My RS4 test drive and HQ pics

[lam4r]

One word ... ferocious.

Beautiful car, superb engineering and build quality.

Started down the dual carriageway with the biggest smile on my face. The sound and acceleration are incredible. Cruising at 40mph in low revs on 2nd gear I stuck it into 6th and still it pulled away with speed and intensity. Truly amazing.

We were then stuck in some nice shopping centre traffic. Clutch was very easy to use with the constant stopping and starting.

Then we spent quite some time throwing the beast around some of the beautiful english countryside. Incredible stuff. Enjoyed every minute of it. It constantly gripped the ground and was happy to be thrown into every corner that came along and flew out of it with ease.

Down the main dual carriageway back into the city, overtaking anything in our midst without any effort.

Suffice to say this is an amazing car. I got into it smiling and left it 1hour 20 minutes later grinning like a cheshire cat.

The standard suspension was great. Very few I understand are ordering the upgrade or the black optics pack. Technology pack seems standard for every buyer though.

News I was given is I could order an Avant or Cabriolet today for September delivery. Saloon is now sold out in the UK until February 2007. Limited production means each dealer only gets around 7 RS4 saloon each year I was told.

A couple of things that did bother me:

1) the RS4 seats are quite slim and I am not a big guy.
2) the Sports mode really seemed more like a gimmick than something useful. The car is enormously powerful in "regular" mode
3) the carbon fibre looks very cheap and not something i would consider having.
4) The Audi manager informed me rumour has it the cabriolet may not get the flared arches that gives the RS4 its bulldog stance

Despite my love of a truly awesome motorcar and my instant wish on exiting it to place an order I dont think I will be doing so. I do want to see what the M3 holds in store and it bothers me that the current A4 is rather "old" looking now, even with nice 19" rims

Anyhow, enjoy these HQ pictures:

[jasaretta]

Thanks for the review.....what is the "technology pack"?

thanks

jas

[Leadfoot]

LamR4,
The report was great and voiced what I found when I drove it. My concern is more the new A4 namely the new S4.

It will have a better chassis and I reckon alot more than the current 344 brake it has at the moment. It's new nose will also be designed for it not graphed on like the current model and though it look great from the outside, take away the seats and the wheel and it looks no different from the S4.

Why didn't they change the colours inside maybe two-tone, only available for the RS4.

Anyway that what I think.

[gazzab]

Geez I might have to look at changing from carbon fibre to aluminium. Ned made the same comment in his post today.

Gazzab

[lam4r]

Originally posted by jasaretta
Thanks for the review.....what is the "technology pack"?

It comprises the DVD based satellite navigation system plus, 6 CD auto-changer, adaptive light and foam preparation.

[lam4r]

Originally posted by gazzab
Geez I might have to look at changing from carbon fibre to aluminium. Ned made the same comment in his post today.

Gazzab

It didnt look as poor as the carbon-fibre prep in BMWs but it really did not look like the quality of the rest of the car. Personally, I thought the aluminium would go very nicely with the lambo steering wheel or possibly the piano black.

You can see the aluminium spec here: http://www.compucars.co.uk/carpics/Lg84059-04.jpg

[gazzab]

Cheers Gazzab

[Benman]

Originally posted by gazzab
Geez I might have to look at changing from carbon fibre to aluminium. Ned made the same comment in his post today.

Gazzab

The carbon fiber looks nice, its just a different weave than used in the RS 6. The RS 6 has a smaller "tighter" weave vs the the bigger weave used in the RS 4. Both are nice, but the RS 6's tighter carbon weave is a tad nicer (although I'm biased ).

Ben

[AndyBG]

I don't now, maybe i am wrong, but from pic's i seen CarbonF looks like best thing for that RS 4 enterier. Alu' is great also but CF looks realy sporty to me.

Just my 0.3 cent!

[lam4r]

the only way to make your mind up really is to go see it at the dealer. a picture will never tell you exactly how it looks, no matter how much you hope.

also, important to remember, is that its a question of taste. and one man's gold can be another man's turd ... after all some people drive BMWs!

[gazzab]

Thats a problem in Australia there is no RS4 to view yet! Lam I have thoroughly enjoyed my M3, it is just BMW dealers/Australia that gives me the proverbial.

Gazzab

[Nipper]

I had originally discounted the carbon fibre trim, and thought that I'd go for either the piano, or ali.

However, afer seeing both the carbon and ali trim I decided that I really liked the carbon. Also the carbon is unique to the RS4. The brushed ali is an option in the A4 cab and the piano is available on the S4.

[snark]

Originally posted by Nipper
I had originally discounted the carbon fibre trim, and thought that I'd go for either the piano, or ali.

However, afer seeing both the carbon and ali trim I decided that I really liked the carbon. Also the carbon is unique to the RS4. The brushed ali is an option in the A4 cab and the piano is available on the S4.

The CF comes on the 25th anniversary S4, at least here in the states.