2007 Audi RS4 Avant (B7)

Highlights

• 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8

• Just 3 former owners

• Comprehensive service history

• Unmodified and in factory specification

• Recent £1,300 full detail

Overview

If you’re going to get an estate car, and as you know we heartily recommend that you do, then buying one with the beating heart of a supercar is the way to go. For most petrolheads the idea of a relatively subtle, immensely practical vehicle that just so happens to deliver enough excitement and raw shove to send sports cars running for cover is what dreams are made of.

Thankfully, with the B7 iteration of the RS4, Audi did just that. Just looking at it, you know there’s something special about it. Slightly swollen arches, subtly sporting bodykit, whopping great wheels and those iconic silver wing mirrors all hint at the potential on offer, without ever being gauche or showy. This could be just a nicely specced 2-litre diesel estate.

But it isn’t. No, Audi decided to shoehorn a 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 into the front end. Not just any V8 either, this is the unit that went on to give the R8 supercar such epic charisma and thrust. It’s a genuine superstar of a powerplant and, in our opinion, one of the finest engines ever made. From that thrumming burble at idle to the furious, animalistic howl as it crescendos at an ferocious 8,250rpm, it has more soul and character than any Audi since the Ur Quattro.

And unlike many examples, this one hasn’t been messed with. In fact it’s presented in factory specification, with no modifications at all. That makes it quite the rarity, as these handsome machines have often seen unwelcome modifications over the years. Add to that the below average mileage and solid service record, and you have the kind of car that should deliver many more years of fabulous motoring, as well as being a genuine modern classic with lots of investment potential.

If you’re looking for the exact centre of the “practical, characterful, devastatingly quick” venn diagram, we reckon you’ve just found it.

History and documentation

• First registered 30 March 2007

• Current keeper since 14 November 2015, just 3 former keepers

• MOT expires 29 June 2026

• 94,685 miles on the clock, verified by the service and MOT records

• Stamped service book with services as follows: Sep 2008 @ 10,486 miles, Jun 2010 @ 27,721 miles, Nov 2011 @ 31,350 miles, Feb 2012 @ 39,441 miles, Jan 2012  (actually 2013, but incorrectly noted) @ 46,881 miles, Jan 2014 @ 53,864 miles, Feb 2015 @ 63,346 miles, Oct 2015 @ 67,548 miles, Jan 2017 @ 80,911 miles, Jul 2018 @ 86,739 miles, Sep 2020 @ 89,024 miles, May 2022 @ 91,241 miles, Jan 2024 @ 93,980 miles

• Unmodified and in factory specification

• Tracker system fitted

• The MOT history notes an outstanding manufacturer recall

• Full document pack

• Collection of invoices for servicing / maintenance and old MOT certificates

• Two keys

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Black leather upholstery with white contrast stitching

• All of the leather appears to be in very good order with light wear commensurate with the vehicle’s age – we noted a little more wear to the driver’s outer bolster, as would be expected

• A pair of deeply bolstered sports seats are fitted up front, with a 3-person bench with headrests in the rear – all appear to be firm and with no rips or sagging we could see

• The front seats are electrically adjustable and heated

• Dark grey carpet is fitted through the cabin, and all looks to be in good condition with no notable wear or damage

• A set of black overmats is also fitted, with the front pair showing some wear

• Light grey headlining,  showing in fine condition, with no damage, marking or sagging apparent

• Audi Navigation Plus system

• Bose premium sound system with CD/radio

• Dual zone climate control

• Heated front and rear windscreens

• In-built retractable blinds in the rear doors

• Multi-function steering wheel

• Electrically operated side windows and door mirrors

• Electrically operated metal sunroof

• Front and rear parking sensors

• All of the internal trim and switchgear appears to be in good order, with nothing broken, missing or significantly worn that we could discern

• As you’d expect from an Avant, the boot space is generous and features a retractable load cover

• Dark grey carpet is fitted in the boot, and is in good condition with no stains or threading on show

• A thick rubber load liner has been fitted

• The vendor reports no issues or faults with any of the cabin’s features or functions

Exterior

• Discreet metallic black paintwork suits the car’s lines and contrasts well with the silver door mirrors and roof rails

• The paint shows well for its age, with a few minor bubbles, stone chips and blemishes, but no notable issues and a good depth of gloss 

• The car has recently been professionally machine polished and detailed at a cost of nearly £1,300, this included: interior detail, engine detail, 3-year ceramic coating for the paintwork, alloy wheels and brake calipers ceramic coated, hubs cleaned and repainted, arches deep cleaned and dressed

• All of the bodywork appears to be clean and straight, with no corrosion or damage, good panel alignment and consistent gaps all round

• The light units front are rear are all clear and free from notable chips and cracks, as are all of the windows

• The external trim and badging is all present and correct, with no UV damage or warping that we could identify

• Underneath everything looks to be clean and straight, with no damage to the sills or floor pans

• A set of factory-option 19-inch split-spoke alloy wheels are fitted and finished in silver – the seller tells us that they were refurbished in 2023 and they still show very well, with no obvious kerb damage or lacquer peel

• The rear wheels are finished with Hankook tyres (MOT advisory for the rear tyres), and Avon tyres are fitted at the front – all are 255/35

Mechanical

• 4,163cc naturally-aspirated V8 delivering 414bhp, 317lb-ft, 8,250rpm redline

• Factory performance figures: 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, 155mph (limited)

• 6-speed manual transmission

• Quattro all-wheel drive system

• Dynamic Ride Control suspension

• Cruise control

• Sport mode

• Power steering, ABS, ESP

• Good, comprehensive service record

• September 2020: new upper suspension arms all round, front ARB links, tie rods, tie rod ends, lower front track arms, front suspension arms

• The vendor assures us that the car runs and drives just as it should, with no mechanical faults or issues reported

Summary

This delightful long-roof Q-car really does it for us – and we reckon it’s catnip for quite a number of you too. Who doesn’t love the idea of a car with a thumping V8 that redlines at over 8,000rpm, but can also carry your kids, a decently large labrador and all the gear you need for a lovely weekend in Aberaeron?

There’s a thinly-veiled, stylish brutality to the RS4 Avant. It’s the car equivalent of squeezing Jonah Lomu into a tailored suit – you look at it and think “yeah, it looks great, but how fast can it possibly be… HOLY HELL”.

It feels like we’re saying this a lot lately, but maybe that’s because it’s true: they just don’t make cars like this anymore. Name one estate car – heck, any family car – on sale today with the presence, practicality, desirability and punch of a B7 RS4.

No, we couldn’t think of one either. Best get this then.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Crowborough, East Sussex.