Owner Diary
After having a deposit down on this
puppy for 18 months, she finally arrived on June 16.
Initial thoughts: Yummy.
Even in babying mode, the engine feels smooth and powerful. Not
the lag-then-kick-in-the-pants hit of the turbo S4, but smooooth
torque all the way from go. It sounds fantastic, especially with
the S button engaged - a sewing machine with a thumping bass
line. Handling and brakes are a marked improvement over the S4
with aftermarket brakes and suspension - the RS4 corners on rails - it just feels so much more composed.
She looks
the part too. I really wanted the Avant, but they're not coming
to the US. Now, having seen both, I think the sedan actually
looks better. It looks far better in the
flesh than in piccies with a menacing presence all the way from the
snout with it's low side gills, through the flared wheel arches
with their sweet rims and sill, to that subtly integrated tail
spoiler and twin tailpipes. Inside, the seats are really, really
comfortable and offer more headroom than the S4, while
the memory function is a welcome addition. I didn't think I'd be
thrilled about the piping, but it doesn't offend me and most
people like it. The CF trim is 'OK', but the wheel just has to
go. Navigation and MMI is functional, although it does take a
bit of getting used to. Certainly no i-Drive, but not entirely intuitive in some areas.
7/1/06 - 3000 miles and still in
love. Hardly a day goes by where someone doesn't stick their
head out a side window and proffer a huge grin and a 'thumbs
up'. The car is fully run in now thanks to a trip to Toronto and
thus can be gently explored... The sound and pull to
redline is quite addictive - people probably wonder why I'm off
and on every exit and onramp on the way home...
Took those silly numberplate
surrounds and V8 badges off the side last night, but the RS4
ones remain for now.
9 Oct 2006 - 6100 miles. Car has
loosened up a bit in the last few thousand miles and pulls nicely now - the secret seems to be keeping the revs
up... The long promised 'everywhere else but North
America' steering wheel arrived from a group buy and was installed double-quick.
The installation was pretty easy but it took a bit of fiddling
with the VAG to eliminate the codes thrown by the ABS/ESP, radio, telephone,
steering wheel controller etc after the car was somewhat
gingerly started by pushing the clutch in with one hand while crouching
out of airbag range. The one remaining code seems to be the
steering wheel controller, but that doesn't seem to be hurting
anything. Looks awesome, feels better. Received a crack in the
windscreen yesterday dammit...
25 Oct 2006 - 6300 miles. Fall is
falling.
June 2007 - 12,000 Miles. Not
much to report. in the first 5000 miles she drunk a few quarts
of that bloody expensive VW special spec oil, but no probs since
then.
May 2008 - 20,000 miles. A slow
year for the RS as I've been traveling a bit. Last summer I had
TWO cracked windscreens. This thing doesn't generate that much
torque... Other than scheduled oil changes, she hasn't required
any oil so that must have been break-in, which other owners have
reported. At about 18,000 miles I had a check engine light with
misfiles in one cyl. The coil pack was replaced and no problems
since (touch wood).
Sept 2008 - 22,000 miles. A
service visit for an oil change and replacement of the fuel
pressure sensor under recall has fixed the low rev stumbles.
They also found a bubble in the left front tire and the rears
need replacement. Bummer.
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