RE: New Audi RS4 - Frankfurt 2017

[J4CKO]

MrBarry123 said:

Richard-390a0 said:

culpz said:

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

Seems like a strange aspect of the car to specifically focus on. Probably applies to Golf R's more than anything.

Anything with an S or RS badge & 4 or 5 drs are fair game at the minute over on the Audi forums I browse with almost daily new theft threads.

It's a fair point J4CKO makes. As much as I'd like one of these and even though I'm in an area where that kind of crime is low, unless I lived in a gated development and/or could garage it, I'd never be able to rest easy with it parked on the drive. I simply don't want the worry or potential hassle if something was to happen.

Shouldn't have to think like that, but here was a guy killed locally by someone stealing his S3 and a mate had his RS4 nicked the other day when selling it, thieves posed as buyers, he got his hand caught but luckily not badly injured but these scumbags think nothing of dragging you down the road or driving over you, he got his RS4 back intact on false plates.

I think people need to be in the picture and be a bit wary of owning one, especially if they live near a big city, keep your wits about you, have good security and just be ready to hand it over if it comes to it.

[culpz]

Richard-390a0 said:

culpz said:

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

Seems like a strange aspect of the car to specifically focus on. Probably applies to Golf R's more than anything.

Anything with an S or RS badge & 4 or 5 drs are fair game at the minute over on the Audi forums I browse with almost daily new theft threads.

It is a shame and appears to be more common than it should be. I just think that it's just a bit of an odd thing to comment on and nothing else. It's not exactly in our or Audi's power, is it?

[theplayingmantis]

russy01 said:

I dont want to reduce this to a video of a drag race as I am also a little disappointed that its not at least 475hp... but dont be totally put off by the figure of 450hp!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpRLb9Rf1do

The RS5 is already showing most of its competition a pair of clean heals (in a 1/4m drag) with its paltry 450hp. Also its 4WD will make it the fastest car point to point for most drivers in most conditions by a considerable margin anyway...

Obviously its not all about 0-60, drag races and point to point - but the RS4 will not struggle in the performance dept. I also imagine that in a few years time they'll drop a 500hp+ Performance edition as they have with the RS6 and SQ5 - personally making it the car it should be now.

I have been looking forward for the release of this car for a LONG time. Considering an outgoing RS6 or a new RS4 (the more sensible choice IMO) - but this release hasn't made me exactly excited for the RS4...

Ive learned there are reason Audis (RS5's) are never in comparisons with the C63, M3/4 or QV...not on the same page anymore. Fair play to Audi for realizing they can't compete so dont try anymore with their anemic latest.

[paul789]

russy01 said:

I dont want to reduce this to a video of a drag race as I am also a little disappointed that its not at least 475hp... but dont be totally put off by the figure of 450hp!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpRLb9Rf1do

The RS5 is already showing most of its competition a pair of clean heals (in a 1/4m drag) with its paltry 450hp. Also its 4WD will make it the fastest car point to point for most drivers in most conditions by a considerable margin anyway...

Obviously its not all about 0-60, drag races and point to point - but the RS4 will not struggle in the performance dept. I also imagine that in a few years time they'll drop a 500hp+ Performance edition as they have with the RS6 and SQ5 - personally making it the car it should be now.

I have been looking forward for the release of this car for a LONG time. Considering an outgoing RS6 or a new RS4 (the more sensible choice IMO) - but this release hasn't made me exactly excited for the RS4...

Oh great, with that clown from Super Yahs of London driving the M4.

[ensignia]

The biggest problem with this new engine isn't its lack of power, but the flat exhaust note and the lack of drama or character.

This can be said for a lot of the newer engines which have been choked by forced induction.

I know it's where we are and is unavoidable, but I still think the peak RS/M/AMG era was around 10-15 years ago with large n/a engines.

[av185]

Cue more ridiculously farty fake exhaust pops similar to the M3 M4.

Suppose it makes up albeit only slightly, for a basically flawed engine. And after all, it is only an Audi.

Can't believe punters are taken in by all this guff...literally.

[Leins]

B5 owner here, and I quite like this new one. Preferably in grey though please

Interesting turn of events though with Audi deeming 450hp enough now

[g7jhp]

Ares said:

russy01 said:

rich861 said:

What are people doing with these estates when 450bhp, 442ft lbs, 0-62 in 4.1s (all probably conservative Audi figures) isn't enough?

