looking for an RS4........

4.2 V8 32v Naturally Aspirated - 414 bhp
kaplaah
Neutral
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:10 pm

looking for an RS4........

Post by kaplaah » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:21 pm

Hi there, after a little bit of help really........

I'm toying with the idea of buying an RS4. I've been doing a lot of research like i do with every performance car i buy and seemed to notice that these cars seem to have a few problems.
Since scanning through, i've not really found any positive feed back apart from how they sound :D and i was wandering if you guys could post some more positive feed back :)
I've just sold one of my cars and am in the process of selling my second. I've been a bit hit and miss with whether to take the plunge on the RS4 after the stories i've read on here......so i'd like a bit of help :)

My last two cars have been an s-type and a TVR T350. Both have done there jobs fantastically well. I tend to rack up a fair few miles commuting from abroad and i've been on the look out for something that sits in the middle of those two and the Audi and both the M5 are the cars i'm interested in. The audi is the car i really want having driven both, but i'm a bit put off by the suspension problems and various other bits i've read on here. They sound like a little bit of hard work which is not what i'm after. :(

Hopefully you guys can help a little bit :)

dominic1
2nd Gear
Posts: 133
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2010 3:56 pm

RE: looking for an RS4........

Post by dominic1 » Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:07 pm

i will chip in first

i have had my car B7 RS4 red (the best colour) avant for about 6 months, ............ its brill it can go under the radar or it can be as wild as you want , it get looks from the right people in the know and gets left alone but the muppets out there. i can carry the dog the wife the kids the bikes the shopping............... but on my own i be the kid that lives in all of us and have a scream, for all accounts it is one of the best cars i have been in, i am 41 so i have had a few. and the sounds......................

I have had no problems with my car but it had just had new dics and pads all round before i bought it, i did spend quite a lot of time looking for the right one, i am sure that all cars of this type, ie M5 M3 Rs4/6 have problems from time to time , they are a high performance motor car but you just hope that with a brand like audi they get it right most of the time.

All in all its the best thing i ever did (car wise) hope this helps, if you live near rochdale and want to see mine please feel free to pm me , but its not for sale

Konrad
Neutral
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2010 7:54 am
Location: Estonia

Re: looking for an RS4........

Post by Konrad » Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:11 pm

kaplaah wrote: Since scanning through, i've not really found any positive feed back apart from how they sound :D and i was wandering if you guys could post some more positive feed back :)
This is going to be a long post, but Ive come across "some" positive feedback. Dont gorge on all of it at once ;) :
various sources wrote: One of the best cars in the world with more space in the back. Questions? - Top Gear Magazine

This Audi is a very very nice place to be and that 4wd system, after all of our 2wd lairyness, suddenly to have that security, that planted feel - it does make sence - Richard Hammond

It may have been around for a couple of years, but I have to say, its still marvelous. This Audi is a very, very good car - James May

It was the first Audi for 15 years with steering that feels connected and suspension that doesn’t shake your hair out. And then there’s the engine. Oh God, the engine. It’s a masterpiece, as peerless as the Koh-i-Noor.
Ive got a suspicion that Im sitting about 4 feet from the greatest engine ever made.
This the 1st Audi Ive ever driven that rides properly, yes its firm, but its not uncomfortable.
This car really handles and really goes.
Its biblicly good, it really is.
- Jeremy Clarkson

In reviews, we found that the RS4's handling was near perfect, with the sort of steely composure that remains undaunted no matter what. Acceleration was explosive, shifts were quick and a broad torque band ensured that there was ample power underfoot for all situations. In testing, we measured a 0-60-mph time of just 4.3 seconds. - Edmunds.com

Audi should be forced – by the Government and the motoring journalists’ guild – to offer counselling for RS4 withdrawal symptoms. Almost anything that I ever drive from here-on-in will always be just that little bit less than the RS4 was. - Car Advice

Please feel very envious. Without doubt the most amazing every day machine on the road. - Crumpet, Car Advice comment

