B5 RS4 - How long till its a classic
Discussion
Hi All
Currently own a reasonably low mileage Audi B5 RS4, has done just over 68K, has a stage 2 on it and looks great. At the minute the prices have been quite steady and not really appreciating whereas the early noughties M3's have started appreciating. Car is a Y- plate, thinking of cashing in due to life admin coming up (marriage, house, babies) with the Mrs but am reluctant to sell as i'm thinking in a years time they could see a rise as it gets older, if that is the case I don't mind saving hard and keeping it in garage but obviously not if the price just stays the same.
I know you can't predict the future but would be interested to get other peoples thought on when the tables my turn on this car...
Cheers
Neil
Currently own a reasonably low mileage Audi B5 RS4, has done just over 68K, has a stage 2 on it and looks great. At the minute the prices have been quite steady and not really appreciating whereas the early noughties M3's have started appreciating. Car is a Y- plate, thinking of cashing in due to life admin coming up (marriage, house, babies) with the Mrs but am reluctant to sell as i'm thinking in a years time they could see a rise as it gets older, if that is the case I don't mind saving hard and keeping it in garage but obviously not if the price just stays the same.
I know you can't predict the future but would be interested to get other peoples thought on when the tables my turn on this car...
Cheers
Neil
After life admin the RS2 was going to be next. Unfortunately I sold my 1984 Porsche Carrera this year just before the prices went crazy, I made a few quid but could have really bulked up my bank balance if I waited for another 3 months:-(
How many times do you hear people say the above. Maybe should just get rid of the Mrs:-)
How many times do you hear people say the above. Maybe should just get rid of the Mrs:-)
If you're going to drive it, then I doubt it'll appreciate quick enough to cover MOT, tax, servicing and insurance. Then it's a question of what price you put on the driving experience.
If you're not going to drive it, maybe it'll go up a bit, but then why bother keeping it really, it's not going to make you much...?
If you're not going to drive it, maybe it'll go up a bit, but then why bother keeping it really, it's not going to make you much...?
I think the prices are pretty firm at the moment, I can't see them increasing that much, but I can't see them dropping a huge amount either. At least in the short term.
The danger is actually the B7 RS4 getting cheaper, which it will continue to do for a few years yet.
If you can pick up a B7 with 75k on it for 15,000 (in a three years lets say) why would you buy a B5 with 75k for 12,000?
I love the B5, one with 60ishk on it was exactly what I was looking for at the start of the year, but ultimately I bought a B7 and I have to say (sorry) I dont regret it.
As the turbos age, a lot of buyers wil be worried about the state of them given the difficulties in getting them out, so I think those two factors are going to count against you most heavily.
The danger is actually the B7 RS4 getting cheaper, which it will continue to do for a few years yet.
If you can pick up a B7 with 75k on it for 15,000 (in a three years lets say) why would you buy a B5 with 75k for 12,000?
I love the B5, one with 60ishk on it was exactly what I was looking for at the start of the year, but ultimately I bought a B7 and I have to say (sorry) I dont regret it.
As the turbos age, a lot of buyers wil be worried about the state of them given the difficulties in getting them out, so I think those two factors are going to count against you most heavily.
Monty Python said:
I don't think they will - there's nothing "classic" about them. They're just an A4 with 4WD and a V8, and they were made in significant numbers.
Less than 500 rhd made, so not exactly common. I would say they will aquire classic status quite quickly. Its like saying a Cosworth or even a Mexico, was just an Escort. The underpinnings are there, but the car is very different.
Also I think you are thinking of the B7, which was a V8 and made in larger numbers. The B5 was a 2.7 bi-turbo.
WreckedGecko said:
I think the prices are pretty firm at the moment, I can't see them increasing that much, but I can't see them dropping a huge amount either. At least in the short term.
The danger is actually the B7 RS4 getting cheaper, which it will continue to do for a few years yet.
If you can pick up a B7 with 75k on it for 15,000 (in a three years lets say) why would you buy a B5 with 75k for 12,000?
a lot of this down to what the collectors decide is desirable in the coming years, the B5 like the RS2 (and the RS3) is a proper skunkworks car, taken off the line to a "shed" chopped about and bits shoe horned into them. The B7 is a straight production line car.The danger is actually the B7 RS4 getting cheaper, which it will continue to do for a few years yet.
If you can pick up a B7 with 75k on it for 15,000 (in a three years lets say) why would you buy a B5 with 75k for 12,000?
the problem is there is no way of knowing if this well make them more desirable in the long run, but they are a lot rarer to start with which should help, 500 B5s in the UK v 3000+ B7s in its various body forms.