Its normally people who have not driven a car with 450hp! The B8 RS4 got a lot of stick for being flat and gutless from keyboard warriors - completely forgetting it would still hit 100mph in 9.X seconds (as quick as supercars from the previous decade!)

Its not a massively exciting car I must admit. But it will be a bloody good and bloody fast one...

As someone that had four 450-500bhp cars over successive weekends to test drive, there was a significant difference between them. The fun/excitement factor was the biggest difference/decider, but raw pace was noticeable.

450bhp is enough, but when the market has already moved on, making a new car that is only 'enough' isn't what these cars are about. Especially when it will likely be saddled with more weight (due to body shape & AWD) and duller dynamics.

So what were the four cars and what were the pros/cons.

[jeremyc]

Article said:

Nogaro Blue also returns as a paint colour, this car sharing more in common with the RS2 that originally bore the famous hue than the last RS4 to wear it.

Point of order: the RS2 was never available in Nogaro Blue - the colour was actually called simply RS Blue pearl effect.




Nogaro was introduced for the B5 RS4.

[rtz62]

Oh go on then, I'll be the first to say it;
It gets harder and harder to tell the A4/S4 from the A6/S6...

[Motormatt]

MrBarry123 said:

Richard-390a0 said:

culpz said:

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

Seems like a strange aspect of the car to specifically focus on. Probably applies to Golf R's more than anything.

Anything with an S or RS badge & 4 or 5 drs are fair game at the minute over on the Audi forums I browse with almost daily new theft threads.

It's a fair point J4CKO makes. As much as I'd like one of these and even though I'm in an area where that kind of crime is low, unless I lived in a gated development and/or could garage it, I'd never be able to rest easy with it parked on the drive. I simply don't want the worry or potential hassle if something was to happen.

Agreed, sadly this aspect of the ownership experience would completely put me off having one unless I lived in a property where it was completely out of sight and garaged. My parents SQ5 was stolen off their drive along with a Lexus RX450H a few weeks ago, low crime area, electric gates and dogs still didn't stop scumbags breaking into the house while they were sleeping at night. Police confirmed the Audi was the real target, Lexus found on false plates weeks later, no sign of the Audi.
Upshot of it is, they didn't want to replace it with another SQ5 or remotely hot Audi for fear of it happening again, so a 1 sale lost right there. Someone in the same village also had an RS4 stolen recently.

[russy01]

Ares said:

Alas, as soon as the AWD launch traction has gone, the RS5 is nowhere (see second part of the video where the RS5 is blown away)

....and as an example of where the game has moved to, here is the same drag race both with the Alfa against the same Merc and BMW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-4c6E77obs. The Alfa creams it, and does the standing 1/4 0.2 faster than the RS5 managed, despite it's 2WD!

And the fact that a brand new RS isn't getting you excited is a sad day for the marque!

Well aware of this as I have seen the video all the way through - but on the road the differences will be fairly minimal. The extra traction and confidence the RS4 will offer will likely put it ahead in most situations on road. Its like the Golf R and M140i, a 2WD Ferrari & 911 Turbo...

Also read a lot about the Alfa and looked at a couple. Whilst its a decent car and obviously very fast its not really a direct contender for a lot of buyers including me. Its like the Polestar Volvo's. As fast, often better value - but bit of a left field choice that a lot of buyers will glance straight over (whether its right or wrong). First of all I am looking for an estate and without sounding like a Clarkson'esque Alfa basher I couldn't be dealing with potential unreliability (couple people I know of have had serious issues already and their handling of the cases has been pretty poor).

At the moment my shortlist is RS6, New RS4, C63 & C43. I just wish BMW would sort out an M3 Estate....

[RSbandit]

Currently own a C7 RS6 which is a mighty thing, was thinking of the new RS4 as a replacement as new RS6 at least 2-3 yrs away...nogaro blue always a great colour think car looks nice enough but the engine seems a far cry from the old V8 or the current one in the 6. Had a Giulia QF overtake me the other day (was in a rental car not the 6 ) and that sounded bang on also a V6 not sure why the acoustics in latest V6 turbo from audi not up to scratch

[timetex]

As an existing RS6 owner (V10, fuel drinking Avant with 116k miles on it) I was waiting for the RS4 announcement with baited breath, as I'd quite like to downsize just a little, get more fuel economy, more up-to-date ICE and gadgets, but stick with the Audi brand.

I'm sure 450bhp will be enough - after all, this thing does 0-60 quicker than my 572bhp RS6 does.

I was never quite tempted into a newer RS6, partly for cost reasons - but I'm disappointed that this is going to be well over £70k.

