R32 to RS4 - plus help wanted

[Surfjunkie197]

Hey All,

New here and have just (after 18 months of abstinence) put a deposit on an 07 RS4 Avant today. I have been out in the cold winter weather today marveling at my R32s grip and since its been a few months since I drove an RS4 I can only imagine what its like as I remember it being so much better than the golf especially the steering feedback and lack of understeer. Has anyone else changed up / down between these two cars and what are our thoughts. I will be sad to see the R32 go and guess I am wondering if all the cash and worry now I have done the deal that the car has issues etc as the Golf has given me no hassle. I will not be able to sleep tonight....

Couple of questions

1. What should happen when I press the sports button - the buyers guide in EVO this month mentions a "rush of sound".... ? is this at idle or driving?

2. How can I tell if the car is putting out the bhp it is meant to as have heard they all dont pull the same?

3. This car has low mileage and I have heard this causes issues, is there anyway to check engine?

4. DRC issues - how do you check or what does it sound / feel like?

and lastly is it worth getting an inspection as it is still under warranty or can you take these to an Audi dealer if pre arranged and run a diagnostics check etc or are the AA knowledgeable enough and car specific when they do this.

Help much appreciated. Cheers.

[CalifB7RS4]

You didn't say of you have a MKIV or MKV R32, I owned a MKIV R32 for 4 years. The RS4 understeers quite a bit more than an R32 but, power/speed wise there is no comparison between the 2.

My friend who has built many championship winning Cosworth BDA's (4 cylinders) remarked how fast the R32 VR6 revved when I took him for a ride. After riding in the RS4 he was blown away. When I told him that the piston speed was 82 feet/second@8250RPM he FREAKED! and told me I had better keep the oil changed.

You will notice the Quattro system has more drag than a Haldex AWD in sharp cornering but, the RS4 is quite a bit faster than a R32 even with the substantial understeer (or "push" as us Hillbillies say in the USA.) The motor has a way wider powerband than a VR6 and you can continue to wind it out between corners rather than shifting up to the next higher gear. The intervals between fuel stops is pretty frequent and you need to keep up on oil level checks on a RS4.

The RS4 eats tires and they run about double what a R32 tire set runs. Dealers are much more reputable to deal with on service matters.

No regrets on leaving the R32 family.

[klauster]

I had the Mk IV R32 as well for a couple of years, loved the cars looks and it was quite nippy, the RS4 is in a different league power delivery wise... I always felt the Golf ran out of pufftoo quickly... I find I have to lift off in the RS4 way before it runs out of puff

[mark758]

Couple of questions

1. What should happen when I press the sports button - the buyers guide in EVO this month mentions a "rush of sound".... ? is this at idle or driving?

2. How can I tell if the car is putting out the bhp it is meant to as have heard they all dont pull the same?

3. This car has low mileage and I have heard this causes issues, is there anyway to check engine?

4. DRC issues - how do you check or what does it sound / feel like?

and lastly is it worth getting an inspection as it is still under warranty or can you take these to an Audi dealer if pre arranged and run a diagnostics check etc or are the AA knowledgeable enough and car specific when they do this.

Help much appreciated. Cheers.

1. Sports gives you a more aggressive throttle response and opens some valves in the exhaust system to make it louder.

2. You can put it on a rolling road but results will always be at best inconclusive Best way to test the car is healthy is access to some private road and a racelogic timing box and measure against quoted performance times. Use good petrol and oil.

3. Not unless you take the manifold off and start peering in As with most performance cars they like longer runs and to be driven as they were designed to be. Shopping runs and pootling round town at any mileage doesn't help.

4. The DRC system will start leaking from the shocks and you will feel/hear suspension banging when it really goes. It's guaranteed by Audi for 5 years but if it's hassle for you £1200 on KW v3 coilovers will fix it for good!

Many more knowledgeable folks than another newbie like me on here who can provide better info but didn't want to leave you floundering

[bye bye]

Hi,

I had a MkV R32 for 8 months before the RS4. I loved the R32 and the only natural progression was the RS4, for me anyway.

All the other questions have been answered so here's my experience.

I've had 20 cars in as many years driving including fast Audis and a Boxster S. The RS4 is my favourite by far as it's so versatile. Small van, sports car and family car all in one.

Certainly in the dry the RS4 is loads quicker to drive than the R32 and grips and grips. In the wet, as I've leant in the last couple of days, you need to be pretty gentle on the gas as things can get squiffy pretty quick. I thought it would be fun to switch off ESP and managed a sideways exit from a T junction....would have looked good from outside the car but inside I pi$$ed myself with nervous laughter.

