New member

[audijohn]

Go for the saloon unless you intend on transporting Dead people, the car is heavy enough without having even more weight of the avant.

Sat Nav, Adaptive lights and Auto lights/wipers are the must haves.

Seconded, saloon the way to go, plenty of space and less weight.

[S4INT]

Go for the saloon unless you intend on transporting Dead people, the car is heavy enough without having even more weight of the avant.

Sat Nav, Adaptive lights and Auto lights/wipers are the must haves.

Seconded, saloon the way to go, plenty of space and less weight.

Cobblers! The avant is the true RS!

[audijohn]

Go for the saloon unless you intend on transporting Dead people, the car is heavy enough without having even more weight of the avant.

Sat Nav, Adaptive lights and Auto lights/wipers are the must haves.

Seconded, saloon the way to go, plenty of space and less weight.

Cobblers! The avant is the true RS!

Eer Ya right.............................

[MEV]

Re the sports suspension plus, I would definitely recommend it. My avant has it and I don't find the ride harsh at all and if you are considering doing a few track days/trips to the 'Ring, then even more reason to find one that has it.

Ill second that ! Superb like its on rails and not to harsh at all. Actually a lot less than a B5 IMO and total quality extra and looks that little bit lower and sleaker. 48 hours in and I cant stop grinning like a kid whose got his first bike:D with 250 on the clock already, trip to Celtic Manor yesterday was a superb run on Mway and A roads with all the clubs for 2 etc in the back of the Avant. Both Saloon and Avant look the biz you cant loose, all about choice as ever. Must haves however on spec IMO are sat nav, square steering wheel. Most others options and colours like optics etc are personal after then and cant see as a resell issue.

[P_G]

I've just picked up an RS4 Avant having driven saloon and Avant. I needed the extra load space, however there is a train of thought that RS models should be Avants as that is their heritage. The other thing you'll find is that residuals on Avants are better as is the case in RS6 saloon vs. Avant.

However it does mean you'll pick up a saloon for cheaper than an Avant; if cost factors into your choice the Avant may prove a wiser investment.

Tech pack (up to MY07 cars, i.e. MY06 cars are those with orange front indicator lenses) covers adaptive Xenons, RNS-E sat nav and phone cradle / bluetooth and is the essential, cool glove box in a nicety, blinds are great but can be retrofitted easily.

SS+ is good for tracks however as said the normal suspension is good as it is. No discernable difference in handling IMO between the two variants.

[rAudiguy]

P_G

interesting point you make there re residuals, I bought an RS6 Avant for that very reason as at the time I felt RS cars should be avants and the saloons would loose money, this turned out to be the case with RS6's but I'm not so sure it will be the same for the RS4. I recently bought a saloon and had to really dig around to find a car from a dealer. in the end my dealer swapped an A5 for it under duress. on the other hand if I had wanted an Avant I had a number of cars I could have gone for. now I know they ceased production of the saloon first so it was always likely there would be less around but I just feel that the saloon will hold it's money as well as an avant in B7 form. I know if they had done a B5 saloon when I ordered my M3 I would probably have gone for that. and I think the sales of B7 saloons has been a big success for Audi. Don't get me wrong I thing the avant is awesome and would happily have one again I just think there are alot of people me included who like the idea of a saloon car, if you don't need a huge boot. the saloon has a great boot and it's safe to leave bit's in too.

