RS4 - advice on buying - any owners here?
 

Hi

Looking at selling my Impreza and started looking at its replacement and decided on a 06 / 07 plate RS4.

Fancied one for a long time, so I know if I buy anything else I'll only end up selling it an getting an RS4 eventually.

So, any owners on here give me any advice? My budget seems to be able to get me a 06 or just about an 07 with around 30k mileage, and the wifes given it the go ahead :)

Any colours to avoid for resale purposes further down the line? I quite fancy the light blue job. Are there any must have options? I assume the Recaro bucket seats are one, but any others?

Finally anything to watch out for when buying - I've heard the suspension controller can give issues, but assuming this is for higher mileage cars?

Not test driven one yet, so will probably pop down to the Audi dealers later this week to see what they have.

As far as tuning them goes, has anyone done much? Revo seems like a good place to start along with a Miltek exhaust.

Any advice much appreciated

cheers

XYZ

Mmmm lucky you. You going for saloon or avant? I guess your looking early to mid £30k's for one of those beasties.

I dont have much advice other than pls post some pics if/when you do get one :thumb:

Simon

Go take a look at RS246.

The light blue colour is Sprint blue, good choice. The popular colour are Sprint, Mugello Blue, Silver, Daytona Grey (very much so), and Black. Few red cars about too which can also look good.

In terms of options, Flat bottomed wheel is a must, some argue so are Recaros but the optional Sport Seats may suit you better. Sat nav is desireable though not essential.

The suspension issue is with the DRC, it happens to low milers as much as high milers and allegedly Audi are now assuming responsibility up to 5 years.

Saloons are cheaper than Avants, but IIRC the Avant is faster ;), there was a very mild facelift for MY07, spot the white indicator bulbs on facelift cars.

Other issue to worry about are oil build up in the manifold. Can be thirsty on petrol and oil but a great all rounder.

I looked at them seriously but opted for a new S4 instead.

Cheers XYZ,

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread!

Iggy

MattW has covered all the things I was going to say, some of these put me off the car.

Additionally, they don't make the power they are supposed to. There is a kick in the acceleration at about 6000 RPM which feels OK, but then you realise it is because it was actually flat before that and dynos confirm that, but it can be relieved by mapping. The throttle also doesn't open fully in lower gears in the midrange IIRC.

All pretty odd things, I felt I shouldn't have to map a normally aspirated engine to make it run optimally, and shouldn't have to replace suspension that is fine when it works with aftermarket stuff.

Agreed, and just to add the above, plus the mpg and emissions put me off owning what is, a fantastic car.

You'll also be moving from a Turbo (relatively small) engine to a 4.2 V8 Normally aspirated. Power delivery is very different and you may miss the nothing...nothing....nothing...OMG!!...Jeez!!! feeling that the Impreza can give.

I've owned a fulled loaded Phantom black saloon for just over 2 years and have loved every second.

There are a few things to look out for as had already been mentioned but all in all they are fantastic cars. I've also worked with MRC to help cure some of the issues and now have a car that produces:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ynoresults.jpg

The lines show before and after performance, if you look on RS246 you will see what we have worked on.

Strangely enough i have started considering whether its time for a change so could be tempted to sell...... she is an 56 plated (but has RS04 plate;) ) with 23k on the clock and all the toys :D

Happy to talk over the phone, even if its just for buying advice - let me know :)

p.s.

mpg is actually better than my JDM STI was ( i've done London and back at 29.9mpg!) and i have clear indicator lens! - Also i wouldn't use Revo....

You coming back Rob:norty:

Saturday is still OK:thumb:

Don't think so Ian ;)

will give you a call about Saturday:)

:thumb:

What Imprezas are these then? :Whatever_ My one didn't do that (Impreza STi PPP newage)

What was the bhp at the wheels on that dyno (out of interest) as that's my usual point of reference...

Also was all the 'fixing' done by remap alone? Or was there some hardware?
Looks really good and a big improvement on virtually all the standard dynos I've seen of this car as most seemed be about 40bhp less than this dyno and not getting much more than 300odd whp.

Still plenty of power but starting to sound a bit conservative. Obviously, the power is just one bit of the package.

thanks for the info all, going to take a look at Audi Derby today, would like to get an 07 plate but think its just out of my financial grasp.

Pippyrips - I was looking at Revo as a start for tuning, any reason you wouldn't touch that system? Seems to be pretty popular with some of the other VAG owners

I've seen a revo tuned RS4 get less than a standard car on a dyno....

Just checked RS246 - and the spec above is:

Modified inlet manifold
Free flow downpipes
Remap
= 430 crank bhp.

Really nice bit of work !

Expect a standard car to make about 390bhp. About 305bhp at the wheels (a whopping 22% drivetrain loss)

You took the words right out of my mouth! you can read more about what we did here:

http://www.mrctuning.com/index.php?o...d=41&Itemid=18

Since that was written MRC have since fitted a custom breathing system to cure the oil deposit issue once and for all.

There ia a view that the cars' very clever ECU doesn't like rolling roads and retards the timing as a result. Eitherway i haven't heard of a stock car getting higher than 390bhp.

Other halfs mum has an RS4 Avant (Dark Metalic Purple, Individual Colour), I enjoy driving it but still prefer the kick I get from my Scoob. Bucket seats are a must as this one has the normal recaros and I don't think they are as good. Also make sure the brakes are ok, the front discs on hers went and they were replaced under warranty, but if you have to pay for them they are very expensive.

And the last tip, don't put the dogs in the back or they will eat the interior :(

new s4 maps to 430hp apparently, and has a better 4wd system.

test drove the Magello blue 06 plate RS4.

Drives so differently to my STI. very smooth, endless torque, great exhaust note when the S button is pressed and very flat around the corners. In a word very impressed.

We then stood trying to decide on the magello or sprint blue and settled on a sprint blue 07 plate (got a pretty good deal methinx)

collecting next Thursday (a week away :()

Will post up some pics when I collect.

So that will be your post on RS246? Welcome to the club :)

:)

Cant wait now. First mod will be the exhaust ;)

was delivered at 1pm today, some pics for you

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...t/Dscf0162.jpg

only taken it for a quick blast up the road, so cant report on much as yet, apart from its very smooth and very free revving

That's some seriously flat torque spread 300ft-lb from a tad over 2.5k to nearly 7.5k..! :eek: Lol, do you ever need to change gear..? :lol1:

I take it the lower plot was completely standard..?

J,

Yep - lower plot was the baseline before the work was done - its a hell of an improvement over a standard RS4 and having striaght through decats on a V8 is super :cool:

As for changing gears; only when i can be bothered!

The car is up for sale if anyone fancies it?!

i wish this car is absolutely stunning :thumb:and sounds fantastic

Cheers Oz :)

Purely out of interest ;), what is it up for..?

32 ono :)

(The engine work alone would come to 4k without exhaust etc)