I just discovered that the Titanium Package...

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Is now available to order on US 2007 A4's with a separate Titanium wheels option. I saw a brand new Brilliant Black A4 yesterday with this package (all blacked-out) and it looked super sharp.

I don't quite understand why this option is not made available on the RS4 like it is in the ROW.

[tsunami racer]

not available in the US just yet but if you really want it, wait and you will be rewarded...

[India Whiskey Charlie]

not available in the US just yet but if you really want it, wait and you will be rewarded...
Too late. My RS4 just got to the port a couple of days ago.

[macknyt]

Viken have you taken delivery of your car yet?

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Viken have you taken delivery of your car yet?
Nope. It's being held at the port since 10/26 with no explanation. Scheduled delivery to dealer is week of 11/20. :confused:

[macknyt]

Why would they hold the car that long? Thats scary since mine arrive in port Nov. I hope they dont make a habit of letting cars sit around. Hopefully yours and mine will hurry up and arrive.

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Why would they hold the car that long? Thats scary since mine arrive in port Nov. I hope they dont make a habit of letting cars sit around. Hopefully yours and mine will hurry up and arrive.
They're not holding all the cars that long. There is a newer RS4 for the same dealer which arrived after mine and it's already been released to carrier. :noshake:

[macknyt]

Does anyone have a good idea of the time it takes once the boat has docked until the car reaches the dealership? I am about 650 miles from the port.

Thanks

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Does anyone have a good idea of the time it takes once the boat has docked until the car reaches the dealership? I am about 650 miles from the port.
It should be 2-3 weeks assuming Houston is the port. My car arrived on 10/26 and was originally scheduled to arrive at the dealer on 11/13. Now, it says week of 11/20.

[macknyt]

My port is Davisville RI and I am in Virginia. Its just a days drive from there to here but I guess the holdup is getting the boat unloaded and then getting the cars loaded onto the transporters. I have no idea how many cars are on the boat. Must take several days to get them all off.

The anticipation is killing me! When did you order your car?

[India Whiskey Charlie]

The anticipation is killing me! When did you order your car?
Order entered: 6/19
Production ended: 9/25
Ship loaded: 10/3
Port arrived: 10/26

[macknyt]

Dang thats a long time, I ordered mine 7/12.

I hope youre car comes soon! Its all the new owners ranting and raving about the car that is making the wait seem like forever!

What color did you get? Sprint Blue for me.

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Dang thats a long time, I ordered mine 7/12.
I hope youre car comes soon! Its all the new owners ranting and raving about the car that is making the wait seem like forever!
What color did you get? Sprint Blue for me.
To me, it's not so much when the car comes but why the delay? And, no one seems to be able to explain it.

My car is Daytona Grey and no sunroof.

[India Whiskey Charlie]

I was just notified that my car was released to the carrier yesterday. It is at the San Diego port which means that I might see it by this weekend. :thumb:

[macknyt]

AWESOME! Let us know your first impressions when you find time to stop driving it.

[India Whiskey Charlie]

AWESOME! Let us know your first impressions when you find time to stop driving it.
LOL! I'll try to do my best while sleeping... :cheers:

[macknyt]

Is your car in yet?

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Is your car in yet?
As of an hour ago, it was on a truck between San Diego and Los Angeles.

[911]

As of an hour ago, it was on a truck between San Diego and Los Angeles.

Wow, Viken. I'm glad to hear that your car is almost here!

I'm still deliberating whether or not to get rid of my 993 C4S for an RS4. I can't imagine being Porsche-less, but the RS4 is so awesome and I believe I would get more use out of it than the 993 at the moment. Btw, if I posted this on RL I would probably get toasted! :eek:

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to your first impressions with the car.

Rich

[macknyt]

Your dealer is able to give you that kind of information? Man my dealer cant tell me anything except should be here soon.

Have fun today with your new car!

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Your dealer is able to give you that kind of information? Man my dealer cant tell me anything except should be here soon. Have fun today with your new car!
Yes, dealers have access to all information. Unfortunately, the Internet based dealer site is not always up to date and if they are lazy, they won't call Audi to get better information. The system still shows my car at the port, but it was delivered to the dealer yesterday. I got to see it and give a short test drive. Enough to break the engine in. LOL!

