Hello and a dilemma

[Puzzle]

Hello all.

As many others I have been hovering in the background for many months whilst I agonise in taking the plunge. This was after finding out orders had stopped for factory builds just before I was able to consider a 4!

However, having just missed out on a Nogaro Ltd in my local dealership they have offered me the same in Sepang. I do like Sepang but not sure about the black alloys.

One concern is what are these things like when putting 21k a year on them.

I would like to keep it for a few years and am tempted to plump for an 18 month old car but it is cheaper for me to buy new than second hand.

My other concern is what are they like on rutted country roads. I live in the sticks and the roads are not great. Unfortunately the dealer has a designated test drive route that does not cover similar roads that I have to deal with and will not consider me adding another 20 miles to the test drive. Not yet anyway, they may if they sense a sale. This is a big deal to me as my current Focus ST3 MP275 is a nightmare on anything other than smooth surfaces, although fun.

I am sure some guidance shall be forthcoming

[RS_Four]

Welcome and good choice of motor!

I've had mine for 3 months (bought with 11k on clock) and is exact spec I wanted.. The country roads around me are also pretty rutted and my lane is very rough and for that reason I opted opted for 20" wheels without Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) (and the fact a number of road test reviews/reports suggested it might be more compliant on UK roads). I haven't driven one with DRC though but I'm sure someone with DRC will chime in with their thoughts though

[RossDagley]

If the dealer wont allow you a test drive on your choice of roads, find another dealer. I've burned two dealers for exactly this kind of shoddy sales service.

[Graeme4130]

I cover about 20k a year in mine (current one currently 10 months old and 19k miles in) with quite a few crappy roads in that mix
It's certainly no Land Rover discovery, but it handles crappy roads pretty well for a car of its type
If your roads are really shocking, you might want to try and find s car with the standard 19's as they crash around on poor surfaces much better than the 20's
However, as all new cars are stock cars, and these tend to be well spec'd, I'd guess you're stuck with 20's (I have 20's on mine and find them fine, largely)
As mentioned above, if the dealer won't let you test the car in the roads you drive, tell them you're off somewhere else to spend your cash and see if they change their test approach

[RS_Four]

Agreed... Car like this is designed to be driven properly on all manor of roads. Business manager at my dealer wasn't at all surprised I drove it hard on the roads I chose on relatively short test run.

Find a dealer who will let you drive on the roads you want to drive on.

[johnnydog]

My current daily driver is a top spec (in its day!) Vauxhall Omega which tramlines for fun even with the several different makes of tyre I've tried over the years in wagon ruts in lane 1 on a motorway, but my RS4 isn't affected much at all by them. It is on Pirelli P Zeros. When I got my B7 it had Conti's on and they followed the ruts and road defects terribly, but when I re shod it with Michelin PS2's, the handling and tram lining went!
The make of tyre does play a big part on how a car handles and is affected by road surface defects. The usual road defects you are perhaps referring to will cause the same problem to the RS4 as most other cars, but 20" rims will obviously be more prone to damage from potholes or deep ruts than the 19" s.
If you are seriously concerned about how the RS4 will handle poor roads, then maybe it isn't the right choice of car....?

[boff]

Be Under no doubt - the suspension on these cars is very very taught; even in comfort mode with DRC. I find rough roads quite fun.... so if you're that sort of person go get one - if not don't get one it will do your head in and give you an achy back from time to time - however I have the sports buckets; which makes it even harsher.

[johnnydog]

Again, the beauty of the B8, you can choose the suspension settings ( as you can engine, gearbox, sports diff, engine sound etc) to suit the roads you drive on and type of driving at any particular time!

[carsarecool]

I discovered Comfort mode when driving my Dad to Silverstone GP, as he's getting on a bit and asked me to be kind as he gets travel sick. Never tried it before but it is very comfortable. The roads into Silverstone are pretty varied from dual carriageway to rural lanes and it didn't make him feel sick.....which is an accolade.

[Graeme4130]

I discovered Comfort mode when driving my Dad to Silverstone GP, as he's getting on a bit and asked me to be kind as he gets travel sick. Never tried it before but it is very comfortable. The roads into Silverstone are pretty varied from dual carriageway to rural lanes and it didn't make him feel sick.....which is an accolade.

I can't believe you normally drive around with the suspension on dynamic. You must have no ribs or teeth left after they've been rattled out
I virtually never drive with the suspension on anything but comfort

[Puzzle]

Thanks for your comments.

The ruts I refer to are those created by fully laden bulk carriers moving the contents of two local quarries over weak rural roads! Tramlining heaven.

I know a B7 deals with them ok as I recently took a friends out for a drive on the same roads with much fun. Basically just need to convince local dealer that I need to drive on known roads.

The Focus is not the most softly sprung car so I am sure the 4 would not be too far from it for comfort, plus I like the idea of an auto box as my left hip is now causing problems. (the joy of motorcycle accidents over 30 years ago!)

[carsarecool]

I discovered Comfort mode when driving my Dad to Silverstone GP, as he's getting on a bit and asked me to be kind as he gets travel sick. Never tried it before but it is very comfortable. The roads into Silverstone are pretty varied from dual carriageway to rural lanes and it didn't make him feel sick.....which is an accolade.

I can't believe you normally drive around with the suspension on dynamic. You must have no ribs or teeth left after they've been rattled out
I virtually never drive with the suspension on anything but comfort

G,

I don't use Dynamic unless in Dynamic. Typically it's in Auto in my Individual setting which I use 99% of the time. Dynamic makes my tits wobble

[Ian_C]

My other concern is what are they like on rutted country roads. I live in the sticks and the roads are not great. Unfortunately the dealer has a designated test drive route that does not cover similar roads that I have to deal with and will not consider me adding another 20 miles to the test drive. Not yet anyway, they may if they sense a sale. This is a big deal to me as my current Focus ST3 MP275 is a nightmare on anything other than smooth surfaces, although fun.

Maybe consider a car without 20s and without the sport pack. 19s and no DRC are definitely worth a look

[Puzzle]

Well Gents, apologies but I bought this


AMG C63S Edition 1

It is more a work of art than a car, the detail is amazing.

6 weeks old and could not resist. Was not on my radar until my Wife came home Thursday night and said a car in the dealer was ideal for me! She was right

Great Wife as she insisted I buy it.

Thanks for the information and lets see what the new RS4 is like when it is released.

[carsarecool]

Nice! Good luck in winter . Seriously though, enjoy......they sound the nuts!