Chased down a straight-piped RS4 on a twisty highway stretch and almost blew my engine

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
05/12/2017 at 22:59 • Filed to: Audidonegood, Audi rs4, mazda miata

When I saw the bright orange Audi—wide hips, meaty tires— I knew what I had to do. He was stopped at the light as I rolled up in the lane over. 5mph, eyes forward, clutch depressed. I didn’t want the crackling fujitsubo exhaust giving him the idea that this wasn’t your ordinary Roadster.

Light turned green, I revved to 6k and change, dropped into first and shot off like a bullet. Redline came, and went. I held it to within a centimeter of the fuel cutoff, squeezing out every ounce of power that was available and then some. Second gear. I glanced over in his lane... It was empty! I’d done it! “Miata’s are plenty speedy, you just can’t be afraid to wring that engine out!” I thought to myself with a smirk, thinking about the man in his cushy Audi, probably reeking of embarrassment at that very moment. As I was congratulating myself, the sound I had mistaken for a low flying jet changed in pitch. I heard crackles and pops of a thousand broken windows run through a stack of Marshall’s, mixed in with the deep bass crunch of a miles wide fissure tearing a gaping wound into the face of the planet. Good god. That... That CAN’T be what I think it is. I chuckled at Dodge’s hubris, they had no idea what four-wheeled beast truly deserved to be named “Hellcat.” Demon? There’s only one, and after hearing that Audi I can tell you that the Demon is no Mopar. The small orange dot in the distance, growing ever smaller..? Oh. He was already 100ft ahead of me. Make that 200.

RIP my eardrums. That was the second loudest car I’ve heard in my entire life, right behind a 900hp FD rx7. So yeah, the “definitely-not-stock-but-if-it-was-it-would-still-be-making-almost-500-hp” Audi RS4 sedan trounced me, completely and utterly. But I caught him on the curve, which is all that matters. Miata’s in the twisties are no joke guys.

Oh and the engine? At 350,000 miles this 1.8 liter will just not die. In the past month I’ve been driving at 11/10 multiple times, for anywhere between a minute, to hours on end. I’ve changed my oil 3 times in the last 5 weeks, but other than that there have been no issues. May be weaker than a newborn kitten, but Mazda sure did make a solid little engine. Here’s another picture I grabbed afterwords, that Audi is a beast. May not compare to a similar (stock vs. Stock) m3 performance-wise, but on the “presence scale” the BMW would be a 2 and the RS4 a solid 9.

DISCUSSION (21)

Matsayz > AestheticsInMotion
05/12/2017 at 23:15

Dat butt!

RallyWrench > AestheticsInMotion
05/12/2017 at 23:17

I love that despite the mileage, you’re still hammering your little companion, that’s the best part here. I did that with my old 22RE Toyota truck, just beating on it but caring for it well, and when the odo broke at 325k it gave no fucks. RS4's are beasts though, ridiculous cars.

AestheticsInMotion > RallyWrench
05/12/2017 at 23:31

You understand! I bought it expecting everything to break, and I’d replace everything with a higher quality part learning about cars in the process.

35,000 miles later, nothing has broken so I’ve had to resort to modifying haha

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > AestheticsInMotion
05/12/2017 at 23:31

Even the normal S4s are plenty fast.

AestheticsInMotion > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
05/12/2017 at 23:36

Only Audis I’ve driven are a first gen TT and a newer TTs. I’m sure an S4 would be an absolute blast

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion
05/12/2017 at 23:44

I tried to race an infinity Q45 once. There is no substitute for a V8. I was right there until my car was tacked out in top gear and that Q ship just pulled away. And yes a real RS 4 is a very fast sedan, like really very fast.

AestheticsInMotion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/12/2017 at 23:53

A V8 sounds pretty nice right now... Someday. There’s probably 10 R8's for every RS4 around here... I’m always surprised when I see one really giving it the gas

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > AestheticsInMotion
05/12/2017 at 23:58

The only one I’ve ever ridden in is a B5 S4 Avant and considering it practically shares production years with my 4Runner is baffling. It is so fast and stable compared to other late 90's cars, mine included. Now working on one.... no thanks. For example, the steering rack is behind the engine and on top of the transmission.

AestheticsInMotion > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
05/13/2017 at 00:06

Yeah, it’s terrifying. Just this last week I saw an s5 engine completely removed for a new belt, and a few engine bay cosmetic projects. No thanks

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > AestheticsInMotion
05/13/2017 at 00:15

my buddy used to have an 04 S4 and I walked him a few times in my DSM. Good times

Discerning > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/13/2017 at 07:38

Sigh... but it’s not... we’re talking about a car that traps 110 on a good day. They’re new-mustang-gt fast, and the mustang would likely edge it out in most straight line comparisons.

Discerning > AestheticsInMotion
05/13/2017 at 07:38

Shame

Keep it on the track, please

Discerning > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
05/13/2017 at 07:43

The b5 is slow in stock form. They can be exceptionally fast with some mods, but they are slower than a v6 accord when stock.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Discerning
05/13/2017 at 08:50

Compared to other cars when it was new.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
05/13/2017 at 09:24

Yup, not for the faint of heart. I drank the look aid though. I went from a B8 S4 to a D3 S8, the v10 is wonderful, but holy hell, working on it... that’s a whole nuther thing. The v8 in the rs4 is basically the v10 less two pots. Carbon cleaning time is fast approaching. I figure the 55k mile service is as good as any to do it. Plugs get changed anyway, might as well pull the intake. These cars are awesome though, the way they fit everything in is really a feat, but serviceability, yeah, not so much. But that sound.... and torque... yeah I’d say it’s worth it. Definitely helps I have acces to a hoist now though. Made me less apprehensive about taking the plunge into the S8 waters.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
05/13/2017 at 09:45

I think I’ll keep my toyota for now

Manny05x > AestheticsInMotion
05/13/2017 at 09:52

Off to craigslist.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
05/13/2017 at 10:48

Yeah, no doubt. Can’t blame you, It’s not for everyone.

Spaceball-Two > AestheticsInMotion
05/13/2017 at 11:36

I saw this car in Redmond about 6 months ago when I had my A4. He pulled up next to and jammed the pedal off the line up 85th and yeah that fucker is loud!

AestheticsInMotion > Spaceball-Two
05/13/2017 at 14:51

I’m getting the feeling that he just drives like that... The dude was driving all out from light to light. Pretty steady stream of vape cloud coming out of the windows too. Sure was a good looking sedan though!

NJAnon > AestheticsInMotion
05/14/2017 at 18:49

“I knew what I had to do (you had to the hope to see if you would run with 400+HP German Club)” . please don’t blow your engine for that attempt lol. some of the Audis might be heavy but they bothered to gear for acceleration.

“There is no substitute for a V8".

Timeless comments from oppo members.