All I can say is WOW... it feels a totally different car. Lighter, more agile, better chassis, better screwed together... and then there is the power. Still driving a little carefully as everything beds in, it's just insane and much, much more drivable. I rarely used S gearbox mode on the B8 as it held the revs far too high for 'normal fun' driving. However, S in the B9 is perfect. Responsive, changes up and down just when you need it and no more screaming along at 6k revs hoping it will change soon! Can't imagine what it will be like when I can floor it properly
The two areas I was most concerned about was how it sounds, and the suspension / ride quality.
Sound first - this is with sports exhaust. Normal driving, non S mode, in auto it is quieter than the B8 ... but in dynamic then it's amazing. A much tighter, fresher alto sound with subtle pops and gargles - rather than the growl of the V8. Yes, the rumble of the V8 will be missed, but there is something more exciting and urgent about the sound of the B9 that I really like and will probably come to prefer.
Suspension. I spent hours debating on DRC or not. I spec'd my B8 with it... but only used Dynamic to remove tartar on the way to the dentist, and Comfort when taking the cats to the vet... so opted NOT to have it and spend the 2k on other stuff... and have held my breath for the last 4 months during build. I shouldn't have worried. I simply love the way the normally set-up car drives. It's brought back a true sensation of driving. Slightly more pitch into corners, much more feel and playback from the road surface which all improve confidence and knowledge of what it's going to do. In terms of overall ride, it's as near as damn it to Auto on the B8, certainly no way as hard as dynamic, and for me (it's very subjective so many will probably disagree) it hits the sweep spot perfectly and I'm over the moon I didn't opt for DRC.
Overall, I loved my B8, but it just felt like a faster A4 (blindfolded I may have said it was a S4)... but the B9 makes me feel as if I have a real sports car, the wow factor and truly deserves an RS badge.
Happy driving all
)