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      07-18-2008, 06:40 AM   #1
Damage Inc
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Why should I NOT buy this RS4?

I'm a long time BMW guy (last 5 cars, 2 M's) and patiently waiting for the 09's or a great deal on an 08.

I drove an RS4 today for the first time (3 test drives in the M3 sedan), and I have to say, there are many areas I live the RS better!

Exterior Styling - love the flared arches + wheels
AWD
Better build quality and materials
Engine sound is a little more "mature" vs. racy in the M
Exclusivity vs. the M

Drawbacks

Price - still $6k more than the M I plan to buy brand new
No rear seat once I put my drivers seat back - with kids now back seat room is a must if I ever want to take my car when we go out.
Interior is high quality, but can appear a little dated
No "comfort" suspension setting like the M3 for the kids

At the end of the day... for me I'm still leaning towards the M since

$60k is my max and you can get a nice M3 sedan for that price
I did a test drive with the family and it received the WAF for road trips (with EDC on comfort that is)
RS4 can be a little harsh on our rough roads out here

I'm pretty bummed bmw couldnt do a little better on the exterior styling and 18" wheel package on the M3 sedan. I think the coupe is hot, but while the sedan is obviously a great car, its not a "showstopper" with the gotta have it factor.

Opinions? Anybody else cross shop the RS4?
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      07-18-2008, 07:26 AM   #2
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Why not go for a C63? xD
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      07-18-2008, 07:28 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///M-Turismo View Post
Why not go for a C63? xD
no manual and the exterior just isnt for me
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      07-18-2008, 08:26 AM   #4
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i took an rs4 for a test drive last saturday. it had the titanium package with the piano interior trim and that was the best interior trim i've ever seen in a car (wood doesn't do it for me, nor does carbon fiber). the car was used with 5k miles and still clocked in at 67k dollars. so the price, tiny back seat, only available as a manual (we want a DCT), terrible resale from what i can see on ebay all seems to add up against the RS4.
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      07-18-2008, 08:37 AM   #5
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That and RS4 is an old bodystyle. If you really love Audi then wait for the new model.
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      07-18-2008, 08:37 AM   #6
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i had the same dilemma. ended up going with the RS due to exclusivity, AWD for Canadian winters and build quality. Drove both and at the end of the day the superior handling of the M wasnt enough to win me over. Likely different outcome if I was a regular at a track.
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      07-18-2008, 09:29 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alvesc View Post
i had the same dilemma. ended up going with the RS due to exclusivity, AWD for Canadian winters and build quality. Drove both and at the end of the day the superior handling of the M wasnt enough to win me over. Likely different outcome if I was a regular at a track.
Exactly, you hit the nail on the head. The M3 is by far the more entertaining, especially on the track but on the road and with the probility of hard winters the RS4 is the right option. To me the ideal awd car is the R8, if it had similar weight bias with a saloon shell I would have never have moved to an M3.


Now if BMW made an M3 with an awd system which only pushed power forward when controlling excessive oversteer and when traction became a problem, like it is with the R8 then you would have picked the M3awd hands down.

BMW need to make such a car, that is my opinion.
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      07-18-2008, 10:25 AM   #8
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RS4 is a B7 and about to be obsoleted. Sure its still a top performer, but once you start seeing B8 A4s, and soon after, S4s on the road you are going to get the itch to upgrade. I'd stick with the M.
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      07-18-2008, 10:32 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MojorisinM3 View Post
no manual and the exterior just isnt for me
i think i like you!!! people in the back of RS4 get tortured when u take fast turns. as a driver ur exactly in the middle, but for the passengers it hurts. i was told this on my test drives, then i understood when i had someone drive and i sat in the back.
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      07-18-2008, 11:58 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MojorisinM3 View Post
I'm a long time BMW guy (last 5 cars, 2 M's) and patiently waiting for the 09's or a great deal on an 08.

I drove an RS4 today for the first time (3 test drives in the M3 sedan), and I have to say, there are many areas I live the RS better!

