Trend-setting Audi RS4 still remains the leader of the class
“What famous person would you most like to meet?” my son asked me recently.
Slightly distracted, I kicked for touch and said something about people you admire most may not be the most famous.
He was having none of it and gave me one of ‘you’re mad Dad’ looks.
Anxious to recover, I told him I once played golf with Tiger Woods. He was mildly impressed until I clarified that I didn’t actually play golf with Tiger, I merely walked with him as he played.
“But what about a famous person now?” he persisted.
Not that easy a question to answer given how differently we see fame — and the perceived famous.
Ask someone to list their ideal dinner guests and they’re more likely to try to impress you with a diverse mixture of big names, as opposed to pulling together a group that they might have some fun with.
It’s a bit like the people who buy books by the yard. In this case, you can read a lot into the books by the covers — knowing full well, none have ever be opened.
Take the recent Desert Island top 10 list of essential reading for stranded castaways as voted by BBC listeners — Dante’s Divine Comedy, Homer’s Odyssey, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin; A History of the English Speaking People by Winston Churchill. Honestly?
It would be bad enough being stuck on an island, without having to tuck into some of that lot.
At least George Clooney was being straight (and practical) when he selected War and Peace as the perfect island book “as there may not be toilet paper, and that’s a huge book”.
Whatever about my choice in people and books, I have no hesitation in listing the Audi RS4 Avant in my top 10 of must-have cars.
An unusual choice for some, given the endless range of iconic cars out there — but, and seeing we’re on the topic of lists — here are five reasons to buy one:
1) Pedigree
Audi set the trend after it launched the world’s first family-orientated sports car with the unveiling of the RS 2 Avant in 1994. The iconic, V6 twin-turbo RS 4 was rolled out in 2000, and such was the demand that Audi had to double production to meet demand. The RS 6 followed two years later, with the RS 3 Sportsback launched in 2011.
2) Value for money
Still the best value, (note I didn’t say cheap), most fun and meanest “grocery grabbing” machine on the market — even allowing for the quality of it’s two main rivals, the BMW M5 and the Mercedes C63 AMG.
The basic model will set you back just over €100,000, but despite handing out a six- figure sum, you have to dig a lot deeper for the features you’d expect as standard in a car of this class.
Add a panoramic sunroof — that’ll be €2,533 please. Sports exhaust — €2,095; navarra blue metallic paint — €1,554; carbon styling pack — €7,946; matrix LED headlamps — €1,239; carbon mirror housings — €2,095; anthracite black, 20” 5-double spoke alloy wheels — €4,016.
Even things like inlays, a storage compartment, 3-zone air conditioning and wireless charging costs extra. The list goes on and before you know it, you’ve added the price of a nice family car to the asking price — in this case, a whopping €27,000. There’s no doubting the finished package is show-stoppingly stunning, but the final bill is equally eye-watering.
3) What’s under the hood
Just shy of 450 horses. OK, it’s not the much loved V8, but the new V6 delivers in spades — 444bhp and 443lb-ft of torque, with a top speed of 174mph.
I took a few work colleagues for a lunchtime jaunt and we laughed our way around the backroads. The feel and grip are unbelievable. You’ll never tire of the sensation when you put your floor to the floor.
Audi claims the RS4 can do 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds. I can’t vouch for that, but had a good time trying.
4) It’s practical
That’s the beauty of the RS4 — it has a dual personality.
One one side, it’s the perfect family car — all poise, posh and proper. Plenty of room for baby seats and associated paraphernalia, or five adults and a boot can cope with most reasonable demands.
And as you’d expect from a high-quality estate, as much technology and bells and whistles to satisfy the most demanding of needs.
While the ride might be a little hard for the state of our secondary roads, in open spaces, it’s the perfect cruiser — all poise and posh.
And then there’s the wild side. The chance to let the hair down and enjoy one of the most exhilarating ‘family’ cars on the road.
5) The sound
Have you heard this thing? A few years ago, I was lucky enough to go to the Le Mans.
On the morning of the famed 24-hour race, I was up very early and out of the tent to grab a spot at Porsche Curves, one of the track’s best vantage points.
Back then, Audi was the official safety car supplier and I had the pleasure of watching two RS6 Avants chase each other around the track (no doubt, carrying out a series of essential pre-race checks).
Even up against some breathtaking opposition, I’ll never forget the sound — the deep rumble of the twin turbo, V10s rolling through the wooded hills. It was worth the entrance fee alone.
