CTC Review: 2008 Audi RS4

[Mitlov]

Needless to say this is a beautiful in and out machine.

On the options side, shouldn't be Bluetooth and rear side airbags standard at this price point?

Rear side airbags should NEVER be standard (and I think they never are), as they render the back seat unsafe for toddlers.  Rear side curtain airbags (which are standard on the RS4) are safe for children, but not rear side torso airbags (which are optional).

I agree on the bluetooth, though.

[carcrazed]

I agree on the pricing.. should be in line with the M3 sedan, IMO.

[quadzilla]

I agree on the pricing.. should be in line with the M3 sedan, IMO.

Isn't the S4 the same price (or close) to the M3?

[Demosthenes X]

Which made sense when the M3 was an I6 powered car with 330hp...  now that it's got a V8 and only six less horsepower than the RS4 on tap, the Audi is overpriced.  Even more so if the rumors of an AWD M3 pan out...

[carcrazy]

Needless to say this is a beautiful in and out machine.

On the options side, shouldn't be Bluetooth and rear side airbags standard at this price point?

Rear side airbags should NEVER be standard (and I think they never are), as they render the back seat unsafe for toddlers.  Rear side curtain airbags (which are standard on the RS4) are safe for children, but not rear side torso airbags (which are optional).

I agree on the bluetooth, though.

Good point. I haven't thought about that, but it makes perfect sense.

[Mitlov]

Which made sense when the M3 was an I6 powered car with 330hp...  now that it's got a V8 and only six less horsepower than the RS4 on tap, the Audi is overpriced.  Even more so if the rumors of an AWD M3 pan out...

This sort of disparity always happens when you compare a new-generation-whatever to its previous-generation competitor.  I'm sure an RS5 is right around the corner, and it will up the ante.  The S5 (and upcoming S4) offer a little more power, but a little more weight, than a 330i, at roughly the same price (once you option them the same; the BMW is only cheaper because of less standard equipment).  I'm sure the same will be true of an RS5 against the current M3.

[Cortina]

As much as I like Audis I do find the designs haven't evolved that much. It is like having the same car year after year with some extra bits that make them go even faster. Its like porsches in a sense. I do find that with really expensive cars the design hardly change. Yer I know they are fantastic to drive and yer they do look nice and yer they go really fast. But I find the cars do look dated IMO. maybe I'm being a bit harsh here. I do know it would be fun car to own and live with that goes without saying.

I just wish the design would excite me more and look more modern thats all.

[dorin]

  My complaint about Audi design is that it's been changing too much in that the cars are becoming too curvy and the shapes too convoluted.  I think they're trying too be too much "of the moment" when the previous models has cleaner, more classic lines.  Every Audi since the mid-nineties still looks modern to me, and the styling of the older models excites me more.

[Jameel]

Nice car.  But at $105K    That's a lot of money.

How much is the MB C63?

[Demosthenes X]

RS4 starts at $95 400.  Mercedes' website doesn't have a price for the C63 AMG yet, but I'll wager it's North of $100 000.  And the Audi is a better car.

[TopGun]

Nice car.  But at $105K    That's a lot of money.

Crazy money when you could get a Lotus Elise and an '08 A4 2.0T Quattro for the same money.

There was (operative word) an S4 on the Canadian Auto Associates site with 20,000 km on it for $50,000.

Edit:  Corrected RS4 for $50,000 to an S4

[Alex111]

M3 is actually 30k cheaper, and will drive a lot better than RS4 due to better weight distribution and lighter body. For the difference you can get Mazdaspeed3  - try to justify that.

[Demosthenes X]

The M3 is not $65 000.  I forget what it was priced at at the autoshow, but isn't it ~$75 000?  95 000 - 75 000 = 20 000...  when did they stop teaching math in schools?

But long story short, Audi will need to revise pricing on the RS4 with the M3 being such a potent machine.  Hopefully when the RS5 comes the pricing will be more in line with the BMW...

[Cortina]

for a hundred grand what would I rather have a house or car. Ummmmmmmmmmmmm......

[Zombie]

for a hundred grand what would I rather have a house or car. Ummmmmmmmmmmmm......

Well this is a good point but if you can blow 100k on a car your probably not living in a 100K home (even if you can find one that isn't on wheels)
I would guess they live in a 500K+ house or condo.

[Demosthenes X]

^ What about that woman who bought the M6 on her pension?  Didn't she live with her mom?   

But I agree - anyone who can actually afford to drop $100k on a car is living in a very nice home already...

[rrocket]

I might be the lone "weirdo" here, but for being able to enjoy the orgy of luxury, performance, and V8 soundtrack YEAR ROUND is worth the price premium.  M3 is amazing, as is the IS-F.  But these cars go in the garage (Like my Supra) at the 1st sign of snow, and don't come back out for 5-6 months later.

While not the correct way to compare, let's look at it this way to give you an idea:

Over 5 years:

M3 @ $75,000 for 7 months use cost: $70. per day.

RS4 @ $105K for year-round use cost: $57. per day

I dunno....as much as I love my Supra, if I could get a comparable car with similar performance but with AWD, I'd buy it in a blink......(R34 GT-R).......

This is another reason why I see the $81,000 GT-R as a bargain in the world of uber-cars...

[auto_enthusiast]

RS4 sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdI3H5_JovA

[lucid0703]

and this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1ZhNu7pwlk

[Jameel]

Nice car.  But at $105K    That's a lot of money.

Crazy money when you could get a Lotus Elise and an '08 A4 2.0T Quattro for the same money.

There was (operative word) an S4 on the Canadian Auto Associates site with 20,000 km on it for $50,000.

Edit:  Corrected RS4 for $50,000 to an S4

TopGun, buddy, you and I are on the same page on this one. 

I'd much rather have a Lotus Exige S at $69,000 and get a slightly used A4, A3 or WRX for grocery runs and snow days.