i had the pleasure to take a <FONT COLOR="red">R</FONT>S4 for a long spirited drive today and i'm very impressed with it so i thought i'd share with you guys. heres my impression of the car -

chassis
absolutely brilliant. the entire car feels like its chiseled from a solid block of granite. the damping is very sporty and solid yet the ride quality is very tolerable. it amazes me the way it hides its mass when the pace heats up. obviously i haven't taken it to the track but real world grip is amazing. with my friends B6 S4, the car wants to push (even with an upgraded rear swaybar) at the limit. not so with the RS4, it remained a slight tail out attitude all the way through, much like a well sorted ITR.

vehicle
the steering is typical new audi: precise, liquid smooth, fairly good road feel with no unpleasant kick back. shifter is much like a BMWs - the action is somewhat plasticky but offers good engagement feel. what amazes me is how civilized and organic the clutch is despite its power output. gone is the lifeless clutch with unnecessarily long stroke of the yore.

engine/drivetrain
the torquey yet high revving 4.2L V8 is simply to die for. again, it is very docile at low engine speeds yet pulls furiously towards its 8,000rpm redline. think small block V8 low end torque (augmented by short gearing) and VTEC top end. also, throttle response is very sharp and rev match downshifting is always a breeze. i find myself doing that just to hear the melodious V8 burble.

overall, i love how engaging the RS4 is to drive. always egging you on and begging to be driven harder, yet it is perfectly content and suited to loping around in a relaxed fashion.

certainly there are faster cars that can be had for $80k, but it would be hard to find something this capable, engaging, composed, refined and versatile all around.

good thing i had my camera with me





p.s: it pulls as hard in 3rd at 3,500rpm as my R (/w the 4.785FD) does in 2nd gear VTEC

 

They look simply amazing. I thought msrp was only 60k?

 

very nice!

&lt;----looking forward to seeing the new 2dr RS5

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by done &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought msrp was only 60k?</TD></TR></TABLE>

its $95k CAD to start up here, so i was guessing $80k USD

its probably closer to $70k then

 

Nice car.

 

Thats a rockin car. Hope this thread doesnt end up like the C6Z06 thread.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by migs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thats a rockin car. Hope this thread doesnt end up like the C6Z06 thread. </TD></TR></TABLE>

unlike some people i don't care only for straight line speed

 

I would rock an RS4 in a heartbeat over a Z06, M3, NSX. 4 doors, great styling, and faster than alot of cars.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by migs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would rock an RS4 in a heartbeat over a Z06, M3, NSX. 4 doors, great styling, and faster than alot of cars.</TD></TR></TABLE>

amen

there is one thing i forgot to say - the interior is drop dead gorgeous (the real CF trim is ). i wish we got the euro spec steering wheel and seats. the car would be perfect. there wouldn't be a single i'd change on it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Phil DeVtec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

i'd drive it.

only if i could afford it

 

If I were to purchase a car in that price range, and wanted the best of luxery and sport.... I'd be all over this car. I believe it's rated at 420 HP, seats are like my SRD's in that they hold you snug, and damn the car looks great.

 

I think there was a review of this car in an older GRM and I think they gave it an ehhhh grade. Maybe it wasnt GRM, I dont remember. But after reading the article I was ehhhh too.

 

EVO performance for M5 money, with Audi checkered reliability and free falling depreciation to boot... No thanks.

 

I had a chance to drive a RS4 as well. What an experience, but I do agree with people on the pricing part!!!

 

SO NICEEEE!!

 

Shes a beauty !

 

Even though it is a 4 door, the back seats are too cramped for my needs. I'd spring for an M5 over an RS4

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RTW DC2R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think there was a review of this car in an older GRM and I think they gave it an ehhhh grade. Maybe it wasnt GRM, I dont remember. But after reading the article I was ehhhh too. </TD></TR></TABLE>

are you sure it wasn't a regular B6/B7 S4s? cause i've driven those and i can assure you the difference between the 2 is quite large.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by H-PIMP &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">EVO performance for M5 money, with Audi checkered reliability and free falling depreciation to boot... No thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

since when did Evos run 110mph trap speeds stock? also, E60 M5 lists at $20k higher. if you were referring to the E39, i can guarantee you the RS4 car will run circles around it

FWIW, i was skeptical about the car when i first read about it. but it really changed my mind when i drove it. there is the saying that goes don't knock it till you...

drive it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fuko &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

are you sure it wasn't a regular B6/B7 S4s? cause i've driven those and i can assure you the difference between the 2 is quite large.


</TD></TR></TABLE>

whatever I read was definitely about the RS4

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fuko &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
since when did Evos run 110mph trap speeds stock? also, E60 M5 lists at $20k higher. if you were referring to the E39, i can guarantee you the RS4 car will run circles around it

FWIW, i was skeptical about the car when i first read about it. but it really changed my mind when i drove it. there is the saying that goes don't knock it till you...

drive it?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'll take 104 mph traps for half the money any day of the week. Not to mention that $500 and free mods will give you 110+ traps in an EVO. So that's moot.

I was reffering to the E60 M5, because UBER low mileage '06's can be had in the low $70's and I'd much rather spend that bread on an as new 1 year old M5 than any Audi product under the sun.

A good friend of mine is a sales manager at an Audi dealership, so just for fun, I may very well go flog an RS4 one of these days.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by H-PIMP &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'll take 104 mph traps for half the money any day of the week. Not to mention that $500 and free mods will give you 110+ traps in an EVO. So that's moot.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

i just got a '07 600RR that does 132mph traps for $9k, so your point is moot too

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
A good friend of mine is a sales manager at an Audi dealership, so just for fun, I may very well go flog an RS4 one of these days.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

do it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fuko &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i just got a '07 600RR that does 132mph traps for $10k, so your point is
moot too

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Bro just bought '07 Busa for $10.6K + PC & Yoshi that'll suck your bike up it's tailpipe as it passes you going down the 1/4.

 

i've driven lots of "fast" cars but when it comes down to it, i'm all for cheap, balanced, fun and tossable cars. don't get me wrong, i love Evos and M5s too (not so much the E46 M3s though) but to me the RS4 represents an awesome all around package: you can flog it hard, even in adverse weather conditions (like the EVO), but it is also very refined and classy (like the M5) and goes like hell (like both of them).

 

dang, i knew i should have gotten the 10000RR (145+mph all day long and every bit as fast as the vaunted busa)

but really, racing in a straightline is retarded. bikes + turns (i race with EMRA, a local roading racing club) = heaven