On a different note, by experience the biggest down side to an avant is when a thieving gypsy scum bag breaks into your house takes your keys and steels your RS if you have a saloon they can't fit your 50" plasma TV in the boot like they did with my RS6 avant Still only took the police 11months to find her!!! lol

Jim

[MEV]

[quote="rAudiguy"]P_G

interesting point you make there re residuals, I bought an RS6 Avant for that very reason as at the time I felt RS cars should be avants and the saloons would loose money, this turned out to be the case with RS6's but I'm not so sure it will be the same for the RS4. I recently bought a saloon and had to really dig around to find a car from a dealer. in the end my dealer swapped an A5 for it under duress. on the other hand if I had wanted an Avant I had a number of cars I could have gone for. now I know they ceased production of the saloon first so it was always likely there would be less around but I just feel that the saloon will hold it's money as well as an avant in B7 form. I know if they had done a B5 saloon when I ordered my M3 I would probably have gone for that. and I think the sales of B7 saloons has been a big success for Audi. Don't get me wrong I thing the avant is awesome and would happily have one again I just think there are alot of people me included who like the idea of a saloon car, if you don't need a huge boot. the saloon has a great boot and it's safe to leave bit's in too.

On a different note, by experience the biggest down side to an avant is when a thieving gypsy scum bag breaks into your house takes your keys and steels your RS if you have a saloon they can't fit your 50" plasma TV in the boot like they did with my RS6 avant Still only took the police 11months to find her!!! lol

Thats what happens when you live in Newbury Jim !! Did that effect you moving the 6 when you sold her or was it written off? Equally i hope you drove over their hands when they were caught. Cant say I'd be able to hold back to much if I ever caught someone trying to lift my car. Take the missus yes but leave the car alone !!!

[KurgenRS4]

Just got back from demo..

They gave me the keys, and told me to enjoy myself for an hour or so..... I did!

Initial thoughts were ok, but not fantastic.. but once I had spent 45 mins in the car, over my old favourite twisty, bumpy B roads.. was grinning like a cheshire cat.. my mind was made up. Have not had so much fun on back roads, since my Evo days!

Drove the GT3 RS to the dealer (with little blatt on way ) so that I would have a direct back to back comparison of handling/grip/power levels. The RS4 intially felt flat, with a very soft clutch/gear shift. But once I got on the twisty stuff, and kept the revs between 5-8k, the car was flying.

Not much understeer, for a 4wd.. could really push into the corners, and just nail the throttle (evo style) out of the corner, 4wd and traction are very good, the car was Pirelli shod, tyres were starting to squeal when worked hard.. but will prob get a geo and play with the rubber.

Demo car had the standard brakes (not ceramic) and brakes were very good for a saloon car, ABS only kicking in on extreme downhill braking.

It would destroy my Porsche on a twisty B road.. no question, was taking bumpy sections at between 80-100, that I would take the RS at prob half that.

It is still a relatively heavy car (1650kg) and a couple of times, car was getting squirelly over the bumps, but generally great poise and big grins.

V8 exhaust note with sport button is very good, but not as purposeful as it will be.. once I've changed the rear boxes.

Build quality is 1st class, controls and cockpit surroundings are pleasing to eye and touch. When I got off the gas and back into cruise mode, I switched on the 10 speaker Bose sound system.. and felt perfectly at home.

For a classy, well built, everyday car, that can take my kids to school.. then go for a country blatt, car is prob untouchable.. and it has a "proper" gearbox.


Am gonna have one!

Cheers
Rob

[rAudiguy]

LOL Mev,

they caught the little S**TS and there are currently behind bars!! never got the car back and the insurance had paid out by the time I got a call to say they had found it. they also took what had become my wifes car which was an A3 3.2 quattro S-line infact in total I think they got done for 26 cars!! some poor guys paid 40k cash for the RS6 and lost the lot!!! feel a bit sorry for him really.... but hey don't buy stolen cars on the cheap aiii. Went for the M3 then just really affected me and the mrs so needed a change in car as well as moving house, it's bloody awful to be honest, i'm a right window twicher now with camera's and alsorts on the drive!! proper paranoid that someone will do it again!