Will be taking it home on Sunday. I'll report back then.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h238/vikenb/Pre-Delivery_007_800.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[macknyt]

Man that is beautiful, how in the world can you wait until Sunday? Have fun!

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Man that is beautiful, how in the world can you wait until Sunday? Have fun!
Thanks! I don't have the choice. The car's home is 60 miles from the dealer and I don't have a ride until Sunday morning. I am signing the papers today so it will be a pretty quick delivery on Sunday.

[macknyt]

Well I guess youre going to be putting in some miles on Sunday. I lived in the La Canada area of So Cal until about 5 years ago. Plenty of twisty roads for your driving pleasure I am sure.

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Found a way to get the RS4 today and drove it home tonight. Totally amazing car in every respect. Makes the M5 feel like a truck. Period!

Took these pics while I visited a car buddy before I went home:

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h238/vikenb/PopesRS4004_800.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h238/vikenb/PopesRS4003_800.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h238/vikenb/PopesRS4001_800.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h238/vikenb/PopesRS4002_800.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[India Whiskey Charlie]

"No engine revving above 7000 rpms until we say so." LOL!

Well, today was my first full day with the car. This morning, I adjusted the tire pressures and reset the TPMS before heading out. The engine sounds very throaty and is quite exciting. Unfortunately, it sounds more like an American V8 than a European high-revving V8. I kept on reading that at high rpm's it sounds like a Ferrari V8. Not even close. I guess those people have no idea because they never heard a Ferrari V8. LOL!

The engine is plenty torquey and pulls very strongly in 6th gear from as low as 30 mph (~48 Kph). Acceleration is very strong at any rpm and very linear as revs climb. Smooth and powerful all the way to redline. The manual shifting gearbox is a gem and far from any Audi manual I've driven to date. Slightly more rubbery feeling than the GT3's, but not enough to complain about. At least it goes to the gear you point without hesitation. The throws are not too long either. Very much like those in the GT3. No need for a short shift kit after all. Gear ratios seem to be just right as well. Closely spaced (less than 1000 rpms differential) and 6th is both comfortable for cruising and accelerating. My feeling is that once the engine is broken-in, this car will blow the CS away in acceleration and is likely neck to neck with the GT3. Can't wait for this engine to open-up because if it's this good already, I can't imagine the monster it'll become.

It is very obvious that the engineers spent a lot of time on the chassis. Nimble is the word. Something the M5 and M6 are not. Yes, I just drove an M6 yesterday and it is just as bad as an M5 which I have driven many times before. Even with a Carbon Fiber roof. LOL! The RS4's body is as stiff as a block of granite. Feels even stiffer than the S4's. Could be that they have some seam welds on this one. The balance between the steering and the suspension tuning is perfect. The steering is much improved over other Audi's, but not quite the sporty feel I expected. Not quite razor sharp, but sharp enough not to feel vague and control that minimal understeer built-in by design. The progressive power assistance is very linear as opposed to an on/off feeling you get in the S4. The best steering I have ever driven on a sedan was the 6-cylinder BMW E39's. On a scale of one to ten, that is a ten and the RS4's is no doubt a 9. The 60/40 torque split is clearly obvious to me. You can definitely control the tail with the throttle on this car. Not as much as a RWD, but just enough to make it a fun drive. Grip is immense with Quattro as expected. Cloverleaf freeway onramps can be taken at insanely fast speeds. The tires (PZero Rosso) are the limiting factor in here and they work damn well on this car. I think R-compounds can do this car some good. While the ride of the S4 borders on harsh (just a little), this car's is nothing short of perfect. Firm enough, but absorbs bumps extremely well. I can see this car to be a perfect long distance tourer. Imagine that, not only it handles great, but it rides extremely well too. Who would have thought?

Brakes. Not quite Ferrari Carbon Ceramic territory, but clearly as good as Porsche's steel brakes. It is said that the fronts are right off the Gallardo and that may explain this. The rears don't look that bad, but they are of the conventional 2-piston variety. All in all, totally impressive for a car that weighs almost 4000 lbs. I'll bet, however, the brakes can be really toast in no time driving this car on the track.

