Discussion
I'm considering a new (B7 is it?) RS4 but I've got a few questions...
1. What are they like to own? I don't care too much about running costs but what are they like on a motorway? Is the suspension too hard for everyday use?
2. Saloon or Avant? I have no opinion either way but which holds it's value better?
3. Any idea what the waiting times are? I'd want one about this time next year, when should I be looking to order?
4. Is there any chance of a discount or will it have to be list-price?
5. What are the 'must-have' options?
Thanks!
1. What are they like to own? I don't care too much about running costs but what are they like on a motorway? Is the suspension too hard for everyday use?
2. Saloon or Avant? I have no opinion either way but which holds it's value better?
3. Any idea what the waiting times are? I'd want one about this time next year, when should I be looking to order?
4. Is there any chance of a discount or will it have to be list-price?
5. What are the 'must-have' options?
Thanks!
I've got the saloon and love it 
Mines got the handling pack thingy which lowers it and firms it even more but I still find it fine for everyday use. It certainly rides better than either of the 2.7 S4's I had. Into 6th and cruise control on on the motorway is very refined to be honest and surprisingly quiet.
The avant is just a question of what you need to carry.... You do get the best out and out performance as the saloon is the lightest. The split folding rear seat option in the saloon is pretty good and means you can carry a pretty big load if you need to. Difficult to say which will hold value, but I guess you could argue that the avant will techically always be a more "useful" vehicle.
Mines got the handling pack thingy which lowers it and firms it even more but I still find it fine for everyday use. It certainly rides better than either of the 2.7 S4's I had. Into 6th and cruise control on on the motorway is very refined to be honest and surprisingly quiet.
The avant is just a question of what you need to carry.... You do get the best out and out performance as the saloon is the lightest. The split folding rear seat option in the saloon is pretty good and means you can carry a pretty big load if you need to. Difficult to say which will hold value, but I guess you could argue that the avant will techically always be a more "useful" vehicle.
1. What are they like to own? I don't care too much about running costs but what are they like on a motorway? Is the suspension too hard for everyday use?
From the RS4 owners I know thay are a great car to own. The suspension set up is said by some to be better and more pliant than the S4 because of wider track, but it also has less unsprung mass with lightweight Brembo brakes. If you live on potholed roads and B back rouds it may not be the best but otherwise I'm led to believe they are good.
2. Saloon or Avant? I have no opinion either way but which holds it's value better?
Avants will hold the better value, something to do with RS models traditionally being Avants from RS2 onwards. But because they are not on limited run I don't think ther will be much in it.
3. Any idea what the waiting times are? I'd want one about this time next year, when should I be looking to order?
At max. I would have thought 12-16 weeks, however you can pick up pre reg'd RS4's on the makret now and definietly those with a couple hundred miles so log the spec suits you. However I have heard rumours that production will stop in summer this year to make way for RS6 production at the GmBH plant and the B8 A4 is due out soonish so it will definitely stop before then.
4. Is there any chance of a discount or will it have to be list-price?
Depends on the dealer TBH, I have heard of some haggling to be done
5. What are the 'must-have' options?
Not being an RS4 owner myself, haven't a clue on this one. But tech. and communication packs and adaptive Xenons seem to be a common theme. The Recaro buckets are hit and miss, some people can't get on with them and driver seat door side bolsters get some heavy abuse and are showing excessive wear already. You can just get normal Recaro's al a S4 which are electrically adjustable, possible heated and can have memory, none of which is available on the buckets
Hope that helps.
From the RS4 owners I know thay are a great car to own. The suspension set up is said by some to be better and more pliant than the S4 because of wider track, but it also has less unsprung mass with lightweight Brembo brakes. If you live on potholed roads and B back rouds it may not be the best but otherwise I'm led to believe they are good.
2. Saloon or Avant? I have no opinion either way but which holds it's value better?
Avants will hold the better value, something to do with RS models traditionally being Avants from RS2 onwards. But because they are not on limited run I don't think ther will be much in it.
3. Any idea what the waiting times are? I'd want one about this time next year, when should I be looking to order?
At max. I would have thought 12-16 weeks, however you can pick up pre reg'd RS4's on the makret now and definietly those with a couple hundred miles so log the spec suits you. However I have heard rumours that production will stop in summer this year to make way for RS6 production at the GmBH plant and the B8 A4 is due out soonish so it will definitely stop before then.
4. Is there any chance of a discount or will it have to be list-price?
Depends on the dealer TBH, I have heard of some haggling to be done
5. What are the 'must-have' options?
Not being an RS4 owner myself, haven't a clue on this one. But tech. and communication packs and adaptive Xenons seem to be a common theme. The Recaro buckets are hit and miss, some people can't get on with them and driver seat door side bolsters get some heavy abuse and are showing excessive wear already. You can just get normal Recaro's al a S4 which are electrically adjustable, possible heated and can have memory, none of which is available on the buckets
Hope that helps.
