RE: Audi RS4(s): Spotted
Thursday 29th June 2017
At the moment, the first of the new Audi RS5s are arriving in the UK. PH has one on loan actually, with a full review to follow next week, and initial impressions are exactly as you might expect: it's very fast, rather plush and, er, very fast.
Anyway, more on that to follow. What's exciting about the RS5, being the curious bunch that we are, is that its arrival means the RS4 counterpart can't be far away. And we all know a fast estate is cooler than a fast coupe.
In all honesty, £34,000 is the very top of B5 (the twin-turbo V6 model) values; this Imola Yellow RS4 is said to be in immaculate condition and has covered just 60,000 miles, though £20,000 is enough to get into the original RS4. That being said, those are going to be cars with comfortably in excess of 100,000 miles, and RS4s have a reputation for being a bit pricey to run. Still, it looks great, goes fast and would appear to be rather collectible at the moment - it was only on sale for a year, remember.
Because also there for £34,000 is this B8 RS4, the later car that came exclusively with the dual-clutch transmission. Not only was it a good gearbox, it was also paired to the most powerful engine yet seen in an RS4 - the V8 was now up to 450hp by 2012. For sale at Huddersfield Audi, this white car has 35K on it and comes with the optional sports exhaust (hurrah) and the optional dynamic steering (boo). However, at this sort of level many more of the most recent RS4s are for sale, this Sepang Blue car looking especially appealing for a couple of thousand pounds more. The B8 may not have been as lauded as the B7 at the time - you can partly blame the fantastic C63 for that - but it shouldn't be dismissed. It's amazing just how much more enticing 8,500rpm V8s become when they continue to be replaced by turbos...
Audi RS4(s): Spotted
Three generations of RS4 Avant, all within £995 of each other - which will it be?
Indeed, there's an argument to say that the RS4 is the quintessential RS product. It can trace its heritage back to the RS2, the most successful RS products have been Avants and - dare it be said - one or two of them have been quite good.
Now, in a fortuitous twist of residual values and availability, all three generations of RS4 - B5, B7 and B8 - are for sale at the same money in the PH classifieds. Alright, so two are £34,000 and one is £34,995, but they are certainly close enough for a generation game classifieds comparison to, well, commence.
The B7 V8 RS4 was not only more widely available, it was also a better received car: indeed, pre-R8, this was the model that proved Audi could make real driver's cars. As such, there are more cars on offer used, which means the very earliest and leggiest version are now less than £15K. However, for the basis of this comparison there's a black Avant with just 19,000 miles on it for sale at £34,995. It's the only manual V8 here, indeed one of few estates with this much power and a manual gearbox, which must always hold appeal. But would it be the one you'd have?
So there you have it: one amount of money, one badge, and three generations of fast Audi estate history. Each has their appeal, but which will it be: the rare original, the surprise class act or the modern V8 uberwagon? We'd love to know your thoughts...
Discussion
I am unashamedly fanatical about the B5 chassis. For me, and I expect a good handful of PHers, the original RS4 is an unbeatable prospect at least in terms of styling, if not out and out speed (although it's not shy of horses).
They're fiddly, problematic, expensive to run and maintain, but if I had £20k floating around, let alone £34k for the beautiful yellow'un, I'd be biting sellers hands off. They've aged incredibly well and hark back to a time when Audi was making solid vehicles with near enough premium materials.
I understand from recent discussions the RS5 engine will eventually make it's way to the next RS4 - so it's interesting to see the return from N/A V8 to turbocharged V6. They say things come in cycles eh!
They're fiddly, problematic, expensive to run and maintain, but if I had £20k floating around, let alone £34k for the beautiful yellow'un, I'd be biting sellers hands off. They've aged incredibly well and hark back to a time when Audi was making solid vehicles with near enough premium materials.
I understand from recent discussions the RS5 engine will eventually make it's way to the next RS4 - so it's interesting to see the return from N/A V8 to turbocharged V6. They say things come in cycles eh!
Nice as the later ones are, and I'll be the first to admit that in a lot of ways they are better, the B5 is the only one that ever captured my imagination. Not the most accomplished on back roads, although not nearly as bad as many will have you believe, they are still in their element on motorway and fast sweeping A-roads. Pricey enough to run, but the build quality is still a step up from contemporary BMWs IME
In saying that, I still think that one above is a ridiculous price, but that's a separate argument which is already rearing its head on PH about the current "modern classics" market. I do like Imola Yellow, but not sure I'd have a great desire to actually own one
Gratuitous shot of my 67k mile Avus, which shall be heading across the continent in a few short weeks hopefully
In saying that, I still think that one above is a ridiculous price, but that's a separate argument which is already rearing its head on PH about the current "modern classics" market. I do like Imola Yellow, but not sure I'd have a great desire to actually own one
Gratuitous shot of my 67k mile Avus, which shall be heading across the continent in a few short weeks hopefully
If you're a fan of him, and i concede that not every one is, Chris Harris's video of the review of the B8 Audi RS4 is worth a watch. It's one of his best ones in my opinion and he compares the new one to the rest of the previous RS4 range.
