Upgrading from an S4 to RS4..

[richlane]

Hi all,

I am looking to get an RS4 in the next couple of months. I'm currently driving a standard 99 S4 Avant. Just wondered if there was anything that I should look out for when buying. I will of course look through the threads here but if any of you have anything to offer it would be greatly appreciated. If any of you have experience of both vehicles I would be interested to hear your thoughts on any plus's or minus's over the S4, as I have yet to drive an RS4. Looking to get out and have a test drive soon.

The S4 makes me smile everytime I drive it, want an RS4 so badly I can taste it as I expect the grin will grow!!!

Cheers,

Rich

[sitas3]

just briefly my experiences:

Plus for RS4: top end rev limiter inducing performance (especially plus 100mph!), looks, Q car status, handling, all round package

Minus for RS4: bendy wheels, Audi dealers, turbo lag (compared to S4), brakes, Costs!

Plus for S4: low end power and torque, cheaper!

Minus for S4: handling, brakes, looks, dodgy MAF's, constant rattles/squeaks (on the car I had), weak turbos on early models, faulty throttle body boot seals, Audi Dealers!

[lengster1]

Your right mate you will have a huge grin,they look superb in the flesh a real Qcar and boy do they pack a punch!i considered an s4 and modding it but deep down i knew i wouldnt be happy till id got the daddy,the overall package is superb having said that mine has all the right bits on it,things to watch for are 40k service as its about 1k and brakes as also about 1500 bing bongs other than that make sure its a good staight well looked after car,oh yes nearly forgot check the clutch is ok as if abused dont last long

[simple1]

How can you call an RS 4 a Q-car, they look like they are doing 100 mph sat in the carpark, they fill the rea-view mirror of the car you are following and are so obviously not an A4 when driving towards you, Q-cars are my AMG Merc, looks like any other merc estate until its too late and all you see is 4 exhausts

[richlane]

Excellent, thanks for the advice.

[itaplikeabiatch]

so what is the exact definition of a Q-car?

[simple1]

Exact definition is a car that looks completely standard, but goes like f***, and usually when given close inspection, has all the goodies on it.......brakes, suspension and ofcause, a powerful engine..

[itaplikeabiatch]

so what does the Q stand for?

[viffer]

Quiet. Sssssshhhhh.

Richard.

[RobertH]

Were they not the boats in the war which looked like cargo boats but had huge guns hidden under the covers? Sounds like an RS4 really, although it cannot quite keep the muscles hidden under the jacket.

Maybe I have been watching too many war films!

Robert.

[simple1]

Not really surprising, I sat and watched one on Sunday cos there was frig all else on......... as usual I fell asleep

[TWH]

I always though a Q car was a similar idea to Q plates for cars which have been imported/built and nobody knows the age?! I am however frequently proven to be wrong!!

[Golich]

See the Buyers Guide.

I started the whole A4 experience with a stock S4 then AMD chipped it. Huge amount of torque (more than my stock RS4 I still miss that) then upgraded the S4 suspension to RS4 suspension - made a nice difference. But I always wanted the baby. It just looks so mean, its not really a Q car you kind of know anything with boxed arches and 18" alloys and shark gills isn't going to be a slouch!! Its trying to hide, the real Q car is the S4. Anyway, once you test the RS4 you'll know the difference, its everything the S4 should have been. The immediate impact is those deep sills, the lower seating positon, better seats perforated steering wheel and gearstick covers exclusive dash. I know this sounds a bit silly but you actually noticed this. Then you start it and you can hear the V6 that bit better.

Then the suspension, it works better on the RS4 than the RS4 suspension works on the S4, probably the wheel/rubber combination add to this. It just seems so much more nimble than the S4 and it just wants to rev.

A problem encountered with a chipped S4 is that it is pointless reving past 4700 rpm which has its obvious plus points but not very satisfying when your going for it and you have to short shift.

The update interior from my late 97 S4. Its the whole package, i.e. looks, feel knowledge that this is the best one, the exclusive one. Get out there and blag a test drive in one supposing you have no intension of buying it!!

[DeadEye]

Hi all, well who would have thought this would be my first post on your forum?

Dare I say - isn't a Lancia Thema 8.10 the ultimate Q-Car?

Looks like a sack of sh1te, smells like a sack of sh1te, tastes like a sack of sh1te but has a v8 ferrari engine?

Maybe not...

[DavidT]

Thema Ferrari I'd forgotten about that one.