RS4, S6 or M5?

[bluepony]

I've developed a thing for performance estates (fuel economy be damned) and will shortly be replacing my current S4 Avant.

I can just about stretch to an 07 plate of any of the above.
The S4 I have has done over 110,000 now and I must say has been utterly bombproof. I'm slightly assuming all the cars listed above are reliable.....

The RS4 - very very fast
S6 - not quite as fast but is a bit bigger and very pretty
M5 - it's an M5!!! But I've heard the gearbox is a bit pants.

In both the Audis I'd probably go for a tiptronic auto. I'm too lazy to change gear any more.

Thoughts people?

[Benbay001]

I dont think the RS4 b7 had an auto option?
If i was you id go for the M5, because an RS4 will be similar to your current, surely?

[keith333]

Are you aware that road tax for RS4 and M5 registered after 21st March 2006 is £475 per annum! I was really interested in these, but decided I pay enough taxes as it is. Will probably go for a 535d M Sport instead.

[Luke.]

keith333 said:

Are you aware that road tax for RS4 and M5 registered after 21st March 2006 is £475 per annum! I was really interested in these, but decided I pay enough taxes as it is. Will probably go for a 535d M Sport instead.

Tell me the road tax didn't really put you off?

[keith333]

Sorry Luke I'd did. £475 is a lot of money going straight to the Govt to keep 2.58 million people doing nothing. I tend to keep my cars for quite while so over 6-7 years that extra tax adds up. Obviously I have sinned in your eyes :-)

[Luke.]

keith333 said:

Sorry Luke I'd did. £475 is a lot of money going straight to the Govt to keep 2.58 million people doing nothing. I tend to keep my cars for quite while so over 6-7 years that extra tax adds up. Obviously I have sinned in your eyes :-)

You'd have to probably spend £275 odd anyway unless you're running around in a Fiat 500 or something. So the extra £200 seems like a small sacrifice given all the other costs associated with running a super saloon.

[bluepony]

I'm not really worried about the road tax in a car with a V8 or a V10
Manual, auto, not that fussed. I'm just lazy!

[Patrick Bateman]

keith333 said:

Are you aware that road tax for RS4 and M5 registered after 21st March 2006 is £475 per annum! I was really interested in these, but decided I pay enough taxes as it is. Will probably go for a 535d M Sport instead.

There's too much bait in that post for it to be anything but a wind-up.

[4key]

Do you know what, I dont think that I have ever seen an M5 touring. I always notice the avants, so I dont know whether it is that they are that subtle or that rare.

[dr.pepper]

Patrick Bateman said:

keith333 said:

Are you aware that road tax for RS4 and M5 registered after 21st March 2006 is £475 per annum! I was really interested in these, but decided I pay enough taxes as it is. Will probably go for a 535d M Sport instead.

There's too much bait in that post for it to be anything but a wind-up.

You would be surprised at the amount of people that are scrubbers/stingy when it comes to things like road tax...

[Patrick Bateman]

dr.pepper said:

You would be surprised at the amount of people that are scrubbers/stingy when it comes to things like road tax...

It was more the 535d M Sport.

You don't go looking for an M5 then decide on a 535d cause of £200 worth of tax.

[Leins]

Tax? Try €758 for just 3 months on a 21 year old 2.5L and a 9 year old 3.2L That's why I can't afford depreciation (hopefully!)

Anyway, of those it's an RS4 Avant for me I think

[Smanks]

Patrick Bateman said:

It was more the 535d M Sport.

You don't go looking for an M5 then decide on a 535d cause of £200 worth of tax.

That attitude will help push purchase prices down for the people who don't actually care about a few hundred quid a year Carry on I say.

[Patrick Bateman]

Smanks said:

That attitude will help push purchase prices down for the people who don't actually care about a few hundred quid a year Carry on I say.

Oh I'm all for it, it just beggars belief.

[OdramaSwimLaden]

Luke. said:

keith333 said:

Are you aware that road tax for RS4 and M5 registered after 21st March 2006 is £475 per annum! I was really interested in these, but decided I pay enough taxes as it is. Will probably go for a 535d M Sport instead.

Tell me the road tax didn't really put you off?

I think he is saying it did; £1.30 per day in road tax put him off a 400bhp+, 180mph+, sub-20mpg piece of automotive greatness.

[Some Gump]

I looked at all 3 before going rs4 - but manual was my biggest influencer.
Rs4 is the most driver focussed, followed by m5 then s6.
S6 best practicality / luxury, then m5 then rs.
With an exhaust, s6> rs4> m5 (imo)

All 3 repeatedly impress you by just how capable a big car can be, the rs4 has an advantage because it's not as big a car as the others - but the m5 probably wins the epic:size ratio contest.

[billywhizzzzzz]

Glad to hear the s4 was bombproof - I have a 60000 miler. I miss BMW driving dynamics though - I'd go for the m5

[Scuffers]

S6 looks like the thinking man's choice

[Aeroresh]

Scuffers said:

S6 looks like the thinking man's choice

Defo drive one first. I had a dabble a couple of years back and it was the most dissapointing drive Ive ever had in a so called performance car. Dull, numb and vague summed it up. Didn't even feel very quick....big let down!

[LongLiveTazio]

Scuffers said:

S6 looks like the thinking man's choice

Not at all quick though and it's a big car after the A4.

I'd wait until the current S4 is affordable, absolutely cracking engine and very real-world rapid.