Discussion
Well that was an interesting 3 months with the RS4. I traded in my mk5 R32 and bought a B7 RS4 on the 20th March 09. Since then the dealer has had the car as much as I have! The DRC suspension was changed 4 times (16 shocks) in 12 weeks and the self-destructing V8 was investigated on numerous occasions due to smoke bellowing out the back like a Chinese coal-fired PowerStation. In the end I rejected the RS4, got my money back and headed off towards the nearest Enterprise Car Rental. On the way past I saw a Pre-Reg Corsa VXR sitting outside a Vauxhall Dealership, walked in, haggled a bit and drove it home 2 hours later. My rationale is that no matter what happens with regards to build quality the VXR is going to be less complicated than the fragile RS4 and less inclined to spit me off the road when the suspension goes pop. I don’t know why I didn’t do it earlier. For years I thought I needed more power to have a giggle on the roads. The little Vauxhall is a right hoot to drive. 24 hrs later and life is great with the not so little Corsa, we even went out for a drive last night just for the sake of driving, not done that for years! Work colleagues think I’m mad but you try living with a car that requires new shock absorbers every 2 weeks!
Never meet your hero
Never meet your hero
Edited by SR06 on Friday 5th June 13:17
Edited by SR06 on Friday 5th June 13:17
I was in my pals B7 RS4 last night, I have heard the DRC is a big issue, it was for the RS6 as well. His was replaced last year by the dealer without prompting and has been fine since. But the smoke, probably wise walking away from that not good, but I know they struggle to make the claimed power, still quick though. Small cars can be fun i much prefer driving my 20 year old shed to the 4 year old E61, but i am weird!
Dargie said:
I believe it was Sir Stirling Moss who said 'i would rather drive a slower car to 95% of its limit on the road, than drive a fast one to only 25% of its potential.'
Haha, love it. Thats my new slogan and I will get it on my grave-stone. I was going to get "SEE?...TOLD YOU I WAS ILL!"SR06 said:
"SEE?...TOLD YOU I WAS ILL!"
love it! edit:
cant help but be disappointed with a lot of the new Audis. Like the other thread i am a die hard fan as well. So I sold both my newer avants and went back 20 years in time to an era when they were well built. I do hope there are good stories to cancel out the bad ones. Time will be the deciding factor with the RS4 outcome, but i read the RS246 thread last week as well, not so hot.
Corsa VXR, actually dont know them much at all i must say. However if it puts a smile on your face when behind the wheel, who cares. One of my favourite ever drives was going over the cairnomount in a fiat ciecento sporting, possibly the slowest car I have ever driven but what a hoot to drive.
Edited by istoo on Friday 5th June 17:28
I took a demonstrator Corsa VXR for a test drive almost 2 years ago when they were first coming out. Great car, bags of power and the styling is excellent.
Only reason I didn't buy it was because I couldn't get comfy in the sports seats. They look really smart but even after 20 minutes I was sore.
Only reason I didn't buy it was because I couldn't get comfy in the sports seats. They look really smart but even after 20 minutes I was sore.
GetCarter said:
I'm currently enjoying a new A4 3.0 Quattro Avant. Seems fine so far. Fingers crossed.
not quattro gmbh built as the RS4 is, I rate the 3.0tdiQ highly, very good utilitarian car, especially for where you are. Sadly couldn't afford one when I was looking, I had the predecessor 2.5 tdi engine which was nothing like as refined and smooth as the 3.0. And day to day (without starting the derv agrument) has enough shove to make it interesting.Wee things annoyed me, when it was good it was great! cBut as a die hard Audi fan it was the niggles that drove me nuts. As otherwise it was a good car. Shame as the older C5 shape A6 avant was brilliant.
For the OP, shame it was that bad, I am sure we have all had a car which drove us nuts, in my case, it put me off subaru's forever, not for flame sakes. Like you I was disheartened bought something on a whim not expecting much but was pleasantly surprised.
edit: i still like the RS4 for what it is, Audi's current ethos is going back to smaller bore engines and abnormally aspriating them, so this maybe the last V8 we see shoehorned into a wee estate. Never owned one but had quite a few passenger runs, and its enjoyable from that sense. Such are cars, i have a mate with a TVR who is either cursing it or praising it. But as a passenger i will always love it. wil watch out for the Corsa VXR to .... next year
Edited by istoo on Sunday 7th June 13:19
istoo said:
SR06 said:
"SEE?...TOLD YOU I WAS ILL!"
love it! edit:
cant help but be disappointed with a lot of the new Audis. Like the other thread i am a die hard fan as well. So I sold both my newer avants and went back 20 years in time to an era when they were well built. I do hope there are good stories to cancel out the bad ones. Time will be the deciding factor with the RS4 outcome, but i read the RS246 thread last week as well, not so hot.
Corsa VXR, actually dont know them much at all i must say. However if it puts a smile on your face when behind the wheel, who cares. One of my favourite ever drives was going over the cairnomount in a fiat ciecento sporting, possibly the slowest car I have ever driven but what a hoot to drive.
Edited by istoo on Friday 5th June 17:28
Dargie said:
I believe it was Sir Stirling Moss who said 'i would rather drive a slower car to 95% of its limit on the road, than drive a fast one to only 25% of its potential.'
James Hunt used to drive an Austin A35 van as a road car for precisely that reason 
'cept he maybe drove it at more than 95% 
Dargie said:
I believe it was Sir Stirling Moss who said 'i would rather drive a slower car to 95% of its limit on the road, than drive a fast one to only 25% of its potential.'
...but I would rather have a fast car and drive it to 95% of it's limits on the road. Slower cars are just, well, just slower....but it really depend where you drive.
Due to financial reasons (got a daughter now!) I sold my Elise sports racer and now use a Pug GTI-6 for short commute and wheeching about. It is such a good laugh. I call it the ned mobile and it is made even more exciting wondering if it is going to blow up at any moment.
Also bought a good sensible car for wife and daughter...a prodrived scooby wagon.....ahhhhhh the fun!
Bob
Also bought a good sensible car for wife and daughter...a prodrived scooby wagon.....ahhhhhh the fun!
Bob
Well after 6600 trouble free miles with the Corsa VXR It's hopefully heading to Aberdeen to be with a new owner tomorrow. Been a great car, I really cannot find anything to complain about. But now I crave somthing a little larger. Over 6600 miles I have averaged 39.7MPG and it has used no oil whatsoever. I'll look back and smile. Never really been a VX-Fanboy but this was fun.
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