My car history up to my new Audi RS4
Discussion
Hi guys, I've been a member for a bit now but just got round to getting a new petrol heady car so think its about time i got my car history up along with a load of pics of my new toy after i finally peeled myself out the buckets for long enough to get it cleaned up and pics taken!
So, my first car, E30 BMW 316i. Bought it for 350 from a woman selling it on half of her deceased father... he'd had it since new! So it was a 1 owner car with 70k on it, good condition aside from some paint defects due to the old boy not really looking after it so well but mechanically it was sweet as a nut.
Stuck some BBS wheels on, full leather from a 318is, air filter, pressed plates and some other 17 year old style mods..! Had a great time in this car, my mates at the time were smoking round in 1ltr corsas and saxos, i was the kid in my beemer!
However, i was for some reason really really into RS Fords... So sold the BMW to a chap in Ireland, a very sad day, i'd buy that car back in a heartbeat.
With the money from that along with some savings i bought myself a Radiant Red S2 RS Turbo. What a car, i had so much fun in this thing, loads of memories that will live with me forever. Also the car that taught me one end of a spanner from another!
It just broke all the time but so easy to fix, learned loads.
When i sold it was 165bhp ATW @ 14psi, quick little car that surprised alot of things. The spec was as follows;
-31 Actuator
Pace front mount intercooler
Turbosystems stage 1 chip
Bosch 701 injectors
Turbo Technics Stage 1 Turbo
Pipercross cone filter
Straight Through Magnex exhaust System
Red Samco Hoses
After a couple of years I'd quite frankly had enough of it... as fun as it was, i wanted comfort and speed and style (decide for yourself if i got it in this next car... ) The RS was awesome but cold and drafty and wobbly and not really suitable to use every day, so it went in favour of another BMW... E36 328i this time with some nice M bits on it... someone before me had went a bit M3 replica on it but to be honest i liked the look of it!
Then... well i grew up a bit. Graduated from Uni and got a job which involved a fair bit of driving so half borrowed half bought a Seat Ibiza 1.4tdi from my parents. Then decided to go to uni again and get a proper degree... So money was once again tight removing any chance of owning an interesting car anytime soon.
However... this little thing has been a great great car for me, done 40k+ in the last few years, drove the length and breadth of the country more than once and needed nothing other than servicing and tyres. Perfect for me when money wasn't free flowing.
Fast forward to present day, missing out 3 and a bit years of drama free, cost free and fun free! motoring which sapped every bit of petrol head out of me, i had no desire at all to own a fast or old or interesting car again.
Graduated from uni again with a proper degree this time and got a job which to be honest allows me massive freedom with cars, i work abroad 6 months of the year so economy is not really an issue, the hunt began for something fast but still nice enough to load up with bags and disapear off for a weekend in some kind of style. Looked at various machines, e92 M3's, S5's, EVO X however, here is where the hunt ended;
First pic shows the old reliable Ibiza diesel the night i returned from collecting my new beast. Ibiza will be going soon.
It's all standard. Good spec with buckets, nav, carbon inlays and a sunroof which is a nice addition. Only thing it's missing is the flat bottom steering wheel which i am trying to source just now.
The wheels need re-done, they aren't bad but a few kerb marks and some chips... I may go anthracite in colour with them when the time comes.
Aside from that, plans are just to enjoy it! A few trackdays next year and a 'ring trip too.
Absolutely LOVE it so far... totally different beast to anything i've owned before, fast and comfortable and remarkably nimble, already had a few 'oh shiiiiit grip the steering wheel tighter' moments but this thing just goes wherever you point it with bags of torque and power and grip! Fantastic car.
So, my first car, E30 BMW 316i. Bought it for 350 from a woman selling it on half of her deceased father... he'd had it since new! So it was a 1 owner car with 70k on it, good condition aside from some paint defects due to the old boy not really looking after it so well but mechanically it was sweet as a nut.
Stuck some BBS wheels on, full leather from a 318is, air filter, pressed plates and some other 17 year old style mods..! Had a great time in this car, my mates at the time were smoking round in 1ltr corsas and saxos, i was the kid in my beemer!
