RE: Driven: Audi RS4
Discussion
Nors said:
Moog72 said:
Looks nothing at all like a cooking S-Line fer chrissakes. May not be quite the shouty "look at me RS version over here" model that some seem to want but it doesn't look like a run-of-the-mill rep mobile either, but that's Audi all over these days - more understated.
I bet if they'd put bulges everywhere, some crazy wing at the back and skirts,spoilers and vents that made it look like it had just returned from a round of the DTM there would be cries of "daft", "trying too hard", "to obvious" and "looks like it crashed into Halfords"
Spot on! I bet if they'd put bulges everywhere, some crazy wing at the back and skirts,spoilers and vents that made it look like it had just returned from a round of the DTM there would be cries of "daft", "trying too hard", "to obvious" and "looks like it crashed into Halfords"
sealtt said:
Old RS4 estate looked great, this is just average.
But these engines do not have enough torque... I test drove the S5 (convinced I would buy one) and was totally underwhelmed, was a slow and heavy car. So I then tried the RS5 and that still did not impress me at all - felt bulky, heavy and quite sluggish (especially 100mph+ it just doesn't move). So I can imagine this being very similar.
I subsequently bought a 911 Turbo and then a SL55 AMG and these solved that problem entirely.
911 Turbo / SL55 ? But these engines do not have enough torque... I test drove the S5 (convinced I would buy one) and was totally underwhelmed, was a slow and heavy car. So I then tried the RS5 and that still did not impress me at all - felt bulky, heavy and quite sluggish (especially 100mph+ it just doesn't move). So I can imagine this being very similar.
I subsequently bought a 911 Turbo and then a SL55 AMG and these solved that problem entirely.
Nice, but you're not really comparing apples with apples.
I'd like to see you squeeze a wife, x2 kids and a spaniel in your SL55
Blown2CV said:
what is harris's continual obsession with drifting? He may live in the world of "power tests" international travel and wraparound oakley shades, but the only people trying to drive an Audi RSx like that on UK public roads are those smelling of council estate buying Cat-C second-hand in 7 years time. Surely this is more the thinking man's express. I have never had one of these fly up behind me in lane 3 of the mway - it's always the diesel Audi driver who wishes he could afford an RS.
Only time I was ever involved a proper road rage incident was with the driver of an RS4 who seemed to think he had a right to undertake a car at over 100mph down a back road by way of trying to ram my car out the way, it got a bit ugly when we caught up. I ended up getting fined by plod. I've owned a B5 and B7, both great cars in their own way and I agree with Chris's conclusion really on those two. The B8, I have not driven but from the review it just looks too sterile and uninvolving that I am really not too fussed to go and drive.
When the B7 came out and was reviewed on TG I knew I had to have one and a week later I went and put a deposit down on one. With this B8 I have no such feelings.
When the B7 came out and was reviewed on TG I knew I had to have one and a week later I went and put a deposit down on one. With this B8 I have no such feelings.
Maldini35 said:
sealtt said:
I subsequently bought a 911 Turbo and then a SL55 AMG and these solved that problem entirely.
911 Turbo / SL55 ? Nice, but you're not really comparing apples with apples.
I'd like to see you squeeze a wife, x2 kids and a spaniel in your SL55
If you want a sports car you'd buy a GT3/GT2 and forget the back seats but if you want a seriously fast car to do long drives in I found my RS4 a much nicer place to be.
djdestiny said:
No, they're mostly sterotypical tags that have been attached to the Audi name, usually by people that have never owned one
Yes that's the way I feel and unfortunately I feel the whole Neckarsulm built RS brand has been devalued since the B7. We have had various incarnations since then what with the TTRS and RS5 and they have just been dull as you like. In a way they have refined things too much and added tech that should not be there including the DSG. The beauty of the 4's in the past have been the 6 speed manual box.I'd go back to a B5 or B7 in a heartbeat but just don't have an urge like I did with the B7 to go out and buy a B8.
Contigo said:
djdestiny said:
No, they're mostly sterotypical tags that have been attached to the Audi name, usually by people that have never owned one
Yes that's the way I feel and unfortunately I feel the whole Neckarsulm built RS brand has been devalued since the B7. We have had various incarnations since then what with the TTRS and RS5 and they have just been dull as you like. In a way they have refined things too much and added tech that should not be there including the DSG. The beauty of the 4's in the past have been the 6 speed manual box.I'd go back to a B5 or B7 in a heartbeat but just don't have an urge like I did with the B7 to go out and buy a B8.
only thing putting me off the idea of the new RS4 is (1) I don't want an Avant, and (2) the S6 is cheaper/better from my perspective.
Don't get me wrong, I love the NA V8 but the Supercharged V6 (from the S4) and the twin Turbo V8 (S6) are both better in so many ways.
PH (along with any other motoring journalism) talks about lbft/tonne ratios and totally misses the point again shocker 
Perhaps the new car revs a whopping 5% longer, allowing a 5% shorter final drive?!
