B7 RS4 Avant or B8 S4 Avant
Discussion
Following on from here... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... from a few years ago. I am now in a similar situation.
Have about £25,000 to spend and find myself genuinely split between a decent lowish miles (66k) B7 RS4 and 10/11 plate B8 S4 with about half the miles.
I know the RS4 will be more expensive to run, has some coking and DRC issues, the seats get nicked, the brakes cost £2,000 etc etc.
Whereas the S4 is more reasonable and will be A) more modern B) Audi approved used and C) have half the miles.
In three years they will be worth about the same, the RS probably a bit more but there is not much in it.
However, the RS4 is a far more attractive car, the S4 just looks like any other A4 estate. To be fair that’s not always a bad thing.
Mrs Gecko is coming down firmly on the side of the S4, but I am not quite ready of give up on the idea of owning a RS4 Avant…
Have driven both, prefer the RS, but the S has quite a bit going for it when it comes to eating motorway miles/sitting in London traffic.
First world problems and all that, but what do you guys think; is it worth saving on servicing/running costs and getting a newer car that is 80% as capable or should I take an older, potentially riskier but full fat RS?
Cheers!
Have about £25,000 to spend and find myself genuinely split between a decent lowish miles (66k) B7 RS4 and 10/11 plate B8 S4 with about half the miles.
I know the RS4 will be more expensive to run, has some coking and DRC issues, the seats get nicked, the brakes cost £2,000 etc etc.
Whereas the S4 is more reasonable and will be A) more modern B) Audi approved used and C) have half the miles.
In three years they will be worth about the same, the RS probably a bit more but there is not much in it.
However, the RS4 is a far more attractive car, the S4 just looks like any other A4 estate. To be fair that’s not always a bad thing.
Mrs Gecko is coming down firmly on the side of the S4, but I am not quite ready of give up on the idea of owning a RS4 Avant…
Have driven both, prefer the RS, but the S has quite a bit going for it when it comes to eating motorway miles/sitting in London traffic.
First world problems and all that, but what do you guys think; is it worth saving on servicing/running costs and getting a newer car that is 80% as capable or should I take an older, potentially riskier but full fat RS?
Cheers!
RobbyJ said:
Kell said:
If it were me, I'd take the B8 S4 and chip it.
We were in a broadly similar position a while back. I've always wanted an RS4 and we tossed up whether to get an B7 RS4 or a C6 3.0TDi A6.
Common sense won out, but the RS4 itch is something I still feel like scratching.
Depends how strong your itch is.
+1We were in a broadly similar position a while back. I've always wanted an RS4 and we tossed up whether to get an B7 RS4 or a C6 3.0TDi A6.
Common sense won out, but the RS4 itch is something I still feel like scratching.
Depends how strong your itch is.
S4 with an MRC remap is pushing 480BHP vs 380BHP from a coked up B7 RS4. The RS4 looks great but with all the theft issues coupled with the other issues noted I'd go for the S4 any day. It's personal I know and I'm sure RS4 owners will be along to advise otherwise. Just watch the Chris Harris video pitting the B8 S4 vs the B8 RS4, it's told me all I needed to know. I was debating long and hard between a B8 S4 and a C6 RS6, the heart won over the head and I've now got the RS6!
Looks like a few votes for the S4. Still want the RS4 though!
graeme4130 said:
From a cost perspective, the b8 S4 will still have a lot of depreciating yet to do whereas the b7 RS4 isn't likely to go down much further
You'd probably spend less in maintenance costs vs the s4 than you'd lose in the comparable depreciation
Lets say I do about 5k a year. The RS and the S are the same price to buy. In three years the RS would have about 75k on it, the S about 50 or so. Given the steep depreciation on the S4s how much less than the RS would it be worth? You'd probably spend less in maintenance costs vs the s4 than you'd lose in the comparable depreciation
I'm thinking max 5k less. So over 3 years thats about £1,600 a year. Given the RS would probably cost that much more in servicing etc per year, I'm not sure the difference in depreciation would come into it.
Or am I wrong?