Interior is not new to me, but I welcome the changes. The Carbon Fiber trim is very nice and not overdone. The Navigation display which incorporates the sound functions seems to be somewhat cumbersome but I might be able to live with it. While I don't plan on using the Navigation, I think the radio and CD controls are easy to get used to. Especially given some of them are on the steering wheel. The seats are superb, but given the fact they are the same as the S4's, I expected that. The best comfort/support seats I've ever had in any car bar none. Not too bad for American made product (Leer/Recaro). Interior fit and finish (exterior too) is top notch. I guess the guys at Quattro GmbH can be a little better than the boys in Ingolstadt.

Now for the worst part of this car. The fvcking cupholders. I can't stand those motherfvckers. If you place a water bottle in the one in front, you can't shift without hitting it. If you put it in the back one, you can't use the accessory 12V outlet. Either way you're screwed because the transmission shaft tunnel produces enough heat to heat-up your water. I guess it's good if you have coffee or tea in there. Me? I am going to ignore the cupholders as I have done with any car in the past.

Stay tuned as this phenomenal car goes through a very interesting break-in period. :thumb:

Now, can someone please tell me how I can get my phone to sync-up with the car's Bluetooth capability?

[Ricoloco]

Nice! :0:

Just got a smile on my face when it came to the cupholders. :lovl:

Ever heard critics about the cupholders from europeans? You drink too big sodas over there!

[roozbeh007]

Titanium wheels are available for RS4 in U.S. I just saw a RS4 last night with sick titanium rims in Galleria area in Houston. :rs4kiss:

[911]

Viken,

Great write up. Thank you.

[sarends]

Viken, thank you very much for the detailed write-up. I have an E39 M5 and am contemplating an RS4 one of these days. Do you mind me asking what cars you have owned and enjoyed previously to the RS4? It sounds like you analyzed the new M5 quite a bit - I am not a fan either - I prefer my current E39 M5 (overall). BTW, I have driven two different RS4's here at dealers in CO and I can't get the car out of my mind. To me the RS4 feels like a cross between my E39 M5 and an E46 M3. Please keep in mind that I have never owned an all-wheel drive car before. However, I drove a few S4s at dealers and I always went away not being happy with the turn-in, but when I drove the RS4 I did not notice this at all.

Thx, Steve


"No engine revving above 7000 rpms until we say so." LOL!

Well, today was my first full day with the car. This morning, I adjusted the tire pressures and reset the TPMS before heading out. The engine sounds very throaty and is quite exciting. Unfortunately, it sounds more like an American V8 than a European high-revving V8. I kept on reading that at high rpm's it sounds like a Ferrari V8. Not even close. I guess those people have no idea because they never heard a Ferrari V8. LOL!

The engine is plenty torquey and pulls very strongly in 6th gear from as low as 30 mph (~48 Kph). Acceleration is very strong at any rpm and very linear as revs climb. Smooth and powerful all the way to redline. The manual shifting gearbox is a gem and far from any Audi manual I've driven to date. Slightly more rubbery feeling than the GT3's, but not enough to complain about. At least it goes to the gear you point without hesitation. The throws are not too long either. Very much like those in the GT3. No need for a short shift kit after all. Gear ratios seem to be just right as well. Closely spaced (less than 1000 rpms differential) and 6th is both comfortable for cruising and accelerating. My feeling is that once the engine is broken-in, this car will blow the CS away in acceleration and is likely neck to neck with the GT3. Can't wait for this engine to open-up because if it's this good already, I can't imagine the monster it'll become.

