B5 RS4 as a daily?

[Blu3R]

As title, daily mileage is around 40 and predominantly lanes/DCs with a little m/way at the weekends for family outings.
I'll mention that I've had one before but my situation was different then and it just didn't suit rush hour London. Also it was an immaculate low miler and I could feel the value ebbing away with every mile. Now I feel they'll suit me better but I'm interested in your views regarding >100k examples.

[Dr G]

They're nearing 15 years old so whilst fundamentally very strong you will need to tackle 'old car' stuff. Worn bushes, bearings, leaks, graunches etc.

Very regular servicing is key to keeping the engines sweet and in a mild state of tune they don't suffer much more than minor sensor/electrical faults. I don't know how many of the 400 are left but it's probably safe to assume that at least half of them have been thrashed mercilessly now they're cheap. Crap, tasteless modifications don't help either.

You probably know this having owned one but upgraditis is very, very infectious with a one of these

[blade7]

Dr G said:

I don't know how many of the 400 are left but it's probably safe to assume that at least half of them have been thrashed mercilessly now they're cheap. Crap, tasteless modifications don't help either.

Only half of them....

[Brighton Speed]

I've run a 2000 B5 RS4 as a DD for 8 years and really can't fault it. It does around 5,5k miles a year (now on 63k miles) and as long as you service it on the nail (always used Audi) and can afford averaging 20-ish to the gallon it's one hell of an everyday prospect. OK, so the bushes/bearings/consumables argument with an old car is valid, but then I only pay £350 a year fully comp insurance and VED is cheap too. On saying all that I've just put a deposit down on an RS5 as my new DD, doubt it'll ever be as good as the RS4's been but hey, you don't know till you try right?

[Adrian E]

I was looking (from the underside) at a well known RS4 in owners club circles that's done circa 150k miles - it is now so utterly worn out that no matter the mechanical condition of the engine and box the rest of it is quite literally falling to pieces due to years of overly lowered suspension, silly wheels and cracks in subframes. Unfortunately the pool of less abused examples is very, very small. You have a slightly better chance of getting a B7 RS4 but obviously a very different drive and there's a significant amount of tat around for that model too....

A nice one as you previously owned for high days and holidays would be great but I'm not sure I could bring myself to use one daily for the commute?

[Brighton Speed]

Mine's 100% standard and as tight as a gnat's chuff!!

[Adrian E]

Brighton Speed said:

Mine's 100% standard and as tight as a gnat's chuff!!

Like my S8 - 2002 model that's just hit 60k miles and does about 4k a year - enough to enjoy them but not enough to stress them out or ruin them

[Blu3R]

Thanks for the comments so far. Trouble I'll have is that I'll be covering around 11-12,000 miles a year so do I go for a leggy car and sell it after a year, or go for a low miler and lose a portion of its value by putting loads of mileage (percentage wise) onto it?

[Searider]

I had an RS4 as a daily for 4 years covering 30000 miles over that time and sold at 100k miles.

Never let me down.
Tyres and brakes expensive
40k cambelt interval expensive
Needed exhaust camshafts at 80k

In the last year I had it I needed the following:
Front suspension arms ( probably only 2 but I changed all)
Clutch
Oil cooler and hoses

If you find one that's been looked after - as above I don't see why you can't enjoy one as a 12k per year daily.

Sold mine for what I paid for it after 4 years fun.

Currently have a B5 S4 and don't really see it as much cheaper to run than the RS4 was.

Will probably get another in the next 18 months - 2 years - but as a weekender this time.