With regards to the £4,000 bill putting me off it, it would annoy me given that that would represent about 16% of the car's value! But I don't think it would ruin the car, although to be honest, it would come close. It would have to be something fairly major to rack that up though.
I would hope to not have a individual bill of that size. Over the course of a year it would be more managable, although not ideal!
I have run a TVR in the past that had some big costs so I am not adverse to spending on maintainance.
Bit the bullet; found a pretty mint RS4 over the long weekend and all things being equal, will pick it up next weekend.
Only thing on it don't like is that it has the brushed alu highlights and light headlining rather than the carbon and black headlining.
Small things in the grand scheme though, given its lowish miles (56k) well cared for and has a bit of dealer backup.
Will put some pics up for those interested once it is home.
Only thing on it don't like is that it has the brushed alu highlights and light headlining rather than the carbon and black headlining.
Small things in the grand scheme though, given its lowish miles (56k) well cared for and has a bit of dealer backup.
Will put some pics up for those interested once it is home.
I reckon I will either leave it or get them replaced with some decent second hand ones. The carbon is "round" wheras the alu is "flat" if that makes sense.
Probably leave it I think.
Checking on the service history has flagged up some interesting questions. The last service was at Audi dealer, all stamped up (correct stamp, correct dealer number) etc, but when I called the dealer they have no record of the service? They have worked on the car previously, but not serviced it.
The current dealer is going to service it before I pick it up, so its not the end of the world but still...
Thoughts?
Probably leave it I think.
Checking on the service history has flagged up some interesting questions. The last service was at Audi dealer, all stamped up (correct stamp, correct dealer number) etc, but when I called the dealer they have no record of the service? They have worked on the car previously, but not serviced it.
The current dealer is going to service it before I pick it up, so its not the end of the world but still...
Thoughts?
y2blade said:
Ah yeah 
OP get some pics up please.
all the best with it.
Will do mate!OP get some pics up please.
all the best with it.
Another RS has popped up about 5 miles from me that has confused me! I was rock solid on the one I saw the other day, but cosmetically the one closer to home is exactly what I was looking for and has very similar miles on it.
Basically, I am a tart and I can't make my mind up.
So... having taken your collective posts and the very good points made in them, on board;
I ignored the vast majority of them, made a stupid decision and bought a B7 RS4...
I couldn't be happier. Within 15 minutes of picking it up I was hammering across the moors in the driving rain (which helpfully stopped briefly for photos)and it never put a foot wrong, apart from almost collecting a pheasant, which you can't really blame the car for.
Its just a lovely place to be.
Even the fuel economy isn't terrible.
I wasn't sold on the Avus Silver, my preference has always been for Daytona Grey, but now I think it just looks right.
Even Mrs. Gecko has decided it was the right choice. Apparently it "smells nice", which is a good thing.
There are a couple of small things I want to do to it, all cosmetic, but otherwise I think I might (whisper it), have bought a decent car for the first time in about 10 years.
I ignored the vast majority of them, made a stupid decision and bought a B7 RS4...
I couldn't be happier. Within 15 minutes of picking it up I was hammering across the moors in the driving rain (which helpfully stopped briefly for photos)and it never put a foot wrong, apart from almost collecting a pheasant, which you can't really blame the car for.
Its just a lovely place to be.
Even the fuel economy isn't terrible.
I wasn't sold on the Avus Silver, my preference has always been for Daytona Grey, but now I think it just looks right.
Even Mrs. Gecko has decided it was the right choice. Apparently it "smells nice", which is a good thing.
There are a couple of small things I want to do to it, all cosmetic, but otherwise I think I might (whisper it), have bought a decent car for the first time in about 10 years.
The RS did a fantastic job this weekend, transporting 4 of us plus camping gear, to a wedding, as well as doing sterling service as a bed.
The squeals of excitement (or possibly panic) from the girls in the back seats when I first gave it a boot full were a wonderful reminder of why these cars are quite so bloody good!
The squeals of excitement (or possibly panic) from the girls in the back seats when I first gave it a boot full were a wonderful reminder of why these cars are quite so bloody good!
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