It is very obvious that the engineers spent a lot of time on the chassis. Nimble is the word. Something the M5 and M6 are not. Yes, I just drove an M6 yesterday and it is just as bad as an M5 which I have driven many times before. Even with a Carbon Fiber roof. LOL! The RS4's body is as stiff as a block of granite. Feels even stiffer than the S4's. Could be that they have some seam welds on this one. The balance between the steering and the suspension tuning is perfect. The steering is much improved over other Audi's, but not quite the sporty feel I expected. Not quite razor sharp, but sharp enough not to feel vague and control that minimal understeer built-in by design. The progressive power assistance is very linear as opposed to an on/off feeling you get in the S4. The best steering I have ever driven on a sedan was the 6-cylinder BMW E39's. On a scale of one to ten, that is a ten and the RS4's is no doubt a 9. The 60/40 torque split is clearly obvious to me. You can definitely control the tail with the throttle on this car. Not as much as a RWD, but just enough to make it a fun drive. Grip is immense with Quattro as expected. Cloverleaf freeway onramps can be taken at insanely fast speeds. The tires (PZero Rosso) are the limiting factor in here and they work damn well on this car. I think R-compounds can do this car some good. While the ride of the S4 borders on harsh (just a little), this car's is nothing short of perfect. Firm enough, but absorbs bumps extremely well. I can see this car to be a perfect long distance tourer. Imagine that, not only it handles great, but it rides extremely well too. Who would have thought?

Brakes. Not quite Ferrari Carbon Ceramic territory, but clearly as good as Porsche's steel brakes. It is said that the fronts are right off the Gallardo and that may explain this. The rears don't look that bad, but they are of the conventional 2-piston variety. All in all, totally impressive for a car that weighs almost 4000 lbs. I'll bet, however, the brakes can be really toast in no time driving this car on the track.

Interior is not new to me, but I welcome the changes. The Carbon Fiber trim is very nice and not overdone. The Navigation display which incorporates the sound functions seems to be somewhat cumbersome but I might be able to live with it. While I don't plan on using the Navigation, I think the radio and CD controls are easy to get used to. Especially given some of them are on the steering wheel. The seats are superb, but given the fact they are the same as the S4's, I expected that. The best comfort/support seats I've ever had in any car bar none. Not too bad for American made product (Leer/Recaro). Interior fit and finish (exterior too) is top notch. I guess the guys at Quattro GmbH can be a little better than the boys in Ingolstadt.

Now for the worst part of this car. The fvcking cupholders. I can't stand those motherfvckers. If you place a water bottle in the one in front, you can't shift without hitting it. If you put it in the back one, you can't use the accessory 12V outlet. Either way you're screwed because the transmission shaft tunnel produces enough heat to heat-up your water. I guess it's good if you have coffee or tea in there. Me? I am going to ignore the cupholders as I have done with any car in the past.

Stay tuned as this phenomenal car goes through a very interesting break-in period. :thumb:

Now, can someone please tell me how I can get my phone to sync-up with the car's Bluetooth capability?

[sarends]

Viken, whay are you planning for the break-in period?

(quote) Stay tuned as this phenomenal car goes through a very interesting break-in period. :thumb:

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Viken, thank you very much for the detailed write-up. I have an E39 M5 and am contemplating an RS4 one of these days. Do you mind me asking what cars you have owned and enjoyed previously to the RS4? It sounds like you analyzed the new M5 quite a bit - I am not a fan either - I prefer my current E39 M5 (overall). BTW, I have driven two different RS4's here at dealers in CO and I can't get the car out of my mind. To me the RS4 feels like a cross between my E39 M5 and an E46 M3. Please keep in mind that I have never owned an all-wheel drive car before. However, I drove a few S4s at dealers and I always went away not being happy with the turn-in, but when I drove the RS4 I did not notice this at all.
I have owned many cars in the past, but none have been at the level of the RS4. I consider this car to be a super sport sedan. The cars I've owned in the past have been mostly sport sedans (BMW's) and sports cars (Porsche's + Ferrari's). The RS4 takes the best of both and puts them in a package that's as user friendly as it can get given today's available technologies. Having said that, I have many friends who own a collection of high-end automobiles that I have access to on a regular basis. At the present time, two of them own an E60 M5 and that's how I have become familiar with that car. Another friend used to own the E39 version which I thought was much more involving and more nimble, but still felt heavier than a typical BMW. With my BMW experience, they have always felt lighter than they were. Not so with the latest M cars and the E60 M5 (and M6) are by far the worst in this respect. They may be very fast, but they sure don't feel that way. It's like walking around wearing a very heavy leather coat on your shoulders. Even the steering feel doesn't measure up with, say the likes of the E39 6-cylinder cars. The SMG is an abomination compared to the latest F1's and some other sequential transmissions. To me, it felt just as bad as the first E46 M3 SMG I drove. Lacks crispness and directness to say the least. No matter what mode I place it in, the shifts seemed to have a slight delay as if the car is going 2 steps forward and 1 step backwards. I have always maintained that sequential type transmissions have a long ways to go and are somewhat cumbersome for "overall" driving. If you are a regular track driver, they are great. But, none of these cars are meant to be driven on the track.