However, i was for some reason really really into RS Fords... So sold the BMW to a chap in Ireland, a very sad day, i'd buy that car back in a heartbeat.
With the money from that along with some savings i bought myself a Radiant Red S2 RS Turbo. What a car, i had so much fun in this thing, loads of memories that will live with me forever. Also the car that taught me one end of a spanner from another!
It just broke all the time but so easy to fix, learned loads.When i sold it was 165bhp ATW @ 14psi, quick little car that surprised alot of things. The spec was as follows;
-31 Actuator
Pace front mount intercooler
Turbosystems stage 1 chip
Bosch 701 injectors
Turbo Technics Stage 1 Turbo
Pipercross cone filter
Straight Through Magnex exhaust System
Red Samco Hoses
After a couple of years I'd quite frankly had enough of it... as fun as it was, i wanted comfort and speed and style (decide for yourself if i got it in this next car... ) The RS was awesome but cold and drafty and wobbly and not really suitable to use every day, so it went in favour of another BMW... E36 328i this time with some nice M bits on it... someone before me had went a bit M3 replica on it but to be honest i liked the look of it!
Then... well i grew up a bit. Graduated from Uni and got a job which involved a fair bit of driving so half borrowed half bought a Seat Ibiza 1.4tdi from my parents. Then decided to go to uni again and get a proper degree... So money was once again tight removing any chance of owning an interesting car anytime soon.
However... this little thing has been a great great car for me, done 40k+ in the last few years, drove the length and breadth of the country more than once and needed nothing other than servicing and tyres. Perfect for me when money wasn't free flowing.
Fast forward to present day, missing out 3 and a bit years of drama free, cost free and fun free! motoring which sapped every bit of petrol head out of me, i had no desire at all to own a fast or old or interesting car again.
Graduated from uni again with a proper degree this time and got a job which to be honest allows me massive freedom with cars, i work abroad 6 months of the year so economy is not really an issue, the hunt began for something fast but still nice enough to load up with bags and disapear off for a weekend in some kind of style. Looked at various machines, e92 M3's, S5's, EVO X however, here is where the hunt ended;
First pic shows the old reliable Ibiza diesel the night i returned from collecting my new beast. Ibiza will be going soon.
It's all standard. Good spec with buckets, nav, carbon inlays and a sunroof which is a nice addition. Only thing it's missing is the flat bottom steering wheel which i am trying to source just now.
The wheels need re-done, they aren't bad but a few kerb marks and some chips... I may go anthracite in colour with them when the time comes.
Aside from that, plans are just to enjoy it! A few trackdays next year and a 'ring trip too.
Absolutely LOVE it so far... totally different beast to anything i've owned before, fast and comfortable and remarkably nimble, already had a few 'oh shiiiiit grip the steering wheel tighter' moments but this thing just goes wherever you point it with bags of torque and power and grip! Fantastic car.
Amirhussain said:
Beautiful, my all time favourite Audi, would have this over an R8 anyday of the week.
@sshenton, the colour is called Nogaro blue.
Thanks guys, it's great fun!@sshenton, the colour is called Nogaro blue.
And the colour is actually Sprint Blue Amir... i believe Nogaro Blue was a colour option on the B5 RS4's but not B7.
Terminator X said:
You're in a B7 RS4 straight out of Uni?! My life sucks ...
TX.
Second time around... one degree in Graphic Design (waste of 3 years...) Then one in Electrical Engineering - proved to be much more useful. Now an electrical engineer on a cruise ship so certainly paid off.TX.
Ved said:
Really good choice, OP, and a great colour too. Any sign of replacement DRC in its history?
Yeah it's been done, that was a must for the car I was to buy. DRC done and under Warranty and coil pack recall carried out. It's also FASH with a load of other random invoices and bits and bobs from the years. Years MOT and just serviced 800miles ago so hopefully a years free motoring... other than fuel and modifications!Dr G said:
16plates - incredibly random but you didn't go to Brunel university did you?
The first few stages of your car history are eerily similar to someone I knew there.
