Anyone tried the Audi RS4 ? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

CiscoDude · 21st July 2001, 16:40

I have still not bought any new car ;(

I'm leaning more towards Audi more and more......

Has anyone driven the Audi RS4?

Tell me your thoughts.. please..

I have also looked at the Audi S8

I have never driven a S8 but it looks fabulous and 4WD and 360bhp and everything.

If anyone driven a S8 please tell me.

I want to have some choices before i decide i go with either BMW or Audi or even Porsche..

JohnH · 21st July 2001, 19:04

Only had a quick run in a demo but obviously very fast car that can also be tuned very easily to well over 400bhp. I would think it is faster than M5 until you get the beast into 3rd gear!!! Steering feel very woolly and typically Audi and you need to be a good driver to push this car hard as it bites back very quickly. Have heard lots of stories about soft wheel and suspension particularly in the UK. If you need an estate car and 4WD then they don't come much faster but I still think BMW make a better job of building fast cars than Audi. In UK costs nealy the same as the beast!!!

Millie Miglia · 22nd July 2001, 02:41

Audi builds great cars. But they aren't driver's cars. I know the hate-mail fro Audi fans will start pouring in now!

The RS4 is a fast car. It's even (slightly) faster than the new M3. But, the M3 is a more enjoyable car to drive. The Audi is more of a tourer. The M3 is a genuine Porsche 911 trasher! (In fact, in the latest UK CAR magazine, the M3 cabriolet beat the facelifted 911 Carerra Cabriolet in a comparison test.)

The same critism goes to the S8. Fast but uninvolving.

CiscoDude · 22nd July 2001, 14:49

When we now why BMW is called "The Ultimate Drivers Machine"

johann · 22nd July 2001, 15:41

CiscoDude,

No don't buy and Audi!

Haven't driven a S8 but the thread below contains my opinion on the S6 which is fairly similar.

http://www.bmwm5.com/vbulletin/showt...highlight=audi

I have also driven the S4 which is decent but IMO pretty boring to drive. Some month ago Gustav and I met up with some Audi guys driving TTs and S4s and after a test drive in my car they were all convinced that the M5 was much better and most important much more fun to drive. One of the guys already had an RS4 on order but even he was convinced that the M5 is something fantastic.
He later canceled his order on the RS4 and is keeping his S4 a little longer, I think he will buy an M5 after the S4.

IMO, the only advantage with an RS4 is that comes as an avant and has quattro which for some are good, some not. The S8 only comes as sedan.

Cheers,
/Johan

luxobarge · 22nd July 2001, 21:10

In one of the latest issues of british magazine Autocar there was a story about the RS4 wheels breaking repetedly. There was one guy on his fifth set in short time. According to Audi sources that Autocar qouted Audi had changed the wheel specification to a softer wheel late in the construction process due to the chassi breaking under heavy loading(potholes and pavements). It is easier to replace the wheel so they made them softer instead of making the chassi stronger. They published a copy of the internal Audi service bulletin telling the dealers to replace the wheels if damaged. Doesnt sound like the A4 is made to be a high performance car. Buy a M5 or a M3. Lots of potholes around in Stockholm.

Robert

TimJMS · 24th July 2001, 07:33

I have owned my RS4 for exactly one week. So far am extremely pleased with it. I am new to the forum as well, and may I say how pleasantly surprised I am by the balanced view of its members! Comments regarding the soft nature of the alloys are correct, but so far I have not had a problem. Steering feel is slightly wooly compared with an "M", but this is bound to happen with any car whose driven wheels also do the steering. It really is horses for courses. When I collected my car I had a three hour drive to get home in typical British summer torrential rain. The way in which the RS4 laid down its power to the tarmac in these conditions was nothing short of incredible!

Respect, though, to the M5 - a beast which is still high on my wish list.

Regards, tim

LamboUK · 25th July 2001, 18:18

Audi RS4 - very nice car.

Mattar · 26th July 2001, 12:20

drove all S audis all I can say is the RS4 is by far the best go for it !

CiscoDude · 26th July 2001, 14:41

Specially during winter time the RS4 must kick the M5 *** pretty bad.

I will try to test drive one next week, then i make up my mind which car is the fastest and best suited for me.

luxobarge · 26th July 2001, 19:14

Ciscodude:

Have you driven the M5?

CiscoDude · 26th July 2001, 20:31

Yes i tried the M5 some months ago, but i have not tried the RS4 yet.

It's very frustrating to decide what to go with.

Hey, i'm closer anyway than before....

Kid · 27th July 2001, 00:47

I´ve driven a S8 -00 in Örebro Sweden at summertime.
It´s a very expensive car but luxury.
I felt me like a king in the drivers chair, EVERYTHING is electric driven.

But at handling, more like a highspeed cruiser with no excitement at all.
More point and shoot in autobahn with wife and 2 kids (no dog).

Nothing for twisty asphalted roads, I´ve tested that!, too heavy but very comfortable.

Anyone with a E39M5 to let me testdrive?
I´ve testdrive a E34 M5 3.8 with nurburgring kit , it was more a raw bitch and very funny to drive.

For my daily driving car: a old 540 -93.