Some interesting facts about the new RS4

[Bigpockets]

Just engine facts really that interest new owners like myself.

To save gearbox wear the clutch pedal has to be depressed before you can start the car via the start button. Quick getaways will have to be practised.

Also new owner will be briefed on engine stop start procedures. Although very rare the engine if run for a very short time say on or off for a few seconds may cause fuel flooding. Although i stress this is unlikely.

The rule of thumb is that when the engine fan cuts in its safe to turn off and that starts a few seconds after start up anyway.

Also if you like driving the car in hob nail boots you will struggle to fit it on the foot rest next to the clutch, but hey who is going to do that.

This is an iconic piece of engineering and i am sure will be even more famous as its younger brothers.

I cannot wait to get in mine.

[skodaw]

And the much hyped quattro 60/40 can actually send upto 70% to the rear - if required by the ESP for extreme cases
I was pleasantly suprised at how smooth and light the clutch action is, also the way the gearknob and steering wheel are just perfect to hold, lots of little details that you only notice when you physically sit in the car.

The other reason for needing to depress clutch is to prevent accidental startup -- button for starting would be quite easy to press -- and probably too much to resist for some!!

[Bigpockets]

I agree Skodaw the cockpit is amazing.

I read somewhere the silver section on the steering wheel felt plastic but i can say from holding it, that's Cr*p.

Another good feature for track days,is that the ESP can be totally switched off . Which apparently make very interesting driving. That's good news for me as i do a lot of track days.

Not to mention the mega brakes that have a 16 x servo assist if you are in serious trouble.

The seat bolster when you push the S button is impressive as well. Did you try that ?

The more i hear about this car the better it gets.

Do you know why they did all the testing with 18 Inch wheels around the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Just curious.

Speak soon.

[skodaw]

The ESP is never fully off, although the settings allow a much greater freedom - it will cut in if it thinks your in trouble, but the pro-driver that came to the garage said it was really good system - so much so that a lot of people will probably not bother switching it off!

There are actually 3 different levels of servo boost -- dependant on the speed of brake application, it can be 5x, 12x and via request by the ESP 16x( although me thinks your in deep doo-doo if that happens!!)

Yes the auto seat bolster works brilliantly, can't understand why anyone would not have those seats

Can't wait till our demonstrator arrives -- I need to get a feel for the car before I Quality Test any customer cars.

Interstingly we got a note from Audi yesterday telling us the RS4's will have anything between 50 & 90 miles on the clock when they get to us -- due to extended road test by quattro gmbh -- plus we have to do a minimum 10 miles test after we PDI them, I think most will do more -- the last thing you want is someone who's been waiting for a car for years to have a problem.

There are only 3 people in our workshop allowed to drive RS models -- our 2 Master Tech's and ME :thumbup:

[Brooner]

You lucky lucky Ba#*t%rd

[Nige_RS4]

The ESP is never fully off, although the settings allow a much greater freedom

Are you 100% on this, as at Donnington, the pro driver had the system fully off by pressing and holding the ESP button for X secs - this is not the case for other ESP-equipped Audis?

Nige.

[DavidT]

Dunno Nige, on my old B5 S4 it's off when you press the button. It did not cut in when I had a spin I think the only exception is that ESP re-activates automatically when the ABS is active. I've tested that too

Our friend at Donington was throwing the car around and I didn't see any flashing lights. When is he coming back, pretty please.

[Nige_RS4]

It did not cut in when I had a spin

David, I've seen the way you drive (I was in jr's GT3 at Donnington following you) - I'm guessing that you probably triggered the fault code "1d10t", thus rendering the ESP useless.

Nige.

p.s. how's the car now it's got K04's on, or are you reserving judgement until you've had it remapped by MRC?

[DavidT]

It did not cut in when I had a spin

David, I've seen the way you drive (I was in jr's GT3 at Donnington following you) - I'm guessing that you probably triggered the fault code "1d10t", thus rendering the ESP useless.

Nige.

p.s. how's the car now it's got K04's on, or are you reserving judgement until you've had it remapped by MRC?

LOL, Cheeky lad. ESP off for me mostly. We had lots of fun that day on a set of old, bald Pirelli P6000's. Tyre pressures adjustments made little difference. Sod all that precise measured driving, just throw it at the corners and see what happens

Car is good so far, I'll post when it's been remapped.

Apologies for hijacking the thread.

[Golich]

I guess getting off topic but - I've read this opinion about ESP never being truely off on our cars.

If its not, how come I can do donuts and and four wheel power slides? In fact the four wheel slides and handbrake action can be seen by yoursleves on Tiff Neddale's test drive done on the old topgear.

[Kev.S]

Hi Skodaw- will it be there when I bring my RS6 in for service on the 20th as I'm seriously thinking of transferring over?

[skodaw]

The ESP is never fully off, although the settings allow a much greater freedom

Are you 100% on this, as at Donnington, the pro driver had the system fully off by pressing and holding the ESP button for X secs - this is not the case for other ESP-equipped Audis?

Nige.

The system can be deactivated by pressing and holding the button and will allow ALOT - but can and will cut back in if required - the Pro Driver that came to us(can't remember his name but he's Canadian) told us he thought the system was absolutely fantastic.

He also told us that some of the promo cars were specifically modified for use by the prodrivers on demonstrations - suspension and "other" mods to allow them full freedom -- but these were for pro drivers only - the cars brought to the UK as far as I know were all original

[skodaw]

Hi Skodaw- will it be there when I bring my RS6 in for service on the 20th as I'm seriously thinking of transferring over?

Possibly, but its not going on the road untill 1st March at the earliest. We are still waiting for confirmation of when our first cars will arrive - our demo will be Sprint Blue.

[Riz_RS4]

Right as most will remember I used to own a R32 which sucked abit of fuel also.... 3.2 V6.

Done a direct comparison R32 vs RS4 mpg figures as I was just curious if it was a big difference..... I would have thought so, but its not.... so does that mean the FSi is doing its job or that the R32 engine was a bad design?

R32=

Urban 17.1mpg
Extra-Urban 32.5mpg
Combined 24.4mpg

RS4=

Urban 13.7mpg
Extra-Urban 30.1mpg
Combined 20.9mpg


So the difference is...

Urban -3.4mpg
Extra-Urban -2.4mpg
Combined -3.5mpg


Big difference?

Riz

[Nige_RS4]

The system can be deactivated by pressing and holding the button and will allow ALOT - but can and will cut back in if required

OK, so what's the difference between pressing it once and disengaging it, and pressing and holding it. Jan was quite clear that Audi have made a change to the way the ESP operates for the new RS4, especially for trackday enthusiasts.

It would be good to clear this one up - perhaps it wil be documented in the handbook somewhere?

Nige.