Monday 31st July 2017

Audi RS4: Market Watch

With Audi's B9 RS4 expected soon, we take a closer look at the market for its illustrious V6 and V8 predecessors

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Like a B-2 stealth bomber, Audi's RS4 has always possessed the ability to travel at high speed with the minimum of unwanted attention, whilst carrying a heavy payload. And although the intentions of most RS4 drivers are usually good deal more peaceful, the ability to outrun almost anything else when the need arises is a key attribute.

The ability to do just that has made successive generations of Audi's supercar-rivalling five-door one of the most desirable fast estates on earth. And just like its Northrop Grumman alter ego, the investment required to make the RS4 go that quick is substantial - which is in turn reflected in the asking price.

Fortunately, the RS4 has been extensively updated over the last 18 years, and as each generation has aged it has also depreciated. So the B5 and B7 cars can now be bought for less than £20,000, although the original B5 is now starting to appreciate.

Owning an RS4 does require you to make some compromises in terms of running costs but - when the mood takes you - you can savour the kind of performance normally reserved for only the very fastest of sports cars. Whilst the rest of the time you can happily travel about almost incognito.

In the beginning of course, Audi and Porsche created the legendary 1994 RS2 - a 315hp estate car with a five-cylinder turbocharged engine that broke the mould. And the RS2's successors have carried that mantle all the way through to the present, boasting front-mounted, longitudinal engines and Audi's trademark Quattro four-wheel-drive transmission.

The original 1999 B5 bi-turbo V6 RS4 was produced as a five-door Avant only and was reasonably well received, but Audi decided not to produce a B6-based RS4 to replace it. A second-generation V8 B7 RS4 did finally arrive in 2006 - initially produced as a four-door saloon, with the Avant following a short while later. A two-door, four-seat Cabriolet was also eventually added. The third-generation B8 RS4 arrived in 2012 - this time again in Avant form only - and very latest fourth-generation B9 RS4 Avant will arrive later this year.

Soon to be four generations then, but which one makes the best buy right now? Will all RS4s become future classics? And which incarnation makes the best starting point for further modifications? These are all questions we're aiming to answer.

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Introduction
Audi RS4 B5 (1999-2001)
Audi RS4 B7 (2006-2008)
Audi RS4 B8 (2012-2015)

Many thanks to Revotechnik, MRC Tuning, RS246 forum, Audi Sport and Glass's Guide for their help with this feature

[Onehp]

Always fancied an RS4.

Roomy
Quick as few
Unassuming (kind of)
Handles well and (B7)
Quite an engine (B7)

But a modern hot hatch like a type R is just as roomy and probably faster around track, and while depreciation will be high, running costs won't. Want even more space, a Golf R/Cupra ST is even roomier and a lot more stealthy again. And not far off in pace, if behind at all irl.

In the UK I would still scratch that RS4 itch, in Europe the RS4 prices are still a lot higher still and I went for a ~300kg (450kg for the B8) lighter fwd Cupra ST...

[Onehp]

Guess I don't want one that bad anymore. They are the great Halo cars one can actually use from my youth, growing up with the RS2, then the RS4 i succession etc.

But now that I am actually in the position to buy they don't really appeal that much anymore as an actual proper owner proposition. Not the kind of person that buys cars just to have owned them for half a year, always buy to keep long term and end up owning them for years if they get under my skin. Having seen some more recent objective reviews on the driving experience (all but the B7 are off the list for sure), and doing quite some miles with the practical car and enjoying the same cars on roads where weight does matter, the RS4's just don't appeal that much anymore to me. But that is my personal sentiment, if they still appeal to you don't let that stop you

[Onehp]

popeyewhite said:

Onehp said:

Always fancied an RS4.

Roomy
Quick as few
Unassuming (kind of)
Handles well and (B7)
Quite an engine (B7)

Owned one for a short while:

Not roomy at all (B7)
Bucket seats too small for a 13 yr old (B7)
Not particularly quick (B7)
Rock hard suspension (B7)
Very dated interior(B7)
In short - disappointing.

In short, the difference of what I thought of them back in the day, and what I suspect is the case today now that the Halo effect has faded off and modern cars have caught up. B7 boot is small for an estate at 442l and the rear is cramped too indeed.... Wouldn't mind the V8 sound but it comes at a high cost...

[Onehp]

Andy20vt said:

Cupra or hot Golf/Civic etc - don't make me laugh, put on your baseball caps and go back to your Sony playstations.

That was me. Funny stereotypes, at least in estate form, it seems to me to be the other way around. Responsible family man buys the modern predictable car, the chaps with the backward hats and heavier right foot than sense (and hoping for a short term cheap ownership) go for the old halo cars. With that out of the way, I do think they appeal to at least a similar crowd, irrespective of head adornments...

Edited by Onehp on Monday 31st July 12:29