It's interesting to see Audi now taking a similar route as their B5 for the incoming B9 RS4. It's pretty much the same formula but in a newer package, probably due to the B8 not being very well received. I, for one, actually love that model.
It's interesting to see Audi now taking a similar route as their B5 for the incoming B9 RS4. It's pretty much the same formula but in a newer package, probably due to the B8 not being very well received. I, for one, actually love that model.
Best to drive = B7, best to look at = B5 but best to daily = B8. I must be getting old but I'd pick the B8! If it wasn't in yellow, I don't think I'd ever grow tired of opening the garage door to a B5 but I couldn't own a car I couldn't drive. Funny how the B7 received all the best contemporary reviews, has a reputation as an outstanding drivers car and yet feels very expensive at £35k. I guess fussy styling that hasn't aged well doesn't help. Good article PH.
All are interesting cars and definitely hold appeal, even though I'm not really and Audi lover. Am I the only one that thinks the money being asked for B5's is utterly ridiculous though?? they look nice enough on the outside but have a horrid, ancient interior and need modifying before they handle properly. £20k for one with 120k miles!? what the ****!!
jameswsb said:
All are interesting cars and definitely hold appeal, even though I'm not really and Audi lover. Am I the only one that thinks the money being asked for B5's is utterly ridiculous though?? they look nice enough on the outside but have a horrid, ancient interior and need modifying before they handle properly. £20k for one with 120k miles!? what the ****!!
It's the same with most interesting petrol drinkers to be fair - 10 years or so ago you could have had an RS2 for around £10-12k but try finding even a crap one now below £35k! Same goes for these nigh-on classic B5s.The B5 S4 is an interesting one though. I've hankered for one since I could drive, ended up with a 2.7TT equipped Allroad for a while and can imagine the smaller, taughter B5 would have been joyous with this lump. Again, not a great many years ago you could get a relatively decent S4 for around the £3-5k mark. Now even the leggy ones demand more - and in stock form they're not only rare but quite ridiculously priced - especially next to contemporaries.
Resolutionary said:
It's the same with most interesting petrol drinkers to be fair - 10 years or so ago you could have had an RS2 for around £10-12k but try finding even a crap one now below £35k! Same goes for these nigh-on classic B5s.
The B5 S4 is an interesting one though. I've hankered for one since I could drive, ended up with a 2.7TT equipped Allroad for a while and can imagine the smaller, taughter B5 would have been joyous with this lump. Again, not a great many years ago you could get a relatively decent S4 for around the £3-5k mark. Now even the leggy ones demand more - and in stock form they're not only rare but quite ridiculously priced - especially next to contemporaries.
Yeah it would seem that way. I pulled the trigger on an E39 M5 last year, a car that I have wanted since new, even though it was a squeeze financially, simply because prices appeared to be rising monthly and it looked like I might get priced out of the market. I guess in some respects it is with good reason that these kind of cars are increasing in value given that things like natural aspiration and manual boxes are dying, but I just cant see the value in some of the prices being asked for cars that weren't actually that well received when new. The B5 S4 is an interesting one though. I've hankered for one since I could drive, ended up with a 2.7TT equipped Allroad for a while and can imagine the smaller, taughter B5 would have been joyous with this lump. Again, not a great many years ago you could get a relatively decent S4 for around the £3-5k mark. Now even the leggy ones demand more - and in stock form they're not only rare but quite ridiculously priced - especially next to contemporaries.
Each to their own though I guess.
I love my B7 Avant, I had always wanted one since they were released it had to be a Sprint Blue Avant (i don't even have a dog or Kids) .Yes it is expensive to run but all these cars are. it puts a smile on my face every time I press the start button. You do have to rev it out in order to get the best out of it but it does sing to the 8K redline. The B5 is a fantastic looking car it has aged beautifully, definitely a modern classic. I feel the newer B8 model has been toned down on the looks, less wheel arch flare ect, plus no manual. id struggle to pick between a B5 and B7 if I was given the cash...
probably the B5 as there rare beast.
probably the B5 as there rare beast.I bought a completely stock, low mileage B7 last year after switching from a M3 and M6.
I was after something that could accommodate 2 dogs, 2 kids, had a V8 with a manual box but not a SUV. Unsurprisingly there weren't many alternatives available! Very pleased with it and faultless to date despite being nearly 11 years old.
I was after something that could accommodate 2 dogs, 2 kids, had a V8 with a manual box but not a SUV. Unsurprisingly there weren't many alternatives available! Very pleased with it and faultless to date despite being nearly 11 years old.
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