Still, if I can get the deal to work, I'd still be interested. Noggy blue (to match the previous B6 S4 I had) and a few toys.

We'll see.

[Yipper]

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

Only if you live north of Coventry. The theft epidemic for those is mostly Brum, Manc and Glasgow.

[RSbandit]

timetex said:

As an existing RS6 owner (V10, fuel drinking Avant with 116k miles on it) I was waiting for the RS4 announcement with baited breath, as I'd quite like to downsize just a little, get more fuel economy, more up-to-date ICE and gadgets, but stick with the Audi brand.

I'm sure 450bhp will be enough - after all, this thing does 0-60 quicker than my 572bhp RS6 does.

I was never quite tempted into a newer RS6, partly for cost reasons - but I'm disappointed that this is going to be well over £70k.

Still, if I can get the deal to work, I'd still be interested. Noggy blue (to match the previous B6 S4 I had) and a few toys.

We'll see.

116k miles in that monster... so prob avg 15 mpg, about 7700 gallons of super unleaded, 35000 litres... approx £50k at todays prices!! thirsty indeed

[timetex]

RSbandit said:

116k miles in that monster... so prob avg 15 mpg, about 7700 gallons of super unleaded, 35000 litres... approx £50k at todays prices!! thirsty indeed

Don't. Just Don't.

[RSbandit]

sorry Tex I was curious !

[Ares]

g7jhp said:

Ares said:

russy01 said:

rich861 said:

What are people doing with these estates when 450bhp, 442ft lbs, 0-62 in 4.1s (all probably conservative Audi figures) isn't enough?

Its normally people who have not driven a car with 450hp! The B8 RS4 got a lot of stick for being flat and gutless from keyboard warriors - completely forgetting it would still hit 100mph in 9.X seconds (as quick as supercars from the previous decade!)

Its not a massively exciting car I must admit. But it will be a bloody good and bloody fast one...

As someone that had four 450-500bhp cars over successive weekends to test drive, there was a significant difference between them. The fun/excitement factor was the biggest difference/decider, but raw pace was noticeable.

450bhp is enough, but when the market has already moved on, making a new car that is only 'enough' isn't what these cars are about. Especially when it will likely be saddled with more weight (due to body shape & AWD) and duller dynamics.

So what were the four cars and what were the pros/cons.

Alfa Quadrifoglio. Amazing. The comments of it being a 4-door Ferrari are very close. Goes, grips, drives, sounds fantastic. Very pretty and very different. Feels alive behind the wheel, even at slow speed, feel and connection is unparalleled. 510hp and a lovely rev hungry engine with a fantastic gearbox. Great Jekyll & Hyde ability - drives like a average car when you want it….turns into a fire breathing sports car when you want it. Interior is nice but not outstanding, minimalistic, build quality good.

BMW M3 Comp Pack. Coming from a succession of 7 BMWs, this was the one I thought was the obvious choice. Far better than the non-Competition M3 and very nicely put together, great gearbox. But almost too solid, too capable, a very heavy driving experience. Good feel but a world behind the Alfa. Punchy engine, loads of low down grunt, but lacks character - just ‘noise’ until high revs. Crazy high limits of grip and traction, but leaves anything under 8/10th feeling very ordinary. Push on to 9/10th and it comes alive and is a very very fast and capable car - but 9/10ths is well beyond common sense on UK roads.

Mercedes C63s. Surprised me again. A league ahead of the old C63, really good drive. Steering was good, although not Alfa-level. Engine is a beauty, and makes for a easy but character-filled drive, quick but doesn't always feel it. Probably the best interior apart from the Maserati, great easy drive but flips into fire-breather very well. Great car, matches the BMW for fun, but does feel flat after the Alfa, amazing engine though.

Maserati Ghibli S. Surprised me. Bigger car, class above but ‘only’ 410bhp (now 430bhp). Doesn’t feel slow, best sound of them all (in sport/valves open) and a real class act. Dynamics only show themselves when pressing on a bit, and takes a bit to get used to. Seat too high. More mature, but a real emotive choice. Great build quality, but very expensive compared to the others (cash and business lease)

[Resolutionary]

Needs more arch bulge. Loving the return of the TT V6 though, and in good ol' Noggy blue. I do find it strange there is such a small (relatively speaking) gap between the power of the S4 and this; no more than a good bit of software between the two really.

Expect an RS4+ / special edition in a year or so with 510ps.

Edited by Resolutionary on Tuesday 12th September 17:08