Olly

Recently been offered a motor, (S4 Avant, see Audi thread) of which I'm sorely tempted.

On paper, it seems a sound buy: a one owner vehicle, 2.5 years old, full service, slightly above average miles (37k but will balance out as I don't go far), no crashes, HPi clear, mint nick etc etc.

But, according to "those in the know", I shouldn't touch it. For a kick off, it is green. Not my first choice, but looks fine to me. Nor has it got full leather, only half (again, not really a problem: I won't get a frozen **** in winter or a burned one in summer). Therefore it hasn't got heated seats (which I wouldn't mind, but wouldn't lose sleep over either) or satellite navigation (again fine by me, I know my way to work and to the shops). It HAS got a serious BOSE system (a big requirement, I'm a music fan) and all the general things like climate, computer, blah blah.

None of which really matter. It turns me on because its a V8 sleeper that goes like a rocket, sounds glorious, sticks to the road, beautifully made, seats 5 and has enough room for my toolbox in the back.

And guess what? Nobody wants it. Apparently, even Audi advised against the colour. Result? Been offered it straight away at around £4k LESS than book. Because it's green. If I don't snap it up, it will go to auction, and it is reputed that no-one will touch it with a sh1tty stick at the price its offered to me at. So call it £5k under book, or 15-20% LESS than the value of a blue/silver/black one. Thats a lot of money.

Whether I buy it or not, I find that unbelievable. Supply and demand I know, but even if I don't, someone is going to blag a bargain.

Begs the question: are there any other motors so colour/spec sensitive?

Steve vRS

A white BMW 5 series. You see lots of them in the Gulf states and they still look strange!

I would say anything that pertains to be an "executive" class car needs leather in the spec to hit top book.

I for one reckon that if you buy it cheap and accept that you may have to sell it cheap then the wrong spec may be right for you!

Steve

RS Grant

White on any upmarket cars looks poor IMO... White Jags, White Audi A8, White Mercs.. all very cheap looking.

Agree that Leather is a must on most executive models of prestige marque.. eg, an Audi A3 can get away with not having leather, but an Audi A4 cant, makes it look like a base spec, middle managers, fleet car, IMO.


Cheers,
Grant

lightning101

White lamborghinis look good

stilover

If your planning on keeping the car for a few years, then I'd go for it. Depreciation won't really matter then will it? Half Leather is not a problem. A lot of the S4 Bi-Turbos were only half leather anyway, and they sell quite well. Admittedly Green isn't the best colour in the world, but if you think you could live with it, go for it. Pick up a bargain.
In a few years time, you should be able to sell it a lot closer to similar age ones of any colour, so you won't lose as much then, as the current owner is now.
Sat Nav is a waste of space in any case, but the Bose is essential.

Good luck.

PS. How much are they asking for it? just out of interest?

QuattroMNC

that's not difficult for lambo's tho, they look good in fluro snot green LOL

As said above, if you'r planning on keeping it for a while then there's no problem, if it's got a solid history and it's a healthy car I say go for it, plus cloth grips you better than leather LOL

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like a good deal. half Leather on a "Sports" car is fine. Green, it's tragic for an S4 but there are people who like that colour and IMO anything German that is NOT silver, Blue or Black (or sonic blue for Subarus ) is a bonus if you want to stand out of the crowd.

Remember because you pay less, you still have the same depreciation rate, so it'll still undercut the "I'm a sheep...baaaa" who order nothing but silver, leather clad S4's when you come to sell (although an Audi dealer might make sucking noise if you try and part-ex it).

We've recently been looking for a classy(ish) budget car to use in town.

So far, we have come up with a pearl gold/green (cool colour) 316 compact. It's quite well specced, BUT it's a gutless 1.8 version - even though some poor person spent loads on speccing up the paint and interior.

But because it's a pauper's BMW and doesn't conform to the "any colour as long as its silver" that floods every BMW dealer's forecourt. The price is underbooked.

The other option was a Gold X-type Jag 2.0SE. Because it's a 2.0petrol no one wants to know. But this car has every interior option concievable barring sat nav. But being the 2.0, and again not a desirable colour. It is quite a nice price.

The only time going with the masses in terms of colours and options pays off, is when your paying list price on a brand new car IMO. It's the second and third owners who benefit from "wrong" colours/specs.

RB5_245

That 20-30% will stay the same in the years to come more than likely, so 5k now may only be a difference of 2-3k when you sell it in a few years time. Therfor you win!

Sounds like a good deal to me if you like it

Dream Weaver

Is it army truck green or a decent metallic like the MR2 Goodwood/205 Sorrento?

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Yep, post a photo !

I was pondering this the other day, a lot of cars you wonder what the first owner was thinking. One of the best coulors I have ever seen and bear with me on this was my grandads Austin Princess, Brown ! mettalic with red mica flecs in it, it glowed in sunlight, Austin also did a flat turd brown which wasnt nice at all, they also spoilt it with a Beige cloth interior, do they use beige as a penannce for not buying the higher spec model ?

Some wow cars date badly due to colour, car of the minute one day and then embarrasing, examples

Pearl white/pearl Pink Escort cabrios
Apache Orange Tigra's
Custard Yellow Volvo's, M3's and Mercs
Pearl white Audi's, even Quattro's look **** in that.
Rover 200s in Purple (Amaranth)

Saying that most of the cars above are embarrassing in any colour.


Have noticed some sand colours are coming back, Porsche do the Cayenne in a sandy colour, but you cant Polish a turd !

skoobidude

Why not get a quote for a respray in a more desirable colour? I'm sure it would be less than £4k then you've still bagged a bargain and would sell it ok in the future.


Nick

Dream Weaver

Not to mention that Mondeo Cirtus Yellow/Green that Ford did in the 90's, sort of a lime green colour on sporty Mondeo's, which everyone then copied.

NotoriousREV

As soon as someone twigs the respray, they'll assume accident damage and you'll end up worse off.

AudiLover

Jonathan Davies

I'd rather have green than the omnipresent nogaro blue, avus silver or imola yellow. The yellow and blue in particular are overly garish for an understated car like the s4.

SatNav I consider utterly pointless, though some may want it.

So for me it's a question of whether full leather is worth the extra - I'd say it's a small price to pay for not having to buy a silver one!

RoShamBo

iTrader: (1)

I have been looking for a 360 Modena for a while now, so done a lot of homework.
Apparantly anything except red can effect the resale value when you come to sell it by up to £5k!
Had to backtrack on a grey one I was buying as I heard this a lot and now had a whole rethink after driving a Gallardo !

R.

Pumpkin

you could always get a set of leather seats later and swap them over. All it takes is one crashed S4 and that liberates a full leather interior.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Ok, that one looks ok, I was thinking of older ones with that bluey/pinky tinge.

dsmith

Someone clearly wanted a sleeper.

Take it in Green. De-badge it and surrpise some people :-)

Its not all about advertising yourself to the masses.

Olly

To be honest, that is me to a tee. You must know me

And as someone pointed out to me today, a leather re-trim is around a grand. Never thought of that.