RE: Audi RS4(s): Spotted

[CaptainSensib1e]

All great cars in their own way, for me I'd choose a B7. I used to own a B7 S4 Avant, an RS was out of budget, so I'd really like to have a go in one!

Out of interest, has anyone owned all three? Must be serial RS4 buyers out there...

[bluesierra]

CaptainSensib1e said:

All great cars in their own way, for me I'd choose a B7. I used to own a B7 S4 Avant, an RS was out of budget, so I'd really like to have a go in one!

Did you ever have to do the dreaded timing belt?!

The RS4 doesn't exist as an Avant here (in Canada). I looked at the B7 S4, and there's a B7 S4 Avant round these parts in Nogaro Blue (auto, I think); but eventually opted for the S5 with the V8.

As above, I think the B5 looks best and would be the best investment; B7 is what you'd like to get because of the V8 & manual; B8 would be the best daily driver.

[tomic]

Are those wheels on the B5 correct for that car?

I had them on my old TT - They're really heavy compared to the 18's on my current car. Can't imagine they do wonders for the handling.

[Tin Hat]

I ran a B7 avant for 40k miles, I am sorry to say it was not wildly reliable. The Audi dealers were full of offers of tea and coffee, but not an overwhelming sense of mechanical skill.......
I PX'd the Audi for a new C63 wagon with the performance pack which lacks the visual drama of the Audi but it is a more interesting drive and has been faultless over the last 5 years. Both the Audi and the Mercedes have power plants that are exceptionally impressive and full of character.The Audi's gearbox also had a slight 'Nascar' whine which I liked.
I generally think that historically Audi has the edge on styling, especially in 'estate' guise, all 3 iterations noted in this article look superb to my eyes

[Leins]

tomic said:

Are those wheels on the B5 correct for that car?

I had them on my old TT - They're really heavy compared to the 18's on my current car. Can't imagine they do wonders for the handling.

Yes, although the subject of B5 RS4 wheels has had much exposure over the years. Mine is on hard compound wheels now after a previous owner got fed up with the softer ones buckling

[spodrod]

Maxed Power Racing? "Fully Loaded!"? Capitalising every word?

Those adverts make my head hurt.

[J4CKO]

Dave Hedgehog said:

J4CKO said:

34 grand for an old Audi in a ridiculous colour ?

standard factory option at the time and on the S4, they look smart in the metal IMO

Yeah it sort of works, kind of playing devils advocate here.

[PistonBroker]

B7 for me in this selection. You get the V8 but also still get the manual box.

There's a chap with a B5 S4 locally that sounds great when he's chucking it up the road near our local Tesco at twice the speed limit. That might be the rub for me - chav in that one and there's a Nogaro blue estate on my dog walk that's been badly modified and is owned by a dodgy driveway trader. This all may have tainted them for me!

It's just occurred to me that there's a B8 S4 on one of my regular dog walks too. Clearly fast Audis are very popular in my neck of the woods!

[Resolutionary]

jameswsb said:

Yeah it would seem that way. I pulled the trigger on an E39 M5 last year, a car that I have wanted since new, even though it was a squeeze financially, simply because prices appeared to be rising monthly and it looked like I might get priced out of the market. I guess in some respects it is with good reason that these kind of cars are increasing in value given that things like natural aspiration and manual boxes are dying, but I just cant see the value in some of the prices being asked for cars that weren't actually that well received when new.

Each to their own though I guess.

My friend bought his dream E39 M5 last year too - it's already had around £1.5k added to the selling price but he seems keen on holding on, and racking up the miles I might add (good man).

I was priced out of a decent B5 years ago - and I really do love them enough that if I had the disposable I'd even opt for a high miler.

My opinion is thus; the generations who grew up around the sorts of cars we're discussing, things of a vintage up to around the early 2000's, are now looking at forecourts and relatively newer metal thinking 'where did the essence go?' and plumbing for any examples of nostalgia they can get their mits on. Kinda how I feel anyway. It's not that these are good cars in the all round sense, certainly not reliability or gadgetry, but something about E39s, B5s, W202s, gives folks like us the fizz over newer versions and hotter cars.

