► Driving Audi UK’s pristine B5-generation RS4 Avant
► A lesson in performance car subtlety…
► …right up until you floor it
It’s quite a hard act to follow the Audi RS 2, but this generation of RS4 Avant was designed to do just that. On the face of it, the B5-generation RS4 is off to a good start, in that you’d barely notice this was an Audi Sport RS model at all.
But just wait until you get this thing going…
At a glance
Pros: Feels stupidly quick; impressive ride quality; fantastically user-friendly
Cons: Boosty power delivery; uncompromising bucket seats
What is it?
The next RS Avant estate after the legendary RS 2. The B5 generation of Audi A4 was part of an era that was designed to redefine what Audi was and make the brand come across a bit more premium. There was an S4 model, which Audi then wheeled out its RS name afterwards for this model – and made it exclusively available as an Avant estate.
This was also back in the day when an Audi RS model was actually rather subtle; you had to know an RS model from small or understated design cues like larger wheels, lower suspension and some badging. This one, however, loses a bit of its sleeper status, given it’s painted in the very-nice-but-very-obvious Imola Yellow.
What are the specs?
This generation of RS4 Avant comes with a nuclear bomb of a V6. It’s a 2.7-litre twin-turbo unit, derived from the S4 but given oodles of steroids. Audi says this engine had input from Cosworth Technology, and has much larger turbos than before.
The engine (covered in a fabulous black and silver shell) develops 355bhp – a tectonic plate-shifting amount of shove for the new millennium – and meant the RS 4 Avant was good for a sub-five-second 0-62mph sprint time and an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. It was only available with a six-speed manual, and a Torsen diff-based quattro all-wheel drive system.
This one has been owned by Audi UK since new, having only done a few thousand miles across its lifespan.
How does it drive?
What you notice immediately is just how… normal it is. There’s a bit of bark from the engine after initially starting it, but it calms down quickly and is insulated impressively well from the cabin.
As the first few miles roll on, you recognise some impressively smooth control weights like the clutch and brake pedal, a smooth gearchange action and fluid steering. If there’s any RS-ness to this model, it’s remarkably well hidden when you’re pottering about.
What’s most impressive is the balance of the ride. Despite large wheels, a low ride height and low-profile rubber, the B5 tackles chunky ruts and lumps impressively well, its multi-link front/double wishbone rear suspension setup tuned to near perfection.
All perfectly good, well behaved and well managed. But where on earth is that RS-ness? Where’s the perf-WOAH… FOUND IT. Like something out of the power-crazed 80s, the RS4 Avant’s bulk of power is accessible after about 4000rpm, with the turbo’s coming on full boost and slingshotting you into the distance. The first time this happens, expletives are uttered as you ride that wave of shove into the middle distance.
When on the boil, this generation of RS4 is stonkingly fast, and puts to bed any suggestion that this is just an A4 with some nice bits on it. You learn over some miles to play with that sudden boost of power and use it to your advantage, making it sometimes unwieldy at first but so satisfying when you can deploy it to your advantage.
What about the interior?
With this example at least, it feels almost brand new inside. Audi’s trad interior design of the time is present here: it’s sober and smartly laid out, with lots of physical switchgear, clear controls and all the mod cons.
Like the exterior, there’s little to tell you that you’re sat in an RS model. In fact, the only significant RS details are an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and some super serious Recaro bucket seats.
Those Recaros introduce themselves to you quickly, mainly due to their fierce seat base bolstering that you effectively have to slide over to get into the seat. When you’ve fallen into them, though, they feel good, with plenty of support. The fatter of backside among us, however, might feel a little wedged. Even so, the driving position they offer is spot on. They look as if you’ll be sat in too high, but the driving position is spot on.
Verdict: Audi RS4 Avant (B5)
This is very much a lesson in how to do a performance car in a stealthy way. Look at the B5-generation RS4 Avant and you may think it’s rather unassuming, to the point that even pottering about in it feels a little too understated.
But it’s very much like Clark Kent. When this RS4 snatches off its glasses, it can whisk you into the sunset quicker than you can say ‘kryptonite’ – and that makes this an impressive and yet thoroughly usable super wagon.