Project 2017 – RS4 Avant

What you are getting with xdrive is stability in all driving conditions, not just on snow and ice. It will not turn the car into monster truck. What you’ll lose is mpg (10-20%) and some playfulness. And maybe it might increase the turning radius a bit or at least it feels less agile on the parking lot.

You can get 18″ wheels over the blue M brakes.

That’s good to know – will make buying winter tyres a bit easier.

BMW: Personally I hate the look of those alloys and ultra low profile tyres and the ride must be horrible. I am sure the dealer will swap them out if you ask. It certainly seems a lot of car for £26k, how old / miles / maint costs ?

The ride on the 19’s even with M Sport suspension is very good; loads better than previous gen E90 M sport on 18’s which was horrific.

Kryton – that’s a nicely spec’d. The HK stereo is well worth it because the stock one is gash. The Pro nav is good too.

I repeat again, depends what you want from a car. If you want power, and are happy with that and just being a passenger then the RS4 will be great. If you want a car you can take to the limit and beyond safely then an MX5 is way better than RS4

Absolute utter bollocks. Proof that you’ve never driven one let alone owned one. If anything, an RS4 in a straight line is a bit lacking – nothing compared to an M5/6 or RS6. It’s the handling and grip that’s most impressive, but to do this you need to take it on a track, as you would any car.

An RS4 and a 3 series (regardless of engine) are two totally different beasts. I’ve had both (335d and 330d) and I’d say they’re ‘impressive’ but not what I’d class as ‘fun’. The RS4 was fun, the Cayman was fun – I took my BMW’s to a couple of track days and both were fairly useless, especially with the slush box in the 335d. Yet in a straight line it would keep up with an M3 (E46).

As I said before, if you want to do track days, buy an RS4. Otherwise you may as well have the Beemer..

Guys, he’s already decided to get the BMW. The RS4 idea lasted two days.

flange

I repeat again, depends what you want from a car. If you want power, and are happy with that and just being a passenger then the RS4 will be great. If you want a car you can take to the limit and beyond safely then an MX5 is way better than RS4

Absolute utter bollocks. Proof that you’ve never driven one let alone owned one. If anything, an RS4 in a straight line is a bit lacking – nothing compared to an M5/6 or RS6. It’s the handling and grip that’s most impressive, but to do this you need to take it on a track, as you would any car. [/quote]

Look, 4wd cars can’t be fun right. Jeremy Clarkson says so, therefore it must be true. And look at all the cars he’s driven, it must be true. It’s not like he ever says anything stupid or hyperbolic for effect.

An RS4 and a 3 series (regardless of engine) are two totally different beasts. I’ve had both (335d and 330d) and I’d say they’re ‘impressive’ but not what I’d class as ‘fun’. The RS4 was fun, the Cayman was fun – I took my BMW’s to a couple of track days and both were fairly useless, especially with the slush box in the 335d. Yet in a straight line it would keep up with an M3 (E46).

Exactly. The fast diesels are fast and they’re designed to make numbers (i.e. Lots of torque). Once you get past that, they don’t offer the excitement (for me at least) that an RS4, M3 etc do (start up, revving out etc). There’s a tactical something test these cars, even older ones, have that modern faster diesels don’t.

Guys, he’s already decided to get the BMW. The RS4 idea lasted two days.

Not necessarily, my dealers just come back with a figure of £433pm on the £26k 330d. He won’t be selling it to me at that price.

You can lease a 140i for £267 a month with 2k down. I’d be off down that route personally…

Kryton57 – Member
Guys, he’s already decided to get the BMW. The RS4 idea lasted two days.
Not necessarily, my dealers just come back with a figure of £433pm on the £26k 330d. He won’t be selling it to me at that price.

I’ll be paying less than that for a £46k (pre discount) brand new 335D XDrive touring.

As above – I agree there is something about fast diesels that isn’t particulary exciting.. I test drove a 335d and whilst quicker than my M135i to 60 (4.8 Vs 4.9 IIRC) I knew within a few minutes it wasn’t for me. I actually enjoyed jumping back in my E90 325i after the diesel which was considerably slower but sounded the part and made red-lining it worthwhile!

