B9 RS4. Talk to me

[mjt]

Having stupid thoughts about chopping the M2 (& maybe the Q7) and getting a B9/9.5 RS4 for daily & family wagon duties.

Will it bankrupt me? The M2 has been (touch wood) perfect so far, but the 2 doors is a bit of a pain with the kids and the manual 'box is a bit of a drag in traffic.
I don't go for evening hoons and drives much any more as I don't have the time. Or maybe it's just the ADHD.

Anyway, thoughts? Realistic running & servicing costs v an F87 M2?
M3 Touring out of the picture unfortunately as they're still very expensive and registration taxes where I live are lol-worth at almost 10k due to CO2 emissions. Otherwise, I'd just get an Alpina B3 Touring as those prices are dropping surprisingly quickly (perhaps due to the sheer number made?)

TIA

 

[MrRockliffe]

The B9 from memory has issues with rocker arms failing, which has been resolved in later iterations of the engine.


Honestly I find Audis immensely boring and I’m not sure you’d enjoy it coming from an M2.


If you’re into music the B&O system is the worst premium audio upgrade I’ve had and heard, and it can’t be resolved without replacing speakers and amp because they’re both terrible.


Edit: why not an M340i? As quick as your M2, but much better to drive than the Audi.

 

[deviation]

Having driven a mates RS6, and been bored after the initial 'wow this is fast' placebo, I was left with thinking afterwards, "why didn't he get an M5, they have switchable X-drive now?", there's no way that you'll be happy with a B9 RS4, if you come from BMW's.
Expect lifeless handling, never knowing what the front end or steering is doing, and understeer. Oh and random things that shouldn't fail, failing, and costing you a lot of money in labour, ala typical modern VAG's.
The best thing to do, is to go waste a car dealers time, and take one for a test drive, and get it out of your system.

 

[Dangerous Dave]

I've been looking at similar cars, I'd take a M340i over a B9 RS4. Power wise they feel very similar and I preferred the handling of the M340i. The M3 is another level up from the RS4 performance wise and has better handling. I'd like to try a B3 but not many in the UK so not easy to get a test drive of one.

 

[Nasher]

Having driven a mates RS6, and been bored after the initial 'wow this is fast' placebo, I was left with thinking afterwards, "why didn't he get an M5, they have switchable X-drive now?", there's no way that you'll be happy with a B9 RS4, if you come from BMW's.
Expect lifeless handling, never knowing what the front end or steering is doing, and understeer. Oh and random things that shouldn't fail, failing, and costing you a lot of money in labour, ala typical modern VAG's.
The best thing to do, is to go waste a car dealers time, and take one for a test drive, and get it out of your system.

I find the same. Maybe it's just me but I feel like Audi/VWs also have horrendous throttle lag (maybe gearbox related), which all adds up to quite a numb experience. You get a surge of power, but it's delivered late. I might just be spoiled from owning a Lotus.

 

[alex24]

If you can have two cars, why not just get the correct ones for the job? A sports car should be fun, engaging and depending on what you prefer in terms of driving experience and what you plan to do (e.g. commute, weekends b-road blast, track work) will dictate what you should get.

Family duties, well, there’s equal amounts of variation there depending on needs, but the priorities are very different.

I don’t think cars that attempt to do both are without compromises. If you can only have or run one car, then maybe the compromise is worth it. Otherwise I tend to personally believe in getting the right tools for the job.

Also just adding I think I’m a bit blind to another category which would be ‘status’ cars that people buy. I’m not going to try and explain that as I can’t.

 

[deviation]

I find the same. Maybe it's just me but I feel like Audi/VWs also have horrendous throttle lag (maybe gearbox related), which all adds up to quite a numb experience. You get a surge of power, but it's delivered late. I might just be spoiled from owning a Lotus.

Yeah I agree, they have power/boost by gear, and it is setup very delayed and tame.

TLDR they're just **** cars.

