swapping a Focus RS (mk3) for a B8 RS4 avant?

[Oliver6theoldforge]

I'm parting ways with my MK3 focus RS with the mountune 375 remap and am looking for something new to replace it. I've always wanted to own an Audi RS4 and am looking to buy a second hand one outright on a 30-35k budget.

The main reason for replacing the focus is comfort. As a drivers car it has been (and is) amazing, and never fails to bring a smile when I put my foot down. As a day to day car the ride is poor and even on a medium quality motorway you bounce about a fair bit. The standard seats are also not brilliantly comfortable unless you are just the right height. I think if I picked up an AMG A45 or Audi RS3 they wouldn't quite be what the focus was, but for a fair bit more money.

I took a second hand RS4 out for a very brief test drive and now have a desperate need to own that start up sound and found the seats super comfortable. I've tried a Mercedes C43 and just didn't gel with it, though I don't know why. I don't want a BMW, though again not for a justifiable reason I can put a finger on. I also test drove a Kia Stinger and was super surprised and impressed!

What should I:
look out for spec wise?
avoid?
get?
on the RS4 B8?

I know i will not get the same driving experience as the focus, but it's a sacrifice i think i want for added comfort. Thanks in advance for any help!

[Weekendrebuild]

Well I’m a major bmw fan boy but my wife had the rs4 for 3 years . Must say pretty bulletproof only issues were usual wear tear items other than that surprisingly good on fuel , I’m used to sub 9mpg so this was really good returning over 22 mpg an not driven like a granny . Very comfy drive although did find steering a little light when pushing on a bit . As you say sounds nice to you won’t miss focus I thought they were awful personally , get yourself a toy aswell best of both

[Daniel T]

if you like "driving" and enjoy the focus the audi RS4 will bore you.
quieter, softer ride (as in more comfortable and less feel) , less engaging plus its an Audi which is know to be nose heavy.
if you after a quick motorway muncher then go for it.

[dunc69]

I can highly recommend the Kia Stinger 3.3 GTS.
A 2019 car is well within the lower end of your budget with >6 years of warranty left.

365 bhp, 376 lb ft, every possible toy. Smooth V6.

Absolutely love mine. Smile every time I see it, start it, drive it.

Very comfy & quiet cruiser in Eco or Comfort, fun to drive in Sport and scary in Sport+

Edited by dunc69 on Thursday 10th October 14:56

[Oliver6theoldforge]

Thanks for the info and advice. I know the Audi will be less engaging than the focus but I think the comfort trade off is sadly what I want for now. A weekend 2 seater would be ideal, though I don't think my budget will quite stretch to the multi car idea just yet! Stinger looks good, and I was right on the fence about getting one. I think I'd look to pick one up that's ideally 4 years old when it's still got lots of warranty left but the depreciation has settled down a bit. Great cars though, and rammed full of easy motorway cruising technology.

[SiT]

Friend of mine went from RS3 to B8 RS4 and he said the difference was like night and day which I would assume you find coming from a Focus RS.

The RS4 is definitely more of a mile muncher and will provide more comfort but like has been said if you enjoy the Focus for its handling this could be missing in the RS4, it is after all a fair sized V8 estate car.

If the C43 didn’t work for you how about a C63??

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Si

[mike9009]

Although it might not suit, I would go for a two car solution. You are in danger of jumping ship and compromising - meaning another imminent change.

<not that I can take the moral high ground on this - I just keep buying new cars rather than swapping, much to the dismay of Mrs 9009 >

[ZX10R NIN]

Try a C63 but I'm bias.

[Oliver6theoldforge]

I've ended up buying the RS4 (2014) and picked it up last night. The ride difference is night and day and whilst I was sure the speed and handling was going to take a big hit I was half wrong. The acceleration is quite intoxicating and I can see my fuel bill spiralling already! The steering feel is exactly as everyone said, fairly poor, and the car feels as expected much bigger. That said the grip is impressive and roundabouts still feel as fun as they already did. It doesn't drive like a big estate. Lookswise it's not going to set many hearts a flutter, but I don't mind some understated power and starting it up leaves nothing to the imagination as to what's under the bonnet.

Overall I'm super happy with the change particularly after a first commute littered with traffic lights in the pouring rain made effortless. Whilst I'm slightly sad I didn't try out the C63 I'm not convinced I could afford (justify to me wife) to run it. My local Merc dealership was fairly clinical and lifeless and didn't inspire me with the desire to buy from them. I know this can be totally subjective and down to the person you meet.

I loved the focus RS and would recommend it to anyone who was willing to deal with the ride quality. Despite buying the focus from new this was due to impatience rather than common sense. I reckon second hand at 3 years old has to be the way to go for value for money.

I'd love to hear how the C63 compares if anyone has tried both? I've seen some reviews comparing the two but it's always good to hear a down to earth review that isn't from a racing driver!

[SiT]

Congrats I am pleased you pulled the trigger, the RS4 has so much presence with blistered arches, huge oval tailpipes - it really is striking.