Exterior Styling - love the flared arches + wheels
AWD
Better build quality and materials
Engine sound is a little more "mature" vs. racy in the M
Exclusivity vs. the M

Drawbacks

Price - still $6k more than the M I plan to buy brand new
No rear seat once I put my drivers seat back - with kids now back seat room is a must if I ever want to take my car when we go out.
Interior is high quality, but can appear a little dated
No "comfort" suspension setting like the M3 for the kids

At the end of the day... for me I'm still leaning towards the M since

$60k is my max and you can get a nice M3 sedan for that price
I did a test drive with the family and it received the WAF for road trips (with EDC on comfort that is)
RS4 can be a little harsh on our rough roads out here

I'm pretty bummed bmw couldnt do a little better on the exterior styling and 18" wheel package on the M3 sedan. I think the coupe is hot, but while the sedan is obviously a great car, its not a "showstopper" with the gotta have it factor.

Opinions? Anybody else cross shop the RS4?
I didn't like the interior or exterior styling. I didn't like the materials, I thought the interior was too plasticky and too shiny. I didn't like the squarish steering wheel.

Engine sounds good but didn't rank it above or below the BMW.

AWD is a plus and a minus, depends on your priority. I can see why in MI it would be a plus regardless of priority for half the year.

You might want to explore the "build quality" conclusion a little more. Is it just that you thought more highly of the Audi build quality and why is that? From a brand perspective the research I've seen puts Audi build quality below BMW. It may be different for the RS4 vs. the M3, I'm curious why you think so?

The Audi is more exclusive but doesn't cost enough more to justify the exclusivity. Why do you think it sells so poorly despite being relatively comparably priced? This might be an indication that lots of people think the car is overpriced and underachieves.
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      07-18-2008, 12:01 PM   #11
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I like the m3 better man
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      07-18-2008, 12:49 PM   #12
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I like the exterior styling of the M3 better (it also does have flared arches). Interior, you may have a point but a bit dated. But, if I were you, I'd look for a used RS4 that you can get for a WAY better price and given the economy, you will get one that is practically new.
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      07-18-2008, 01:44 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMW-M-Mexico View Post
Interior, you may have a point but a bit dated.
Exactly. While the "fit and finish" of the RS4 is great, if you go test drive the S5 you'll realize that the interior is dated. I checked out the S5 and S6 the other day, and the older interior doesn't compare.
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      07-18-2008, 01:51 PM   #14
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the only reason i wouldnt get a RS4 is coz its a V8. i love the I6 in the M3, awesome gas mileage FTMFW
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      07-18-2008, 04:59 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///Mantis View Post
the only reason i wouldnt get a RS4 is coz its a V8. i love the I6 in the M3, awesome gas mileage FTMFW
Hum...are you joking? E9x M3s all have V8 motors
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      07-18-2008, 05:16 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by E90330xi View Post
Hum...are you joking? E9x M3s all have V8 motors
hes talking about the e46...
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      07-18-2008, 05:19 PM   #17
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Hum...are you joking? E9x M3s all have V8 motors
oops maybe i should RTFM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ihyln View Post
hes talking about the e46...
i dont have a E46

PS: i dont know why i typed that, i dont know why i type 90% of the shit i type. i was just kidding about the I6
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      07-18-2008, 05:40 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///Mantis View Post
oops maybe i should RTFM

i dont have a E46

PS: i dont know why i typed that, i dont know why i type 90% of the shit i type. i was just kidding about the I6

With over 8,000 posts I can see why.
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      07-18-2008, 05:54 PM   #19
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With over 8,000 posts I can see why.
are u hinting that im doing it to increase my post count? i think after resetting to 0 from 30k no one can claim that
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      07-18-2008, 06:56 PM   #20
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PM sent

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      07-18-2008, 07:47 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mkoesel View Post
RS4 is a B7 and about to be obsoleted. Sure its still a top performer, but once you start seeing B8 A4s, and soon after, S4s on the road you are going to get the itch to upgrade. I'd stick with the M.
It will years before the next RS4 arrives.

Until then he can get the current RS4, that was launched in 2006.


To the OP, get the RS4. Simply a great car.
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      07-18-2008, 07:49 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///Mantis View Post
PS: i dont know why i typed that, i dont know why i type 90% of the shit i type.
Neither does anyone else.
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