Just driven an RS4..... Bit slow arn't they?

[liam]

May as well throw my two bobs worth in here.

First, let me start by saying if I had the cash I would take an RS4 any day of the week.:thumbsup:

A while back I had an RS4 on overnight loan. I've also driven an R8 and an RS6.

As far as out and out acceleration is concerned, the RS6 is the only one of the three to not leave me slightly disappointed. I guess 572bhp has a bit to do with that, haha.

Back to the RS4, after my first decent blat I must admit my first thought was, for AU$180K one would expect a lot more go for the dough. I did, indeed think, that AU$70K for an S3 with $10K in mods would leave one with a car that offered just as many thrills as the RS4, and $110K change, haha.

Over time, though, the RS4 won my heart in a big, big way. As noted power delivery is so linear and the V8 just loves to rev. IMO, it is because the car is so competent that it might feel slow. But it's not. And, of course, Audi Avants are officially the coolest cars on the planet. That, and the 4.2 V8 is one of the sweetest sounds ever heard.

My drives of the R8 and the RS6 were over much shorter timeframes (about an hour each), and while the R8 was a blast, I reckon the V10 will be the one to get. And a manual box as well, that R tronic thing was a bit odd.

The RS6 is simply out of this world so far as pure grunt is concerned. And the V10 sounds sublime (see below). After driving the RS6 I did say the RS4 was dead to me, but the RS4 Avants just look so damn cool, that I would easily go back on my word if the opportunity ever presented.

[youtube]HmCBBKhug-Y[/youtube]

Ulitmately, the S3, RS4 et al are all damn fine cars and if we're lucky enough to own any of these we should all count our blessings.

Peace out.

 

[PaulAr]

Lots of people are throwing in the "im driving on the road so it's just fine" argument well frankly if that's the case maybe a seperate forum should be made so that you can chat away at your hearts content about the smoothness, comfort and space that allows you to trundle off to BHS to pickup a new pair of slippers on the weekend because let's face it... we are talking about PERFORMANCE cars here. Regardless of whether we spend 99% of the time abiding by the law and 1% hooning it about on the road or at a track it still matters alot to us otherwise we would be all buying TDI's ....

Differring views are the essence of motoring forums.

Why should I or anyone go to another forum because my interpetations of driveabilty are different to others?

A completely unecessary rant which has added nothing to an excellent thread.

Cheers
Paul

 

[Ess_Three]

But in real world day to day driving does this matter?

Yes. To me, it does.
I want a car to entertain and that's my way of finding entertainment.

We are talking about `trimming the line` and `adjustabilty`.
Yes these are the sort of things that matter to soe drivers on a track and competative driving.
But as long as the car gets from point to point swiftly and safely and you have a laugh doing it then IMO the box is ticked.

Fine if that's your thing.

I'd take a car that was potentially slightly slower point to point if it wasn't dull as dishwater to drive hard and you could drive it on the throttle and get more involved with it.
So, speed isn't everything...
I'll happily take less speed and more involvement.

I'm not a racing driver nor do I live on a racetrack...it's just what I prefer from a car.

And if you want a car that has pin sharp dynamics and gives optimum adjustabilty etc... then I reckon the S3 is the wrong car anyway.
(R26 R anyone? - remember its a Turbo too!)

Chassis adjustablilty and engine delivery aren't directly linked though...
Good though the R26R is, I doubt you'd choose one if you wanted something that was properly throttle adjustable - you'd maybe look to something with a big NA engine and RWD for that.

But, your point stands...I doubt you'd realistically put an S3 against an R26R dynamically.

I find the surge and delivery of a turbo car very addictive, (and worth the slight trade off in dynamics if any), and the sense of it being faster than it probably is.
How can that be a bad thing?

I find the surge a real giggle...
But I get bored if it.
Then you want more of a surge...and the trade off is even less throttle adjustability.

Horses for courses though...no two people are the same.


As far as big NA engines with superb throttle response goes...the RS4 is right up there with the best.

 

[Ess_Three]

Differring views are the essence of motoring forums.

Why should I or anyone go to another forum because my interpetations of driveabilty are different to others?