This will of course require some pictures........

Si

[Beejayhay]

I'm in exactly the same bot in terms of budget. Have a company car going back in March and looking at selling a Celica Gt4 (400bhp) to fund a B8 RS4. Keeping my eyes on classifieds now just to gauge market.

More details please! Year? Did you go Private or Trade?

[Mark83]

I swapped my Mk 3 RS M375 for the previous shape (6.2 litre) C63 estate. I assume you mean the current (4.0 litre) C63?

Definitely rides better than the RS but I swapped out the 19s for 18s. It's a 500bhp armchair. Not the most dynamic of drives but at 1-8 10ths, its great and a noise to die for,

The current model is a nicer place to sit and turns in better. I just couldn't justify the price difference now we do 5000 miles a year, tops.

Edited by Mark83 on Tuesday 29th October 14:07

[Dave Hedgehog]

I find the Audi V8 an awful daily driver engine, on song its glorious but low down utterly gutless compared to an RS3/A45 (and i assume your focus), where brushing the throttle gives an instant surge of torques.

The new electric torque filled V6 RS4 has monstrous instant shove, maybe even more than the fabulous RS6 engine, a car which really shows up how bad the NA V8 is as a daily driver.

Unless you plan to drive around over 5k in which case the V8 will do you nicely

[Oliver6theoldforge]

Beejayhay said:

I'm in exactly the same bot in terms of budget. Have a company car going back in March and looking at selling a Celica Gt4 (400bhp) to fund a B8 RS4. Keeping my eyes on classifieds now just to gauge market.

More details please! Year? Did you go Private or Trade?

I went trade in the end and got mine from an Audi Dealership (Newbury)... and very glad too as I had it 4 days before an engine management light came on and i had to give it back to them. I've just picked it up again today after two weeks waiting while they tried to work out what was wrong. Desperately annoying but they picked it up and dropped me off a car to use throughout the process. Fingers crossed it's now all sorted but I have at least got the comfort of knowing I can drop it back with them or swap it for a similar model if any problem continues.

Mine is a 2014 with 50,000 miles and cost 28k. Having jumped straight out of the focus RS and into the RS4 the difference is fairly huge. As a day to day car, and I can't attest for rival models of a similar nature, but the Audi is in every way a nicer place to be. The ride is so much better when you're just cruising in traffic on a rainy day on English roads. The torque is not instant when in comfort mode at low revs as most reviewers complain about, but neither was it very good in the wrong gear in the focus, which when bumbling along on a dual carriageway it always will be. However flick down through the gears on the paddle shift (or touch the gear stick to put it into sport) and the acceleration exhilarating. When I want to go for a fun drive, in any car, I'm not in a high gear expecting the torque to do the work for me, I'm hovering constantly in the power band and between gears, and at this point the RS4 is exceptional.

The Mercedes C63 was the other car I was looking at, but was worried at how thirsty it must be for both rubber and fuel. I've also been a fan or four wheel drive cars for some time. That said, I love to hear how it compares overall?

[stevemcs]

I would pick the C63 over the RS4 i just find them nicer inside and preferred the engine - although the RS4 loves to rev. Personally i find the S6 to be the pick of the Audi range.

[Beejayhay]

Oliver6theoldforge said:

I went trade in the end and got mine from an Audi Dealership (Newbury)... and very glad too as I had it 4 days before an engine management light came on and i had to give it back to them. I've just picked it up again today after two weeks waiting while they tried to work out what was wrong. Desperately annoying but they picked it up and dropped me off a car to use throughout the process. Fingers crossed it's now all sorted but I have at least got the comfort of knowing I can drop it back with them or swap it for a similar model if any problem continues.

Mine is a 2014 with 50,000 miles and cost 28k. Having jumped straight out of the focus RS and into the RS4 the difference is fairly huge. As a day to day car, and I can't attest for rival models of a similar nature, but the Audi is in every way a nicer place to be. The ride is so much better when you're just cruising in traffic on a rainy day on English roads. The torque is not instant when in comfort mode at low revs as most reviewers complain about, but neither was it very good in the wrong gear in the focus, which when bumbling along on a dual carriageway it always will be. However flick down through the gears on the paddle shift (or touch the gear stick to put it into sport) and the acceleration exhilarating. When I want to go for a fun drive, in any car, I'm not in a high gear expecting the torque to do the work for me, I'm hovering constantly in the power band and between gears, and at this point the RS4 is exceptional.

The Mercedes C63 was the other car I was looking at, but was worried at how thirsty it must be for both rubber and fuel. I've also been a fan or four wheel drive cars for some time. That said, I love to hear how it compares overall?

Cool. Useful info, particularly the benefit of a dealer buy. Thanks

I considered C63 too, but I live pretty high up and do regularly get snow, hence 4WD is preferable (granted wide low profile tyres wont be the best!)

[stevemcs]

2wd on winters will get further than 4wd on summers