It's just a VW at the end of the day, power or not, rebadged and people don't seem to understand that there's only so much you can mask with power and different interior/exterior panels.
But they are blinded by the badges.
In reality they've put a massive engine into a passat chassis, moved the engine past the suspension turrets, put it on air suspension, made it weigh nearly 2 tonnes and somehow expect it to handle like an M3? In what world

The only car I can think of that's a true rival to an M3, is an Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio - I'd have one in a heartbeat!
We unfortunately live in a world full of fridge on wheels dull SUV/fake 4X4 looking hybrids and EV's, that weigh over 2 tonnes and have zero driver feel or communication.

In an ideal world, the best thing to do, would be to have a wagon daily, and something fun for the weekend, like a Lotus, Alpine, BRZ etc.

 

[mjt]

Other than random brain farts from the MMI and a failed charging port opener, our Q7 has been pretty faultless for the 3.5 years we've had it. Also ran a C6 A6 from 60 to 150,000 miles and it was faultless. I wouldn't touch a modern VW, but the RS4 is an old platform and tech.
I'm not expecting an M3 Touring rival, but apparently the Competition pack on the RS4 solved a lot of the transmission issues, among other things.

A test drive to get it out of my system isn't a bad idea TBH.. to be continued

 

[Nasher]

Yeah I agree, they have power/boost by gear, and it is setup very delayed and tame.

TLDR they're just **** cars.

It's just a VW at the end of the day, power or not, rebadged and people don't seem to understand that there's only so much you can mask with power and different interior/exterior panels.
But they are blinded by the badges.
In reality they've put a massive engine into a passat chassis, moved the engine past the suspension turrets, put it on air suspension, made it weigh nearly 2 tonnes and somehow expect it to handle like an M3? In what world

The only car I can think of that's a true rival to an M3, is an Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio - I'd have one in a heartbeat!
We unfortunately live in a world full of fridge on wheels dull SUV/fake 4X4 looking hybrids and EV's, that weigh over 2 tonnes and have zero driver feel or communication.

In an ideal world, the best thing to do, would be to have a wagon daily, and something fun for the weekend, like a Lotus, Alpine, BRZ etc.

A few of the engines are good, though many aren't and drink oil, or have major issues. Like the 5cyl and V6 in the older S and RS cars. But it just all feels so laggy.

It's odd they made them like that especially on performance models. Even the ones from 20+ years ago are the same. Driving an S5 quite recently just felt like driving a tuned A5. There was no wow factor really.

Where as you get in a performance Ford, Renault, Toyota and they feel completely different and more alive.

 

[deviation]

A few of the engines are good, though many aren't and drink oil, or have major issues. Like the 5cyl and V6 in the older S and RS cars. But it just all feels so laggy.

It's odd they made them like that especially on performance models. Even the ones from 20+ years ago are the same. Driving an S5 quite recently just felt like driving a tuned A5. There was no wow factor really.

Where as you get in a performance Ford, Renault, Toyota and they feel completely different and more alive.

Hmm, the older stuff sure, but anything modern loves to have the cam follower bearings eat into the camshafts on the V6's, and that replacement wears worse than the original, then the fun of high pressure fuel pumps failing, the whole direct injection system clogging up, and various other things from memory. It's not for me I'm afraid, I'd rather risk an Alfa at that point at least we know it's going to break, but be way more fun until it does

Yeah that's my point, because it is just an A4 with a dress on, and has no place having that engine fitted, let alone so far over the front axel past the turrets.
The best one, is the GOLF R VR6, that loves to undo it's flywheel bolts, and people think they've broken the gearbox, then remove it, and find the flywheel bolts having been having a moshpit inside the bell housing That's very common.

 

[mjt]

FWIW I wouldn't even consider one without an Audi dealer warranty, but they look so good. Especially if you can find one with an Exclusive colours scheme and/or the silver bits.

 

[deviation]

FWIW I wouldn't even consider one without an Audi dealer warranty, but they look so good. Especially if you can find one with an Exclusive colours scheme and/or the silver bits.

