2008 Audi RS4 Kennesaw GA

November 3, 2009   By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor



2008 Audi RS 4
DriverSide Overview
In its last year of production, we can’t help but feel a pang of regret that the wonderfully aggressive Audi RS4 sedan is going to be sent out to pasture to make way for the RS6. Lucky Europeans have had the pleasure of driving this car in Avant form since 1999, but it has only been available in the U.S. for the past two years. Based on the A4 , the 420 horsepower RS4 is pitted against some serious competition. Its 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds makes it faster than the BMW M3 , a hair slower than the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and equal to the Lexus IS F . Not bad bedfellows. Drive quality is fantastic, as is Audi’s keen attention to interior details, but all of it comes at a higher price - $66,910 to be exact - than the others. Still, pushing on the throttle of the RS4 has a tendency to make you blissfully ignorant of the multiple dollar signs. 








What's to Like
The all-wheel drive and roomy interior give the RS4 function beyond what equally powerful sedans can provide. Its 420 horsepower can really tug the car around corners, and the Audi build quality is evident throughout the interior. Although the car is incredibly fast, meandering around town is still comfortable.

What's Not to Like
An outdated instrument panel is boring and button-heavy, especially without the optional navigation screen. The cruise control stalk is hidden directly behind the steering wheel, making it hard to reach and difficult to activate - though we suspect most people would want to be fully in control of this V-8 anyway. The price tag tops the more elegantly swathed BMW M3 , and with expensive options, the price can skyrocket.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Factoring in the RS4’s crucial deficits, namely the fact that the engine sits well ahead of the front axle and that the sedan weights a hefty 3,950 pounds, it would seem that the RS4 could be slower and more lumbering on the road than its competitors. However, Audi has masterfully engineered the car to feel lithe and incredibly well balanced when pushed hard. Its 40 percent front and 60 percent rear split of the all-wheel drive helps quell the potential for understeer. The RS4’s steering feels tight and body roll is reduced through the competent Dynamic Ride Control, which utilizes diagonally connected dampers to control body movements and results in a more fluid ride. A touch of the sport button heightens throttle response and makes the engine growl aggressively as more engine valves fly open, sounding as beautiful as the church bells of Neckarsulm.

Engine and Drivetrain
The RS4 is powered by a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V-8 engine that delivers 420 horsepower at an almost Japanese racecar-like 7,800 rpm and 317 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed manual transmission that lets you blip through gears with unnatural effortlessness. The Quattro...

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