RS4 1st drive - steering/brakes question

[f1ash]

Hello. I've been trawling through the site for some weeks now and am on the verge of buying a B5 RS4.
Just took one out for a test drive... very nice it was too

As I don't have another RS4 to compare it to I just have a couple of questions I need advice on:

Steering
The steering felt fine around the corners but a little strange to me when driving in a straight line. Any slight turn of the wheel was met by quite a bit of resistance with the steering wheel feeling like it just wanted to return to centre the whole time. It also tramlined a lot and followed the camber of the road - so pulled left on typical B roads. I don't know what tyres it had on but does this sound normal?
I'm think it may just be because I'm not used to such wide front tyres?

Brakes
Do RS4 brakes have much servo assistance, if any? I know the standard brakes aren't all that great but these needed some serious thigh power to do anything and didn't actually seem to get much better when I was pressing really hard. I am used to relatively under-servo'd brakes, having come from a Boxster S, but these didn't inspire much confidence. Does this sound normal too or could they be in need of new pads and or discs?

Any comments much appreciated!

[derdle]

Tramlining is typical - but normally a sympton of worn tyres. New tyres with decent shoulders are fine. As you say, wide tyres are prone to this sort of thing anyway. Some tyres worse than others.

The brakes give lots of feel and do need a reasonable amount of effort (it's a mans car!!!!).The stock brakes are prone to fade if the car is pushed hard and many owners upgrade them as a matter of course. As for whether your example needs new pads and discs only an inspection of the components will tell. Personally I really like the feel of the braking system - so much better than the over servo'd brakes on so mnay cars nowadays.

Whereabouts are you based? - another member may be able to offer you a "feel" of his brakes!!

Paul

[f1ash]

Cheers for your comments Paul.

I certainly don't mind heavy brakes - as long as they do the business! Just wasn't all that confident that they would during the test drive.

I'm more concerned with the steering to be honest though.
I'm fine with the tramlining as a consequence of the wide tyres but what do you think about the steering feel I mentioned (always wanting to pull itself back to the centre line) - is this normal on an RS4? It's the only car I've ever experienced this in. Just hoping it's not a fault with this car.

I'm in West Sussex by the way.

[bakerdcb]

Have to agree with Paul. Worn tyres give exactly the symptoms you describe and some of those without the extra load rating also do the same. Easily cured with the right rubber. Most operations on the RS4 are heavier than on other cars, clutch, steering, brakes etc. but they should still work OK. When I first test drove one I didn't think the standard brakes were that inadequate for most driving conditions just not up to lots of fast driving or track use. If they don't pull you up pretty smartish, even in standard form most likely the discs/pads are not up to scratch but that's perfect for upgrading anyway. . . .well if you've got to spend money

[f1ash]

Yeah I'm sure you're right - which is good news. Having read up on what tyres people are using, the symptoms seem to be the norm. B7 brakes do sound good...

So, that's at least a couple of grand I've spent so far on tyres and brakes and I haven't even got onto a chip or exhaust, let alone actually buy the car yet

[f1ash]

Went for another test drive today in an MTM'd beast

To be honest the standard car I drove didn't actually feel quicker than my Boxster S but the MTM'd beast certainly did have some shove. Shame the gears crunched, the clutch shuddered, steering wheel wasn't on straight and torque steered like a b1tch!

[neckarsulm]

Tyres are VERY important f1ash as everyone else says, my car was a really pig when I put the 3/5 worn back tyres on the front, with brand new rubber all round it does not wander at 140 (in Germany..ahem).
My brand new OE brakes don't feel great around town etc but this is the trade off for them feeling good under hard use when other brakes would have faded away.
Standard car may have issues as it should feel quicker than Boxster S

[f1ash]

Apparently the first car I drove had brand new rubber so there must have been another issue.

Drove the other? denim blue one and an Avus one yesterday and yes, they are quicker than the porker They also drove perfectly.

I just love that denim blue! But I've put a deposit down on the silver one with lower miles and should get it by the end of the month

I'm now like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas!

[derdle]

they are quicker than the porker

Should think so too!

I remember the time waiting to pick up my RS4. It was the longest two weeks of my life......but worth the wait.

Paul

[Jules]

Hi Flash
I too am hunting high and low for a low mileage rs4 but there are so few about, we must be looking at similar cars,which is the mtm one you test drove that you were not keen on as i dont want to test drive the same car.I have the money burning in my pocket but don't want to rush out and buy the wrong one.
Cheers Julian

[f1ash]

Hi Julian. The red one is at a van dealer in Maidenhead area (AKB?) and has done 80k+ miles, it's on Autotrader for around £23k. I wouldn't pay £15k for it!

I'm buying mine from Nick Johnson - he has a few listed on autotrader and pistonheads at the mo and is always moving stock of B5 RS4s. He's a very friendly guy that knows these cars well so is worth contacting. I'm buying his 46k miler. There's also a 54k miler at Southampton Audi that looks great but I found the steering to be not quite right. There's another on pistonheads I was interested in with 54k miles for £24k that sounds good with 9 or 10 months Mondial/Audi warranty left, but I haven't seen it.

Ashley

[Jules]

Hi Ashley
Thanks for the advice,i'll steer clear of the red one,Enjoy yours when you get it and i'll keep you posted how i get on.
Julian