Newbie Question - How Easy is your RS4 to Drive?

[Tedders]

Hi All. Newbie RS4 owner here with potentially stupid question

Over the years I've owned and/or driven dozens of cars and in general I find that 5 minutes in a vehicle is normally enough time for me to get used to the new clutch, gear changes, bite point etc - enough to allow for a smooth journey.

I've had my RS4 now for 10 days and I am still struggling to really fine tune my clutch control to ensure totally smooth gear changes etc. If I drive the car hard then all is fine, but when I try to just bumble along I mis-time my gear changes.

On top of that the car went back in to the dealer for a couple of days and they put me in an A5 3.0 TDI. As per my normal experience within a couple of minutes I was completely at home with clutch control, gear changes etc.

I'm therefore left wondering whether I should be employing a change in driving style/technique for the RS4, or whether in your experience I should be finding it as easy to drive as any other Audi in which case could there be something wrong with my RS4 (clutch perhaps?).

Advice needed from more experienced RS4 owners/drivers please

[s3marc]

I find the RS4 to be easy to drive..... it is completely smooth and clean take up on the clutch and gear changes etc...... far easier to drive than my wifes 1.9tdi which stalls soooooo easy.

Suggest you get the stealers to give it a thorough check. Has the dealer got another RS4 you could test drive... or go to another garage and ask to test drive a 2nd hand RS4 for comparison?

Best of luck

[Thorny]

Tedders, I think that is a normal RS4 trait, the clutch is quite difficult to control when driving slowly and is difficult to get a smooth change. As you say, when pressing on it is fine. You do get use to it but it takes a while.

[pippyrips]

Very easy though agree with the above, the clutch does take some time to master.

I turn off the the traction control 9 times out of 10 when i get in the car as i find it can hinder fast gear changes (and make you look like a numpty while doing so!)

[scoobyc]

i also turn esp off but only around town. For whatever reason its abbrupt at cutting the fuel supply (think thats what it is anyway) and this gets around it fine. Once upto speed eg 3rd and above its fine. Its been noted quite a bit on some other forums (think it was 6speedonline) and thought i'd try it as i sound very similair to yourself and pride my changes and couldn't believe the difference.

[paulo]

I turn off the the traction control 9 times out of 10 when i get in the car as i find it can hinder fast gear changes (and make you look like a numpty while doing so!)

I agree, and therefore do the same.

Are you driving in 'Sports' mode? I find smooth gear changes harder to master in sports mode, but no problem at all without sports mode, no matter how I drive.


Paul

[4wheeldrift]

Alternatively, carry out the exhause valve mod and then turn off Sport mode when driving round town.

[P_G]

Must admit I have always found 1st too short and notchy with regard to chaging from it to 2nd, hence why I use 2nd and 4th usually around town like I did on my old S4, plenty of torque to allow you to do so.

I have an A6 3.0TDi and am finding the gearing very difficult to get used to, in auto it is slow, it sport it holds on to the revs too long and in flappy paddle mode the changes take an eternity and it will not downshift when I want it to.

I miss my RS4

[Diggler]

I miss my RS4

Wen does she return P_G ??

[lma07]

When I test drove the RS4 Audi did say that lots of blokes stalled a few times just trying to get it out of the forecourt. I would agree, the clutch is different and when I have let blokes drive mine they do stall.

Maybe having smaller feet helps. I am used to it and have no problems gear changing in sport or normal mode. Never driven with ESP off (too chicken for that)

[P_G]

I miss my RS4

Wen does she return P_G ??

Monday I think.

[OliF-H]

When I test drove the RS4 Audi did say that lots of blokes stalled a few times just trying to get it out of the forecourt. I would agree, the clutch is different and when I have let blokes drive mine they do stall.

Maybe having smaller feet helps. I am used to it and have no problems gear changing in sport or normal mode. Never driven with ESP off (too chicken for that)

never had a problem with stalling it as there is so much torque to help you out (far easier to stall a porker for example)

but

never completely (in 9 months) got the hang of the clutch in 1st and 2nd - it's nice and light etc but you only have to get things slightly wrong to end up looking like a plonker driving through town

[andymcg99]

Same here, the bite point doesn't seem totally consistent and it can be tricky to move slowly, particularly in Sport mode. Was going to mention the clutch travel to the dealer next time I'm near to see if it was something that could be improved. Last week I was driving slowly into my drive in "S" and gave it slightly too much throttle nearly frightening the life of a neighbour who was standing nearby, waved a vague apology before disappearing red faced.....

[mbelle]

TBH I find the same in my B5, although that's probably no help to anyone here in the B7 forum!!?
(Leaving just as quickly as I came...)

[scoobyc]

the increased problem with smoothness (not the problem i have but relevant here) when in sport mode is due to the throttle map being changed when sport is selected eg you get more go from the engine for less throttle movement so the first inch of travel has more effect, if that makes sense!