Put it this way, my dad has in the past owned a Lotus Esprit, TVR 400SE, Porsche Carrera 4 (964) and a string of other performance cars and every time we speak on the phone he thanks me for persuading him to test and then buy the new RS4 Avant. He's smitten with it and thinks it is a fantastic car.
theaxe said:
Would it be worth waiting for the B8 RS4? I'd hate to buy a new car and then have the next model arrive straight after.
I own a 2007 RS4 Avant, so my reply is coloured by that, if you see what I mean.
There are mistakes in the above info, but if you read or down load the broshure you will be able to find out.
The RS4's are only produced at the end of a model cycle, so you will have about a 6 year wait for the next.
Production ends soon to make way for the RS6
Don't buy the solar sun roof, this has a solid cloth across it and therefore as much use as an old steel sunroof.
If you go for carbon and a black roof lining the normal galss roof is advised.
BTW, if you start it and then stop when still VERY cold you will foul the plugs ... so you need to be aware of that.
There is no issue with tyre roar, BUT all Audi A4's suffer with wind vent noise. you need to hit the recycle button to stop it.
Arrr the seats, if you are big ... you might have a problem with the bucket seats .. I find them great but larger people have problems.
Have a read on wwww.rs246.com lots of info on there !
I sold a 996 C4 and I am more than happy with the RS4.
Hope that helps, PM me if you would like to know about deals
JonRB said:
The standard seats on the RS4 are stunningly good. I've heard it said that the extra cost "sports" seats are actually not as good and that the money is best spent elsewhere.
The heated seat pack is quite good and unusually includes heated rear seats as well as heated front.
The heated seat pack is quite good and unusually includes heated rear seats as well as heated front.
to correct, heated front seats are std regardelss of type (rear seats are an option but confusingly the literature mentions front seats again)
RS4 buckets or Recaro sports seats are the choice - both no-cost options
I found the RS$ buckets to be great (6'1" and slim but broad shoulders) and sports suspension was not too harsh either
avant will hold value a little better but costs more to start with
must have option is the satnav which is usually specced as the tech pack (satnav + cd changer plus swivel lights), I think front armrest is good too (and free). Beware the GSM bluetooth phone - it looks nasty specced with cradle on dash and if in armrest you bizarrely lose the lovely std fit RS4 flat-bottom steering wheel.
adam b said:
to correct, heated front seats are std regardelss of type (rear seats are an option but confusingly the literature mentions front seats again)
RS4 buckets or Recaro sports seats are the choice - both no-cost options
RS4 buckets or Recaro sports seats are the choice - both no-cost options
Ah, right, thanks for that. I guess in that case my dad must have specced the "heated seat" option thinking he was speccing heated front seats (and not realising they were standard) and actually speccing and paying for heated rears.
Likewise, I didn't realise the Recaros were a no-cost option.
I have to chuckle when I learn that the armrest was a no-cost option because my dad is under the impression that the dealer "threw it in for free" (ie. did him a favour) rather than it being free anyway.
JonRB said:
I have to chuckle when I learn that the armrest was a no-cost option because my dad is under the impression that the dealer "threw it in for free" (ie. did him a favour) rather than it being free anyway.
brilliant! don't people at least glance at the brochure, its all in there?
Had an RS4 for 5 months now (saloon) and it is without a doubt the best everyday all year round car I've owned. The bucket seats are magnificent (I'm 14 stone and 6 feet).
The ride is perfect everyday (no different from a non sports car) but the wet/greasy road handling is awesome.
I cannot recommend this car enough. I have to sell mine in a month because my GT3 is coming, but I would really like to keep both....
The ride is perfect everyday (no different from a non sports car) but the wet/greasy road handling is awesome.
I cannot recommend this car enough. I have to sell mine in a month because my GT3 is coming, but I would really like to keep both....
Just taken receipt of new RS4 avant replacing my B5 RS4 avant. The old car was tweaked with lowered suspension and tweaked turbos and was very focused but was so good due to aftermarket additions. The new one blows it away - its comfy yet rapid - just got 300miles on the clock today - Love it.
Well I gave the RS4 it's first proper run out today at the Northants run.
Safe to say it was pretty much a day made for quattro!!
The car was simply awesome, fantastic grip and poise in the wettest of conditions. It was certainly nice to repeatedly leave some serious hardware behind!
Thanks to Matt172 for the pics
the rest of matt's pics here:
http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i22
Safe to say it was pretty much a day made for quattro!!
The car was simply awesome, fantastic grip and poise in the wettest of conditions. It was certainly nice to repeatedly leave some serious hardware behind!
Thanks to Matt172 for the pics
the rest of matt's pics here:
http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i22
Andyuk911 said:
theaxe said:
Would it be worth waiting for the B8 RS4? I'd hate to buy a new car and then have the next model arrive straight after.
Don't buy the solar sun roof, this has a solid cloth across it and therefore as much use as an old steel sunroof.
If you go for carbon and a black roof lining the normal galss roof is advised.
as Andy found out by seeing my mistake.
though the fans coming on by themselves are somewhat erm interesting/pointless. Summer will prove them more interesting or useless I guess.
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