RE: Audi RS4 Avant (B7) | The Brave Pill

RE: Audi RS4 Avant (B7) | The Brave Pill

Author
Discussion

Ikobo

511 posts

148 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Still love seeing these on the road, muscular and purposeful but still fairly discreet. Ownership of one wasn't as joyous though, couldn't live with the constant (and I mean constant) engine management warnings that the dealer could never ever fix. "Oh they all do that" wasn't a good enough answer for me so I shifted it on.

Edited by Ikobo on Saturday 21st May 11:25

Dombilano

1,113 posts

54 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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jason61c said:
Firebobby said:
Hmm! I recall being in a friend's B7, in front was a 120d 1 series. From about 40mph cruising on a clear rd it took what I thought was quite an effort to stay on the beemers tail up to the legal limit. He'd shifted it on within a week of that episode, very disappointing!!
I think your mum needs to learn how to drive an N/A engined car properly.
My carbon cleaned, oil cooler uprated, KW V3 suspension'd genuine dyno 400bhp RS4 was the same against many turbo diesels. Unless you were above 5500rpm it just didn't pull. I've said it before, turbos are just better. My B9 S4 now feels night and day quicker, no matter what the official 0 - 100mph or in gear timings say.

trevalvole

965 posts

32 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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rickk said:
Just me or does the front bumper look to be mismatched on colour and gappy on fit?
Yes, I was thinking that too. I've had experience of VAG cars where it was difficult to get the bumper plastic to align with the wings once removed and refitted.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Love these, but Audi had to trade some low down pull to get that 8k top end. It sounds like this one has been run on the cheap for a long time too, so I'd pay more for one with proper history, or have £5-10k in reserve to sort it out when the big bills arrive.

hungry_hog

2,187 posts

187 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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These look lovely but I would worry about the seats - lots of reports of them being ripped out, I think they are worth several thousand (maybe more?) as an after market item

Leon R

3,182 posts

95 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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hungry_hog said:
These look lovely but I would worry about the seats - lots of reports of them being ripped out, I think they are worth several thousand (maybe more?) as an after market item
Wouldn't worry about that anymore to be honest.

When they were new sure but not now.

smilo996

2,754 posts

169 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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The best RS4?
Less fragile than the B5 but not supersized like the versions after the B7 which are the same size as the initial RS6. THAT engine and still has understated but looks like it means business too.
Must be difficult to get one that has not been chav'd or thrashed.

cerb4.5lee

30,185 posts

179 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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I've always really liked these, and I remember having a bit of fun with one in the Cerbera. It made a lovely noise, and I had to work seriously hard to eventually get in front of him. I got chatting to the driver and his son at the next set of lights, good times. driving

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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smilo996 said:
The best RS4?
Less fragile than the B5 but not supersized like the versions after the B7 which are the same size as the initial RS6. THAT engine and still has understated but looks like it means business too.
Don't know if the B7 is the best, and they are getting on a bit now. But I get your point about the size of the later models. I looked at a B8 RS4 Avant at an Audi dealer recently, and was surprised how big it was. I could have bought it, but the snotty sales manager and £615 road tax put me off.

bobtail4x4

3,701 posts

108 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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rickk said:
Just me or does the front bumper look to be mismatched on colour and gappy on fit?

Which might be reflected in the price to be fair.
I was thinking that

chirurgus

123 posts

215 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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TVR Pablo said:
I've had mine for 10 years. Once you've done the coil-overs there isn't anything too scary, so that's a plus for this one.

The gearing doesn't help how fast it feels in a straight line. 3rd is tall and the action is at the top end, so you're mostly relying on mid-range which struggles against modern diesels.

The fun is all cross-country.
Mine is still running the original DRC and oil coolers without issue. The only big expense I’ve had was new discs which are a ridiculous price.
When kept in the upper half of the rev range it pulls like a train, but it needs commitment to do that. You’re right, it is truly in its element on a twisty country lane, not on an autobahn. In that environment it holds its own against almost anything, which is very un-Audi like behaviour!

S600BSB

4,270 posts

105 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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B7 is my favourite Audi. I only have an S4, but love the thing.

Firebobby

491 posts

38 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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AC43 said:
I just looked up the 0-100's. The RS4 does it in 10s. The coal burner finally clanks over the line in 19s.
Yeah! But we weren't doing 0-100's if you read the post, I said from about 40mph to the legal limit! And yes he was trying. Very lethargic......

Ruskie

3,982 posts

199 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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I was trying to justify one of these recently but the combination of old tech and risk of a huge bill is what put me off in the end. The reality is, it could go in for an MOT and throw a £3k plus bill at you. I would much prefer one that cost more up front with all the main jobs done.

asimmalik

167 posts

193 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Seems like some people on here need to learn how to use a manual gearbox, you know that thing operated by a stick in the middle. Yes these are not very quick by modern standards but if you're struggling to hang with 4 pot diesels and the like, then it's not the car that's the problem.

jason61c

5,978 posts

173 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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asimmalik said:
Seems like some people on here need to learn how to use a manual gearbox, you know that thing operated by a stick in the middle. Yes these are not very quick by modern standards but if you're struggling to hang with 4 pot diesels and the like, then it's not the car that's the problem.
Exactly that. Also how to Rev an n/a engine.

The fact someone thinks an 120d is quicker just shows the world we live in.


Twinair

642 posts

141 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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bobtail4x4 said:
rickk said:
Just me or does the front bumper look to be mismatched on colour and gappy on fit?

Which might be reflected in the price to be fair.
I was thinking that
I did put that comment up on the front comments panel, but I deleted it. Normally the panel gaps on these are tighter than a very tight thing… and smooth - look at the rear bumper… thought I’d get trolled. It’s hard to say from pictures - but this defo would need a good look imo…

ELROR

30 posts

150 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Lovely sound, great package, horrendous running costs for the experience. Had a lil motorway battlen against one in my old E36 M3 Evo in the noughties. The M3 had the edge between 70 and ahem if theoretically I pushed up to 100. But would have one over an e36 for that noise and packaging. If only they had done an E46 touring…

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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jason61c said:
asimmalik said:
Seems like some people on here need to learn how to use a manual gearbox, you know that thing operated by a stick in the middle. Yes these are not very quick by modern standards but if you're struggling to hang with 4 pot diesels and the like, then it's not the car that's the problem.
Exactly that. Also how to Rev an n/a engine.

The fact someone thinks an 120d is quicker just shows the world we live in.
And that’s probably why all new petrol cars are tuned to feel like a turbo diesel, no one wants to stray above 4,000rpm! In these old V8’s that’s where the fun is!

tgrobbo

18 posts

47 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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asimmalik said:
Seems like some people on here need to learn how to use a manual gearbox, you know that thing operated by a stick in the middle. Yes these are not very quick by modern standards but if you're struggling to hang with 4 pot diesels and the like, then it's not the car that's the problem.
Tell us you know nothing about fast road driving without saying it lol. 😂 Would love to see you in this RS4 with a good driver in a 120d ahead of you in the twisties!
You can be as sharp as you like with a manual gearbox but the simple fact is, there’s only six gears and you just can’t be in the power zone at every corner exit - unlike a modern diesel which has that instant squirt out of every bend - that’s how they can keep up or even get away on the right road.
Of course this whole debate is missing the point - it’s a manual V8 - it’s all about the noise and engagement, it’s cross country pace is largely irrelevant.