Soon to be B7 RS4 Avant owner (I hope)

[Kadmeister]

Yep, did the Maths and got it at 37.5% below equivalent non-cat D.

Once the work is completed I am hoping I will be at 28-29% difference with a car

The dealer has found some more niggles, I get the final quote tomorrow, an oil leak, worn bush and a bent gearbox mount are all getting rectified.

Watch this space, not fussed though, these things need to be done,

MK

[Kadmeister]

So they are now pricing up a large amount of work for Ralph, looking forward to getting it all done......watch this space for more updates.

[Gizmo68]

Just be careful on the spending, a cat D is always going to be harder to sell on, so the price will always have to be attractive to entice potential buyers that otherwise could not afford an RS4, no point in having a mint cat D car priced at what the average non cat D cars are selling for because it will just hang around with no one wanting it.

Now if you were going to keep it for 5+ years then that changes things a bit, IMO cat D cars should only ever be considered if you intend keeping the car for a long time anyway.

[Kadmeister]

Wise words, I am happy to pay to get it up to scratch, also the seller is quite shocked that it needs these things done and is significantly contributing to the costs.

I do plan on owning the car for a great deal of time (5-10 years) hence why I am happy to spend the money, no intention of ever selling it. I love this car so much. Now for the work....

Exeter Audi has now quoted me for the following, I have accepted and the work will be completed by Friday, they have been very thorough and I am so happy with them as my local dealer. I advise to get in touch with Ed Balls If you are local.

Work being completed to Ralph above and beyond the call of duty

New front airdam internal covers
Replace alternator belt and pre-tensioner
Replace front horn
New chrome side rails
New rear audi rings and rs4 badge
Engine bay steam cleaned
New coolant reservoir and oil lines in engine to stop leaks
New under trays and gearbox mount
New front left shock absorber needs placing
New drivers side seatbelt being replaced
Brake fluid change

It is expensive but they have been reasonable. Then on Friday I am going to London on meetings and having the full OEM system bluetooth installed and iPod connectivity put in.

Then that is it, happy motoring

[MikeFish]

Then that is it, happy motoring

Then it is time to start modifying.

[Kadmeister]

Mike......tell this grasshopper what he needs to do.

[Kadmeister]

Update:

So I picked up the car on Friday from Exeter Audi. It looked amazing and apart from the chrome window bars and the drivers seatbelt which are both on back order, I was really happy with what Ed had done. I headed up the A303 to London on a lovely sunny day, windows down, the Scorpion exhaust sounds so good! The journey was so enjoyable with the occasional burst when the road turned into the dual carriageway for a couple of miles. Just awesome.

I got the OEM Bluetooth fitted in Kent and that is great so I don’t have to mess around with silly headsets anymore! The clarity is great and all works how it should, thanks sounds alarming.

Then my luck changed. Ralph was broken into in London, in a NCP Car Park of all places (yes they have CCTV but no not in that area!), they smashed the driver side window to steal the phone I had left there (for 6 minutes may I add!). Apparently they now check for Bluetooth devices and of course mine was enabled! I might have to rename this car lucky! Anyway I moved it to the Chelsea NCP and parked it next to a Reventon (Distant Cousin?) and a DB5.

On Saturday morning I was swift in getting a new phone sorted and then met Autoglass who replaced with window whilst I had lunch, he also managed to get all the rattling glass out of the door, thank god!

Now the car is back in Devon after a great blast back on Sunday on the M4/M5 stopping at Hungerford on the way (it loves windy country roads) (I think I will use my Prius or the train for future London trips!).

I am really enjoying ownership, now since the front suspension has been done the car feels very very tight indeed and there is a real “point and shoot” feel to it.

The car now feels perfect and with 15k miles until the next service, we should be in good stead, going to check the tyre pressure at lunchtime, any preferences on what they should be?

If there are any SW meets on the cards, let me know, going to have a blast down to the Watergate Bay hotel on Sunday in Newquay!

