RE: 2018 Audi RS4: Driven

[birdcage]

Has anyone actually agonised over buying an RS Audi or a diesel BMW? I would say never.

One is for people who love performance cars, are happy to spend fortunes on petrol and the other is for the opposite...

[Ares]

TomScrut said:

Wills2 said:

adzpz said:

Overlooking a 335d estate in favour of this would take some serious man-maths!

I sincerely hope that the new RS4 is in another league compared to that pudding on wheels.

Are they really that bad?! I know they don't have the M sport suspension on them but I hadn't heard of them being too shabby (even though I too would expect an RS4 to be in another league)

I think the hardest sell for both RS4 and C63 is over their lesser powered brethren the S4 Avant/S5 Sportback/C43 Estate but that's something the RS, M and top end AMGs have always had to contend with. I think if I could afford the RS4 I would still have one over those cars though. I have the S5 SB and I do not desire the RS5 on appearance grounds but the RS4 is a lot nicer IMO.

Or if you were really desperate for a V8 and not too bothered about tech or driving experience then the S6 can be had with massive discounts at the moment, I wouldn't consider that but some might.

In the BMW and Mercs case, the jump from 340i to M3 (esp CP) and C43 to C63 (esp S) is big in all areas. The risk is, given the GT move for Audi RS, is that the jump from S4/S5 to RS4/5 isn't as big.

[Onehp]

So what optional extras give the best driver experience? I realise probably nobody can actually answer based on trying the actual car yet, but based on similar models (S4?) ...

- Dynamic steering or the normal one? I don't mind twirling if it gives more real feel (e.g. feel the grip better)
- Fix damper rates or DRC? I usually end up in the middle setting anyway and historically the variable dampers have been expensive to replace
- Ceramic brakes: costly, do they really last 4x longer, don't see any real use for road use except that they should be lighter, how much so?
- 19" forged will be better for my expectations

I also want to keep away from the options list, don't want to spend another 20k on 'must have' options that don't actually make the car drive better, should save some weight too...

If I'm courageous enough to ditch the mmi nav+virtual cockpit (prefer waze + analog dials), should be able to walk away with 5k option only and whatever discount I can find...

Edited by Onehp on Wednesday 27th December 12:44

[andrewparker]

Are you able to delete virtual cockpit?

For me, no dynamic steering, DRC, regular brakes, 19” wheels and sports exhaust.

[Onehp]

On the German config, yes. Don't know for other markets...

[Ares]

Onehp said:

So what optional extras give the best driver experience? I realise probably nobody can actually answer based on trying the actual car yet, but based on similar models (S4?) ...

- Dynamic steering or the normal one? I don't mind twirling if it gives more real feel (e.g. feel the grip better)
- Fix damper rates or DRC? I usually end up in the middle setting anyway and historically the variable dampers have been expensive to replace
- Ceramic brakes: costly, do they really last 4x longer, don't see any real use for road use except that they should be lighter, how much so?
- 19" forged will be better for my expectations

I also want to keep away from the options list, don't want to spend another 20k on 'must have' options that don't actually make the car drive better, should save some weight too...

If I'm courageous enough to ditch the mmi nav+virtual cockpit (prefer waze + analog dials), should be able to walk away with 5k option only and whatever discount I can find...

Edited by Onehp on Wednesday 27th December 12:44

Can't really answer for Audi, but I'd day veritable dampers are very useful having had them on BMWs and especially now on the Alfa. To go from soft to very firm and 2 settings in-between is one of the best features of my current car.
Ceramics, on both BMWs and the Alfa, they are, for me, a waste of money. The downsides are not covered by the upsides, even before you factor in the cost.

[E65Ross]

Ares said:

Can't really answer for Audi, but I'd day veritable dampers are very useful having had them on BMWs and especially now on the Alfa. To go from soft to very firm and 2 settings in-between is one of the best features of my current car.
Ceramics, on both BMWs and the Alfa, they are, for me, a waste of money. The downsides are not covered by the upsides, even before you factor in the cost.

What are the downsides, aside from cost?

[Ares]

E65Ross said:

Ares said:

Can't really answer for Audi, but I'd day veritable dampers are very useful having had them on BMWs and especially now on the Alfa. To go from soft to very firm and 2 settings in-between is one of the best features of my current car.
Ceramics, on both BMWs and the Alfa, they are, for me, a waste of money. The downsides are not covered by the upsides, even before you factor in the cost.

What are the downsides, aside from cost?

Time to get warm enough to be effective (or more effective than the standard)...and the braking performance until they are.
Replacement cost.


For me, and I suspect for most, carbon brakes on a 1600kg saloon are just a means of highlighting how you can pay £5k more for your car than other people. I've done 6,000 miles in mine, including some very spitted driving, The brakes have never felt anything other than staggering and have never felt like they were even starting to lose performance. Given I'd never take a 1600kg saloon on track, I can't see they would ever really be needed.