ameer Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 I am looking around at cars. Looking to change my S2000 next year to make way for a baby!! My options are the 911S (2005), M3 (2007) and RS4 Cab! I keep swaying, first i was hooked on the M3, then the 911S and now the RS4. I have yet to drive the RS4. My main requirements are; good residuals, good reliability and great performance. What do you folks reckon? What would you go for if you had a choice? I reckon i need to consider all 3 cars before i make my decision! Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 2 door cars are a waste of space for babies- and where would you put a buggy in a 911 ? The RS cab lost half it's boot due to the roof mech, so again that has baby gear storage issues. The M3 will lose 45% value over 3 years, so hardly top residuals. Time to consider a BMW with twin turbo diesel unit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ameer Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 2 door cars are a waste of space for babies- and where would you put a buggy in a 911 ?The RS cab lost half it's boot due to the roof mech, so again that has baby gear storage issues. The M3 will lose 45% value over 3 years, so hardly top residuals. Time to consider a BMW with twin turbo diesel unit Thanks for your response. I have found a buggy which will fit in the boot of the RS4 and also the 911 so thats no problem at all. In all 3 cars i can get all the gear in. The RS4 cab has rear seats which is suitable for adults so kids should be okay. 45% is such a shocker! I just can't understand why the M3 is 45-50% and the RS4 is approx 55-60%! Similar to the 911. The DRC with the RS4 is a bit annoying but the 911 has its own engine issues! Tough choice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 I had mine for 2 years and loved it. If you're wanting decent'ish access to the rear seats then get one with the Recaro seats, they fold forward better than the buckets. Boot space is fine when the roof is up so make sure you can get what you need in there when the roof is down. DRC was never an issue with mine but is obviously now so get it checked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ameer Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Hey there, that's one good looking car! So so tempting! How easy is it for an adult to sit in the back seats? Enough space? Hows the mpg? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 45% on an M3 is nonsense. Yes, they had a hard ride with a lot losing 35% in a year but prices have firmed and they will be no worse than an RS4 over 3 years I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 quicker and more fun too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 How easy is it for an adult to sit in the back seats? Enough space? Yes, no problem, although there's not much legroom. Hows the mpg? 24mpg long term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_b Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 My main requirements are; good residuals, good reliability and great performance. What do you folks reckon? What would you go for if you had a choice? I reckon i need to consider all 3 cars before i make my decision! Easy - and thats coming from a ex-s2000 owner, also. All 3 cars are great at what they do, I got very close to getting a new shape BMW but found the RS4 v8 was more vocal. Prior to considering either the RS4 or M3 , my heart was set on buying a 911 C2/4s, that was until Porsche decided to get all silly on their warranty set up. I would say try all 3 if you can. If you want any more info feel free to ask Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_b Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 one more for good measure - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ameer Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Easy -and thats coming from a ex-s2000 owner, also. All 3 cars are great at what they do, I got very close to getting a new shape BMW but found the RS4 v8 was more vocal. Prior to considering either the RS4 or M3 , my heart was set on buying a 911 C2/4s, that was until Porsche decided to get all silly on their warranty set up. I would say try all 3 if you can. If you want any more info feel free to ask That is astonishing! It seems you and I have had the same trail of thought. I am not too happy with the warranty issue with the 911s! I feel more comfortable with Audi. I know that the dealers are naff. I owned before the S2000 a nice black Audi TT coupe 225bhp. That was such a lush looking car :roflmao:with a great interior. Something i miss in my S2000. I really fancy the the interior of the RS4 Cab; the 911S/M3 feel oh so dull when compared. At this moment in time I feel happier with the DRC issue having a 5 year warranty and i am okay with the 20-24mpg too. Looks like i have swayed to the RS4 cab; you lovely folks have put my mind at ease. Not something which i felt with the 911 forum and even though the M3 chaps were great the hardcore depreciation and bland interior knocks the M3 below the RS4! Mind you i do like the look of the new M3 coupe from the outside... I have to say your RS4 is stunning! I was wondering if you have any more pics with the roof up? I wanted to see how it differs from the standard A4 soft-tops. Apart from the engine/wheels/suspension/gear box, the bigger wheel arches, seats, the steering wheel and graphite inlays and bigger twin exhausts is there any other differences in the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlot Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Many of the mags had really criticised the chassis flex in the RS4 Cab so take a drive. I had an S4 Cab for a while and that was ok but any four seater open car will struggle on an uneven road. Also keep on top of the DRC issue as many owners do not notice that their DRC has failed so perhaps get your dealer to check it every three months? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_b Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 I have to say your RS4 is stunning! I was wondering if you have any more pics with the roof up? I wanted to see how it differs from the standard A4 soft-tops. I'll try and get some more pics and info up over the weekend. A good place to also look is RS246.com :: The World's #1 Audi S and RS Enthusiast Website Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ameer Posted November 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 There are not many RS4 cabs around to test. I will probably end up driving the one i buy. Hopefully sometime next year. I am sure it will be fine to drive! A few more questions; as the car sometimes loses traction over bumpy ground is there any chance that the rear seat head protection bars will pop out? Also anyone know how many RS4 cabs were sold in the uk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InterestingUsername Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 Any idea if a third rear seatbelt is an option on the RS Cab? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlot Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 All A4 Cabs are four seaters only. Apparently only some US convertibles can take five. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ameer Posted November 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 I have been reading a few forum posts and a few owners are reporting the power is not actually 414bhp but somewhere like 340bhp? That is quite disappointing dont you think? How accurate are the 340bhp readings? are they just isolated to a few cars or are all cars suffering from this issue? Why is this happening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 A lot of it is down to how the dyno is used. 4wd losses are more difficult to work out - I wouldn't worry about it. I went from a S4 cab to an RS4 cab and it was fairly apparent that the RS4 was a lot more powerful. For more of my RS4 cab pics click the link below TyreSmoke Gallery :: Daz's RS4 Cabriolet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byron13 Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 Yup agree with Daz as went from an original R32 to S4 to RS4 and the power jump on the RS4 was the most noticeable. Lots of talk over on RS246 if you want to look into it but never bothered me really. It's bl@@dy quick. go drive one and see what you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetrolDave Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 Yup agree with Daz Me too - compared to my previous B6 S4s which are rated at 344bhp (and I've never seen a serious doubt cast on their power figures) the RS4's extra 70+bhp is CLEARLY noticeable. Wheel dyno figures are often (usually) pretty meaningless in absolute terms since they guesstimate the powertrain losses in an attempt to convert wheel bhp to crank bhp. IMHO a wheel dyno is ONLY useful for comparing two cars or comparing the effects of something you've done to a car - provided they're measured on the SAME dyno (not just same make and type, the same actual one). Don't get concerned about the posts you see - an RS4 is MUCH quicker than an S4 - ask my wife, she never had to adopt "the brace position" in our S4s! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlot Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 RS4 is at least 2.5 seconds quicker to 100mph than an S4 and that's a lot. If the issue bothers you then junk the Cab and get an RS4 saloon as that has 470bhp. PS It actually doesn't but the Cab weighs 200kg more so the saloon might as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ameer Posted November 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 (edited) RS4 is at least 2.5 seconds quicker to 100mph than an S4 and that's a lot.If the issue bothers you then junk the Cab and get an RS4 saloon as that has 470bhp. PS It actually doesn't but the Cab weighs 200kg more so the saloon might as well! I am sure i wont notice the difference when i drive the cab! I'm sure the 0.1 sec difference in the 0-60 between the cab and saloon is not much at all! Stepping up from an S2000 to a RS4 will be interesting. I was driving around the S2000 in the rain today and the back would just come out so so easily. Not a nice feeling on public roads. Never had that issue in my TT 225 coupe. That was so planted. I hope the RS4 will be similar atleast. I was wondering chaps, when do the roll bars activate in the RS4? I would hate for them to punch a hole through the soft-top.. seen that happen in an old M3 (one before the E46) soft-top! The M3 apparently lost traction for a moment and the roll bars popped out?? How does it work in the RS4 Cab? Edited November 12, 2009 by ameer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ameer Posted November 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 A lot of it is down to how the dyno is used. 4wd losses are more difficult to work out - I wouldn't worry about it. I went from a S4 cab to an RS4 cab and it was fairly apparent that the RS4 was a lot more powerful.For more of my RS4 cab pics click the link below TyreSmoke Gallery :: Daz's RS4 Cabriolet Really good pics! I like the one where you're driving on the track and your passenger has his hand out of the window and is almost holding onto the windscreen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_b Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 A few more questions; as the car sometimes loses traction over bumpy ground is there any chance that the rear seat head protection bars will pop out? Sorry mate didnt manage to get any more pics up as my main desktop has died and I need to get the hard drive out which has all my car pics on Anyway, in answer to your question, you will not pop out the protection bars from the rear, as the cab is not that unsettled.......Daz should be able to confirm from the track fun he had if the roll bars popped out but if they do not pop out under track use they will not pop out under normal road use (I not had this happen with any of the cabs I've had no matter how hard I've driven them) Re the power thing, dont worry about what the cars are making on the rollers, you will know if you car is feeling slow or not. You will feel invinsible going straight from a s2000 to the 4wd RS4, part of the fun is the power you can put down safely when the weather is bad compared to the s2 that becomes interesting when it rains heavily/snows And the final reason why you should buy the cab over the saloon (even if it is heavier) is you can hear the v8 a lot more in the cab and that is something you will not get bored off, especially if you keep finding space to v-tec your s2k for the noise it makes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlot Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 Don't believe the 0.1s quoted deficit to 100kmh as a 12% heavier car with the same engine cannot be that close. FWIW I used to have an S4 Cab and an S4 Avant and you could tell the difference. Agree with you, though, that it will be a lot quicker than an S2000. Hope you enjoy the one you get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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