Nah that wasn't me, i went to Glasgow Caledonian then Northumberland i'm afraid. The guy you know has good taste though!The first few stages of your car history are eerily similar to someone I knew there.
Court_S said:
That's lovely. I really like these in sprint blue.
My step uncle had one which I drove and I fell in love with it very quickly; I love the bucket seats and the noise was amazing. It just seemed so wrong that a saloon car could sound like that. Sadly he's sold it now....only to replace it with an RS6. The RS6 is an amazing bit of kit, but I prefer the RS4.
It'll be a touch decision choosing between an RS4 and an E90 M3, which will be the upgrade from the 330 in a few years time.
I drove an E92 M3 before buying this RS4 and was totally unimpressed... Great car no doubt, fast and powerful but just didn't feel as special to me as an RS4 did. I use my car purely for social/sunday blasts - the RS4 fits the bill much better than an E92 does IMO. E92 isn't as special, plus theres millions of them on the road!My step uncle had one which I drove and I fell in love with it very quickly; I love the bucket seats and the noise was amazing. It just seemed so wrong that a saloon car could sound like that. Sadly he's sold it now....only to replace it with an RS6. The RS6 is an amazing bit of kit, but I prefer the RS4.
It'll be a touch decision choosing between an RS4 and an E90 M3, which will be the upgrade from the 330 in a few years time.
Court_S said:
I do too many miles to use one daily so it'd be 'her' car (like the 330 is) and as we have a little one on the way, it'd have to be the saloon M3 but there's not many about. I like the idea if an RS4 avant as a family car! The interior in the RS4 feels much more special with the carbon trim and the bucket seats. The M3 feels too similar too a boggo 3. I prefer the noise of Audi V8's too.
Are you keeping it stock or do you have any plans for it?
I fancy a few small changes - miltek exhaust, flat bottomed steering wheel and maybe a gruppe M intake however i work away and leave at the end of this month until christmas eve so it will all probably be in the new year! Very happy how it is at the moment though.Are you keeping it stock or do you have any plans for it?
Small update on RS4 ownership for anyone who's interested...
Total Miles (since Oct 2013) : 5914
Average MPG since I bought it; 18.6mpg
Total smiles on face: 999999999999999999999999!
With regards to bills... so far so good. MOT last month and it flew through, no advisories and nothing but compliments from the tester. I've replaced a couple of tatty trim bits here and there which admittedly had an added RS tax but mechanically, it's been faultless (touch wood).
I was planning a mammoth euro hoon this summer however life got in the way a bit so ended up doing a mammoth UK hoon instead, Ayrshire>Loch Lomond>Edinburgh>York>Oxford>Plymouth>Newquay>Ayrshire! North of 2000miles in 10 days, I loved it, car munches the motorway miles with all the toys and comfort but also proved itself a beast on the A-roads of Cornwall and Ayrshire, i can't think of another car (in budget) that I'd of rather done that trip in!?
So far it's remained fairly standard, aside from a couple of 'must have' mods on any B7 RS4...
De-tango'd the headlamps;
Fitted spacers (10mm rear, 8mm front);
I've also blanked off the vacuum hoses to the exhaust flaps to keep them open, sounds much better. Oh and fitted the obligatory PH sticker too...(+50bhp)
Was inspired by this feature.. http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI... and since im not too far away (an hour), i decided to go with a mate on his bike for a fair old hoon, turned into a 200mile hoon across the borders and ayrshire but it was great fun!
All in all, a great 10 months of ownership! Would (and do) heartily recommend one to anyone.
Total Miles (since Oct 2013) : 5914
Average MPG since I bought it; 18.6mpg
Total smiles on face: 999999999999999999999999!
With regards to bills... so far so good. MOT last month and it flew through, no advisories and nothing but compliments from the tester. I've replaced a couple of tatty trim bits here and there which admittedly had an added RS tax but mechanically, it's been faultless (touch wood).
I was planning a mammoth euro hoon this summer however life got in the way a bit so ended up doing a mammoth UK hoon instead, Ayrshire>Loch Lomond>Edinburgh>York>Oxford>Plymouth>Newquay>Ayrshire! North of 2000miles in 10 days, I loved it, car munches the motorway miles with all the toys and comfort but also proved itself a beast on the A-roads of Cornwall and Ayrshire, i can't think of another car (in budget) that I'd of rather done that trip in!?
