Tell me about RS4's...

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Soldato
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My father is looking to finish the Porsche RSR project by next summer (will update thread soon :)) and is considering buying an RS4 out of the money. Basically neither of us know much about them. Running costs? Things to look out for? Good price to pay, depreciation etc. I've seen them mentioned a few times and think a few people on here own them? Any details would be great! Thanks.
 
If it's the one with the V8, Clarkson raved about it on Top Gear but I'd imagine it would understeer a bit having that V8 over the front axle.

If it's the 2.7 twin turbo one then isn't there someone on here who had huge trouble with one? For some reason I think it was Housey?

M3 would be a better buy IMO.
 
From what i remember he likes the E46 M3 more, RS4 wise the engine issues and quoted power problems have cheesed him off, but it's good to drive and he's done lots of miles in it now, oh and it was epic in the snow :)

Sure he will be along at somepoint to give the full picture.
 
MissChief said:
If it's the one with the V8, Clarkson raved about it on Top Gear but I'd imagine it would understeer a bit having that V8 over the front axle.

If it's the 2.7 twin turbo one then isn't there someone on here who had huge trouble with one? For some reason I think it was Housey?

M3 would be a better buy IMO.
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On what basis would an M3 be a better buy?

RS4 is more classy & attracts less depreciation.

Why would you think it understeers? I haven't seen any such reports in the press or in reviews.
 
alchemistkevin said:
On what basis would an M3 be a better buy?
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If you discount the advantage the RS4 has in the unpredictable UK weather, the M3 is a more dynamic drive. That said Ive decided that I prefer the interior of the RS4. I am not loving the building quality of the interior on my E92.

The depreciation on the RS4 is pretty rock solid at the moment, however there are rumours of a new RS4 floating about, which may or may not affect the latest model, but its not something I would worry about if I was to purchase one today.
 
alchemistkevin said:
Why would you think it understeers? I haven't seen any such reports in the press or in reviews.
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All quattro Audis understeer.

They tried to dial it out in the RS4 and TT RS, but it's still there.

The M3 is a better ultimate driver's car, but I would prefer the RS4's all weather ability.

Regarding things that go wrong, the RS4s inherited the dodgy DSC suspension issues off the old RS6. Expensive to replace, and its not a matter of 'if' but 'when' they fail.

The RS6 guys would replace these dampers with coilovers to get around the issue.

As has been said, speak to Housey.
 
Running costs can be high, not least if you buy one without a warrantly which in itself can be an arm and a leg! I've run my RS4 for the last 18 months without a manufacturers warranty as I felt it was not old enough and the cost of adding it simply made my nuts hurt at the thought. I'll say this out loud, £2400 per year for my car, mileage, use!

It really depends how your dad will use the car. On a long motorway run you should be able to see 22-26mpg based on how soft you are with it, around town low teens and if driven hard single figures. It's a big V8 with an appetite for petrol so it is to be expected as is anywhere between 1 - 4 litres of oil in between services. Tyres have lasted well on mine, I would expect 15k - 25k on them, which is good for such power and weight and they come in around £230 per corner. Insurance depends on many factors but I'm around £480 per annum at 44 with full NC and clean licence (touch wood). Servicing is best done every 10K miles but if you follow the computer it's close to 18k, which is too long I feel. Budget £800 per and you should be well covered.

Disks and pads from indi with OEM parts are still close to £1K, for the front and £450 for the rears. They suffer suspension issues with their DRC dampers and you are looking £2K'ish to swap them out. Rear exhaust baffles seize needing new back boxes, emissions sensors and stuff related to breathing should be seen as commodities and most will lose power with age due to engine coaking. At 378bhp on a RR test mine was one of the more powerful ones and I don't think it is any quicker than an E46 M3....in testing.

However, when its a British winter day it is epic. It does understeer but on the road that shouldn't really show itself and you simply need to drive around it, on track it falls apart really, but on road, A to B it is exceptional. I've not driven a car this side of an Evo that flatters (and protects) the driver so well, it really is very clever and very quick rear world.

Bits are pricey. A new wheel is £600, find one less and let me know because I can't. Sat Nav is crap, seats can look tired due to people not knowing how to get in and get out off bolstered seats, I say that because mine are OK, I've done over 100k miles and I'm not a lightweight and I've been in 40K cars with worse seats.

A summary, but buy with eyes open, get it inspected by a good specialist and it should be a good, reliable if temperamental car. I am not aware of major issues and my car still has the original clutch, box, suspension, diff etc etc, but I tend to be soft on those bits.
 
I must say I disagree with a lot of what has been said here. I have had a whole host of performance cars such as Evo's, Subaru's and M3's. The RS4 is considerably better in all aspects than any other other apart from the E9x M3 which I still prefer the RS4 to but it is closer call.

True the power issues are correct but the same could be said for the others. Evo and Subarus are often quoted as crank HP instead of wheel horse power which will be considerably less and also M3's make a lot less power than the quoted figures. Housey's figure of 378 BHP sounds representative of a good RS4 but is not a million miles away from the 414 Audi quotes (maybe a brand new filter air/oil and a service right before may have loosened up a few more ponies).

If you go into buying one with eyes open and your wits about you (also housey's running costs are extremely accurate so if your dad doesn't go weak at the knees at the costs he should be fine!) then you will have a car with which is extremely fast on road, real world performance (way ahead of the E46 M3 which i had previously, and also is great at cruising along in a nice quiet cabin second only to cars costing 100k+

The E9x saloon would be a good car to try out to as although rarer than the coupe so not too many come up for sale is also and excellent car and may suit your father better depending on driving style and tastes.

25-27.5k should get you a mint example privately with dealer cars a good bit more due to the benefit of a warranty. The DRC suspension is a weak point but a replacement coilover kit from KW will cost around £1500 and then you wont have to worry about the issue again. Another common engine fault is coilpacks which go @ a cost of £40 a pop but since there is 8 cylinders this soon adds up.

Hope your dad gets one and i'm sure if he does it will bring him loads of smiles per miles!

PS a thing to bear in mind also is that if you have a good experience of something you tell 1 person and a bad experience you tell everyone...
 
Sorry, but they are NOT way ahead of the E46 M3 in performance, they simply aren't. I've had enough experience to know that is a fact, VMax, mates with them, odd run ins.....oh and 100k miles in M3's too....
 
...and I know KW's are a way forward, but your ride will not be the same so they too are a compromise. Most people will seek out standard cars, only petrol heads will appreciate the KW's and many will get bored of them. Though flawed the damping of the RS4 on all roads is one of the stand out features, remove that and you lessen the package in my opinion though make it a sharper point to point device perhaps.
 
Well I have had both, E46 for 2 years and my B7 RS4 for a year and I would say that it definately is... This is my opinion and your is yours...

To qualify mine a bit more I love on Orkney which has no motorways or runways like Bruntingthorpe to be fair but loads of rough tight twisty roads where cars with 4wd have a major advantage true but still my experience is that a B7 will definately be a lot quicker in my hands than my E46 was. Also the brakes and 4wd drive will flatter an amateur better than the rwd and shoddily braked M3 will.
 
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Housey said:
...and there is currently a recall on coil packs, mine were changed last service foc.
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Not a recall as far is i'm lead to believe, more of a if you can be bothered to drive to an Audi dealer and pay £100+ pounds of labour an hour for a service then they will change them out for free if you ask. Also I just had one of the new ones go pop at the weekend so their not the saviour as they are billed by Audi either I doubt :(
 
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