Can I afford to run and maintain a B7 Audi RS4

[Henribrad]

Hi guys , new to Pistonheads

I currently finance a BMW 430d xdrive however im due to hand it back in March

Paying £357 x 36 instalments
£95 insurance

I’m 23 years old, living with mum and dad and a fairly low maintenance girlfriend

With a £20,000 Barclays loan I really really want a B7 RS4 next

After tax I bring in £1300 every 4 weekly

Iv herd they drink fuel (that’s ok as I commute on the train, so won’t be a daily driver)

Can I afford to “run + maintain” one ?

Any advice or answers very much appreciated

Thanks
Henry

[Jazzy Jefferson]

Henribrad said:

Hi guys , new to Pistonheads

I currently finance a BMW 430d xdrive however im due to hand it back in March

Paying £357 x 36 instalments
£95 insurance

I’m 23 years old, living with mum and dad and a fairly low maintenance girlfriend

With a £20,000 Barclays loan I really really want a B7 RS4 next

After tax I bring in £1300 every 4 weekly

Iv herd they drink fuel (that’s ok as I commute on the train, so won’t be a daily driver)

Can I afford to “run + maintain” one ?

Any advice or answers very much appreciated

Thanks
Henry

Whilst living with the parents...I'd be surprised if you couldn't run it. 20K worth of debt though? Is it really worth it?
No chance if you intend to move out.

Edited by Jazzy Jefferson on Thursday 10th January 12:25

[syl]

Don’t get a £20k loan to buy an old car if you take home £1300/month.

Either lease something sensible or buy something for much less.

[Over over under steer]

The answer to CAN YOU afford one on £1300 pcm net is yes, based loosely on what you've said. Just leave a a couple of thousand, ideally a little more in a readily accessible maintenance pot unless you get unlucky and something comes up quickly.


The answer to SHOULD YOU buy one is much more likely to be a no. With the money you would spend I'd consider putting away towards a house deposit, or renting somewhere to get some independence. It's great that you want a petrolheads type of car, but they can be had for much less if you go for something a bit different. Fast estate for example, though not as fast, could be a Subaru Legacy or WRX wagon, Volvo T5 of some variety. All of these will more than likely cost you less to run, less on interest from finance payments and still be pretty fun.

If you are in a career that has a lot of upwards headroom when it comes to salary as a result of career progression, and perhaps you are in line for some inheritance/support for a deposit on a house when you're ready, then the SHOULD YOU answer moves further from a no and closer to a why not.

You only live once, but maybe there is a healthy balance to be had.

If I've misread that and you're in fact on £1300 per week then just go for it.

[MDMA .]

What is the insurance for one at 23yo?

[J4CKO]

Henribrad said:

Hi guys , new to Pistonheads

I currently finance a BMW 430d xdrive however im due to hand it back in March

Paying £357 x 36 instalments
£95 insurance

I’m 23 years old, living with mum and dad and a fairly low maintenance girlfriend

With a £20,000 Barclays loan I really really want a B7 RS4 next

After tax I bring in £1300 every 4 weekly

Iv herd they drink fuel (that’s ok as I commute on the train, so won’t be a daily driver)

Can I afford to “run + maintain” one ?

Any advice or answers very much appreciated

Thanks
Henry

£450 a month to buy and insure it, then you have VED which will be another £50 a month or thereabouts as its band M.

£500 before its moved, reckon on high teens early twenties on SUL.

Servicing, tyres, brakes, MOT and if anything goes wrong, which is does, they can be a bit needy, especially as they get older, they carbon up, parts tend to be eye watering if its RS specific.

Spend ten grand on a Fiesta ST, ok its not an RS4 but you will be able to live as well and its probably more fun anyway and will do 35 mpg whatever you do.


And try not to refer to your other half as "low maintenance", she may read this and decide she isnt and its a bit demeaning.

Save the RS4 idea until you are earning more.

[FIREBIRDC9]

Whilst living with mum and dad i really wouldn't bother.

[Cold]

It'll get stolen off the drive before you begin to suffer any financial bothers with it.

[AllyBassman]

Awesome car...... but move out man! Get your own gaff and focus on a decent motor second.

[Henribrad]

Wow thanks for the quick response

Yes I should have my priorities right and be investing in a house
My fiends just bought a house but spends all his wage on his mortgage and can never afford to do anything eg: lads holidays

I’d like a V8 next, or if the dealer offers something good then an M car finance

Though being as young as I am , I’m not a pro diriver and herd the M cars are a little crazy

The RS4 seems a lot of fun

Other V8 alternatives then ???