[Kadmeister]

So I have now owned Ralph for over a month and I must say the smile has not left my face.

He went back into Exeter Audi to have the door chrome redone and the passenger seaet bolsters looked at (they were not working but now are, fuse issue) and now looks perfect in every way.

I have spoken to AVS who are based in Wellington and will be looking after ralph when the next service is due (currently 502 days and 14k mile).

I love this car so much, yes he is thirsty (£885 fuel spend in 2,200 miles) but then again I am rarely out of third gear, love going for long blasts on Dartmoor and the A roads of Devon. I have put in a litre of oil so far but can imagine he will be asking for some again soon the little scamp!

I love the noise of the exhaust in the early morning, the gree glow of the S button, the scorpion exhaust note bouncing off buildings and tunnels and the black on black with carbon feel and look of the interior.I also enjoy the power of the Lambo upgrade brakes, the noise at 5,500 rpm and the noise that comes from the Start Button.

I hate the squeaky wipers (I need to get them changed), the fuel economy (my fault, I drive in a very spirited fashion and rarely get more than 13-15 mpg and the tiny boot, I have a whole bunch of stuff in there. I have not really had anyone in the back seats for long but I am guessing that it is not very comfortable, especially as I am 6ft 2 inchs and have the seat a way back.

What is on the immediate horizon for me?

I am going to get to Castle Coombe sometime in the next few months and then get a new Clutch Release Valve from AVS as it seems to stick half way after a very spirited drive. I then plan on getting him some new shoes after summer if needed. The 4 on the front RS4 badge has fallen off so I have ordered a new one £30.

I have had a few offers from friends etc that want to buy it or have it after me, but I saw the B8 last week and although think it looks cool and menacing and will be a better version. I love the look of the B7, the way the car sits and the simple S button rather than lots of screens just to change the exhaust note, that said, if things go well, the thought of getting into a B8 late year with a 5 year warranty is pretty tempting.

We will just have to wait and see,

Until then

Marty K

[Kadmeister]

Just gone into my 56,000 mile in Ralph and all is going very well.

The highlights have been:

Driving to Silverstone for an event and getting a couple of laps on the track (bit naughty as I should not have been on it really!)
I challenged myself to see what the best I could get out of a tank and by using cruise control and being careful I did 326 (ran dry as had a jerry can in the boot, they are so soft and gentle when they run out of fuel, they just glide!)
Getting a full and proper valet. Looks so clean!
Driving beautifully and not giving me any problems whatsoever over the past couple of months
MPG has improved and now I seem to get in the 20's everytime i get on the motorway which is a first, the secret is to not use the S buttton. typically what I do is that when I need to do a long motorway trip or trip to London I use the Prius, it just means when I get back into Ralph the next day it feels great!
The Scorpion Exhaust sounds perfect, I was next to another RS4 the other day and the guy had stock and it was just too quiet, he asked what I had and said he was going to get one!

Lowlights

Some d1ck opened his door onto the passenger door and there is now a ding, will get these sorted out at some point, just not that fussed about all the small things!
Road tax runs out this month, so that is another £260 for 6 months! that said, to drive the car of my dreams pretty much every day, it feels cheap!
Driver Bolster is getting worn and needs some TLC, I will get some leather polish
Thirsty on Oil but not that fussed about that!

Apart from that I continue to smile everytime I get in and drive this amazing car

[Kadmeister]

Good morning all,

Having driven the car about 6 times in 3 months as I have been travelling the country in my Prius (I know).

It's time for Ralph to go to a better home where he will get used.

Bucket seats, scorpion exhaust, FASH, 9 months MOT, 2 months Road Tax, good condition, alloys a bit kerbed, other odd scratch but in general good condition. Both keys, all books, last big £2,700 invoice from Audi

Based in Exeter, first to see will buy, no offers below, it's a fair right price for the car.

More info or to arrange a viewing 07958 708 250 martin.kadhim@ashwoods.org