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Like many of you I have considered the upgrade to the b7 RS4, which is very tempting. However, after reading the numerous reviews, I personally don't see any particular reason for upgrading, given my budget, city driving style and only 25,000 mile on the clock, except for possibly the benifit of new safety features.

The question is, in an accident is the b7 any safer?

I know the chasis is meant to be stiffer but does it make that much difference in say a 60 mph crash?

Both have front and curtain air bags but b7 has no side air bags.

Anyone have any thoughts on this matter or crash experiences with the b5?

I think the B5 was pretty poor... 3 star or something? The B7 must be quite a bit safer? All newer cars are much better I think?

Depending on seats then the B7 will have side airbags. My S4 has front/rear side and curtain airbags. So I see no reason why a RS4 should not have them

The b7 with the bucket seats does not have the side airbags, apparently it does not need them because the seats are so protective!

ZeroK66 wrote:I think the B5 was pretty poor... 3 star or something? The B7 must be quite a bit safer? All newer cars are much better I think?

I'm not quite sure what to think of this star rating system. For example, all Audis from the b5 era rate at 3 star except for the A3 which rates at 4 star. I assume constuction/engineering techniques are very similar for all models, yet they rate very differently. The new A3 (2003) which is presumably stronger still has the same rating.

I've noticed a model will lose a star simply if the dummys knee bashes a facia such as with the new A3 (and most new models) or it is determined that the seat belt pull back too tightly and marks the chest. This seems to happen with Audis and other makes with seat belt pre-tensioners, though I thought this was a safety feature??

It all seems a little arbitrary to me and not really a good measure of the structural integrity of the chasis.