MattW

Sold my S3, and now have the chance of either a very nicely specced brand new S4 or a two year old RS4.

RS4 + Lovely V8 burble, exclusivity, Avant is good looking car
RS4 - Warranty cost to extend, MPG, Emissions based car tax, Damper issues

S4 + New car with warranty, better MPG, option of multi tronic box, Specced to my requirements
S4 - Bit more depreciation, Avant is fugly

help me decide!

stilover

The RS4 has lost it major depreciation hit. So should lose less in 2 years than a brand new S4.

RS4 is more exclusive.
RS4 is Faster.

Not many options on the RS4, so it boils down to chosing colour and Saloon/Avant.

The S4 wil be more tunable though, and as you say, you can spec it to your own taste.

Audi are turning away from V8's. They do use quite a lot of oil.

What you take in depreciation on the S4, will pay for fuel, insurance, warranty on the RS4.

Me? I'd go for a Sprint Blue RS4 Avant.

rabbos

+1

MattW

Head says S4. heart says RS4. At the moment there are some graet deals on broadspeed for the S4 (4k off), I could get a very highly specced S4 for 07/07 RS4 money.

It's .3 secs to 60 slower but, does 10mpg more.

I've been disappointed with my trawl for an RS4. people wanting silly money for 06/56 plates, loads of red ones about. found one Sprint blue one but the alloys had so much kerbing it was ridiculous.

Strangely I prefer the B7 Avant and the B8 Saloon.

stilover

Audi dealers seem very greedy on the RS4.

I think there will be some margin for discount if you choose the RS4. My old man was offered £37k for his, when on the exact same forecourt, they had older and higher milage RS4's up for £47k.

Suck plenty of air through your teeth, mumble about high Tax, Co2 and mpg figures. And mention the wife prefers the M3.

I'm sure they'll knock a few grand off. If not, there loss.

MattW

I remember you posting about that, trouble is the demand is there at the moment so discounts are hard to come by.

stilover

He just picked up the brochure / price list on the new V10 engined R8 on Saturday.

I've done a few track days via Audi. S4 day, RS4 day, Standard day, and 2 R8 days. I fancy another, but to get a trackday you have to express interest. This now involves speccing/pricing one up, and getting a written trade-in value on current car.

He's not wanting a V10 R8 (quite happy with the V8 version) but I want another day down at rockingham.

I'll let you know what trade-in price he gets. March 2008 R8. Specced up to £85.5k

I say about £55k.

The V10 starts at £104.5k

MattW

Expensive motor! and two seats only I just specced up an S4 via Broadspeed to 39k with everything I could ever want on it. That's a 07 or 57 plate RS4 from a main dealer.

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Why is the S4 only a tad slower RS4 has way more power than S4 doesn't it?

TX.

MattW

IIRC the RS4 is 4.8, the S4 is 5.1 allegedly. The S4 is 333PS, the RS4 ahem* 414

The Stronic box pushes emissions down to 224g below the big juicy tax threshold whereas the RS4 is 326g.

* but they rarely make 390.

stilover

Probably as the new S4 has forced induction rather than N/A, it has more Torque available at lower revs which will help it accelerate.

I do like the S4. See one in Black, and it does look nice.

Matt. A simple chip will get it beating RS4's. The next RS4 will be a tuned version of the S4's V6 anyway.

The only thing I'd state again. The S4 will lose more money in the next 12/24 months than the RS4 will. But it is a new car, and will be specced to your taste.

MattW

Yes it will, however at a good discount I have a 4k headstart anyway. If I can get that from Broadspeed.

I bought the S3 new and have been very impressed with residuals, I would hope the S4 will be the same. I just wonder when we are through this recession, the tax hikes previously promised will be implemented and knock the RS4 a little.

Simon K

Have you thought about other cars ? E90 M5 ? M6 ? Merc C55 AMG ?

This is serious wedge your spending, so perhaps looking further at different brands.

SBK

MattW

Merc would interest, but not a fan of the BMW brand, (well my local dealer) so although very competent cars nada nada.

Dave Thornton

Simple - buy an RS4 now, keep it for 2 years then buy a 2 year old S4 and chip it. Save loads of money too. Have your cake and eat it!

Brun

That's good thinking

MattW

True, like rocking horse pap at the moment though

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

I've been looking at earlier RS4s (06/56 plate) & they never seem to break through the £25k barrier which is my budget. They get to £27k ish then get sold Strange as I've been looking at them weekly for last 6 months!

TX.

MattW

TX, there is one on autotrader but saloon. Has BIG miles though.

Epsom have a 57 plate Avant in at 40k but I have been quoted 10% discount on a new S4 meaning 40k buys a very heavily specced version decisions decisions.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Go with your heart (ie what you really want) we're a long time dead.