Dave Hedgehog said:
i would expect them to at least hold their money or slowly gain a little, RS2 prices should give you an idea as to what may happen with them
I don't think they'll ever be held in the same regard as the RS2, that has the Porsche connection and being the first of its type, helping maintain its prices.Still a great car though.
Dave Hedgehog said:
a lot of this down to what the collectors decide is desirable in the coming years, the B5 like the RS2 (and the RS3) is a proper skunkworks car, taken off the line to a "shed" chopped about and bits shoe horned into them. The B7 is a straight production line car.
the problem is there is no way of knowing if this well make them more desirable in the long run, but they are a lot rarer to start with which should help, 500 B5s in the UK v 3000+ B7s in its various body forms.
I agree in that I think it will make the B5 more desirable that it's "halo model" decendants. Its exactly why I wanted one! the problem is there is no way of knowing if this well make them more desirable in the long run, but they are a lot rarer to start with which should help, 500 B5s in the UK v 3000+ B7s in its various body forms.
What I was trying to put across was that given how good the B7 is, you are narrowing your buyers to people who really want a B5 for what it represents, rather than people who want a top flight Audi RS Avant. So that is naturally going to limit your market and ultimatly the price bracket they fall into.
For example, I was considering the B5 but I was never going to look at an RS2, outside of a quick test drive. Parts too difficult to find, not that great dynamically and not any faster than later models which are cheaper and easier to maintain.
My worry is that that is what will happen with the B5. It will fall out of the "practical" bracket.
If I had a huge garage to fill with fun cars however...
Triumph Man said:
You have the ideal car for a baby - it's an Avant after all!
Exactly!True petrol heads don't give a rats about the value of the car, so I think the OP is more of a speculator than an enthusiast.
This kind of query seems to be on the rise for pretty modern VAGs. Golf R32s, Corrado VR6s and now B5 RS4s. None of them are classics imo. None of them were game changing cars, none of them were especially popular and none of them set the car world on fire in any way shape or form.
kambites said:
I don't think I can see prices ever rising faster than inflation. Especially with any sort of modification.
I'd agree with this. Any modification is a big no-no for long term classic status. If you factor in maintenance/running costs you're not going to make a profit in the short/medium term and very probably not in the long term either.Monty Python said:
I don't think they will - there's nothing "classic" about them. They're just an A4 with 4WD and a V8, and they were made in significant numbers.
nonsense, not even the right car and I expect the B7 will be considered desirable in years to come when big NA V8s become rarer and rarer in new cars.It's not like the OP is one of these strange people who because of 1 child they need to sell a 2 seater, a family hatch and put all their money into the biggest estate they can find, you already have the ultimate "practical family estate" to deal with a new wife and new kid(s)
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Triumph Man said:
You have the ideal car for a baby - it's an Avant after all!
Exactly!True petrol heads don't give a rats about the value of the car, so I think the OP is more of a speculator than an enthusiast.
This kind of query seems to be on the rise for pretty modern VAGs. Golf R32s, Corrado VR6s and now B5 RS4s. None of them are classics imo. None of them were game changing cars, none of them were especially popular and none of them set the car world on fire in any way shape or form.
As for not giving a rats ass about the value of a car I think the above gives you an idea where I stand on that, nothing wrong with being cute to see if you can make a little tax free shilling here and there, and it only helps going towards the next one :-)
Will the C5 RS6 value increase?
Difficult to know its rare
Is made more famous by its link to Layer Cake
V8 bi turbo
450/480bhp
Avants command more
Adverts over the last year appear to indicate generally higher prices but these sorts of cars take a long time to shift looking at the age of the adverts. These are no longer really daily drivers - though this is exactly what I use mine for commuting long trips shopping even useful for taking stuff to the local dump. I've not seen another on the road in nearly a year and before that only at car events. (I've not seen a B5 RS4 on the road for possibly 10years).
Difficult to know its rare
Is made more famous by its link to Layer Cake
V8 bi turbo
450/480bhp
Avants command more
Adverts over the last year appear to indicate generally higher prices but these sorts of cars take a long time to shift looking at the age of the adverts. These are no longer really daily drivers - though this is exactly what I use mine for commuting long trips shopping even useful for taking stuff to the local dump. I've not seen another on the road in nearly a year and before that only at car events. (I've not seen a B5 RS4 on the road for possibly 10years).
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff