Choices
 

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!

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.

+1

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.

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.

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

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

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. :eek:

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

TX.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

That's good thinking :thumb:

True, like rocking horse pap at the moment though :(

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.

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.

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