Those M140i lease deals for £200+VAT a month look attractive. Why don’t you get a quote from a lease company and use that as leverage on your PCP to get the monthlys down? Are there any 330/5d lease deals you could do the same with?

This was mine. (not my house though) Loved it but got burgled for it after 7 months. They smashed through the back doors of the house to get in. Only took the car keys and car. Nothing else.

I just don’t get the attraction of supercar performance from an everyday car. Insurance, fuel, parts are all more spendy and it’s just going to be an instrument of frustration on busy roads. By the time you’re accessing that last ‘Nth’ degree of performance over a cooking model, the speed involved is going to be a risk to life and licence if it goes Pete Tong. Add in the worry of theft, is it really worth it over a owning a competent diesel estate to take the miles and a small sports car to bring the smiles?

Not for me.

Where are the 140i lease deals? I’ve had a look on a couple of sites and they’re all around £350+vat, so £420, rather than the £200 mentioned above.

I have to say this thread has been an real eye opener for me on B7 RS4 ownership! I had no idea theft of this particular car was so prevalent.. The idea of hearing someone break into my house then hearing my pride and joy being howked towards the horizon (from cold!) is terrifying.

Bails – the one I seen was Vehicle Savers Contract Hire & Leasing.. Popped on FB feed a few weeks back so every chance that batch is gone.

I also seen the brand new shape S5 for £359/month incl VAT on lease – was £3.5k down mind..

danbo – Member

This was mine. (not my house though) Loved it but got burgled for it after 7 months. They smashed through the back doors of the house to get in. Only took the car keys and car. Nothing else.

Can’t help but wonder why owners wouldn’t de-badge these things. Yes I know there are other things which denote the fact it’s an RS car but at first glance/from a distance/ etc it might attract less attention.

Can’t help but wonder why owners wouldn’t de-badge these things. Yes I know there are other things which denote the fact it’s an RS car but at first glance/from a distance/ etc it might attract less attention.

How would we know what a success they were?

Why don’t you get a quote from a lease company and use that as leverage on your PCP to get the monthlys down? Are there any 330/5d lease deals you could do the same with?

Good idea, thanks.

Although, one of my colleagues I just talked to did his best to talk me out of it. He owned a B7 for 2 months, and decided in the job we do (field Sales) his chances of dying went up exponentially becuase he couldn’t help wanting to drive the thing fast, it was very expensive to run and he too was lying awake at night (Gloucester) waiting for the tea leaves.

He now drives a Golf GTD on lease, with his family car being a CRV so very similar situation to me (120d/Kuga), his advice was “keep what you have, used that to cruise the speed-limited motorways, and spend any extra on a track day or two / weekend car”

This isn’t going well is it, unless I buy one as a weekend project.

weekend car

Like I said on your other thread, get an MX5 (or, if you’re minted, a VX220/90’s Elise etc. etc.)

I just don’t get the attraction of supercar performance from an everyday car

Because you only want 1 car ? I had my Cayman for fun/weekends, drove Rav 4 to station (or walked) and Audi Quattro to Alps / family duties. There are many ways to spend your money / live your life.

I just don’t get the attraction of supercar performance from an everyday car

Once you’ve had one, you’ll never want anything else! I don’t drive enough to justify several cars as I cycle to the station and commute on the train, but have 3 kids and bikes so a super/sports car wouldn’t work for me and would never get used. My favourite drive of the week is often at 8am on a Sunday with my bike in the back when the roads are empty and I’m in the car alone.

Can’t help but wonder why owners wouldn’t de-badge these things. Yes I know there are other things which denote the fact it’s an RS car but at first glance/from a distance/ etc it might attract less attention.

Because it wouldn’t fool anyone. An RS4 or other performance car is obvious to anyone who is into cars. Especially thieves.

Can’t help but wonder why owners wouldn’t de-badge these things. Yes I know there are other things which denote the fact it’s an RS car but at first glance/from a distance/ etc it might attract less attention.
Because it wouldn’t fool anyone. An RS4 or other performance car is obvious to anyone who is into cars. Especially thieves.

Exactly. Even de-badged, an RS4/6 stands out a mile, because of the fat arches, the huge wheels and bloody great discs.

