RE: Audi RS4 (B5) Avant: PH Heroes

[anonymous-user]

I drove one of these 10 years ago and through it was a hilariously ballistic engine fitted to a crashingly inept chassis. I doubt time has improved it.

Interesting that now it's old enough that criticising won't irritate VAG and jeopardize advertising revenue and free jollies to car launches a journalist feels they can actually say what has been true all along: Audi A4 interiors are absolutely nothing special in terms of design or quality.

I'm sure the latest A4 is blah blah granite blah perfection blah soft touch ball bag rest and all the usual nonsense though...

Edited by dme123 on Thursday 22 October 14:36

[SuperVM]

Axionknight said:

Amirhussain said:

Nogaro Blue for me please

Oh yes, without a doubt

I just sold my nogaro blue B5 RS4 two days ago, she'll be missed and this article isn't helping. I have replaced it with a facelift E39 M5 though, which is definitely helping to ease the pain.

[Searider]

hondansx said:

Terrible ride

Mine was much more comfortable than my colleagues A6 TDI S-Line - now that IS a hard ride!

[Searider]

blade7 said:

Really fancied one of these for my daily around 3 years ago, did some research and had a bit of a reality check. Sub 20mpg and big bills when it went wrong made me decide buying and running one everyday wasn't practical for me. They seemed a bit fragile compared to the RS2 as well.

Only 1 or 2 mpg worse than the contemporary S4.

[Searider]

dme123 said:

I drove one of these 10 years ago and through it was a hilariously ballistic engine fitted to a crashingly inept chassis. I doubt time has improved it.

Interesting that now it's old enough that criticising won't irritate VAG and jeopardize advertising revenue and free jollies to car launches a journalist feels they can actually say what has been true all along: Audi A4 interiors are absolutely nothing special in terms of design or quality.

I'm sure the latest A4 is blah blah granite blah perfection blah soft touch ball bag rest and all the usual nonsense though...

Edited by dme123 on Thursday 22 October 14:36

I think the quality of Audi interiors has got worse.

My RS4 and S4 from 2000 interiors felt much better put together than a later S3 I had for a (short) while.

[bigee]

Apt timing this article, i have just aquired my 3rd one.....in Imola....

[Nors]

bigee said:

Apt timing this article, i have just aquired my 3rd one.....in Imola....

And what a minter it is too!

[bigee]

i am indeed on

[ensignia]

The B7 RS 4 is far superior to this in virtually every way.

These were fast but ultimately lacked driving involvement.

[j_s14a]

Andy20vt said:

I think both cars are equally special, the RS2 because it was first and fettled by Porsche,

The Porsche link, and Mclaren F1 beating acceleration are only part of the RS2 legend. The other part is that the engine, which was the ultimate evolution of the 5 cylinder engine fitted to the legendary Quattro rally cars. The RS4 can't compete with that.

This isn't to detract from the RS4, which is a great car in its own right. But the RS2 is truly an all time great.

[Ken Figenus]

I had one with a Miltek exhaust and an AMD conversion. Glorious engine but worst road manners of any car I've ever had. Sadly I couldn't wait to get rid of it and its tugging and tramlining and hopping about. Have to tell it like it was.

[ensignia]

The B7 RS 4 is far superior to this in virtually every way.

These were fast but ultimately lacked driving involvement.

[RicM5]

Just back from Glasgow ( to Suffolk ) today!!! Having collected my 6th yes 6th B5 RS4.... Just turned 102k on arrival home and feels pretty damn good..... If you like the feeling of driving the car as opposed to the car driving you these old girls are about as much bang for your buck as you'll get!!!! Can be pricey to run but I've made money overall on my last 3......yes most of them out there need a bit of work but to me that's part of the enjoyment....
Searider still got my old nogaro S4 avant?? (RicR1)

[bigee]

heres me thinking i was doing well with 3...... 6 !!
Good man.

[GregorFuk]

I must agree with the comments re the cars handling. I remember mine as being ballistic between the corners but pretty crappy once you turned in to one.

[epom]

Sssshhhhhhhhh don't be talking about these, hopefully then prices might drop :-)
Absolutely love these.

[lord trumpton]

The days when Audi cars looked great!

[J.C...]

Can't believe how few there are left on the road! Always fancied one but I think I'll end up in a 911

[Court_S]

Love these, they just look so right. Subtle but people who like cars will know it's a bit special.

One of th partners at the company I work had one for years until he swapped it to a GTR I love it but most of the chaps I work with just didn't get it.

[30v]

Haha, looks like a coach trip from audisrs.com has turned up!

It's great for UK driving where you're invariably at the back end of 5-6 cars nose-to-tail doing 45mph on an NSL A-road and need a massive dollop of mid-range torque to squirt past them all in one go. The B5 will dispatch them with ease and you'll still be within the speed limit pulling back in - the torque is that brutal. For me, its natural habitat is the autobahn - up to 60mph and it's a tad unforgiving. Once over 60 it's a different car and once into triple-figures it just makes ALL kinds of sense.

If you get one, upgrade the suspension to a Bilstein B12/ Pro kit and uprated ARB - it will transform it's only (albeit, minor) weak point.