The Audi RS4 is the automotive equivalent of a tuxedo wearing secret agent. Its comfortable mingling with the upp curst, but always ready dish out a punishing blow to some anonymous goon - Kelly Blue Book

You get finally, finally, perfect suspesion in an A4. Unleash 420 hoursepower in the middle of the corner and it just deals with it. You are looking at Audis best car ever. - Automobilemag

Thru the slalom the Audi RS4 demonstrated almost telepathic responses and an ability to go exactly where it was pointed. The car offers a near perfect tradeoff between ride and handling. 70k dollars is a lot of money for any car, but the Audi RS4-s combination of serious performance, everyday useability, striking looks and many ammenities make a very compelling case. - Edmunds Inside Line

I honestly believe that my week on those roads in the RS4 was the most exhilarating driving experience Ive had in more than 20 years - David E. Davis, Winding Road Magazine

This two-ton all-wheel driver can safely carry more speed through a corner than you can handle.
There aren’t enough superlatives (or space) to properly describe the vulgar joy of driving an RS4 - The Truth About Cars
There is NO practical reason to get this car, and this is a part of what makes it so great. - comment

Nobody needs a car this fast. Nobody needs a .44 Desert Eagle automatic either… But they are both something you would rather have than the other guy.

The Audi RS4, especially in its sleeper Avant estate guise, comes as close to the template of the ultimate all round performance car as anything we can think of. - Compucars

Much stiffer than any other A4-based car, the RS4 nevertheless rides well enough to be convincing as a semi-luxury car. - drive.com.au

The ‘perfect car’? For the money it could well be. For diehard BMW drivers the new M3 will be the one to have, while sports car snobs will pay the premium for the Porsche, Aston or Maserati badge. But for those who just want to go from A to B on the twistiest roads possible, in the shortest possible time, there’s nothing better than the RS4. - Classic Driver

I drove both a 2010 S4 and the RS4 back to back on the same evening at the same dealership. About the same price - you can see where I landed. 2010 was nice but almost "too" nice. The electronic gadgets were cool but the driving experience of the RS4 won me over. - AudiWorld comment

I test drove both back to back. The RS4 was an "experience", the S4 was a test drive. - AudiWorld comment

In terms of driver involvement, it remains one of the best quattro models ever – the sharp handling, agility and breathtaking traction made it a stern rival to the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 AMG. Despite excellent body control, there’s a suppleness to the suspension that means the Audi isn’t as hard to live with as you might expect. - Auto Express

To top all that off I bundled the missus and kids in to go out for the day and it was more comfortable than the family Focus! It really is everything I'd hoped RS ownership would be. - www.rs246.com owner comment

Yes, the RS4 is everything you say, and MORE !! - www.rs246.com owner comment reply

Agreed with all the above Wink - www.rs246.com owner comment reply

You are wrong if you feel RS4 has rough ride quality. Audi engineers have recalibrated RS4’s suspension, springs and shocks to provide equally comfortable ride as its amazing handling characteristics. While its ride quality is sports car-firm, it doesn’t jerk through every bumps and holes as with many sports cars, thanks to the advanced Dynamic Ride Control (DRC). This RS4 could possibly the world’s best supersedan right now. As it combines daily practicality and drivability, without losing the hard-edged dynamics and rocket-like performance to back up its sporty looks. When you consider its price vs performance compares to many performance cars, you can hardly find a better deal than this! - Direct Shift

What's even more amazing is how comfortable the RS4's ride is. Yes, it's firm, but it's not painful. The RS4 may handle like a race car, but it sure doesn't ride like one. You gotta love those German engineers -- they may not be much for easy-to-use stereos, but they sure know how to create a superior suspension. - About.com:cars

But if you're looking for the ultimate family-friendly driver's car, then by all means buy the Audi RS4. The RS4 goes like stink, corners like a racing car and makes noises that'll make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. Driving it is darn close to a religious experience. When it comes to sport sedans, the RS4 is simply as good as it gets. -- Aaron Gold

