RE: Audi RS4 (B7): PH Buying Guide
Discussion
I would be driving one today if it was not for the €1,809 Road tax in Ireland 
http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/MotorTax/...
http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/MotorTax/...
Interestingly enough I was looking at these the other day. Being a hub dyno aswell it doesn't really look too good on the RS4's lump.
http://rototest-research.eu/popup/performancegraph...
http://rototest-research.eu/popup/performancegraph...
http://rototest-research.eu/popup/performancegraph...
http://rototest-research.eu/popup/performancegraph...
Why are people always getting hung up on the power figures?
My car was put on a rolling road earlier this year and pushed out 390bhp in completely standard guise. While yes it isn't the quoted figure, my car still performs to what Audi quote for 0-60 and even more on the Vmax.
Despite it's lack of quoted power, I know my car was a straight-line performance match for my brother's old V8 M3, even if that was better round a track. Come the rain though, and the RS4 was much better!
All in all, a good read with all the usual problems highlighted
Darren
My car was put on a rolling road earlier this year and pushed out 390bhp in completely standard guise. While yes it isn't the quoted figure, my car still performs to what Audi quote for 0-60 and even more on the Vmax.
Despite it's lack of quoted power, I know my car was a straight-line performance match for my brother's old V8 M3, even if that was better round a track. Come the rain though, and the RS4 was much better!
All in all, a good read with all the usual problems highlighted
Darren
SR06 said:
The DRC made me cry on numerous occasions and the carbon build-up IS a problem. I fail to see how 'ragging' the thing would reduce the build-up...if anything it would only heighten the issue due to producing even more oil vapour running at high temperature.
Is the coking problem produced from crank oil recycling from the sump? Surely an external catch-tank setup would solve this?I owned and ran a saloon B7 for a year as my every day commuter car back in 2007. Put over 40k miles on it, including 2 trips to the ring. Like most have commented, never felt that fast, rear leg room was a joke (had the buckets) and it went through 2 sets of front discs and 2 full sets of tyres in that time. It did get plenty of looks and sounded nice (AMG's sound better) but overall I was always disappointed with the car. Factor in shocking dealer service and poor leather quality (the seat bolsters are so thin its ridiculous)that when asked at the time, what did I like best about it, my answer of "the satnav is pretty good" said it all..
Can imagine would make a great used car now, but back then, it never felt like a 50k car.
If RS04 DAD is still out there, hi!
Can imagine would make a great used car now, but back then, it never felt like a 50k car.
If RS04 DAD is still out there, hi!
I would love one of these but not sure if it would make much sense.
I currently drive a B6 A4 Avant (2.5TDi Quattro).
The car handled great out of the box, but I added a decent set of coilovers & a rear RS4 anti-roll bar - I was surprised how the car took the changes - hard to believe its an A4 sometimes, especially when chucking round the corners.
Couldn't really justify the price hike from my current B6 to the RS4.
I currently drive a B6 A4 Avant (2.5TDi Quattro).
The car handled great out of the box, but I added a decent set of coilovers & a rear RS4 anti-roll bar - I was surprised how the car took the changes - hard to believe its an A4 sometimes, especially when chucking round the corners.
Couldn't really justify the price hike from my current B6 to the RS4.
Edited by AlexGSi2000 on Tuesday 5th November 13:21
Edited by AlexGSi2000 on Tuesday 5th November 13:22
pimpchez said:
Since when was 360-380bhp not enough or regarded as not that quick . Every time ive seen one get off down the road its looked impressive
Regarding this and other comments on power, bear in mind that on top of these coking losses you've got the additional drivetrain losses of 4WD, which are typically 5-10% greater than RWD cars that we may be more used to. What you're left with for the RS4 is the equivalent of a 1.7 tonne RWD car with 330-340bhp, which would be like an E46 BMW with about 300bhp. If you couple that with the immense grip and traction offered by four big fat tyres and an Audi 4WD system, and numb it off with the typical Audi lack of feedback and driver involvement, it's not surprising that you get a car considerably less interesting, exciting and involving than a 300bhp BMW, let alone a 360bhp one (the E46 M3), or indeed a 400bhp 1650kg one (the E92 M3).At the end of the day, figures are just figures and it comes down to seat of the pants feel, and that's very subjective. My own personal opinion was as quoted before, that the RS4 was a good car in terms of its A4 underpinnings, but in terms of a performance car or a driver's it just bored me senseless. Just my opinion mind you - it might be that I need to try another RS4, perhaps without a 100kg salesman in the passenger seat.
The RS6 is a different proposition altogether
It's pretty much what I expected from the RS4.Krikkit said:
Is the coking problem produced from crank oil recycling from the sump? Surely an external catch-tank setup would solve this?
Oil catcher doesn't work as that's not how the carbon deposits build up.It's an overrated problem and tends to look worse than it is. Any big power increases on the back of a carbon clean are usually due to other issues, such as vacuum leaks.
The RS4 engine seems struggle on the dyno, think it needs cold air. Whilst it's not quite as fast as an M3 V8 in a straight line, as an overall (all year round) package, it's fantastic.
Andyuk911 said:
rallyeman said:
I've always loved the RS4, it looks real beast on the road.
I never realised, it had the problems mentioned above.
So would the older V6 Turbo RS4 be a better buy?
Trust me, not really a problem ... good car and now cheap IMOI never realised, it had the problems mentioned above.
So would the older V6 Turbo RS4 be a better buy?
I drove an RS4 on numerous occasions and it didn't feel fast, the nice looking seats are a ball ache to get out of (and prevent access to the rear on the cabrio), the leather was thin, etc, etc...