When I get my RS4 I'm having the new R8 cobra approved tracker fitted which you have card that has to be on you other wise they call your mobile and tell you your cars moving! just a little bit of piece of mind and happy to try anything that will help beat the scumbags that are out there. Mite post a topic on trakers and get some views.

cheers

Jim

[alex_123_fra]

Glad you enjoyed the test drive Rob,

Unless you really need the space, I would only ever go for the saloon. In terms of residuals, there won't be much in it in like-for-like cars except the proportional price difference between saloon and avant. The RS4 saloon has pretty much turned the tables in terms of what has dominated the sales in the UK (compared to the RS6...where few saloons were sold/wanted).

[KurgenRS4]

Glad you enjoyed the test drive Rob,

Unless you really need the space, I would only ever go for the saloon. In terms of residuals, there won't be much in it in like-for-like cars except the proportional price difference between saloon and avant. The RS4 saloon has pretty much turned the tables in terms of what has dominated the sales in the UK (compared to the RS6...where few saloons were sold/wanted).

Hi Alex, remember you from my Evo 8 days on MLR. I was mrfq340 on the forum (for un-original reasons ) lol.

Have not had a 4wd car since the Evo, but makes sense as an all weather, daily blast fest.

[jackwood]

Rob,

Glad you liked the test drive.

You are right, that the clutch and gearbox feel light, compared to a Porsche set-up, even my Cayman. But I have to say that now I've spent some time in the RS I much prefer the gearchange. It is deliciously oily, where the CS now feels a bit notchy by comparison.

My RS4 was a used purchase, and is actually going in for a Geo set up next week, as it does feel pretty understeer-y compared to the CS. Do you find the GT3 understeers as much as the RS4?

Jack

[alex_123_fra]

Glad you enjoyed the test drive Rob,

Unless you really need the space, I would only ever go for the saloon. In terms of residuals, there won't be much in it in like-for-like cars except the proportional price difference between saloon and avant. The RS4 saloon has pretty much turned the tables in terms of what has dominated the sales in the UK (compared to the RS6...where few saloons were sold/wanted).

Hi Alex, remember you from my Evo 8 days on MLR. I was mrfq340 on the forum (for un-original reasons ) lol.

Have not had a 4wd car since the Evo, but makes sense as an all weather, daily blast fest.

Aah..yes I remember you too. Do you still have the Sagaris?

I know what you mean re:RS4, great all-rounder. Funnily enough, since selling my Noble I've been toying with the idea of replacing it with a 997 GT3 RS but the wife refuses to let me buy anything with a roll-cage as standard! May have to stick to 4WD and am strangely tempted by the new Nissan GT-R which has looked rather awesome testing at the ring. Will have to wait and see.

[audijohn]

Glad you enjoyed the test drive Rob,

Unless you really need the space, I would only ever go for the saloon. In terms of residuals, there won't be much in it in like-for-like cars except the proportional price difference between saloon and avant. The RS4 saloon has pretty much turned the tables in terms of what has dominated the sales in the UK (compared to the RS6...where few saloons were sold/wanted).

Totally agree RV on saloons no problem.

[KurgenRS4]

Rob,

Glad you liked the test drive.

You are right, that the clutch and gearbox feel light, compared to a Porsche set-up, even my Cayman. But I have to say that now I've spent some time in the RS I much prefer the gearchange. It is deliciously oily, where the CS now feels a bit notchy by comparison.

My RS4 was a used purchase, and is actually going in for a Geo set up next week, as it does feel pretty understeer-y compared to the CS. Do you find the GT3 understeers as much as the RS4?

Jack

Jack, I will be very interested to see how you get on.. once you've had the geo done. Ask the company for a printout of the old and new setup!

Some specialists.. esp Porsche tuners like Parr, Manthey etc refuse to divulge their geo setup info, but you can demand the info as you are paying for it.

I use a specialist at Silverstone called Fearnsport for the RS, they have worked on my previous cars including a 996 GT2 which was heavily modded for trackwork (Engine, suspension, brakes, clutch, motorsport diff, etc) . They have put an aggressive geo on the RS, as it did understeer out of the box. I have been to the Ring twice in the last couple of months, but intend to setup the RS4 and take that as well.

Rob