A completely unecessary rant which has added nothing to an excellent thread.

Cheers
Paul

A bit unfair there, Paul.

Everyone else has been vocal in thier opinions...this is only another.

How is this opinion so different from yours here:

We are talking about `trimming the line` and `adjustabilty`.
Yes these are the sort of things that matter to soe drivers on a track and competative driving.
But as long as the car gets from point to point swiftly and safely and you have a laugh doing it then IMO the box is ticked.

My opinions align with those you are speak of in that comment...yet I am neither competatively driving nor driving on a track....so should I take offence to your comments?

ALL comments are welcome...whether we agree with them personally, or not.

 

[WiZBiT]

Here here!!! ,let all men speak, and clunk glasses of mead, whilst tickling the cloth that covers the very b-r-r-r-e-ast!

 

[PaulAr]

A bit unfair there, Paul.

Everyone else has been vocal in thier opinions...this is only another.

How is this opinion so different from yours here:



My opinions align with those you are speak of in that comment...yet I am neither competatively driving nor driving on a track....so should I take offence to your comments?

ALL comments are welcome...whether we agree with them personally, or not.

To clarify.
Opinions are indeed important, and I respect peoples views.
You will see that from the tone of my many posts.

Thats why I highlighted only the piece I took exception too. (Not the valid`opinions`which are consistent with yours and many previous posts)

Being advised `to go to another forum` for expressing a view is rude, less than constructive and certainly not an opinion.
I would be interested to hear what other have to say on that.

Anyway, this is a good thread and Im not interested in getting too excited and being responsible for it fading into a petty dispute of literal intepretation.


Cheers
Paul

PS - Think Ive already said it but I will have my RS4 in Misano Red in Saloon guise please.

 

[dogzilla]

Differring views are the essence of motoring forums.

Why should I or anyone go to another forum because my interpetations of driveabilty are different to others?

A completely unecessary rant which has added nothing to an excellent thread.

Cheers
Paul

I wasn't referring to you or anyone else specifically so please don't take it personally, I don't mean it that way

Everyone is free to enjoy their cars how they like but like I said this is a discussion about performance cars so to dismiss any talk about drivability and performance because you (or anyone else) thinks its only for a track is a bit silly.

It's already been said... you don't need to be driving on a track to enjoy these cars. There are plenty of amazing roads I've driven that you can take to the limit and still be under the speed limit. Let's face it the most fun to be had is in the cornering in which case you don't want to be doing 150mph anyway... (unless you are trying to park upside down in a ditch)

 

[PNH80]

Wow... I can't believe this thread is still going! I left it well alone as soon as it started going off at a tangent and getting a little personal. I think that's when it deviates from the point and gets trivial and pointless (i'm as much responsible for that as anyone!). I haven't tracked back to read the last 7 pages of posts either! I'm sure it's all very entertaining stuff!

Seriously though fellas, there is no clear cut right or wrong answer so we can argue the toss all day long. My feeling is that the cars are chalk and cheese and anyone who is seriously trying to compare the 2 based on anything other than straight line speed is TOTALLY missing the poiint of both cars and should probably stick to commenting on another subject really.

They're aimed at different markets to serve a very different purpose. Thats end of argument for me!

 

[robtaylors]

yeh i test drove one last month after selling my m3 i have allways wanted one , to be honest was not blownaway at all , awesome looking car but no sense of speed or aggression , only time i knew i was driving a v8 was past 5000rpm and by that time your going too fast anyway.
so i part exed my m3 for a 2005 a4 2.0t s line quattro saloon for my missus , couldnt be happier.

rob

 

[klauster]

yeh i test drove one last month after selling my m3 i have allways wanted one , to be honest was not blownaway at all , awesome looking car but no sense of speed or aggression , only time i knew i was driving a v8 was past 5000rpm and by that time your going too fast anyway.
so i part exed my m3 for a 2005 a4 2.0t s line quattro saloon for my missus , couldnt be happier.

rob

that makes no sense at all, no aggression or sense of speed? yet you were going to fast!? lemme guess another person comparing turbo engines with na...

