Another B5 v B7 RS4 topic

[Norrs2]

As a B5 RS4 owner, I've generally shunned the B7 for lack of turbo punch, without actually ever having a drive of a B7 (based on various forum opinions)

However, after helping a friend and colleague procure a very lovely Sprint Blue saloon, and getting to sample it, I have to admit, I'm smitten, totally!!! What an incredible drive/sound/handling car!!!!!!! It's amazing!!!! I want one!!!

Don't get me wrong, the B5 still floats my boat, and I'll probably hang on to it for as long as possible, as it is very quick (430bhp spec), but the B7 is so special to drive!

I now understand!!!! You lucky gits!!

[neckarsulm]

Before I start and potentially get peoples backs up, both are great cars and these are my opinions, you are welcome to yours too

The B5 doesn't have an awful lot else going for it apart from that amazing jet plane like acceleration which is gives you a head rush, especially on a modded car but even on a standard one it's addictive, also it revs out pretty well for a turbo car so it's a very large power band.

However the way the B7 picks up speed at the top end is arguably even more addictive but it takes a while to get a feel for where the power is and how to get the best of it - lets face it revving a V8 to 8000rpm is unnatural! Plus you have a hugely superior chassis - if you like driving fast and safely on British A and B roads then nothing can touch it, the B5 didn't seem to have been developed thoroughly enough to handle our rutted road network so it soon falls apart when pressed on anything other than smooth roads. Even the huge brakes on the B5 aren't a match for the Brembos on the B7. Evo mag always go on about steering feel and the B5 (as all Audis were until the B7) is resolutely numb, sure it grips well but doesn't talk to you like a B7.

5 years of progress in the German automotive industry is not to be sniffed at.

Now the B5 power in a B7 chassis would be an interesting combination, I guess the supercharged cars are close to that combo.

[lengster1]

+1

[Norrs2]

Before I start and potentially get peoples backs up, both are great cars and these are my opinions, you are welcome to yours too

The B5 doesn't have an awful lot else going for it apart from that amazing jet plane like acceleration which is gives you a head rush, especially on a modded car but even on a standard one it's addictive, also it revs out pretty well for a turbo car so it's a very large power band.

However the way the B7 picks up speed at the top end is arguably even more addictive but it takes a while to get a feel for where the power is and how to get the best of it - lets face it revving a V8 to 8000rpm is unnatural! Plus you have a hugely superior chassis - if you like driving fast and safely on British A and B roads then nothing can touch it, the B5 didn't seem to have been developed thoroughly enough to handle our rutted road network so it soon falls apart when pressed on anything other than smooth roads. Even the huge brakes on the B5 aren't a match for the Brembos on the B7. Evo mag always go on about steering feel and the B5 (as all Audis were until the B7) is resolutely numb, sure it grips well but doesn't talk to you like a B7.

5 years of progress in the German automotive industry is not to be sniffed at.

Now the B5 power in a B7 chassis would be an interesting combination, I guess the supercharged cars are close to that combo.

Nothing to get anyone's back up there, it's all perfectly true!

As you say, the top end shove you get from using all the revs is very addictive too, but it does require you to work the car harder to extract it and all part of the fun. The only real trump card the B5 has, is that accessibility to the bucket loads of torque low down and I guess the overall tuning capacity. The standard brakes on the B5 do lack, which is why I have the B7 set up on mine, so agree there also.

It's the precise steering though that you notice the most over the B5, it hit me instantly, the ride quality is also a big improvement. DRC still concerns me a little if it keeps going wrong though?

I can only drool at the prospect of a Supercharged B7, that would indeed complete the full monty of massive low down torque too. Still very expensive to fit at the moment (and always will be), and maybe the option of getting one with it already done would be my only feasible option to owning one, but there's still not that many out there.

The new B8 RS4 will indeed have a lot to live up to!! I hope after the "reports" of the RS5 not having the finesse of the B7, that whatever they have re-engineered on the B8 will work better than it is perceived on the RS5, or there's not going to be a lot of point getting rid of your B7's!!

As an all rounder, I can't see the B7 being surpassed any time soon! Great great car and a must have for me at some point, but I still remain very attached to my B5 too, so will probably hold on to it and get a B7 as an addition to the family. Greed or what!

[neckarsulm]

DRC is a pain but that's the price of having a better than S line ride on such a high performance Audi.
I did drive a KWV3 RS4 and I was expecting it to be rubbish - hard, bangy, but it while it sat really low, it rode well and handled even better so all is not lost if DRC is junked - there is a chance it could be even more AWESOME!

[sakimano]

As a B5 RS4 owner, I've generally shunned the B7 for lack of turbo punch, without actually ever having a drive of a B7 (based on various forum opinions)

However, after helping a friend and colleague procure a very lovely Sprint Blue saloon, and getting to sample it, I have to admit, I'm smitten, totally!!! What an incredible drive/sound/handling car!!!!!!! It's amazing!!!! I want one!!!

Don't get me wrong, the B5 still floats my boat, and I'll probably hang on to it for as long as possible, as it is very quick (430bhp spec), but the B7 is so special to drive!

I now understand!!!! You lucky gits!!

should have raced for fun...I think you'd thump him though