Good man! The lesser hassle the better!
TBF, for a Passat with an identity crisis, they do look pretty good, I'll give you that
You're not allowed to get it in something boring like Nardo Primer Grey though

Now you must arrange wasting an Audi dealerships time and test drive one, then come running back to this thread and tell us we were right

Have you considered an Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio? Ferrari V8 with 2 cylinders lopped off with 2 snails added I'd take one over an F80/G80 M3.

 

[deviation]

That angry face better not be regarding nardo primer grey - every chav's textbook unimaginative copy and paste wet dream choice
It's about as unique as when they hard played out Atlantis Blue on the M2 and F8X platform Ruining what used to be a cool rare colour - Atlantis Blue, not primer nardo grey

 

[Mekrel]

I doubt the Quadrifoglio will fit his needs, they're quite small saloons both in terms of rear leg room and boot size. Choices will be limited due to the lack of estate cars over the years, especially with the performance figures the OP wants/is used to?

 

[deviation]

I doubt the Quadrifoglio will fit his needs, they're quite small saloons both in terms of rear leg room and boot size. Choices will be limited due to the lack of estate cars over the years, especially with the performance figures the OP wants/is used to?

I doubt he cares, as the M2 has no rear leg room and a small boot; besides he still has a Q7 if he needs room?

our Q7 has been pretty faultless for the 3.5 years we've had it.

 

[Mekrel]

I doubt he cares, as the M2 has no rear leg room and a small boot; besides he still has a Q7 if he needs room?

But as he said, he's potentially looking to chop both of them in for something that has the space (what the Q7 gives) and some performance (the M2).

 

[deviation]

But as he said, he's potentially looking to chop both of them in for something that has the space (what the Q7 gives) and some performance (the M2).

Oh, whoops! Sorry mate, I totally missed that! TBF, I did wake up early and reply half asleep

 

[ShivP]

RS4s have typically been objectively worse than the M3 to drive
However, those who own them seem to love them!

 

[deviation]

RS4s have typically been objectively worse than the M3 to drive
However, those who own them seem to love them!

Yeah, you're never getting past ramming a massive engine over the front axel past the turrets and pairing that with mass amounts of vague steering and understeer. Nor the fact it is just a passat chassis with a fancy bodykit and a better engine.
So it will never handle like an M3/5.

True, it's 2 different types of owners, I think the RS owners, just like the fact it's fast in a straight line like an AMG is, and has the safety stigma that "it's AWD therefore it's safer in any weather" - they all seem to quote that, whenever comparing it to owning a RWD BMW/AMG.

But with now that BMW have switchable X-drive, it makes it harder to justify an Audi over a BMW.
The BMW will always handle better and be more involving/fun to drive.
If you're a RWD and or BMW owner, making the compromise to a lesser driving experience and handling, will be a tough one. Because, what exactly are you gaining, when you can now have your cake and eat it with X-Drive, and simply make it RWD at the push of a button, when you want it to be a hooligan again.

 

[ShivP]

Yeah, you're never getting past ramming a massive engine over the front axel past the turrets and pairing that with mass amounts of vague steering and understeer. Nor the fact it is just a passat chassis with a fancy bodykit and a better engine.
So it will never handle like an M3/5.

True, it's 2 different types of owners, I think the RS owners, just like the fact it's fast in a straight line like an AMG is, and has the safety stigma that "it's AWD therefore it's safer in any weather" - they all seem to quote that, whenever comparing it to owning a RWD BMW/AMG.

But with now that BMW have switchable X-drive, it makes it harder to justify an Audi over a BMW.
The BMW will always handle better and be more involving/fun to drive.
If you're a RWD and or BMW owner, making the compromise to a lesser driving experience and handling, will be a tough one. Because, what exactly are you gaining, when you can now have your cake and eat it with X-Drive, and simply make it RWD at the push of a button, when you want it to be a hooligan again.

It's nothing like a Passat chassis, the engine is even mounted in a different direction...