2001 Audi RS4 (B5)

Highlights

• Biturbo 2.7-litre V6

• Iconic Quattro AWD system

• Extensive service record

• New stainless steel exhaust and Bilstein coilovers

• 6-speed manual transmission

Overview

Few things in life are as satisfying as a fast estate. And when it comes to weapons-grade fast estate lunacy, Audi are definitely the ones to beat. Heck, they pretty much defined the genre with the RS2 in the mid-90s, a dashing blue collaboration with Porsche, fine examples of which now change hands for “if you have to ask you can’t afford it” money.

Of course, having nailed the landing on their first try, the RS2’s success did raise the spectre of the awkward second album. How exactly does one follow on from a legend? Well, asking the motorsport and engine wizards from Cosworth to liberally spatter their expertise all over the car would be a wonderful way to start. Which is precisely what Audi did.

Cosworth took the already punchy biturbo V6 from the S4 and set to work. Inlet manifolds were refined, cylinder heads were remachined from aluminium and the mapping was tweaked to deliver the kind of performance that pinned many a Labrador to the rear window. 

But it’s not all about the power, although that is rather intoxicating. The B5 RS4 harks back to a time many would say was “peak car”. With bulletproof build quality, subtly muscular styling, enough space for everything you could reasonably want to carry, plenty of creature comforts (without the electronic nannies), a whopping 375bhp on tap with positively lovely 6-speed manual transmission, it’s everything you could want from a car. 

These days, the B5 RS4 is seriously collectible too. Many have met their demise at the hands of the modification crowd, or overly enthusiastic boy racers – which means finding a pretty much standard car in great condition is a bit like tripping over a Fabergé egg in your garden. Possible, but decidedly unlikely. Happily, here at PH Towers, we like to make the unlikely… er… more likely. This particular RS4 is beautifully presented, almost completely standard barring a couple of well-chosen upgrades, very well maintained and generally a very lovely thing.

If you like fast, practical, well-specced, collectible and rare cars, then this really should be on your radar. If you don’t then we’re fairly sure you’re on the wrong website.

History and documentation

• Registered 15 February 2001 (Belfast)

• Sold new in from Audi dealership in Belfast, imported to the mainland UK un September 2003

• Present owner since August 2009, 4 previous owners

• Current mileage: 97,785

• Current MOT expires 7 July 2026

• Stamped service book with services as follows: May 2002 @ 10,848 miles; July 2003 @ 18,957 miles; March 2005 @ 28,105 miles; December 2005 @ 40,135 miles; July 2007 @ 47,322 miles; May 2008 @ 51,918 miles (cambelt service); January 2009 @ 63,215 miles; June 2009 @ 68,179 miles; June 2010 @ 73,803 miles; July 2011 @ 81,262 miles (clutch and cambelt service); February 2015 @ 91,994 miles; October 2015 @ 93,793 miles; October 2016 @ 95,487 miles; October 2019 @ 97,636 miles (incl. new clutch)

• The car appears to have been off the road from some time in 2020 until July 2025

• Full document pack

• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates

• Two keys

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• Cherished registration included in the sale

Interior

• Black leather upholstery, which looks to be in fine condition for its age, with no notable wear to the rear bench, and only some light creasing to the front seats – we didn’t note any sagging or tears

• Electrically adjustable, heated front Recaro sports seats

• Electrically operated side windows and door mirrors

• Black carpets and black RS4 branded floor mats, which all look to be in good order

• Dark grey headlining

• Gold carbon fibre effect trim to the doors, dashboard fascia and centre console, all of which looks to be in fine fettle, with no warping or damage we could discern

• Air conditioning

• Electrically operated sunroof

• BOSE premium sound system

• Aftermarket double-DIN Kenwood Radio/CD head unit with sat-nav

• There are a few scratches and blemishes to the interior trim, but only what is commensurate with the car’s age and mileage – overall the trim and switchgear looks to be in excellent condition

• We’re told that the front centre armrest has been replaced, but that the original unit can be included if required

• As you’d expect, the boot space is excellent, and a tailored rubber liner has been fitted for extra practicality

• Under the boot carpet, the floor and spare wheel well look to be in very good order, with no evidence of damage, corrosion or accident repair that we could see

• The vendor reports no issues with the systems and functions in the cabin

Exterior

• Avus Silver paintwork, which presents very well, with only a few minor stone chips and blemishes

• The bodywork shows very well, with clean, straight lines and neat, even panel gaps; we saw no obvious corrosion or damage

• Satin silver mirror covers and roof rails

• The rear bumper has been replaced, as the original item cracked

• All of the external trim and badging appears to be complete and in excellent condition

• The glass elements and light lenses look to be clear and free from cracks, large chips or clouding

• Underneath the car looks nice and clean

• Original 18-inch 9-spoke alloy wheels, finished in silver, which appear to be free from notable marks, kerb damage and lacquer peel

• A matched set of Kumho Ecsta Sport tyres have been recently fitted (255/35 all round) and appear to be almost unused

• The vendor tells us that they are also happy to include a spare set of alloy wheels by negotiation

Mechanical

• 2,671cc V6 biturbo, developed by Cosworth

• Quattro all-wheel drive system

• 6-speed manual transmission

• Multi-link independent suspension all round

• Factory performance figures: 375bhp, 325lb-ft, 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, 170mph+ top speed

• Recently fitted performance stainless steel exhaust system

• Recently fitted Bilstein B16 coilovers (original suspension components included)

• Newly fitted power-steering pump

• Braided HEL brake hoses fitted

• New clutch and flywheel at 97,636 miles (Oct 2019)

• ABS and ESP systems

• Cruise control

• The engine undertray was misplaced by a garage

• We’re assured that the car starts, idles and drives just as it should, with no shortage of performance

Summary

By some measures, 25 years is no time at all. It certainly seems as if time has stood still for this lovely B5 RS4. It reminds us just how good the performance cars of the 00s are.

Benefitting from some carefully chosen upgrades, a great spec, below average mileage and a fine record of servicing and maintenance, we think this increasingly rare performance estate ticks an awful lot of boxes. And the good thing is, you can fit all of those boxes in the back. Then deliver them to the other side of the country at warp speed, grinning like the Cheshire Cat the entire way as that biturbo V6 whooshes and howls and the Quattro system swallows up anything the UK’s roads (and weather) can throw at it..

It is, not to put too fine a point on it, utterly flipping brilliant. Peak Audi? Probably. Peak car? It may just be…

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 Herne Bay, Kent