'm going to miss the grunt and the practicality

Hi mate

Not really had the chance to spend much time in it yet, but yeah, that is the trade off.

As I said before I don't really need the practicality, although you'd be surprised at how much you can get in the Cayman. When I went to pick the car up with Mrs OliFH we had the boot of the RS4 full up, I was fairly pleased when we got in all into the porka with space to spare.

You're right in terms of grunt too - the RS4 really is a very quick car! The most obvious difference is low-down torque - the RS has it in spades whereas the Cayman needs to be revved - almost like a honda in it's power delivery. Once you get it over 4k revs it absolutely flies though

The handling is epic too. Put it this way - I drove the Cayman S back-to-back with a 997 C4S and chose the Cayman! OK partly because I wanted a year-old car rather than a 3 or 4 year old car but also because I genuinely believe that it's a better car to drive - not much in it in terms of pace with a 997 C2 either...

Hope this helps! Get a long test drive down some tasty back roads

[ARSEY4]

Had a 3.2 987s before the rs4 and drove a couple of caymans and the RS4 does feel quicker but not massively. Think the stats suggest 2 secs to 100. Great cars, should be some bargains out there at the moment if the OPCs take their heads out of their arses.

[mbelle]

Not much of a step up or down but again a step across - what about a Lexus ISF?
Saw my first one in the flesh (on the road) 2 days ago; looked half decent, sounded nice... and... 8 gears!??? Surely that would be some fun, feeling like your driving an F1 car, especially braking from high speed to take a corner from 8th gear...!

[Ozrs4]

I noticed the new A4 B8 has 8 gears too when had it as a loaner last week!!!! a 1.8T engine with 8 gears???

[jackwood]

Hey that was the trade I was thinking of doing. How are you finding the CaymanS compared to the RS4. I have a feeling I'm going to miss the grunt and the practicality

In the dry, on a decent bendy road there is nothing between the cars in raw pace. There may be 100 hp difference between the 2, but the weight of the RS really shows. The Cayman is around 3-400kg less. Under braking, although the Cayman requires more effort with the middle peddle, it tracks much better and never gets unsettled. The RS's arse waves around a bit when heavy braking.

Of course in the wet, if you like to go sideways, take the Cayman. But without doubt, unless you have some kind of death wish, the RS4 will always be faster and more sure-footed.

But on a daily basis, stepping from one to the other never really shows up any significant performance gain/loss to me, and I drive them both very hard.

If pure driver involvment is at the top of your list, then the Cayman is the better machine. If you want to go very fast, very safely, in all conditions, then the RS is the better car.

[Mikeyboy]

I've just sold mine too

was a combination of quite a few reasons but ultimately it came down to a Cayman S test drive when I was at a loose end one afternoon and a sudden realisation that, having had a Mk V R32 before the RS4, I wanted something completely different for a while

I do fear slightly for cars like the RS4/ M3/ C63 though as imo due to spiraling running costs we may see a more polarised car market - sports cars and non sports cars - it's not that hard for example to get near m3 pace with a chipped 335d and 35-45 mpg into the bargain...

oh by the way if there is anyone out there looking for an RS4 and has seen the black saloon at Leeds Audi on for £48,850 PM me and I'll tell you what they paid for it - they have got a RIDICULOUS mark up on it

Hey that was the trade I was thinking of doing. How are you finding the CaymanS compared to the RS4. I have a feeling I'm going to miss the grunt and the practicality

Hi mate

Not really had the chance to spend much time in it yet, but yeah, that is the trade off.

As I said before I don't really need the practicality, although you'd be surprised at how much you can get in the Cayman. When I went to pick the car up with Mrs OliFH we had the boot of the RS4 full up, I was fairly pleased when we got in all into the porka with space to spare.

You're right in terms of grunt too - the RS4 really is a very quick car! The most obvious difference is low-down torque - the RS has it in spades whereas the Cayman needs to be revved - almost like a honda in it's power delivery. Once you get it over 4k revs it absolutely flies though

The handling is epic too. Put it this way - I drove the Cayman S back-to-back with a 997 C4S and chose the Cayman! OK partly because I wanted a year-old car rather than a 3 or 4 year old car but also because I genuinely believe that it's a better car to drive - not much in it in terms of pace with a 997 C2 either...

Hope this helps! Get a long test drive down some tasty back roads

Yeah thanks that does help actually.
My nearest OPC is a little urban to get a good test drive but I'll find some time to try one a bit further out I think.

[OliF-H]

Hey that was the trade I was thinking of doing. How are you finding the CaymanS compared to the RS4. I have a feeling I'm going to miss the grunt and the practicality

Hi mate

Not really had the chance to spend much time in it yet, but yeah, that is the trade off.

As I said before I don't really need the practicality, although you'd be surprised at how much you can get in the Cayman. When I went to pick the car up with Mrs OliFH we had the boot of the RS4 full up, I was fairly pleased when we got in all into the porka with space to spare.

You're right in terms of grunt too - the RS4 really is a very quick car! The most obvious difference is low-down torque - the RS has it in spades whereas the Cayman needs to be revved - almost like a honda in it's power delivery. Once you get it over 4k revs it absolutely flies though

The handling is epic too. Put it this way - I drove the Cayman S back-to-back with a 997 C4S and chose the Cayman! OK partly because I wanted a year-old car rather than a 3 or 4 year old car but also because I genuinely believe that it's a better car to drive - not much in it in terms of pace with a 997 C2 either...

Hope this helps! Get a long test drive down some tasty back roads

Yeah thanks that does help actually.
My nearest OPC is a little urban to get a good test drive but I'll find some time to try one a bit further out I think.

I would go and see Stefan at Guildford - he took me for a good hour long test drive - wouldn't have bought one had I not had the chance to thrash it down some country roads and really see what it can do

jackwood - spot on!