Hi forum chums!

Have been thinking about a coupe replacement for the past couple of years, but nothing seems to offer the same exclusivity, pleasure or value (in my budget). Lately the urge to change cars is strong. Probably will wane but for now, I fancy a change. I really like the look (and sound) of a B7 Audi RS4. I’d probably be looking at a leggier 06/07 model within my budget (12k). Something like this:

Clicky

Anyone have any experience or info about the car? Any pitfalls? I have read the EVO and Pistonheads buyers guide but always good to hear any personal information.

Oh and any other alternatives that could tempt me? Must have four doors, a big boot and be manual geared. Have looked at M3’s, M5’s and AMG’s but prefer the Audi’s understated looks (The Mrs may just believe it’s a sensible family car!) and have the sonorous multi cylinder wail (no AIDS ridden 4 pots, as DB used to say!)

I was looking at these recently and was put off.

Reasons being:

1) My budget was similar to yours and I thought they were all dogs with patchy history and high mileage and thats not the sort of car you want to do that with. The good ones start at 15k (that one in the link is the cheapest ive seen) really mint with good mileage and all major issues sorted are 16/17k

2) My personal opinion is 16/17k on a 12 year old Audi, even if it is an RS4 is too much, and out of my budget anyway. (For that money you can get an 08 maybe an 09 plate M3)

3) Quite reliable but some maintenance and common issue jobs are all mostly £1000+
Discs and pads all round (£1000+)

Common DRC issues replacement coilovers or fix (£1500+)

Common carbon build up (Coking) can lose upto 40 bhp and all the valves are caked in thick black crap and for a proper job you need to go to a reputable specialist like MRC (£1000)

If you want some sound out of that V8 you can have a map and they can permanently open the valves and at the same time gets them upto a proper 420 sometimes even 430bhp (£600-£1000)

So before you know it, if your fussy like me you can buy one for 12k or 15k and still have to shell out a few grand possibly within the first 12 months to make it perfect. Plus they are very thirsty.

So overall, I think you have to be a real RS nut to justify it.
This of course is all in my opinion and my thought process and have now started looking at other cars instead, but still very undecided and even slightly confused.

Check out rs246 forum.

Good luck in your decision.

Jag XJR or (possibly just about within budget) XFR, an S-Type R would definitely be in budget. Any of those meet the understated looks requirement very well, and sound great with the V8.

There are some gorgeous S-Type R's out there. For your money, you'd get one of the nicest. Speaking from experience, you can get a bespoke exhaust made that will - at the touch of a button - change from dozing kitten to snarling, well, Jaguar.

I think the audi rs4 engine came bottom on a global reliability audit. A lot of our car magazines and information is filtered and promoted by euro biased groups.

What about an S4?

Thanks for the great info, technics. Although I was aware of the issues mentioned, it’s always good to hear about them again. I think that realistically (and like the coupe) a cheap RS4 is still as expensive as a well maintined one, and perhaps may cost even more if you get more than one of the common issues.

I think I have to face facts, running and maintaining an RS4 is out of my budget

I can’t have a Jag, sorry guys. They’re just not for me! I’m sure they are wonderful cars but they don’t excite me. I’d have a modern one like the XKR in that sprint blue but well out of budget.

Hyperlink, I’ve been Warned off the S4, the timing chain needs replacement every 50-75k at a cost of 3k and I’d just be thinking why didn’t I get an RS4 the whole time. The hunt continues!

Sorry if I put you off, but I done a fair bit of homework on it and in the end I just thought what you said above, running and maintaining is out of my budget.
We have to be realistic and go in with eyes wide open....

All the best.

I think I needed a reality check! Financial ruin beckons sometimes
What are you leaning towards at the moment?

If you can excuse the number of cylinders (ridden) what about an Evo or Impreza? The (other) downside being anything newer than March 2006 is £540 to tax per year

159 1.75L or 3.2?

Older S4 with 3.2 V8

Me too!

Nice to see so many Jaguar fans

The modern "R" Jaguars are all fast, ride and handle well, but are mainly assembled from not too exotic and fairly reliable components. Running cost are relatively sane and problems fairly rare.

They are all automatics, but try one with paddles and you can drive it almost like a manual. However, the ZF box is so good (in my 2011 XKR at least), it seems to know what you want and always seems to be in the right gear! The car is almost too fast to really be able to keep up in manual mode! One doesn't need a pipe and slippers to drive a Jaguar these days.

12k will probably only buy a good 4.2 XK though. Might not be "exciting" enough if you are hankering after an RS Audi.

The V8 XFs do start within your budget and you might be able to find a good SV8 or even a 5.0 model, both of which are modern looking, competent and fast without the OTT parts count and prices of the German "racing" cars.

Funnily enough I have looked at Evos and a few Scoobies too but I think its very different to an RS4, only similarity is probably the 4 doors.....

But I just want something fast and fun, more of a weekend toy. Tempted by another big power coop but ive done that and now of the possible headaches involved and im intrueged by something ive never had before, especially the 4 wheel drive of an Evo (although running costs seem high too)

I went from a Coupe to an RS4 and haven't looked back. Not the B7 though but the twin turbo B5. Tried the V8 B7 but it just didn't feel very fast unless you wrung it's neck. The B5 is another proposition altogether and with huge turbo shove it feels every bit as fast as you'd want from a car. Slight map improves bhp to around 420ish and uprated rear ARB makes the handling much more balanced than standard - how it should have been from the factory.

That said it's not a car to run on the cheap. Done 37k miles in 6 years and it's cost me over £10k in that time - nothing major has gone wrong, just routine service stuff, and I bought a minter too. Buy a car that's not been sorted or properly looked after and you could add another £5-10k to that easily. Same with the B7. That said, the values are increasing and I could now easily sell it for £6-8k more than I paid for it 6 years ago.

If I were you I'd have a look at something like an M135i which are much newer (so less likely to go wrong), the early ones fit your budget, 315bhp, 6cyl and RWD - what's not to like?

Had a little tustle with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V last year and by god it was fast. I suspect it was tuned and I still had the legs (just) but it looked and sounded great. You could pick up a good one of these for your budget and again the tuning potential is epic and I believe and the values will be going up. Servicing is still not cheap but nowhere near RS4 costs.

Alternatively if you really want an Audi then the first generation S3's (8L) are cracking cars, look pretty special and are a vastly under rated drive. You could buy a low mileage minter with change to spare. The 4cyl engine is very strong and can be pretty easily tuned to big bhp.