Took it out one day with the roof down, sun shining and was speaking to a friend who advised that the car is a different animal with traction control switched off... Cue a few test runs later and I can say that the difference in performance with/without the traction control on makes a night and day difference.
They also look lovely and sound great too... If I needed four seats and they were a bit cheaper I'd have purchased one last year.
Also to add a friend got his first ban in the same car for doing an indicated 1.7 leptons+ on the M25 with the roof down that I may have been passenger to
Took it out one day with the roof down, sun shining and was speaking to a friend who advised that the car is a different animal with traction control switched off... Cue a few test runs later and I can say that the difference in performance with/without the traction control on makes a night and day difference.
They also look lovely and sound great too... If I needed four seats and they were a bit cheaper I'd have purchased one last year.
Also to add a friend got his first ban in the same car for doing an indicated 1.7 leptons+ on the M25 with the roof down that I may have been passenger to
I had an RS4 Avant for a couple of years along with most of the problems already mentioned. However, it did look and sound great and had good handling (until the DRC leaked) with loads of grip.
Still, after I test drove an E92 M3 I just had to make the change as the M3 was so much nicer to drive and the better balanced car.
Still, after I test drove an E92 M3 I just had to make the change as the M3 was so much nicer to drive and the better balanced car.
I have only been a passenger in my friends RS4 saloon so I cannot compare it directly to my E60 M5 but I have never found the RS4 to be lacking as a passenger. We work together, so frequently get to experience each others car. Horsepower figures aside it is a seriously quick car and even after 3 years I still smile when he accelerates around a corner in the wet. I love the V8 burble when he starts it; a sound so terribly lacking in the M5 which has a terrible sound at startup/idle only compensated for by the sound it makes further up the rev range.
His car is younger than mine (2007 with about 37000) but all he has ever had to do was have the front shocks replaced under warranty. (Admittedly he has actually had a comment from his service rep about what a good example his car is)
Where do I begin with the M5? (55 plate with 49000 miles) Glad I have extended warranty because I have had > £10K of repairs in 15000 miles of ownership. Admittedly the last repair was clutch, flywheel, hydraulic pump and CCC computer which was £6K in itself. (Also had airbag module, "engine module", radio receiver and power steering pipe replaced). I have spent about a month in BMW courtesy cars.
I have owned 1 and 5 series BMW's in the past which gave me no problems worth mentioning. This M5 is horrendous for BMW's reliability reputation but I dont think about that every time I turn the key. The extended warranty is £660 a year (with the £250 excess) which I find well worth it so that I can simply enjoy the car.
His car is younger than mine (2007 with about 37000) but all he has ever had to do was have the front shocks replaced under warranty. (Admittedly he has actually had a comment from his service rep about what a good example his car is)
Where do I begin with the M5? (55 plate with 49000 miles) Glad I have extended warranty because I have had > £10K of repairs in 15000 miles of ownership. Admittedly the last repair was clutch, flywheel, hydraulic pump and CCC computer which was £6K in itself. (Also had airbag module, "engine module", radio receiver and power steering pipe replaced). I have spent about a month in BMW courtesy cars.
I have owned 1 and 5 series BMW's in the past which gave me no problems worth mentioning. This M5 is horrendous for BMW's reliability reputation but I dont think about that every time I turn the key. The extended warranty is £660 a year (with the £250 excess) which I find well worth it so that I can simply enjoy the car.
TomG75 said:
I have only been a passenger in my friends RS4 saloon so I cannot compare it directly to my E60 M5 but I have never found the RS4 to be lacking as a passenger. We work together, so frequently get to experience each others car. Horsepower figures aside it is a seriously quick car and even after 3 years I still smile when he accelerates around a corner in the wet. I love the V8 burble when he starts it; a sound so terribly lacking in the M5 which has a terrible sound at startup/idle only compensated for by the sound it makes further up the rev range.
His car is younger than mine (2007 with about 37000) but all he has ever had to do was have the front shocks replaced under warranty. (Admittedly he has actually had a comment from his service rep about what a good example his car is)
Where do I begin with the M5? (55 plate with 49000 miles) Glad I have extended warranty because I have had > £10K of repairs in 15000 miles of ownership. Admittedly the last repair was clutch, flywheel, hydraulic pump and CCC computer which was £6K in itself. (Also had airbag module, "engine module", radio receiver and power steering pipe replaced). I have spent about a month in BMW courtesy cars.
I have owned 1 and 5 series BMW's in the past which gave me no problems worth mentioning. This M5 is horrendous for BMW's reliability reputation but I dont think about that every time I turn the key. The extended warranty is £660 a year (with the £250 excess) which I find well worth it so that I can simply enjoy the car.
Most the high end Audi's have serious reliability questions aswell. This RS4 as mentioned and the C5 RS6 with weak gearboxes and dodgy suspension again. His car is younger than mine (2007 with about 37000) but all he has ever had to do was have the front shocks replaced under warranty. (Admittedly he has actually had a comment from his service rep about what a good example his car is)
Where do I begin with the M5? (55 plate with 49000 miles) Glad I have extended warranty because I have had > £10K of repairs in 15000 miles of ownership. Admittedly the last repair was clutch, flywheel, hydraulic pump and CCC computer which was £6K in itself. (Also had airbag module, "engine module", radio receiver and power steering pipe replaced). I have spent about a month in BMW courtesy cars.
I have owned 1 and 5 series BMW's in the past which gave me no problems worth mentioning. This M5 is horrendous for BMW's reliability reputation but I dont think about that every time I turn the key. The extended warranty is £660 a year (with the £250 excess) which I find well worth it so that I can simply enjoy the car.
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