Talk me into buying an RS4 then folks :)

[sennaNSX]

Hi all, great forum you got going here!

Ok so I need to be talked into buying an RS4, I have come through 300zx twinturbos and Skyline GTR's but am currently driving an 97 Honda NSX manual. It is a great car but I miss all those twin turbos and its between an RS4 or a V8TT Lotus Esprit.
Could I ask a few questions - I apologise if these have been asked before

- how long do the turbochargers on these cars last, does anyone here have a high miler they could talk to me about?

- Is the stage one upgrade much like a GTR stage one upgrade (ie how the car was REALLY meant to run ) ?

- I wondered about the electronics on these cars, do you guys have active or fulltime 4wd and is there any yaw control?

- can you perform an ECU diagnostic on an RS4?

- are the left hookers to be avoided and why?

- what would win in a fight between KITT and Airwolf ?

Thanks,

Kind regards,

Glen.

.. .. ps.. here is my NSX



here is my old GTR



and here is a picture of Boss Hogg

[S4driver]

Awww. No Picture of Daisy

[wazza]

Hi all, great forum you got going here!
Ok so I need to be talked into buying an RS4

Firstly, welcome to RS246
You don't need to be talked into it. Get yourself down to a meet and have a ride in one.

- how long do the turbochargers on these cars last, does anyone here have a high miler they could talk to me about?

Speak to Tomson - his is on around 160k miles

- Is the stage one upgrade much like a GTR stage one upgrade (ie how the car was REALLY meant to run ) ?

Stage one is great, much better than standard but it really needs the downpipes/cat replacement for the extra torque. Then you need brakes, suspension.....

- I wondered about the electronics on these cars, do you guys have active or fulltime 4wd and is there any yaw control?

fulltime 4wd

- can you perform an ECU diagnostic on an RS4?

yes, with VAG-COM

- are the left hookers to be avoided and why?

only avoid if you don't like driving on the wrong side

- what would win in a fight between KITT and Airwolf ?

Would have to say KITT as I never really liked Airwolf


Seriously, get yourself into one of the owners cars in here and go for a ride. You won't regret it

[derdle]

Welcome to the forum.

Forget the words - there aren't enough superlatives in the English language. Just get your ar*e into one and drive it. Your only regret will be not having got one before now. Look - they're not in yer face like so many cars but will outperform nearly anything and at a reasonable price.

I've been in an NSX around Milbrook - the RS4 is far better. (But I guess I would say that wouldn't I?)

Don't delay...what are you doing reading this bit....get searching NOW!

Black Hawk copters get knocked out of the sky by Iraqi's with machine guns...never happened to KITT.

[tombs]

I concur with all of the above apart from I think Airwolf is far better....but hey I also liked Michael Bentine's Potty time....enough said.

But on the subject of the RS4, just do it!! I've just picked one up, they are fanatastic!! I had an S4 before and sold that around a year ago and till this day missed the kick from that V6 biturbo engine!! But the RS4 is a different class imo, she just flys, nothing seems to get close.....go and try one for yourself...

[THEDADDY]

Hmmm, couldn't agree enough with everything you guys have said, except for one thing. Although to be expected from an audi forum no one has mentioned the lotus v8tt....The answer should be that the two cars could not be further apart. I would say that if you are looking for an out and out weekend piece of fun with the wow factor, then if you can can find a good one with a good waranty, go for the lotus every time. However, if you are looking for a more practical car that still delivers unquestionably more than most, and can fit all your family & dogs & luggage etc...and still pull 160mph with ease and probable reliability, go for the audi. I think thats fair guys??!! I was always a magnum fan myself.....definately not airwolf!!

[kiwi_mtm]

Hmmm, couldn't agree enough with everything you guys have said, except for one thing. Although to be expected from an audi forum no one has mentioned the lotus v8tt....The answer should be that the two cars could not be further apart. I would say that if you are looking for an out and out weekend piece of fun with the wow factor, then if you can can find a good one with a good waranty, go for the lotus every time. However, if you are looking for a more practical car that still delivers unquestionably more than most, and can fit all your family & dogs & luggage etc...and still pull 160mph with ease and probable reliability, go for the audi. I think thats fair guys??!! I was always a magnum fan myself.....definately not airwolf!!

