The Unit 20 and RS246 Review of the B8 RS4.....

[PhilT]

Excuse my poor editorial skills, but we will stick to the facts

http://www.rs246.com/2012/10/19/audi-rs ... lton-park/

I forgot to mention that the brake pedal is far too big and if you have a wide foot, you're going to have problems getting from the loud pedal to the stop pedal

[grizz]

You took the words straight out of my mouth

[On Any Sunday]

Being as this is my first post, just want to say what a great forum this is, and the amount of info available is really appreciated, especially the pics!

Regarding this write up;
Thanks for taking the time to do the write up and the pics too. Sounds looked a good day out, shame i missed it... As i go the invite, but was too far to make it...

however I just wanted to ask; did the car you drive have the dynamic steering? If so how did it feel. Your help would be greatly appreciated as I'm unsure whether to spec the sport package (great deal) due to the reviews being negative towards the dynamic steering.

Thanks again.

[Chris G]

Being as this is my first post, just want to say what a great forum this is, and the amount of info available is really appreciated, especially the pics!

Regarding this write up;
Thanks for taking the time to do the write up and the pics too. Sounds looked a good day out, shame i missed it... As i go the invite, but was too far to make it...

however I just wanted to ask; did the car you drive have the dynamic steering? If so how did it feel. Your help would be greatly appreciated as I'm unsure whether to spec the sport package (great deal) due to the reviews being negative towards the dynamic steering.

Thanks again.

Good question, I'm keen to hear views on this too.

[grizz]

Yes it did , In comfort it was terrible .Once in Dynamic it was much better ..

[On Any Sunday]

Yes it did , In comfort it was terrible .Once in Dynamic it was much better ..

Thanks for the response. Would you say that felt bad, like most of the reviews say?

Thanks

[P_G]

Good review Phil. Went to Oulton Park yesterday and it was a fabulous afternoon so credit where it is due to Audi for organising and allowing drivers to drive the cars.

As to the RS4 itself, we were fortunate to do the track session first after lunch / presentation and then the road session. A little disappointed that only the track cards had ceramics, keyless go and importantly sports exhaust fitted (plus buckets), the road cars did not. On the track the car is nimble for its size and weight but we needed to put the box in dynamic rather than auto to get the changes we wanted. The one distinct thing though is that there is no torque shove from the engine like there is in the B7 I travelled down in and my own, the B8 is reliant on s-tronic to pull it along. It is a great box, very precise and the ceramics definitely helped but after a few laps they were very noisy. A couple of the cars had to be taken off track to allow the ceramics to cool.

On to the road drive with standard steel discs, sport seats rather than buckets and standard key in dash drive, no stop/start button with the keyless drive function. The overriding conclusion was what an advert for the R8 V10 it was as we were first car behind and with no sports exhaust on the RS4 all we could hear was the V10 even when it was 20-25 yards in front. Had to wind the window down and rev high to hear the RS4. It is a civilised drive, too wallowy / bouncy for me in Comfort, ok in Auto, lots of feedback in dynamic but if passenger a little too hard. The sports seats are good but not as supportive as the Recaro Comforts in the B7 around the rib cage, the interior is well appointed. As for the looks, it presents best in Sepang Blue first and Prism Silver second, Phantom and Daytona don't do anything for the car. But the disppointing thing for for us and highlighted on the way home was the looks. In the rear view mirror it looked like another A4 whereas looking at Glenn's RS4 on the way home in the same view the B7 has such an more agressive / squat / planted stance; even when following one round the track. Now some may say it is more the ultimate Q car than the B7 and I could see what they are saying but it left me underwhelmed.

For those that are not fortunate enough to have a B7 the B8 is a fabulous car and well worth having; goes well and sounds good (with sports exhaust). However from a personal perspective I don't like to fiddle around with settings by pressing buttons between going from sedate driving to spirited which you have to do in the B8 but in the B7 it just does it without asking. And finally is it worth £45-50k more than what my B7 is worth..... no. It needs better ARB's and an after market exhaust and bits of what are standard on the B7 is optional extras on the B8. But it is still a good car. But not as good as an R8 V10 And I am an s-tronic convert which is just as well since I'm picking up an RS3 in 9 days!

As for Audi organising this, it was a fantastic day, well looked after, excellent staff, facilities and food and worth attending just for that helped by beautiful weather all day.

[ecav]

Do you know if the car comes without a start / stop button if you don't select the advanced key option / keyless go?

[doodlebug]

Do you know if the car comes without a start / stop button if you don't select the advanced key option / keyless go?

Advanced key = start/stop button, no advanced key = normal ignition key. I may be being a little slow, but why would you have a ignition key and a button?

[ecav]

I think A&M the slow one but want to confirm that stock car comes without a start / stop button

[535dboy]

Do you know if the car comes without a start / stop button if you don't select the advanced key option / keyless go?

Advanced key = start/stop button, no advanced key = normal ignition key. I may be being a little slow, but why would you have a ignition key and a button?

This is what I understood too

I do however have a key and start button in both my x5 and lotus which as you say is odd, particularly in the lotus which is a standard key which you just turn until the lights come on and then press the button!! Thunderbirds are go!!

[535dboy]

Great write up P_G

Are you suggesting that the car without sports exhaust is just too quiet or the R8 drowned it out!?

I've got sports exhaust coming but just wondered

[P_G]

Do you know if the car comes without a start / stop button if you don't select the advanced key option / keyless go?

Nope, it doesn't. Only comes with keyless go / advanced key. Very poor.

[P_G]

Great write up P_G

Are you suggesting that the car without sports exhaust is just too quiet or the R8 drowned it out!?

I've got sports exhaust coming but just wondered

For me it is too quiet but then I am driving a non-res valved B7 with GruppeM. Even without the R8 when it had disappeared up the road and us chasing hard the cabin is so well insulated you can only really hear the V8 in the upper rev range. Even the sports exhaust versions didn't sound as meaty as a B7 with a non-res exhaust. It depends on what you want but coming from where I am now I'd want to put an aftermarket exhaust on it as soon as I got it sports exhaust or not. When going round the track and passing the pit straight they sounded great but then a B7 does as well. Sports exhaust is a must have as a starting point.

[ecav]

Have taken austerity to another level these Germans. Unbelievable that they are charging for things that should be standard in a car 5 years in the life cycle and at the top end of the range (and margin)...