Went to go drive it with one of my business partners who works out of Boston, hence the interest in AWD.

Great interior, great styling, and an engine note in Sport mode that will almost make you want to buy it. Subtly aggressive in many ways.
Lots of cool gadgets.

The chassis has issues though, as you'd expect with 4,000lbs to manage. At least to me, the suspension had difficulty taming all the weight in rebound; it would 'float' at times. However, the diagonal hydraulic coupling b/t shocks is pretty effective under cornering to mask the huge bulk of the car.

The steering is too light and doesn't have the best feel.

The motor sounded like a beast, and while the car is fast, it didn't feel particularly fast. The E46 M3 feels more visceral, though having notably less power. I think due to the weight and flat tq curve, there was not swell of power.

Tranny/clutch felt good, and the throttle mapping in sport wasn't excessive as in my 997S.

A very, very nice car, but not as fun to drive as an E46 M3 or E39 M5. Styling aside (I like the look of the RS4), the new M3 will assuredly kill it in every category.

I'm sorry; what motor does the RS4 have?

415 hp V8 IIRC. Sounds badazz.

I got a ride in one at the Audi Streets of the Future thingy.

I was most impressed with the brakes. Didn't get to drive it, but they had some hot shoes ripping around a half mile track. The first turn was approached at pretty close to 100. Led up to a semi-hairpin that was taken with the back end twitching.

Felt great, but seemed really isolated from the passenger seat. Can only guess at what actually driving it was like. They were doing this pretty much all day, though, so I'd guess the brakes don't have any real fade issues. And the engine tone is nice.

-T-

almost


yeah... almost but not quite eh?

Coming out of BMW"s/Porsche's, I can see your POV with the steering weight issue. I felt the same way from my E39 to my S4, but it's something you get used to in a short period of time. Seems to be consistant across all Audi models.

I agree also, the new M3 will most-likely own this car. And with prices topping $70k out the door, sales and resale values of the RS4 will suffer.

I saw one up close, and they look very nice in person, but for the money, I would look at some other options personally.

I have always been an Audi fan, but always felt they were a bit overpriced brand new.

A friend of mine just bought one. I will drive it soon (hopefully). FOr my money, I'd like an E39 M5.

The biggest flaw I find in the new Audis is how much they suck at what I beleive there supposed to do. Big wide low profile tires suck in the snow and while the car might handle great in the dry if you dont have to worry about snow buy a BMW. I own both an E30 and B5 Audi a4 avant and i use my audi for what i beleive they were made to do, so like mad in the snow and rain. Ive got mudflaps bigger tires and a roof rack and its a great car but if I want a dry weather car ill take the bimmer. Beleive what you want but I think audis new performance models(RS4/S4) dont have the true "Audi" in them the old Ur Quattros and CS models had.




Hunter

Your review mostly sums up what I think of the S4, however just a more extreme version of it. Nicely said.

pretty good comparison
www.metacafe.com/watch/122116/2007_audi_rs4/