B9 Audi RS4 Carbon Edition

[JAMSXR]

Glad to hear the car is going well but sorry to hear about the unwanted attention. I’ll be going for a very bland colour for work reasons, and I guess one of the added benefits is that it will be less obvious - nardo grey seems pretty inconspicuous. Have you considered any additional security measures?

[RS Grant]

JAMSXR said:

Glad to hear the car is going well but sorry to hear about the unwanted attention. I’ll be going for a very bland colour for work reasons, and I guess one of the added benefits is that it will be less obvious - nardo grey seems pretty inconspicuous. Have you considered any additional security measures?

Yeah I did wonder if I should re-visit the Ghost (et al.) immobiliser option.. but unless you can remotely disable the car after they have driven far enough away that they won't walk back and threaten you for the combination, then I just don't see the point. If a remote shut down isn't an option then I feel like if someone is crazy/professional enough to risk breaking in to the house and stealing the keys, then they'll not think twice about demanding the immobiliser combination at knifepoint too... in for a penny, in for a pound, etc.

That left me with removing the cars from sight, physical steering locks and increasing the physical security measures at the house too.

No doubt Nardo would fly under the radar better than Nogaro.. but I feel like these scumbags will TWOC anything and if they want an RS4, then unless stealing to order, the colour will be irrelevant unfortunately.

[Court_S]

Good job that you were around to notice the unwanted attention and keep cars elsewhere - sounds rather shady.

Nice to hear that the car is treating you well though.

[RS Grant]

Court_S said:

Good job that you were around to notice the unwanted attention and keep cars elsewhere - sounds rather shady.

Nice to hear that the car is treating you well though.

Thanks Sam.

At the end of the day, I'll do what I can do to make it a less attractive target for a scumbag but all I can do is slow them down really. If they want it and they're professional enough at their 'job' then they'll take it. So I'll not let it ruin my enjoyment of the car, that's why I pay for insurance/GAP insurance at the end of the day.

[djgritt]

Sorry to read of the unwanted attention on this.

I’m of a similar mind about aftermarket immobilisation systems etc too - but one thing I’ve done on my last couple of cars that maybe TWOC popular has been fitting dummy OBD ports.

Sure it won’t stop relay theft or physical key theft, but as far as I know will very likely stop the other refent method of a new key being coded via the OBD port as it cuts all data transfer and only has power - gives a would be thief a power connection but then fails to allow access to the vehicle systems. Hopefully this disencourages an attempt by making them think their equipment is faulty or they get bored and go elsewhere.
It’s also a passive so you can’t forget to activate it which is good. I also use a Disklok when I’m parked in unfamiliar or dodgy areas which I hope is a visual deterrent if nothing else.

[RS Grant]

Also, if anyone has any recommendations on how to stop exhaust valves from squeaking with a good quality high temp, long lasting lubricant/grease then I'm all ears... the exhaust flaps are very accessible on the RS4 but thus far I've not found a product in my garage which has stopped the creak/squeak when they open/close. I know it's a very first world problem, but it's a problem nonetheless.

[JAMSXR]

Have you tried copper grease?

[Gorilla Bloke]

Molykote would probably do the trick too

[RS Grant]

The car has just ticked past 35,000 miles and ~3k miles since I picked it up... still absolutely loving it and happy with my purchase.

A couple of weeks ago me and my friends decided to go for our first proper drive of 2024, which gathered momentum and went from a few hours on a familiar loop through the Cairngorms to a full on coast-to-coast drive to a hotel which one of my friends' parents have on the far West coast for Sunday lunch.. between 3-4hrs each way and a great test of the RS4, with a Yaris GR, MK7 Golf GTi PP, Lotus Emira and F31 335d for company.

So it was a great group of cars and we really lucked out with the weather too. In all the round trip was just over 300 miles, taking us through Glencoe and on to a lot of roads which I had never driven before, with some epic scenery as well...

Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr

Great photo opportunity once we arrived at Kilcamb Lodge and parked out front...

Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr

...and an even better view out the window during Sunday lunch.

Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr

The last couple of photos were taken while we waited for the wee 10-15 minute Corran ferry crossing and on the boat itself...

Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr

I was quite surprised to discover that the RS4 was a fair amount faster than the Emira in a straight line. I know it's more powerful, however, it's also a few hundred kilos heavier and putting the power through 4WD rather than RWD.

Overall a fantastic day, one brief encounter with a suicidal moron (driving his family..!!) in an F30 330i, but aside from that, we all had a great time and a lovely lunch too.

[JAMSXR]

Wow, awesome photos/drive. I forget this sort of driving is available in the U.K. although it’s a bit of a trek from down south - I wish we had a car trains like the Swiss!

Picked up a B9.5 Vorsprung last month. I’m absolutely loving my first Audi.

[oxnop]

RS Grant said:

JAMSXR said:

How are you getting on with the RS4?

I was certain a G80 M3 was going to be my next car, but I’ve decided a B9.5 will be better suited to handling daily/family duties. I’ve lined up a 2020 Vorsprung, one slightly annoying issue is that DRC cars can’t take a towbar, but I can live with a roof rack for carrying bikes - I think all the other features will be worth it.

The plan is the keep the car for some time (4 years) so I’ll be extending the Audi warranty as mentioned above. These things have some much kit on them something expensive is bound to go wrong at some point.

Edited by JAMSXR on Tuesday 6th February 21:29

I'm getting on really well with it.. a few months in and it's settled into daily life really well. Don't regret the (difficult) decision to let the F80 M3 go to free up cash/space for the RS4 at all. Obviously winter is not the greatest time to explore the breadth of it's abilities, but once the better weather/longer nights arrive and the cars'n'coffee meets/drive outs start up again, I'll get a better feel for the car and how it handles being used recreationally... but I have been impressed so far.

It never fails to bring a smile to my face. I still do the 'turn and look back at your car thing' when it's parked as well as looking at it and thinking 'can't believe I own a Nogaro RS4!' too.

Not all good news though; as predicted by a poster on here previously, unfortunately the car had some unwanted negative attention recently.. and more annoyingly was that it happened at the house too.

A few weeks ago I was just finishing off washing the cars as it was getting dark, the RS4 was right at the end of my drive and I was down at the garage beside the other cars. A new-ish RRS came into the street, drove directly to my driveway and stopped at the RS4. I assumed it was a friend so I started walking up the driveway, but as I got close to the RS4 the RRS pulled away.

As I got back to the garage I heard them turning (there's no need to turn, there is another entry/exit at that end of the street too) and coming back again. They stopped at the end of my driveway again and as I got back to the RS4, they drove off and out of the street, never to return again.

I live in a small residential area which is not a short cut for anywhere and out of the way, so the only reason people have to be in the street is to visit somebody.

I got the registration and the Police were made aware. I also messaged a few people I know, who know people I don't want to know.. and found out who the person was. They're from a different city so given they weren't in my street to see anyone, they've clearly been told about my car(s) and made a special journey to see them. It's been enough for me to move them away from the house.. I'm just glad I was there to see it and pro-actively increase security.

I’ve had an episode like this on my little cul de sac - luckily I clocked them (3 blokes in a discovery) whilst I was walking the dog. Seeing them work their way around a couple of other side streets led me to call into the police with reg… cue 10 mins later a couple of phone calls from different police officers in separate cars wanting to know exact where they were and to call their mobiles’ straight away’ if I saw the car again whilst walking the dog. All they could tell me was it was a vehicle of interest and they were ‘highly motivated’ to have a friendly chat…

It’s a shame we have to think like this. I’ve had a car stolen when I was on holiday with the family (luckily). I think once it’s happened or you think it could be on cards you become hyper sensitive in everyday scenarios.

Love the RS4. It’s defo on the list for a family car but whilst I’m on a cheap overnight electricity rate I can’t make the maths work vs the family Tesla (means I have more cash for the other fun cars in my life)

[RS Grant]

JAMSXR said:

Wow, awesome photos/drive. I forget this sort of driving is available in the U.K. although it’s a bit of a trek from down south - I wish we had a car trains like the Swiss!