Whatever the reasons for the choice, they're good; the RS4 is a supercar that's as easy to drive as a Nissan Micra. The engine has a typical V8 throb but it isn't rumbly or lazy like the American variety. And the RS4 adds excitement and agility to the safety and stability that generations of quattro drivers have been able to take for granted.- motoring.co.za

You can stroke the RS4 along on the torque, short-shifting up through the six-speed 'box, missing out the odd-numbered gears if you want. The gearshift is wonderfully tactile - firm, slick, positive. Indeed, the whole car feels taut, slack-free and solidly muscular, yet it's not harsh or nervous. RS4 lunges forward hard, which is exciting enough, but most people have no idea that there's a second, more stunning shove to come. At around 6000rpm, just when it should all be winding down, the V8 kicks again and fizzes to the redline. It's awe-inspiring.
It's this composure and precision at a saunter that makes the RS4 such a satisfying car to run. Practically perfect, in fact. Everyone who bagged a ride was amazed by its pace and composure, its uncanny ability to smooth out the bumps and carry speed where other cars would be getting nervous. It's very flattering, yet also engaging and entertaining.
An engineer friend accurately described its driveline as ‘punishing’; if you don’t take care to match revs and smooth the clutch engagement you’re in for a jerky ride. Meanwhile, Mrs B, whose interest in cars matches mine in shoes, quickly got the measure of the RS4 and drives it with commendable smoothness. It was only a 20-minute run but it took in a familiar and notoriously tricky B-road near the office. The RS4 demolished it; steam-rollered it flat and straightened it out, and at a pace that left me in awe. While the V8 gave it the grunt to make every mile of the track exciting, it was its accuracy, neutrality and, most of all, its unflappable poise over the trickiest, bumpiest sections that I admired most. - EVO Magazine

Its high-revving, normally aspirated V-8 engine accelerates like the Energizer bunny: it keeps going and going and going. The acceleration is so linear and consistent that it feels as if the Audi is strapped to a jet at takeoff. The terms "perfect" and "near-impeccable" popped up repeatedly when testers described the firm but never harsh ride. "The RS4 has a balance of damping, wheel travel, and body control that is rarely achieved by any manufacturer in a car at this performance level," enthused Noordeloos. "Despite nineteen-inch wheels, the ride quality almost makes the 3-series feel like a truck." More than a couple of staff members complimented the RS4's combination of a superb powerplant, brilliant dynamics, Quattro all-wheel drive, an impressive interior, and everyday livability while declaring that no other vehicle is as sure-footed or comes close to matching the RS4 as a high-performance, all-around, all-weather four-seater. "It's not very often that we get emotional about a long-term car leaving, but the RS4's departure brings a tear to the motor gopher department's eye. I am really going to miss this car." So, yes, Audi's new whiz-bang rocket ship isn't perfect. That's part of its charm. - Automobile Magazine

The intelligent all-wheel-drive system with slight rear-wheel bias, that strong V-8, and the clever combination of suspension compliance and ride-motion control held sway over its rivals. The engine is never in the wrong gear, and the RS 4 is always an extension of the driver's hands and feet. - Car and Driver

The Audi is first and foremost, an Audi - all suavely understated testosterone, micron-thin panel gaps, hewn-from-solid-granite cabin architecture and to-die-for 414 bhp naturally aspirated V8 sophistication. Beneath the executive comforts and posh-car kudos lies the most focused driving machine with four doors Audi has ever made. - Autocar mai 2010

Unrelenting acceleration, infallible brakes, responsive and precise steering and exceptional overall stability make the Audi RS4 an ideal daily driver and a weekend track car. - CarTV.com

Audi's RS4 is the ultimate wolf in sheep's clothing. A sensible station wagon packing a 4.2L V8 and AWD gives you a daily driver second to none! And oh, what a noise! - www.supercarclub.com
Hope that helps you out a bit :)

SimonG
2nd Gear
Posts: 138
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:06 pm

Post by SimonG » Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:05 pm

Don't do it you will get bored of;
1) the envious looks from those in the know
2)the constant leaning forward to mute the stereo and put the window down
3)the hit at 5000rpm
4) the theatre of starting up and reversing out of the garage
5) the whining of the children - 'make the noise daddy'
6) the crooked neck from and wry smile when you look back after parking - front,rear or sides - 'that's a car'

They have some issues - that are extremely well documented on this site and answered by very knowledgable people (I just about know how to check the basics )

Finally I am 44 , had a B7RS4 until 3 years ago and have just returned because it does all what others have said , the above and I can take the kids and dog in it

RS6chris!
Cruising
Posts: 3845
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 8:55 pm
Location: North East(Teesside).

