RS4 James

Well we popped out for a drive yesterday afternoon in the pouring rain. My girlfriend loved it although she is not yet convinced by the practicality side or whether it's just too flashy for her. She's also concerned that I'd be too precious about the car (keeping it clean, looking after it etc) whereas her current car is used as a mobile storage facility/dustbin. But if she drives the T5 van as a daily then that might be an option? I was very impressed with the way the GT86 drove. Yes it felt incredibly slow after the Audi yet in contrast to the Audi it felt light, adjustable, responsive and simple. I liked it a lot. More practical than I remember too with the fold down rear bench and also excellent visibility all round I thought for the type of car. In short I'd have one, it's a big YES from me, but she'll need to give it a little more consideration. So we're going to have a think about it and hopefully we can reach a decision and (if it's right for her) have a GT86 on the drive by the summer. Fall back option wont be a Skoda if I can help it but probably something more practical, common and understated like a Megane RS or Golf R. Would much rather the GT86 though personally.

Thanks Lauren, yes that's were we're heading

Sorry, should have clarified, I'm not buying a car for her, she's selling her Panda because it's on it's last legs, I'm selling my RS4 and this is a car for both of us (plus we now have the T5 van for practical stuff). It's more than likely that I'll be driving the GT86 most of the time and her the van, it's just that if we went for the GT86 I want her to feel happy in it, and be able to drive it safely, without me having to worry that she's going to end up in the hedgerows as a result of being caught out by an unexpected rear end slide.

Based South Manchester so we spend a lot of weekends driving out to the Peak District, Wales etc. Booked a test drive at a main dealer at the weekend - yay!

Thanks all for your replies. Didn't know about the traction control so that's a big plus and yes good idea about swapping out the tyres. Assume you can still get it to slide easily enough with some grippier rubber? Think it might be a goer but I'll try and take her for a test drive somewhere first to make sure she likes it and if we do get one then also think about booking us both on a skid pan day. Will be a shame about the RS4, there's really nothing much else you see day to day that can match it on the road for outright grip and pace in all weathers, but like I said I'm also excited about a change. A slower but more balanced and adjustable RWD car like the GT86 sounds just the ticket. Also should the worst happen and it does get dented, it would be easily repairable unlike the Audi where wheels, body panels, bumpers and an increasing list of other components are no longer available from the manufacturer. Just out of interest, can you get a mountain bike inside a GT86 if needed? Alternatively I assume there are roof racks available?

Hi, I'm new on here. I have been thinking about another car for a while now to replace the current Audi B5 RS4 which has been a truly fantastic car over the last 6 years. The Audi will be missed greatly, it’s been a real all weather load lugger (although the 4 figure service bills and 22mpg won’t be missed). The only issue with the Audi is that it’s always been a very rare car and now that it’s 18 years old, the values are going upwards yet the parts availability to keep them running is going downwards. In truth I don't really want to sell it but it does make sense to get something newer for the daily drive, hopefully saving a lot of money in running costs in the process. I’ve driven some newer Audi RS cars (RS3 & RS4) but neither seem to match the excitement and feeling of being truly special that I currently have with the much older B5 RS4. I also have a VW Transporter now so don’t necessarily need the practicality of an estate or hatchback car. So that’s where the GT86 comes in. I think I am after something completely different from what I am used to. I went to drive a GT86 last year (the Subaru version) at a main dealer and it felt great. I loved the way the back end easily stepped out of line and could be collected again. But therein lies the problem: My girlfriend is moving in next month and we will only have space for 2 x vehicles so the GT86 would be the one car to replace both my RS4 and also her ageing Fiat Panda, leaving the VW Transporter to take care of the practical stuff. My girlfriend is not a confident driver, gets flustered easily behind the wheel and she has little interest in driving or cars other than in getting from A to B. She has never driven the Audi and although she likes the look of the GT86, she would prefer to replace the Audi with something more mundane, higher and practical like a Skoda Yeti. Good car I know but not exactly exciting. I think I can easily talk her round to the GT86 but the question is whether it is sensible to be giving a fairly twitchy tail happy car to someone who might not know what to do (and who might panic) should the back end slide? The roads round our way (Peak District) can be quite slippery with leaves, ice, mud etc this time of year and I’d feel really terrible if she ended up loosing the back end and spun off the road or worse. I know that some skid pan training might be useful for her - if I could convince her to give it a go. Has anyone else had this dilemma? How easy is the GT86 to drive for those who don't appreciate, care or know the difference between FWD and RWD? Would putting my girlfriend in the GT86 be an accident waiting to happen and should we just play it safe and buy something quick and fun but FWD or AWD, or heaven forbid a Skoda Yeti instead? Maybe I'm over thinking this?