Casting through the PH classifieds for RS4s from the two previous generations - V6 twin-turbo B5 and V8 B7 - reveals just over a hundred or so cars of varying configurations, from soggy soft tops to sober saloons and, of course, super cool Avants.
This B5 stands out, not least for its apparently spookily low mileage. Now, it's all too easy to be transfixed by such things and lose sight of the bigger picture and this is pretty beefy money for a B5 - you could have a leggy one in the same colour with a claimed 420hp for less than half this amount or any number of perfectly decent V8 B7s.
So why would you? Well, as you'll soon see browsing the ads, the B5's turbo engine does offer plenty of scope for tuning, many owners falling for this temptation. You can argue the toss of the merits of this but if you're being purist about it and want an unmolested example like this you'll have a longer search.
Old school Audi, in all the good ways
You'd have to argue the standard 380hp is enough to be going on with, though you can see why many would be tempted to go for more. But why would you pay over the odds for an older B5 anyway? Well, there's something a little more focused about these earlier ones that appeals, the fact it was only available in Avant form adding to the kudos and harking back to the days when RS models had a real whiff of skunk works about them, rather than being a fancy flagship model. The B5 look manages the apparently contradictory ability to appear both more discreet and more hardcore than the later cars too, especially on these standard alloys. The fact the engine was developed and built here in the UK by Cosworth adds a further appealing twist.
This isn't to belittle the B5's V8 successor which is, by any stretch, a magnificent car and blessed with one of the all-time best exhaust notes ever. Green is a bit of an odd colour, granted, and the price is quite a hurdle. But for what looks like a bit of a time-warp car someone must be tempted?
Having never driven a B5 RS4 - only the B7 - I still find it holds much more appeal over it's successor. Strange. I have, however, driven a couple B5 S4s and they were wonderful, albeit non-standard models
From this (limited) experience I can only imagine that a B5 RS4 must still be pretty epic in it's own right.
Owned one for 4 1/2 years, still miss it, was remapped by MRC which should of been done sooner.
Was an absolute hoot to drive and nothing I think will ever be able to replace it, I sold it as was suffering from turbo paranoia and it was getting leggy at 120k miles. The new owner has fiddled slightly with it and its now pushing 520hp ;-)
It's such a shame that Audi are sticking with NA V8's for the new RS4, they should of gone down the bi-turbo 3.0 V6 route !
I had number 13, Avus silver, Hitech metal weave seats and piano black trim.
Loved it to bits, bonkers performance over 120 in germany
Rejected it after 18 months and nearly 20 bent rims .....
Regretted it forever and a day, I should have just bought the blody sportec RIMS and be done with it
I will not be making that mistake again
Best looking RS imo, only 500 came to the UK (against what 3000 V8s?) and they had to be pulled from the factory line to be modified to get all the bits in (like the RS3).
Really? I have seen them in saloon form. Must be fakes?
You see a lot of A4s and S4s badged up as RS model. Unless you meant S4 and thought it said RS4. Or, perhaps you mean RS6 which did come as a saloon aswell as Avant!
Drove a B5 RS4 a few years back before taking the plunge on a C5 RS6. Great car but the price of the one in the ad is ridiculous.
only 5 cylinders on this one and also it is now 17 years old - remains the dogs dangly bits re versatility/performance, there is no serious turbo lag on this one, just spool it up.
Really? I have seen them in saloon form. Must be fakes?
You see a lot of A4s and S4s badged up as RS model. Unless you meant S4 and thought it said RS4. Or, perhaps you mean RS6 which did come as a saloon aswell as Avant!
Drove a B5 RS4 a few years back before taking the plunge on a C5 RS6. Great car but the price of the one in the ad is ridiculous.
only 5 cylinders on this one and also it is now 17 years old - remains the dogs dangly bits re versatility/performance, there is no serious turbo lag on this one, just spool it up.
Best looking RS imo, only 500 came to the UK (against what 3000 V8s?) and they had to be pulled from the factory line to be modified to get all the bits in (like the RS3).
Bring back the wide arches, accountants now ruling the design at Audi
Test drove one of these back to back with an E39 M5 (which I ended up buying).
Offboost absolutely nothing, on boost very fast, in the end I preferred the more linear power and better noise of the NA V8 in the M5. But the B5 was still an enormously attractive prospect.
Driving the B5 RS4 reminded me of a renault 5 turbo which had undergone a course of steroids (and better build qualtiy)
Owned one for 4 1/2 years, still miss it, was remapped by MRC which should of been done sooner.
Was an absolute hoot to drive and nothing I think will ever be able to replace it, I sold it as was suffering from turbo paranoia and it was getting leggy at 120k miles. The new owner has fiddled slightly with it and its now pushing 520hp ;-)
It's such a shame that Audi are sticking with NA V8's for the new RS4, they should of gone down the bi-turbo 3.0 V6 route !
Best looking RS imo, only 500 came to the UK (against what 3000 V8s?) and they had to be pulled from the factory line to be modified to get all the bits in (like the RS3).
Bring back the wide arches, accountants now ruling the design at Audi
given a choice between
a) big arches and a faux RS ie some options, go fast exhaust and mild boost
b) or cheaper body work and proper upgraded hardware show horned into the car
Just finished re-doing some bits and pieces on my Audi S4 Avant 2001 model as it would not boost:
One thing you have to keep in mind. If the turbos need service / replacement... THE ENGINE HAS TO COME OUT OF THE CAR..
Hence I took the opportunity of fitting: RS4 DIVERTER VALVES 710Ns RS4 ENGINE MOUNTS RS4 CLUTCH KIT STAINLESS STEEL MANIFOLD BACK EXHAUST WITH 2X 200 CELL RACING CATALYSTS AP COILOVERS
The result is astonishing... You would be amazed by the torgue and cornering ability and sound. THE CAR DOES NOT SOUND ANYTHING LIKE AN AUDI. At least with that exhaust and the ECU upgrade. Turbos kick in 1500-1600rpm...
It's also very tail happy if you want it to be!! Love the car. Can't wait to drive her from Greece back to Switzerland.
The building quality of the car.. Pretty much unknown to other (modern) cars.. My car got 170000km and looks, smells, and is as rigid as new.
s off i saw it first 