Post by RS6chris! » Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:32 pm

Love the above comment about the "crooked neck and wry smile" thats exactly what i do when ive parked it and walk away!!! lol...
Panamera Turbo S e hybrid (again)
RS6 C8 carbon black(merlin)
Panamera Turbo S e hybrid
RS6 C8 launch edition
R8 V10 plus
C7 RS6 PE dynamic pack plus
C7 RS6
Porsche Panamera Turbo
C6 RS6 AVANT
RS4 B7
Golf R32 mk 5
BMW M3 E46
Golf R32 mk 5
Golf GTI mk 5
VW Passat 130d 4 motion
VW bora 150pd
Ford Mondeo Ghia X V6
Ford Focus zetec
Rover 214!!

User avatar
wellzieRS4
4th Gear
Posts: 587
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:51 pm

Post by wellzieRS4 » Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:53 pm

I have had loads of trouble with mine since day one but most of it got fixed under warranty, it hasn't put me off i love it its the best car i have had. i had loads of common problems with my M5 E39. Get one thay are great. im 34 with 2 kids

kaplaah
Neutral
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:10 pm

Post by kaplaah » Sat Oct 23, 2010 12:26 am

haha, i've read most of those snippets :). i've watched every review under the sun regarding this car, i watched every documented drive on tv, i've done 2 half hour test drives is one.

The thing is, the reason i'm selling the tvr is because of the kind of niggles that the RS4 keeps cropping up with. along with the 6k service intervals which crop up every 2 months or so. The other reason being i have no where to store it as i've just moved in to an apartment with no parking/garage.

as its going to be my only car and for my work, i cant really afford for it to be going in and out the garage on a regular basis thats all......

maintaining it is not a problem. i've been a bit of a loon when it comes to checking the tvr. pretty much every time i drive it. and with high performance cars you cant really afford to mess about with maintaining them.

do you guys use them everyday or are they second cars?

also, do you guys run the cars with a warranty? if so, who with?

i'm 23 btw :) and it will be racking up about 30-40k a year probably......

User avatar
kay
3rd Gear
Posts: 484
Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:23 pm
Location: yorkshire

Post by kay » Sat Oct 23, 2010 12:25 pm

Konrad, Uve done really well to put all that together. Well done. I'm gonna print it off and put it in my rs4 folder!
B7 RS4 saloon Sprint blue facelifted. BMC AIR FILTER, 8mm REAR SPACERS, H &R lowering springs, NON RES VALVED MILTEK...(current)
Subaru Impreza P1 modded..330bhp (4yrs)
Merc 190e 2.5 16v cosworth..black with full black heated leather recaros ..200bhp (5yrs)
Cavalier 2.0 Sri 130bhp (5yrs)

P_G
Cruising
Posts: 8249
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:25 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Post by P_G » Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:02 pm

Mine is a daily runner and apart from servicing, it has been in for warrantied work 5 times in 3.5 years. Twice for brake discs, once for new exhaust back boxes, once for new front DRC and once for the oil cooler recall. Had the battery recall done during a service. Total time in dealers apart from servicing; 4 days, 7 days including servicing.

Better than any other marque I have had and only bettered by my S3 and S4 by about a day.

DRC issues are overhyped; yes it does happen but there is a fix and the fix to date works. My own theory, these cars like to be drivena nd some mechanical symptay and it will treat you well.

gmarks1
Neutral
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 4:28 pm

Post by gmarks1 » Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:18 pm

Kaplah - Audis are recognised as being amongst the best if not the best built cars available - the B7 RS4 is no exception; it's funny hearing a TVR owner raising concerns about reliability of an Audi (don't get me wrong, I love TVRs, but the RS4 will be leagues ahead in terms of built quality and reliability) Yes they have certain weak points, but all cars do.