Two years ago, I quit buying BMW's mostly because of their styling, but also because they started losing some of their soul I was accustomed to. It was time to let my '01 540i go and the E60 545i did not fit the bill. So, I got an '04 S4 instead and could not be happier. Yes, the steering is not as linear and as direct as with the BMW's I had, but I got used to it quite quickly. Now, I've added the RS4 to my small stable of cars and it's in a totally different league. As you have remarked, the steering is nothing like other Audis' and the entire car is just an exquisite and balanced collection of goodness. It is obvious that a group of engineeres lived together and thought in unison until the project was completed.

[India Whiskey Charlie]

Viken, whay are you planning for the break-in period?
Nothing special. I just drive them without intentionally redlining the engine. I vary the speeds very often (shifting unnecessarily) without racing the engine. Most of my cars stop burning oil by the first 1000 miles and continue to build horsepower all the way through 5000 miles. With air-cooled Porsche's, I've noticed horsepower increases up to about 15,000 miles. I am anxious to see where this RS4 is going to peek.

[sarends]

Viken B,
Thanks again - yours are some very well put together thoughts on the RS4 and I hope many potential RS4 owners can read them. Have you ever spent much time on the M5board.com? It is one of the most phenomenol enthusiast boards in existence and there are many memebers who are able to expound upon "why they like or dislike" elements of BMW's M5s (mostlly the E39) as you have been doing in your threads.

I can only hope that the RS4 will continue to gain in popularity and gain a following as the M5 and M3 have in the past.

I tend to agree with you on BMW's current styling - about the only car I currently like is the Z4 M Coupe. The 335I is OK too, which gives me hope for the M3 version.

Thanks again and I will check back here to see how you are enjoying your car!

BTW, is there some special procedure for breaking in the RS4 motor?


I have owned many cars in the past, but none have been at the level of the RS4. I consider this car to be a super sport sedan. The cars I've owned in the past have been mostly sport sedans (BMW's) and sports cars (Porsche's + Ferrari's). The RS4 takes the best of both and puts them in a package that's as user friendly as it can get given today's available technologies. Having said that, I have many friends who own a collection of high-end automobiles that I have access to on a regular basis. At the present time, two of them own an E60 M5 and that's how I have become familiar with that car. Another friend used to own the E39 version which I thought was much more involving and more nimble, but still felt heavier than a typical BMW. With my BMW experience, they have always felt lighter than they were. Not so with the latest M cars and the E60 M5 (and M6) are by far the worst in this respect. They may be very fast, but they sure don't feel that way. It's like walking around wearing a very heavy leather coat on your shoulders. Even the steering feel doesn't measure up with, say the likes of the E39 6-cylinder cars. The SMG is an abomination compared to the latest F1's and some other sequential transmissions. To me, it felt just as bad as the first E46 M3 SMG I drove. Lacks crispness and directness to say the least. No matter what mode I place it in, the shifts seemed to have a slight delay as if the car is going 2 steps forward and 1 step backwards. I have always maintained that sequential type transmissions have a long ways to go and are somewhat cumbersome for "overall" driving. If you are a regular track driver, they are great. But, none of these cars are meant to be driven on the track.

Two years ago, I quit buying BMW's mostly because of their styling, but also because they started losing some of their soul I was accustomed to. It was time to let my '01 540i go and the E60 545i did not fit the bill. So, I got an '04 S4 instead and could not be happier. Yes, the steering is not as linear and as direct as with the BMW's I had, but I got used to it quite quickly. Now, I've added the RS4 to my small stable of cars and it's in a totally different league. As you have remarked, the steering is nothing like other Audis' and the entire car is just an exquisite and balanced collection of goodness. It is obvious that a group of engineeres lived together and thought in unison until the project was completed.

[India Whiskey Charlie]

BTW, is there some special procedure for breaking in the RS4 motor?
Not sure if it is any different from other motors. My break-in methods are usually the same for all cars.