RS4 or not dilema

[shawg]

Hi all great forum and lots of great advice and help on it.

I have a bit of a dilema love the thought looks and drive of an RS4 but not 100% sure its the right car to put the wife child (5) and one on the way (Feb) in to drive down to cornwall for the weekend. I have am E39 M5 at the moment and it eats miles. REally smooth and quiet. Will the RS4 also be good at this or should i look at an S6 for example.

Thanks all

[mark758]

"Occasionally there’s a long-term test car that fits your preferences and circumstances to perfection. For me that was the RS4. It would transport Mrs B, our two small boys and our luggage wherever we wanted to go in comfort and with reassuring security. And it would demonstrate those same attributes, plus many more, if I was on my own, hacking across country."

John Barker, EVO
Audi RS4 End of Term Report

[victor2vt]

I can only suggest you find a dealer who has one you can test drive, if you're looking for a lot more space than a saloon, try the Avant.

I have owned a lot of BMs in the past and did get bored, the Audi was a refreshing change, so much so an Audi will be my next car

[P_G]

There is no doubt the E39 M5 is a bigger car, however I can get my better half, two kids aged 3 and 7 months plus all associated buggies and kit in my RS4 Avant and get to Centrparcs or wherever in comfort with minimal fuss and no one is cramped.

[PetrolDave]

I have no problem getting me & my wife plus numerous suitcases(!) and 100+ bottles of wine back from the south of France in my RS4 Avant.

IMHO rear seat legroom is the weakest area, but with your two aged 5 and 0 that shouldn't trouble you for a few years, and if you really need more room for cases etc you can always put something like an Audi or Thule roofbox onto the Avant.

[victor2vt]

I have no problem getting me & my wife plus numerous suitcases(!) and 100+ bottles of wine back from the south of France in my RS4 Avant.

IMHO rear seat legroom is the weakest area, but with your two aged 5 and 0 that shouldn't trouble you for a few years, and if you really need more room for cases etc you can always put something like an Audi or Thule roofbox onto the Avant.

Next time you go to the South of France put a roofbox full of wine on for me please PetrolDave

[PetrolDave]

I have no problem getting me & my wife plus numerous suitcases(!) and 100+ bottles of wine back from the south of France in my RS4 Avant.

IMHO rear seat legroom is the weakest area, but with your two aged 5 and 0 that shouldn't trouble you for a few years, and if you really need more room for cases etc you can always put something like an Audi or Thule roofbox onto the Avant.

Next time you go to the South of France put a roofbox full of wine on for me please PetrolDave

Seems I wasn't clear enough - IF I used a roofbox (which I haven't had to yet(!)) the wine would go in the car and the clothes in the roofbox.

The maximum roof loading would soon be exceeded by wine!

[victor2vt]

So you put "my" 100 bottles of wine in the car and "your" dozen bottles and clothes in the roofbox...............................come on it's not rocket science

[Dom81]

I often take the family (inc 2 kids 10 & 12) to France without a roofbox, but in can come in handy for the wine as Dave says - or next time perhaps the children!

Opinion differs but I'm convinced that buckets give less rear legroom, especially at the base. What's certain is that they're harder to turn round in to check on little ones, so you might want to consider Recaros as an option

[victor2vt]

Dom, i wouldn't make a decision on seats just for the sake of 2 weeks or so of the year

Either use the wife's car, if it's suitable, or hire something for your holidays

I find my buckets SO comfortable

[drcarrera]

Opinion differs but I'm convinced that buckets give less rear legroom, especially at the base. What's certain is that they're harder to turn round in to check on little ones, so you might want to consider Recaros as an option

You definitely get more rear legroom with Recaros compared with the buckets. I looked at this closely when I was buying as I regularly need to get two adults in the rear and with the buckets there simply wasn't the space behind the driver's seat if I was comfortable.

[Dom81]

Dom, i wouldn't make a decision on seats just for the sake of 2 weeks or so of the year

Either use the wife's car, if it's suitable, or hire something for your holidays

I find my buckets SO comfortable

The thing is that I have a family all year round, and the other car's a Prius! Each to their own, I just went for a small bit of convenience in an otherwise totally indulgent purchase...

[Dom81]

You definitely get more rear legroom with Recaros

Believe me - there are plenty of people who disagree. Not sure how / why, but the debate's been had many times. Like you, I measured first...

[shawg]

Thanks for all your replied, test drove a black saloon at Aylesford Audi on Saturday and loved it, wish i could of had it for a bit longer with no sales guy but then i bet everybody does.
Been doing some more reading today and heart is now set on a Sprint Blue saloon ( I have a VW Transporter if i really need the extra room ).

Will now start my search for the right car.
Thanks again or your comments and hope to be joining the club, properly,,in the next few weeks

[Grazer_skredge]

I upgraded from an Impreza STI to an 07 RS4 saloon in Sprint Blue back in Sept, and regularly use it to go from Midlands to Surrey to see family. Fits my 3 boys (10, 8, 5) in the back (just) and quiet and secure on the motorway. Yet, when Im on my own its more than happy to go like stink (very deceptively fast) and is every bit as much fun as the STI was without any of the drama.

You wont regret it.

Post some pics up when you get yours.

GS

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RS4 Sprint Blue Saloon. Revo