Why You Should (and SHOULDN'T) Buy a B7 RS4

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My 2007 Audi RS4 - 192.5k miles at the time of upload

Daytona Grey over Black

Mod List

DRC replaced with KW V1 Coilovers
Milltek Valved Exhaust
Interior LED bulbs.

[marksinclair]

I bought my 07 RS4 in October 2012 and am the second owner. I had a fuel pump replaced and a valve cover during my ownership. Other than that I've just done the regular maintenance, oil changes etc. I did replace the rear brakes and will replace the front brakes over the next year. I bought the brakes from FCP Euro for far less than the dealer would have charged. I recently had a carbon cleaning done.

It's been a beautiful car to drive and very reliable. I would like to replace the door blades because one of them is starting to bulge out a bit. So far I have been unable to find any which is pretty frustrating. So, I can relate to the comment that parts can be difficult to find for these cars.

[lancegallant]

I've also had 2 s4, s and no would I choose over rs4 this car is pricless ! it's iconic

[Bigmungus]

I like how this vid came out the same day my rs4 got delivered 😂

[gregs]

I agree about the emotion of the RS4 versus the B8 S4. I went directly from the RS4 to the S4. I was excited every time I went to drive the RS. The sound, the gearbox, the look, the steering feel are all amazing. I bought it as a CPO car back in 2008 so did not really experience the expensive RS4 maintenance (other than a $3k brake job). I sold it after a few years and bought a new S4 so my wife could drive it (DSG). The S4 had no soul. It was quick, steering feel and handling were good, the DSG was impressive, the sound was ok, but I always felts like I was driving a regular V6 A4 with the performance turned up 25%. It just wasn’t a special car. I sold the car after 18 months.

[Ggtvler]

I’ve owned my rs4 for about 3.5 months. And although it’s been a pain in the ass, it’s pretty dialed now and I don’t think I’ve owned or driven such more raw feeling car. Will never sell

[DoctaM]

“Barefoot Eli, the IgnitionTUBE guy” 🤣🤣

[scooter]

I am a seasoned tech and these cars are challenging lol. Fabulous car though. Totally worth owning.

[______]

As a C5 RS6 owner, I feel called out.

On the other hand, you’re absolutely right. These older RS cars aren’t daily drivers at all. Great 3rd cars especially if you have to let them sit for awhile while you slowly wrench on them as an amateur DIYer

[GeoffInfield]

Great video, thanks, I own an NZ B7 RS4 avant and couldn't agree more, it's not slow but not crazy fast either but really satisfying. The steering as you say, really stand outs. I gave it a hard flick left/right/left/right a couple of weeks ago after replacing the sway bar links on the C5 allroad V8 (had that engine hanging on a string within a week of buying it, obviously!) and I'm still in shock. I gave it ALLROAD steering inputs, and it changed direction like a kid grabbing a model car and turning it 20 degrees left then back the other way as fast as they could. Uneventful yet violent. I'm in love with it. I know it'll bankrupt me one day but marriage does that too and I'm determined to stay single so... "B7 RS4, do you take this idiot to be your lawful wedded driver, to yadda yadda..."

[cs_yt]

You're absolutely right. I thought about it long and hard and ended up buying a B8 S4 for the reasons you explained, even though I do all the wrenching and have other vehicles, in my case, is the hassle and the lack of time required. Another one that have my attention is a S6 V10.

[bobbyroades]

The B7 S4 and RS4 are Mechanics cars. They are beasts and when regularly maintained and have a Full timing service at the 100k mark. Many of the simple flaws have been discovered. And have easy fixes. If you are a true car guy and truly turn your own wrenches. And have a lift. Owning and servicing is easy. He is literally complaining about normal stuff that goes bad. This car is a specific fine wine for a mechanic driver. Any car you could own could have these same problems. It's designed to drop the engine out and/ or removing the front clip depending on the problem. That is why it's such a high bill any time anything large goes wrong.

[treycxn]

Watched this video when it came out, but I found myself coming back to your RS4 videos. I agree with the lack of emotion with the S4. It’s a fun, brilliant, great car with some peace of mind. The supercharger is like no other. But I need something with emotion. Something that transcends beyond getting to point B. So I’m hoping to add this to my garage soon

[Dudeman]

B8-8.5 S4 is where it's at. The 3.0T is super reliable and makes a bunch of power with just a few upgrades. I recently got into a 2012 S4 Fluffy Edition (aka A6) with just a stage 1 tune and it's about as quick as I could ask a 4100lb car to be for under the $19, 000 I paid for it and the tune.

[frankjaeger]

These older RS cars aren't daily drivers anymore, but when you fancy going for a nice drive and just enjoy the occasion, get a B7 RS4 ;) The road feedback, handling, balance, lovely feeling MANUAL shift and peach of an engine makes this the best RS car out there IMO. I don't daily mine, I'd like maybe a B8 or C7 for that but can't afford both at the moment!

[Wanderer]

Had a B6 S4 that was JHM modded very close to RS4 performance. I'm a pretty good tech so I would pick up one of these. There's just something special about a B7 RS4

[Manu-Official]

Would not buy for one reason - my modified C6 Le Mans is bigger, faster, better on fuel, easier to maintain and cheaper to insure (took me ages to find one, bought when only 2 were available in the entire country out of a total 51). That said, I do have a neat and clear advantage that I can order all my parts from Germany, and have access to overall the European market without having to pay American export duty.

6:50 then I fully agree, the B7 RS4 has that magic, and the looks - it is my favourite 4 by far, even if the next generations are faster.

[ROK]

Thanks Eli, great comments and it is good to hear how emotive you are towards this car. I've had mine for 4 years now and I have had very little issue with it only thing I have had to replace other than consumables has been a front CV. I daily'd (4 days a week) mine for the first couple of years but now it comes out once a week. My experience has been pretty great - IMO from my expereince the B7 RS4 is truly well engineered and feels like it was sculptured from granite - it just feels solid. Just thought of another issue and that is the wheels - due to the poor state of roads in much of Oz I'm going to have to shell out for new rims soon as the OEM rims just do not flex and even though I run high pressures 43psi I have had to repair micro fractures in the rims.

[serdiegito]

Great video explaining not only the RS4 but also other "rare" cars of that era like the Golf R32

[LucaUlrich-gren]

I have the A4 b7 but a RS4 would be a dream and in Germany it is easier to get some Parts especially over the Audi dealer

[fidelquintela]

@~5:24 you said that the S4 would run circles around the RS4 in most situations, if not all situations. Did you mean performance wise or just reliability? If performance, is that an S4 w/full bolt on etc?