I think a GTR would be a better performance car, but for curves (looks), 5 doors, style, performance, you cant go past the RS4. If you want a pure performance car, buy a 996TT/GT3.

[tombs]

Well, if your now talking about specialist sports cars then "The Mummy" your right, no comparison what so ever, I would have added a GD T70 lola (almost the same price as a 2nd hand RS4), a Dax Tojeiro, Ultima, TVR etc...the list goes on and on, but I thought Senna was asking for something that would be practical. I still for everyday usage would not recommend anything else, the RS4 is a real gem. .... imo of course..

[sennaNSX]

Some cool extrapolations, thanks
I am sorely (oeer) tempted to go back to either a high powered R33 GTR or a boggish standard R34 too, hmm so many choices and I just love Skylines. I just feel the Skyline thing has been kind of done to death and seeing a GTR now doesn't give the wow factor as it used to...
It isnt really the practicality of the RS4 that appeals to me, though it will be useful to cart loads of stuff about in it, its the understated looks that I like... an estate car that will pull 200mph with the wind in the right direction is just ubercool
The last four cars I have owned have stopped people in their tracks, they just stop and stare and the young lads start rocking on about having one of those on GranTurismo .. its not really my style - so am I right in thinking that the RS4 just attracts the admiration of a select few car lovers who are 'in the know' ?
And whilst i'm on the subject of being middle aged, can you pick up radio 4 on the RS4's wireless?
hehe, thanks for the replies

Glen.

[simple1]

You might be surprised how many people know about RS4's, and most of them are not car buffs............... overheard a conversation when returning to my car at the weekend between two middle aged men who were saying 'that is one of those 200 mph estate cars' the other replied, 'No, it is an estate car, it cant do that speed.' The first one refered him to looking at the speedo which he did and the look on his face was classic
Having been lucky enough to have owned some exotica in my time, I think you may appreciate the slightly more subtle approach the RS has in compared to the balls out turbo nutter brigade... friend has just sold his NSX and purchased a 928S of all things, he siad he was too old to get down and low

[JohnW]

Glen,
I think you've answered your own question mate.
The Lotus won't exactly be subtle, will it.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Esprit, but not sure I'd have it as a daily driver.
R34 look simply superb, but again they do stand out in a crowd.

You can get the same effect with an RS4 if you choose the right colour (Red, Yellow, or to a lesser extent Blue). Of course if you want to go stealth then Silver will do it every time.

Tombs is spot on with his other options too. If you want a weekend toy, the Ultima or GD T70 are hard to beat. Equally, if you fancy spending a bit(Lot!) more time building a car you can buy a complete kit of parts less engine & gearbox for a GT40 for under 30k

So, what is most important to you ?
Track day car,
ultimate speed,
utimate handling,
practicality,
looks,
etc.

For me the RS4 is the best balance of all of those.

[DaveP]

One of the reasons (amongst many) I love the RS4 is the fact that it does go unnoticed by the vast majority...I can park up and not feel like a tw*t getting out of it because everyone is staring (of course for some people that's the appeal of a nice car I guess)...

I like that fact that people in the know recognise it, but it's not like driving down the local high street in a yellow ferrari...driving through Europe and stopping at petrol stations you hear whispers of 'R-S quatre', and anyone that has ever approached me about the car isn't like 'How fast does it go mister?', but rather more discerning..

It's a car with two personalities...to most its a boring estate, to those in the know its a f****** beast, capable of tearing around the Nurburgring and then driving 800 miles home in comfort. (apart from 'flashyg' snoring in the passenger seat!)

[derdle]

Are you convinced yet?

Would just like to add that I, too, have had one or two "knowing" comments from people at filling stations. The other factor to consider is that it doesn't shout "boy racer" to the boys in blue unlike many other high performance cars.

One other question...have you test driven (or been driven in) one yet? If not..why not? How much more do we have to do to convince you?

[bobjebb]

I am thinking about buying KITT. Is there anything I should know? I hear it does 300mph by itself, and can talk. Does anyone know if the artificial intellegence and the chemical analyzers are covered under warranty? I presume tyres need to be bullet AND laser proof, (it seems in need of new ones) and I was thinking about a brake upgrade - will RS6 ones fit?

M. Knight.

[derdle]

Why the hell are you asking us? If my memeory serves me right (back to my younger days...) didn't KITT have a pretty blonde mechanic who could tell you all this?