Perhaps the new car has a revised power-train reducing losses?
Perhaps it's a bit more aerodynamic offsetting yet more power losses?
net power/weight vs speed with a plot per gear is the only fair comparison.
Well done Audi imo. They could have gone to a s
tty FI engine but instead kept an 8500rpm V8 engine!
DSG is a retarded choice though. If you are dulling down the driving involvement that much you may as well run a big slow FI or a diesel or something.
95% of the demographic now probably don't care now though so doesn't really surprise me. Biturbo one is still the best by miles.
Dave
Perhaps the new car revs a whopping 5% longer, allowing a 5% shorter final drive?!
Perhaps the new car has a revised power-train reducing losses?
Perhaps it's a bit more aerodynamic offsetting yet more power losses?
net power/weight vs speed with a plot per gear is the only fair comparison.
Well done Audi imo. They could have gone to a s
tty FI engine but instead kept an 8500rpm V8 engine!DSG is a retarded choice though. If you are dulling down the driving involvement that much you may as well run a big slow FI or a diesel or something.
95% of the demographic now probably don't care now though so doesn't really surprise me. Biturbo one is still the best by miles.
Dave
the DSG/flappy paddles argument is lost these days...
Ferrari said some time ago that 99% of car orders were for paddles, so they stopped doing manauals, it;s the way the market has gone.
second point is that all cars have to get as good a CO2 figure as possible and with a DSG/Auto box you can achieve MUCH better numbers, so if it means the difference between a £450+ and <£200 PA tax disk (and equivalent benefit in kind tax), it;s a no-brainer.
Sad I know...
Ferrari said some time ago that 99% of car orders were for paddles, so they stopped doing manauals, it;s the way the market has gone.
second point is that all cars have to get as good a CO2 figure as possible and with a DSG/Auto box you can achieve MUCH better numbers, so if it means the difference between a £450+ and <£200 PA tax disk (and equivalent benefit in kind tax), it;s a no-brainer.
Sad I know...
Niffty951 said:
Moving straight from 996 turbo to the B5 RS4 I found myself thinking, why would you put up with the lack of space and discomfort of the 911 turbo when you can have an equally fast
Really , after reading how good you thought your 996 was on track are you saying your RS4 would have matched it ?.blade7 said:
Niffty951 said:
Moving straight from 996 turbo to the B5 RS4 I found myself thinking, why would you put up with the lack of space and discomfort of the 911 turbo when you can have an equally fast
Really , after reading how good you thought your 996 was on track are you saying your RS4 would have matched it ?.Scuffers said:
I used to think the same, but the S-Tronic DSG is so good, you have to be a bit anal to want a manual over it...
only thing putting me off the idea of the new RS4 is (1) I don't want an Avant, and (2) the S6 is cheaper/better from my perspective.
Don't get me wrong, I love the NA V8 but the Supercharged V6 (from the S4) and the twin Turbo V8 (S6) are both better in so many ways.
I'm no stranger to flappy paddle/DSG/SMG/Getrag systems on performance cars so don't take me for someone who MUST have a manual box. I am just saying that this RS4 could be any other Sline looking Audi and the B8 just for some reason doesn't do it for me. I can't quite put my finger on why. Called the dealer and I'm getting a test drive as soon/if the demo hits their forecourt. I love cars that much that I just have to see what it's like and who knows I may well fall in love. The salesman I know on the phone was banging on about how good it was last week in Munich and that it looked the business. only thing putting me off the idea of the new RS4 is (1) I don't want an Avant, and (2) the S6 is cheaper/better from my perspective.
Don't get me wrong, I love the NA V8 but the Supercharged V6 (from the S4) and the twin Turbo V8 (S6) are both better in so many ways.
Even the brochure is dull compared to the B7.
http://www.audi.co.uk/content/dam/audi/production/...
Nice to see it getting a decent standard spec though including MMS, Sat Nav and BT.
http://www.audi.co.uk/content/dam/audi/production/...
Nice to see it getting a decent standard spec though including MMS, Sat Nav and BT.
Contigo said:
Scuffers said:
RS4 is not a track day car....
RS4 is a very capable track day car though especially the B7. If the B5 has Bilsteins, ARB's and a B7 brake upgrade it is not bad at all. if you want to do trackdays, buy a car that's suited to doing trackdays.
RS4 is a road car, a very nice/fast road car, but still a road car.
Mr Whippy said:
DSG is a retarded choice though. If you are dulling down the driving involvement that much you may as well run a big slow FI or a diesel or something.
Dave
Its the perfect choice, if your want purist driving dont buy a 1600kg+ barge, plus the RS5 comes with a manual optionDave
In the real world of families, shopping trips and traffic jams duel clutch is a god send, plus you dont have to lift to change gear
leave the manual for the GT3 RS
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