 

[robtaylors]

Not at all !!!

The sensation of speed i not there because the ride is so smooth , no noticable exhaust note until high rpm and the thing dont move around corners / 4 wheel drive , but then i suppose i was comparing it to the e46 m3 which has the raspy exhaust note and the rear wheel drive i had at the time which is a different car altogether ! the rs4 is a cruiser. Not knocking it , its a stunning car just wasnt what i expected.

OK !!

 

[NHN]

I think Rob has made fair comments & as a mod said recently its another opinion anyway, also as a previous driver of the same engine pretty much for 2 years I'd agree it doesnt really excite you, where as the exterior of the RS4 Avant is a real turn on, lol, but my S4 Avant I kept cause it was a car interms of size I needed at the time for contract & they were picking up the tab, but I kept my S3 aswell, S4 was a lovely car but didnt excite me that much when driving, just felt nice to drive about, more refined, but we are really comparing 2 different cars really.

Rob, maybe need to remove a few line breaks from your sig mate as fair big gap of nothing, lol.

 

[ChriS3]

also as a previous driver of the same engine pretty much for 2 years I'd agree it doesnt really excite you

You had a Q7? That's the only similar engine in the Audi range, albeit a low revving version. The S4 engine isn't the same, that's like comparing the old S3 engine to the TFSI unit.

 

[dogzilla]

Unfortunately Audi don't know how to make a raw performance car....not since the Quattro anyway

They are just too polished and refined and as a result you lose some excitement.... Something I might expect in their S models but RS? Really expect a bit more honestly though I imagine the TTRS will be a bit of a beast

The only german car I've driven that has provided the thrills is a 997 Carrera S.... absolutely sublime. Hit the sport button and the exhaust opens up, the suspension stiffens up and suddenly it's an animal ready to rip your head off... but go back into normal and suddenly it's a little baby.

 

[robtaylors]

well said

 

[NHN]

You had a Q7? That's the only similar engine in the Audi range, albeit a low revving version. The S4 engine isn't the same, that's like comparing the old S3 engine to the TFSI unit.

Its basically the same engine, 4.2 V8 naturally aspirated in the B6/B7 S4, which is what the RS4 was based on, the Q7 was a vastly bigger heavier vehicle, the S4 Avant I had is based on the same range, pretty much same chassis etc, so IMHO a good comparison when we're discussing an NA vehicle, infact you couldnt get much better, at least I'm comparing 2 very similar cars, to compare the S3 tuned against the RS4 is slightly weird, so are we now gonna start ranting over my comparison now.

 

[ChriS3]

Its basically the same engine, 4.2 V8 naturally aspirated in the B6/B7 S4, which is what the RS4 was based on, the Q7 was a vastly bigger heavier vehicle, the S4 Avant I had is based on the same range, pretty much same chassis etc, so IMHO a good comparison when we're discussing an NA vehicle, infact you couldnt get much better, at least I'm comparing 2 very similar cars, to compare the S3 tuned against the RS4 is slightly weird, so are we now gonna start ranting over my comparison now.

At least I now know your limits of understanding.

 

[klauster]

gulp*

I think some people on here seriously need to get an RS4 and drive it hard, I can assure you its anything but dull

NB. I am in no way offering my car

 

[dogzilla]

gulp*

I think some people on here seriously need to get an RS4 and drive it hard, I can assure you its anything but dull

NB. I am in no way offering my car

I've had one and I drove it like I stole it... with the owners permission of course.

It's an amazing car... don't get me wrong but it's just missing a bit of edge. It feels too clinical to me, not raw enough, not loud enough, generally it just insulates you too much.

 

[WiZBiT]

Maybe time to close this dead dog Ess Three?

 

[warren_S5]

I was tempted at all the thumbs up stuff.
It's a shame that it's gone so far off topic.

Are we agreed to lock this up before it degenerates further?

Lock up gets my vote

 

[Ess_Three]

Righty oh chaps...
Thread pruned and locked. Such a shame after a really good and enlightening debate...but there you go.

Sorry to those who's posts have been pruned. It's for the best...

Glen.