[akirk]

J4CKO said:

Henribrad said:

Hi guys , new to Pistonheads

I currently finance a BMW 430d xdrive however im due to hand it back in March

Paying £357 x 36 instalments
£95 insurance

I’m 23 years old, living with mum and dad and a fairly low maintenance girlfriend

With a £20,000 Barclays loan I really really want a B7 RS4 next

After tax I bring in £1300 every 4 weekly

Iv herd they drink fuel (that’s ok as I commute on the train, so won’t be a daily driver)

Can I afford to “run + maintain” one ?

Any advice or answers very much appreciated

Thanks
Henry

£450 a month to buy and insure it, then you have VED which will be another £50 a month or thereabouts as its band M.

£500 before its moved, reckon on high teens early twenties on SUL.

Servicing, tyres, brakes, MOT and if anything goes wrong, which is does, they can be a bit needy, especially as they get older, they carbon up, parts tend to be eye watering if its RS specific.

Spend ten grand on a Fiesta ST, ok its not an RS4 but you will be able to live as well and its probably more fun anyway and will do 35 mpg whatever you do.


And try not to refer to your other half as "low maintenance", she may read this and decide she isnt and its a bit demeaning.

Save the RS4 idea until you are earning more.

well said!

I run an M5 which is possibly similar in terms of costs / fuel / insurance / etc. - I am late 40s - so my insurance is a lot lower, and my income is several magnitudes higher than yours - it is still a luxury that I prioritise, rather than a cost I wouldn't notice - I can't see any way I would run that type of car on your monthly income.

If you are living at home are you contributing to your parent's costs? If not, then you have no realistic understanding of the cost of living - £1,300 in today's world is not very much money to live on - depending where you are in the world, property prices will vary, but even so:
- cost of property (rent or mortgage)
- saving for a deposit
- commuting costs (even if train not car)
- food
- clothing
- socialising
- holidays
- pension
- general savings
- etc.

if you are saying you have £1,300 a month after all that as well, then fine - otherwise, the above advice for something like an ST is very good advice!

[Anthony Wright]

I'd say it all depends on your luck and how much you want to move out in the near future. I've had one for 2 1/2 years and have only had regular servicing to contend with.

I take the view on cars that I'd rather have a low mileage older car that benefits from a flatter depreciation curve and pick up the odd large maintenance bill. It's certainly a car that can throw up a big bill - brakes, clutch, suspension etc. so if you're unlucky it could prove very expensive.

Average 20 mpg.

Could be a lot worse.

[acme]

I'd go along with what has been said, however and I know every young petrolhead has one but you really should test a ST. I did at the weekend, they really are as good as all the reviews say - and I've driven and own much 'better' cars. Are they more fun, quite possibly not!

[chow pan toon]

You can probably afford it but there are loads of things I'd rather be spending my money on in your situation. Starting with rent/mortgage to stop living with my parents.

[Henribrad]

Umm ok, thanks for the advice
Sensible answer is to save for a house

With my wages I pay £100 a month to mum n dad
And the rest I save a little and spend a little

I work on the railway but hoping in a few years I can be in management position and drive some of the motors in the car park aha

Fiesta ST does sound fun, my friend has a Focus ST but the Beamer can hang with it so was looking for something more , ie put your foot down and you’re forced back into your seat

Thanks for the sensible advice guys
Henry

[Pig benis]

I wouldn't even bother my friend. Yes you might be able to afford the loan repayments, but what if the car needs all x4 new tyres one month, what if you have an unexpected repair bill, don't forget the servicing.

Being able to make the monthly repayments is nothing in the grand scheme of things, especially when trying to run an old RS4. I earn x3 your salary and I consider myself not to be able to afford to run a car like this. I've had similar cars and the bills can really mount up if you're unlucky.

Have you thought about a newer S3 / S4? They will not have the RS tax on parts, cheaper to run and still have fantastic performance?

If you want to buy one go ahead, but I'm a few years older than you and have seen this go wrong. If all goes right though, you will have a ridiculously awesome car and the soundtrack is FANTASTIC.

[anonymous-user]

When I was in my 20's I bought the odd car or two that really stretched me (TVR the main one...) and whilst the experience was amazing, I only kept it for the best part of a year. The problem is, if it is a stretch to afford and run one (I had to smoke rollies driving my TVR - back when only old bearded blokes and hippies smoked rollies) then you spend more time worrying about depreciation and incoming servicing costs than actually enjoying the car.

Would I take it back? hell no! but just be aware, the novelty wears off after a short while.

Buy it, enjoy it, sell it.

[anonymous-user]

I think this is a wind up!

[Never you mind]

I don't get the love for the RS4. Test drove one ages ago and found it really really dull to drive. Made a nice noise and was quick but just lacked something. Bought a Lotus Elise instead. Cheaper to run and wasn't high on the list cars that you can get a nicked safe in the boot.

[Henribrad]

I’m not trying to wind anyone up or annoy people

Just looking for some advice.

I apprecaite the comments and judging by the posts, people who have invested their money in houses seem to have enjoyed the expensive cars later on in life