So far it's remained fairly standard, aside from a couple of 'must have' mods on any B7 RS4...
De-tango'd the headlamps;
Fitted spacers (10mm rear, 8mm front);
I've also blanked off the vacuum hoses to the exhaust flaps to keep them open, sounds much better. Oh and fitted the obligatory PH sticker too...(+50bhp)
Was inspired by this feature.. http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI... and since im not too far away (an hour), i decided to go with a mate on his bike for a fair old hoon, turned into a 200mile hoon across the borders and ayrshire but it was great fun!
All in all, a great 10 months of ownership! Would (and do) heartily recommend one to anyone.
AdamFX said:
Damn. 
Where did you get those headlights? Fancy some myself.
Done them myself! See here... http://nickscarblog.com/diy/b7-audi-clear-corner-m... Hardest bit is removing the bumper, ballache of a job!!Where did you get those headlights? Fancy some myself.
Quick update on this.
Almost 18months into my ownership now and safe to say, what a pleasureable 18 months its been. Couple of big road trips and plenty of weekend hoons and the RS has stood up to it all, it's got far more in it than I have in me!
January meant it was time for a big service so stuck it into Audi, gave them piles of money and got that all important stamp.
Was also due tyres so went for a set of Goodyear Eagle F1's. Thought while i was spending i might aswell get the front end tidied up and some other cosmetic bits. Wheel and caliper refurb, painted the chrome in grey, front grill in gloss black, front rings in black etc etc...
Here's how she sits this weekend after a 2 day 'detail', best i could do myself.
Almost 18months into my ownership now and safe to say, what a pleasureable 18 months its been. Couple of big road trips and plenty of weekend hoons and the RS has stood up to it all, it's got far more in it than I have in me!
January meant it was time for a big service so stuck it into Audi, gave them piles of money and got that all important stamp.
Was also due tyres so went for a set of Goodyear Eagle F1's. Thought while i was spending i might aswell get the front end tidied up and some other cosmetic bits. Wheel and caliper refurb, painted the chrome in grey, front grill in gloss black, front rings in black etc etc...
Here's how she sits this weekend after a 2 day 'detail', best i could do myself.
RS Grant said:
I must admit I went straight off and took a stroll through the classifieds when I saw the pictures of it the other day, haha. It looks fantastic.
Cheers,
Grant
Do it! You won't be dissapointed I assure you. Can get them sub 18k too now which is a total steal. That said, i'd probably be wary going for one at the cheap end of the pricing range though.Cheers,
Grant
I'm itching for a GTR but an imminent house purchase has put the brakes on that for now.
AGAR said:
Looking good Coldo - loving the colour!
AGAR! Not seen your name around for a while, good to 'bump' into you again. Cheers for the comment.GokTweed said:
Lovely colour but the black has ruined it for me. With that blue I always liked the brushed aluminium trim, it seemed to really compliment the colour.
I remember when my dad got his, brand new and the first V8 in the family (previously had the B5 which had awesome turbo noises!) Sprint blue with brushed aluminium trim, looked fantastic.
OP doesn't it have a 's' button which opens the exhaust flaps? why not just press that rather than fiddle with the vacuum?
Yeah I have the sport button, this doesn't necessarily open the valves... When sport mode is engaged as such, the valves only open in the following situations;I remember when my dad got his, brand new and the first V8 in the family (previously had the B5 which had awesome turbo noises!) Sprint blue with brushed aluminium trim, looked fantastic.
OP doesn't it have a 's' button which opens the exhaust flaps? why not just press that rather than fiddle with the vacuum?
- when the engine speed is below 1k rpm (essentially at idle)
- when in neutral or gears 1, 2 and 3 *AND* engine speed above 4k rpm
- when in gears 4, 5 and 6
The rest of the time they are closed, regardless of the S button state. Removing and blanking the vaccum hoses just keeps the valves in the open position at all times = better noise.
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