And the noise…

danbo

Because it wouldn’t fool anyone. An RS4 or other performance car is obvious to anyone who is into cars. Especially thieves.

I think you’d be surprised. Most people assume my neighbour has an M5 (including the thieves who kicked in his door, took the keys and then of course the car. It’s a 530d with M-Sport badges, big wheels and grille stripes.

CountZero

Exactly. Even de-badged, an RS4/6 stands out a mile, because of the fat arches, the huge wheels and bloody great discs.

I was at an XC race with my buddy over summer and we were parked next to a C6 RS6 which was de-badged. I was checking it over to my friends bemusement. He considers himself a “car guy” does all of his own maintenance, is into cars. My boss has one of those he kept saying (He had told me on a couple of occasions about how much he liked driving his bosses’ 3.0 A6 TDI).

Despite me correcting him he just wouldn’t have it. I pointed out the giant discs and the little RS badge on the wheel. Nope. His boss had one.

A lot of people are somewhat aware of these types of car but they are confused by exterior markings and such. Unless both cars were sitting side by side revving I doubt the average Top Gear viewer would spot an RS Audi.

I had a mid life crisis earlier this year when I was 37 and bought a Porsche 911.

It’s not practical, does 20ish mpg, costs a lot to run but looks and sounds incredible.

Your heart wants what it wants and if you want a fast car just buy it. A fast diesel estate won’t make you happy (we also have an a6 avant 320bhp diesel).

In 20 years do you want to look back and think I could of bought XXXX fast car but instead I bought a diesel estate? I didn’t.

8) agreed on all of that other than fact that 37 is not mid life crises (if so where does that leave me ; ). Also the next 20 years has a habit of coming up pretty quickly.

More food for thought:

B7 Buying Guide

PH Heroes RS4

In 20 years do you want to look back and think I could of bought XXXX fast car but instead I bought a diesel estate? I didn’t.

Its a good point. Bloody hell, after a couple of days ofnthis thread i just want one now, for no other reason than to drive it and hear it.

I had a mid life crisis earlier this year when I was 37 and bought a Porsche 911.

is that a midlife crisis or just the point in your life when you could afford one? I would have had one a 27 if I could have afforded one!

It was the point when I could justify getting one because I wasn’t at work all the time so I’d actually be able to drive it lots – my crisis involved quitting my job as well!

would have had one a 27 if I could have afforded one!

This ..

What about a nice E46 M3? Last NA six pot to wear the badge in manual should be safe money. In fact.. I’m off to auto trader to do some man maths on trading the GFs Mini in!

E46 M3 you say?

Lovely, in Leguna Seca blue, and a Convertible obvz.

Like the one I bought back in 2005 then? 😆

Beautiful car, until a builder with a forklift rammed it and wrote it off.

You can’t get an M3 touring unfortunately. Only coupe/saloon/cab.

I think you’d be surprised. Most people assume my neighbour has an M5 (including the thieves who kicked in his door, took the keys and then of course the car. It’s a 530d with M-Sport badges, big wheels and grille stripes.

That’s brilliant. I mean no one deserves that, but people who plonk M badges on diesel BMWs are the worst…

Leguna Seca blue – lovely! Sad way for such a fine car to die!

I don’t even think you can get a saloon M3 in the E46.. but some roof rails for the bike and off you go!

Worst badge error I’ve seen was an Audi A6 2.0TDi M-Sport.. It wasn’t even stuck on straight!

Brilliant. I’d love an M sport Audi A6, might even handle half decently!

Of course, there is a differance between BMW M Sport badges and M5 badges. Mines got M Sport badges and it’s got a little 2l twin turbo diesel engine in it. I promise I didn’t add them after!

I’ve always wanted an RS4, in fact, I also really wanted an RS2 when I was about 14. Sadly my budget and the mile I do mean I’ll stick to the oil burners for now. I think I’d need to live within 5 miles of work to possibly own a car like that.

Fresh from reading this thread, I hit an open stretch of twisty dual carriageway yesterday and ‘engaged sport mode’. 8)

Within a few secs I was driving at a speed the local Magistrate would have described as ‘reckless and likely to endanger other road users’ so backed off again. 😳

Was good fun though, but clearly shows its got far too much power for the SE roads.