Audi RS4 (2006 – 2008) Review
Audi RS4 (2006 – 2008) At A Glance
Masses of power, grip and adrenalin-fuelled fun, yet also docile when you want it to be. A fantastic all-round drive.
Your driving licence may never look the same again. Problems with interlinked dynamic ride control struts, prone to leaking at the seals.
RS4 is a very high maintenance cars. Be forewarned.
The car Audi used to take on the BMW M3 and managed to combine excitement with a package that did not require as much skill to drive quickly.
Even so, on the launch at and around the Goodwood circuit, a certain well known and very popular journalist got pulled by the local traffic police.
Reviews for Audi RS4 (2006 – 2008)'s top 3 rivals
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Audi RS4 (2006 – 2008) handling and engines
A fantastic car to drive. Huge power and also masses of controllable grip. Each wheel sends a separate message to the driver. Huge torque over wide power band. Docile and friendly to drive at low speed. Massive overtaking power.
Model History
January 0001
2006 RS4 quattro initially offered in saloon body only. Has 420PS FSI 4.2 chain cam V8 with 8,250rpm rev limit. 430Nm torque. 0-62 in 4.8, 0-124 in 16.6. Top speed limited to 155 in 6th, but not limited in 5th. To order in UK from 30-3-2005 at price of £48,980. In 2006, 450 RS4 2006 Avants as well as 570 saloons.
Sport memory seats hug you when sport mode is activated (on steering wheel). Tailpipes have actuators operating flaps for better sounds. Hydraulic damping is split diagonally to give excellent body control and also a good ride. Standard 19" wheels for UK.
A fantastic car to drive. Huge power and also masses of controllable grip. Each wheel sends a separate message to the driver. Huge torque over wide power band. Docile and friendly to drive at low speed. Massive overtaking power. The safest way to go really quickly in a car. Avant and Cabrio from June/July 2006. Available to order from 3-3-06 at OTR prices of £51,780 and £59,580.
What to watch out for
Interlinked dynamic ride control struts prone to leaking at the seals.
DRC suspension modification by Audi:
www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=69690
Complaints of faulty standard iron discs needing replacement every 6,000 miles due to warming or misalignment on the hubs. Carbon ceramic discs cost in the region of £5,000 factory fit or £10,000 retro-fit
Front dampers can leak and PAS hoses can fail.
Seems to be quite a severe problem of carbon build up in intake manifolds of RS4 FSI engines (and other FSI engines). More here: Audizine FSI Megathread
11-05-2011:Complaints of buckled wheels, juddering brakes due to warped discs and notchy gearchange due to failing clutch and flywheel on a used RS4 purchased March 2012 and repaired September 2012 at a cost of £2,600. Selling dealer said all wear and trear items and refused to pay.
Warning: RS4s are fantastic, utterly brilliant cars to drive. But they are very high maintenance and prosepective owners need to be prepared for the high cost of wearing and easily damaged parts such as tyres, wheel rims, brakes, clutches and flywheels.
19-07-2013:Possible to buy an RS4 then immediately have to spend £9,000 on dynamic drive dampers, inlet manifold swirl flaps, intercoolers, carbing up (Terraclean), automatic grille flaps, brakes, tyres.
01-11-2016:£2,000 cost of replacing aircon compressor kindly explained by Oxford Specilaist Cars: "The air-con set up of this vehicle differs from most. The compressor in run from a shaft driven the the engines timing gear. The timing chain is at the back of the engine, the shaft runs toward the front of the engine. The compressor is located under the cylinder head, on the right hand side of the block as you look at the car. The compressor does not have an electromagnetic clutch, pressure is controlled by a valve block as the compressor is always turning. The shaft running the compressor is designed to shear if the compressor seizes rather than destroy the engines timing gear. Replacement of the compressor requires removal of the entire front of the car hence the labour cost."
06-05-2017:Timing chain replacement recommended at between 50,000 - 100,000 miles, for which Audi dealers charge £6,000.