Ignore the bhp output (mine dyno'd 369bhp and it's quick enough for me) and all other "potential" issues which are constantly up on this site...only worry if you have them.

Enjoy the car.

Mark

[RS6chris!]

Welcome mate,

I had two mk5 R32,S before my RS4 and i,d say if you like VAG products(and i do) it,s the natural progression from R32 to RS4...RS4 kind of like the R32,S older bigger brother..

R32,s are a good car and make a great noise BUT the RS4 is in a different league IMO a lot faster and more mature..and makes a better noise..i honestly can t think of another car i want at the moment..backed up by a 15min blast along some country roads about an hour ago!!!

[zirconium]

I had an mk4 R32 for many years and also test drove many cars including an rs4 before buying the a 335i which is now remapped to 370bhp/420lbs. both cars are great and the sound of the rs4 is awesome.

but the lack of stated power put me off and having owned a mk4 r32 it was expense to get a more bhp/lbs. so for me it was something that had FI built into it.

Shaun

[psg001]

i had a mk4 R32 before the RS4, I was on R32oc, great forum that one.

I've driven the mk5 R32 and that was a good car too.

Like the guys have said above, the R32 is a great car, but compared to the RS4 there is a big step up in terms of performance, I only changed the R32 because it wasnt fast enough for me, but saying this it was quite quick. One of the main reasons I changed the car was the negative reaction I got from other drivers in hatchbacks, esp people in clios and civic type Rs. They always wanted to race me which was very annoying.

anyway, back to the RS4, it doesnt get that much negative attention, most people dont bother trying it on because they know they will get a spanking! its very quick, and with a milltek (had a milltek on the R32) its just perfect and this modification perfectly finishes off the car. Its lovely inside and looks great from the outside, its comfortable and only slightly more thirsty than the R32 (depends how you drive of course!)

the RS4 is a perfect car to move onto from the R32, the R32 was so good it was a tough choice as to what car would replace it for me. I tried out a 911 (997) C2S and a new M3 as well as the RS4 and the RS4 impressed me the most, hence why i got it.

powerwise, there are lots of report about lack of bhp on the RR, drive it and see what you think. I've driven two and been for a passenger ride in one other and they all felt just as fast as each other, also all felt significantly faster than my dads E46 M3 and just as quick as my friends C63 amg. subjective I know but I think they are bloody quick cars. If you drive it and dont feel the thing is pulling hard well into 3 figures and beyond then something aint right. It should feel much faster than the r32


PS. where u based, am sure a friendly RS246er with an RS4 could give you a refresher

[Surfjunkie197]

Thanks guys, feedback appreciated and it is nice to finally own one of those (almost as get it on Monday). Previous car was a mark V R32 with bucket seats etc and bought it 10 months ago as it was a bit like an RS4s little brother but it doesnt have the thrust that the RS4 had or the steering feel. TBH no matter what I buy I know I have always wanted an RS4 Avant......I used to see them in the ski resorts in Scotland (RS2) when I was younger and I always loved them. I now cant wait to get it and I hope it lives up to its billing.

[max_b]

well done mate, you'll love the rs4, I went from the rs4 backwards to the r32 as I was hardly using my rs4 and I needed a run around, thinking the R32 would be the closest 'backwards' replacement..........it's like chalk and cheese, dont be fooled thinking theres only small differences between the two. Its only when you come out of the 4 do you realise what your missing, so much so my replacement will have to be in the format of a R8 or a v10 M6 to mainly try and replace the fab noise the v8 made in the rs4!

enjoy

[bluenosewrx]

TBH i cant realy tell any difference with the sports button pressed, feel the seats tighten slightly but no real surge in sound etc, although i have only had mine a day,lol

its brilliant and refined and power is so accessable and linear, then again i came from a 340BHHP/400lbs scooby,lol

Mac

[aidanjaye]

At around the 5500 rev mark, they feel a tad sharper with the sport button pressed. Also there should be a noticable diff in noise even at idle (unless yours has had the baffle mod)

[bluenosewrx]

Will explore this further today, dont think i have had it much past 5000 tbh.

Mac

[booski]

Will explore this further today, dont think i have had it much past 5000 tbh.

Mac

have fun exploring 5-8,000 rpm thats where the magic happens

[aidanjaye]

Will explore this further today, dont think i have had it much past 5000 tbh.

Mac

Your in for a treat - 4500 rpm onwards with the sports button pressed will allow you to feel the "kick" at 5500 rpm. And watch you don't bounce off the limiter - I have done several times without meaning it.