If money was no object I'd absolutely be grabbing all the best German metal from the 1992 - 2001 bracket.

Edited by Resolutionary on Thursday 29th June 15:40

[GregorFuk]

Andy20vt said:

tomic said:

Are those wheels on the B5 correct for that car?

I had them on my old TT

They look very similar to the TT ones but are not the same wheels - different offset for a start, much much rarer and a lot more expensive. Audi wanted nearly £1,000 for a replacement alloy for my B5!!!

Same design but different offset and wider on the RS.

[MDMA .]

I'd take the B5 every time. Sold my UK, RS2 6 years ago for a high price at the time ( 15k ). Mint, B5 RS4's were only fetching 15-16k then. I would have a B5, just not at 34k. Not worth it TBH.

[culpz]

blade7 said:

Leins said:

One other note of caution with the older cars - parts availability or lack thereof. Come on Audi, if your rivals can do it, why can't you?!!!

Because parts for a car they won't sell through their dealer network are an inconvenience....

In BMW's case specifically, they will happily sell you all the parts you want with the added M tax on them!

[culpz]

J4CKO said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

J4CKO said:

34 grand for an old Audi in a ridiculous colour ?

standard factory option at the time and on the S4, they look smart in the metal IMO

Yeah it sort of works, kind of playing devils advocate here.

It's a lovely colour if you ask me! Much better than the typical boring Audi palette.

It's not so good if you want to remain inconspicuous though, if that's your thing.

[Leins]

culpz said:

blade7 said:

Leins said:

One other note of caution with the older cars - parts availability or lack thereof. Come on Audi, if your rivals can do it, why can't you?!!!

Because parts for a car they won't sell through their dealer network are an inconvenience....

In BMW's case specifically, they will happily sell you all the parts you want with the added M tax on them!

True, but at least you can usually still get them, and for cars a lot older than the B5. And not just for M-cars either, which made running my old E30s a lot easier

[blade7]

GregorFuk said:

Loved my B5, a real rocket ship when chipped to circa 420bhp.

But people should be aware, cars like these can bring you to tears and leave you hunting down the back of the sofa.

Camshafts, turbos, or both ? How were the gearbox synchros ?

[GregorFuk]

blade7 said:

GregorFuk said:

Loved my B5, a real rocket ship when chipped to circa 420bhp.

But people should be aware, cars like these can bring you to tears and leave you hunting down the back of the sofa.

Camshafts, turbos, or both ? How were the gearbox synchros ?

Exhaust manifold failure. Inner skin separated from the outer, very odd. But once the engine was out and turbos inspected it was clear they were on their way out too so they were replaced. Gearbox was fine.

[rtz62]

Dave Hedgehog said:

J4CKO said:

34 grand for an old Audi in a ridiculous colour ?

standard factory option at the time and on the S4, they look smart in the metal IMO

Back in 1982 I had a Prairie Yellow XR3 (think there's either 2 or 3 left in that colour); maligned athe time, it now seems a great colour, if very much of its time.
It doesn't look dissimilar to the RS4 in my eyes, although it has a slightly more 'custard' colour to it to be fair....

[blade7]

GregorFuk said:

Exhaust manifold failure. Inner skin separated from the outer, very odd. But once the engine was out and turbos inspected it was clear they were on their way out too so they were replaced. Gearbox was fine.

Did the bill start with a 2 or a 3...

[MDMA .]

blade7 said:

Did the bill start with a 2 or a 3...

I was thinking it may have started with 4

[jollysoutherner]

2001 B5 with 100km on clock... 100k Euro

http://autoleitner.nl/nl/index/aanbod/1493149161-2...

B5 is my daily, 50k miles in 3 years so far, not a clue what to replace it with. B7, loved the engine... just didn't get on with the rest of the car.