I won't be using my RS4 everyday (collect it on Monday!) - I have a big engined diesel for thumping up and down the motorway, and that was my thought when I read your post. At 23, doing 30-40,000 miles per year, are you sure that an RS4 is the right car for you. Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar all offer large engined diesels with long service intervals which are much more suited to what you have in mind. Can the RS4 do what you want; of course - but it will be expensive - in terms of petrol, brakes, servicing etc not to mention insurance. Not suggesting for a moment that you can't afford it, but do you want to? I am sure you will love the car if you choose to go ahead - given your research you are obviously an enthusiast. Many years ago a had a BMW M3 Evo which I did 50,000 miles in 18 months - did it no problem, but expensive, and by the end, the car was worth buttons.

Gary

IMO a warranty would be essential for big mileages.

kaplaah
Neutral
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:10 pm

Post by kaplaah » Sat Oct 23, 2010 4:59 pm

i thought about the diesel for all of about 5 mins ;)
i enjoy driving, spend a lot of time in a car and liked to be entertained which is why. Money isnt a problem for me, i was just wondering how you guys run them. i've ran the tvr with out a warranty and its been fine. i've racked up 8,000 miles in 2 months in it and it never missed a beat. 1,000 of those being in a 24 hour period. when i bought it it had a few niggles, but once they were addressed i've had no problems. I brought it as a second car though so wasn't to worried about the niggles etc.....i had planned for them.
The Audi will be being bought purely for driving pleasure, practicality and i'm hoping reasonable to very good reliabilty. The Jag i had was for motorway thumping, was brilliant, cost me next to nothing apart from the fuel in the tank a set of tyres and a set of brakes in 3 years.
Ended up driving an M5 the other day and would like to say what a car. but a very dangerous car. I didnt feel safe in it at all. Before you comment on that i mean that in a driving sense. The car just feels far to fast and big for country roads and after driving the audi and the tvr the same day i just didnt feel comfortable driving at speed in it on small roads. to much technology and not enough response. was playing playing on my playstation's steering wheel and pedals.
It's made me sway towards the RS4 even more. I've come to the conclusion i'm just going to have to take the plunge and hope it goes reasonably well.
I'll let you know how it goes with the high mileage.

drcarrera
3rd Gear
Posts: 360
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:47 pm
Location: Dorset

Post by drcarrera » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:05 pm

I've had my car for over three years, and it's been pretty good regards problems. Not faultless, but not bad either, and no worse than my wife's Merc or the Porker I had previously, and considerably better than the BMW 5-series we had which spent more time in the dealer for electrical problems than in our garage - and it was brand new!
Chris

06 Daytona RS4 Avant (B7)

P_G
Cruising
Posts: 8249
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:25 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Post by P_G » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:16 pm

BTW I have probably racked up near 20 k miles since the warranty expeired and whilst I keep touching wood I have had no faults with my car and I doubt I would have many that were covered under warranty rather then wear and tear anyway.

User avatar
Terry1948
4th Gear
Posts: 512
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:08 pm
Location: Suffolk

Post by Terry1948 » Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:39 pm

I can say it is the best car I have driven by that I also mean the most sensible aswell. I was going to go for a 911 turbo as I have always wanted one but my wife insisted on a sensible car and I have no regrets my car has had only two faults in 4 years of ownership power flap & solenoid. I have had no problems with DRC. I will not be taking warranty out in the 5th year. I only wish I was 23!! Buy a good one and enjoy.

pauly-b
1st Gear
Posts: 94
Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 5:44 pm
Location: Sunny Cheshire...

Post by pauly-b » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:19 pm

Best car I've owned by a country mile - Make sure you take your time and get the right car - there are good ones out there just avoid the rubbish!

I'm dying to know the insurance quote for an RS4 at 23 ;-)

Post Reply

Return to “RS4 (B7 Typ 8E) 2006–2008”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 113 guests