Picked up a B9.5 Vorsprung last month. I’m absolutely loving my first Audi.

I'd definitely be keen on them bringing car trains into the UK, aside from the Chunnel and in Fast & Furious 17 when they steal a GT40 from a moving train, I didn't know they existed.

Great news about getting into an RS4, is that the Nardo one you mentioned before? Feel free to fire up a picture or five.

[RS Grant]

oxnop said:

I’ve had an episode like this on my little cul de sac - luckily I clocked them (3 blokes in a discovery) whilst I was walking the dog. Seeing them work their way around a couple of other side streets led me to call into the police with reg… cue 10 mins later a couple of phone calls from different police officers in separate cars wanting to know exact where they were and to call their mobiles’ straight away’ if I saw the car again whilst walking the dog. All they could tell me was it was a vehicle of interest and they were ‘highly motivated’ to have a friendly chat…

It’s a shame we have to think like this. I’ve had a car stolen when I was on holiday with the family (luckily). I think once it’s happened or you think it could be on cards you become hyper sensitive in everyday scenarios.

Love the RS4. It’s defo on the list for a family car but whilst I’m on a cheap overnight electricity rate I can’t make the maths work vs the family Tesla (means I have more cash for the other fun cars in my life)

Good catch on spotting the scumbags in the Disco, hope the BiB managed to catch up for that chat.

Have definitely been more vigilant and hyper sensitive about where I park, what else is parked beside it/blocking it in and even how I park (car at an angle, wheels turned, etc) to increase the hassle/limit the ease of theft. Like you say, it's bull$hit that we have to start thinking like this but if it moves them on to an easier target then so be it.

Yeah if you're managing to run a Tesla on the lower rate.. even the most liberal application of man-maths would struggle to swing an RS4 running on SUL at £14 a litre and returning 20-25mpg average.

[JAMSXR]

RS Grant said:

Great news about getting into an RS4, is that the Nardo one you mentioned before? Feel free to fire up a picture or five.

I need to work on my photo game, this is the best I’ve got… It’s definitely a keeper so hopefully lots more opportunities. Can’t hold a candle to Nogaro Blue but as intended it flies under the radar.

[RS Grant]

JAMSXR said:

I need to work on my photo game, this is the best I’ve got… It’s definitely a keeper so hopefully lots more opportunities. Can’t hold a candle to Nogaro Blue but as intended it flies under the radar.

That looks great!

Nardo is a funny one, because I remember when it first appeared in more mainstream cars (other than high end Porsche etc), it really stood out and was very different to other more common colours... but as time has gone on and I guess as other manufacturers have started to make colours similar to Nardo, it now flies under the radar really well.

[Terminator X]

JAMSXR said:

I need to work on my photo game, this is the best I’ve got… It’s definitely a keeper so hopefully lots more opportunities. Can’t hold a candle to Nogaro Blue but as intended it flies under the radar.

I doubt that having owned a Nardo one myself!

TX.

[JAMSXR]

Terminator X said:

I doubt that having owned a Nardo one myself!

TX.

Most recently coming from a C63 and Type R it does in my books

[RS Grant]

First MOT with me passed with flying colours… however the less said about how I left it almost hanging off the ramp when I dropped it off the better.

[manmaths]

It really looks well on those alloys. Had you seen another RS4 on these?

I agree with your original post about the pre-facelift lights. The facelift B9 lights look closer to the B8 than the pre-facelift B9. I don’t think it was design progress by Audi there.

[RS Grant]

manmaths said:

It really looks well on those alloys. Had you seen another RS4 on these?

I agree with your original post about the pre-facelift lights. The facelift B9 lights look closer to the B8 than the pre-facelift B9. I don’t think it was design progress by Audi there.

Thank you.. I’d never seen them on a B9/9.5 RS4 before, just this B5, which helped with how they’d look against the Nogaro paint.



I’ve seen them on a few things now and think when they’re specced wide enough to not have flat/slightly convex spokes, they suit a lot of vehicles.