New car - Audi RS4

I have been toying with getting rid of the RS250 for a couple of months, for no reason other than I was getting a bit bored with it. After 4 years in my 225 which although a bit rattly and squeaky, was (in my opinion) a raw driving car - no LSD, just a lot of power. Compared to this, I always found my 2 years in the 250 a little 'boring' - great car, well built and some power, but apart from the first 6 months it never really put a smile on my face. I can't explain why.

Anyway, I started to look around for a replacement - I knew I didn't want to go down the Focus ST / Golf R / Civic Type R route. I did look at the Mercedes A45 AMG, but they are still commanding big money, and I wouldn't be able to justify the cost. This led me on to the Audi RS4 - a car I've always really liked the look of, but didn't know much about......

After doing many hours research on Autotrader, it appears that the depreciation on the RS4's has stopped - 06 plates with 125000+ miles are still going for £16k - £17k. Anyway, several weeks of visiting dealers (and seeing some right over priced dogs of cars) I settled on a couple that I was really interested in. Unfortunately, one car had a leaking shock (which is a pre-curser to the DRC shocks failing and a very expensive repair bill), another dealer wasn't prepared to take the Megane in P/X (apparently he struggles to shift hot French cars - amusing seeing as his RS4 is not only still up for sale but the price has dropped by £1000 - a bargain if anyone is in the market for one!). Anyway, I spoke to a dealership up in Huddersfield and put a deposit down and arranged finance, all on a car I hadn't seen or driven. Likewise, they agreed to take the Meg in P/X (even with the bloody great key mark down the side) without seeing it, although I described it to them as accurately as I could.

I went to the dealership yesterday and was pleasantly surprised - the RS4 was exactly as described (bear in mind some of the ones I'd looked at were described as immaculate and in fact needed new tyres all round and new disks all round etc). Tyres are all good, decent wear left on the disks, feels like the clutch is new as well (really low bite point). Signed the paperwork, finance done, drove home!

So.... What did I get?

2007 Audi RS4 saloon in Misano Red with 64000 miles. 414bhp. 4.2ltr V8. Full service history. 1 previous lady owner. DRC suspension has been replaced with coil overs (which means that I don't have to worry about that aspect of it). It has the leather sports seats (the buckets gave me back ache) which aren't as 'grippy' as the Megs sports seats, flat bottomed steering wheel, 6 CD changer, adaptive Xenon lights, front and rear parking sensors, in built SatNav system, dual zone climate control, heated front and rear seats.









POSITIVE POINTS (albeit after only 24hrs ownership) -

Bloody quick!
The V8 noise is addictive!
More practical than the Meg - huge boot space and 4 doors
Decent motorway MPG - managed 28mpg on the run back from Hudersfield (on the run up the Megane managed 31mpg)
Fantastic handling - the car feels so poised
Fairly easy to use SatNav system
Build quality - the only squeaks coming from the cabin was from the leather seat where my fat ass was moving around on it! The Meg was starting to rattle from the dash, despite being only 2 years old

NEGATIVE POINTS -

The cabin is starting to look a bit dated - it is a 7 year old car after all
The V8 noise is addictive
The wheels are going to be very easy to kerb
The fact that scum are likely to want to nick it.


My plans for it are to keep it as it is - I may get a carbon clean at some point, but other than that it will stay as it is.
I will still hopefully be attending the occasional meet though, as by and large you're a good bunch!!

Wow! Great choice! Love these cars! Deffo getting one in the future "as sensible family car"
Any plans?

A RS4/RS6 touring has always been on my Want list epic cars.

Enjoy

Nice motor

I hate you... i mean .. nice car hahaha..

Always wanted an RS4 avant. Black or blue though i have bad luck with red cars

I am swimming in the Jealo sea right now! Nice!

Vlad wrote: Wow! Great choice! Love these cars! Deffo getting one in the future "as sensible family car"
Any plans?

Other than a carbon clean in the near future, I think I will keep it as is. Never say never though!

Chris CW wrote: Great choice indeed, I love the RS4 and still get tempted by one! Still a bit pricey though eh, get what you pay for with Audi though, its solid!

Residuals seem to have hit a plateau now so I don't think they'll be getting much cheaper! Get one while you can!

Andyfloss wrote: I hate you... i mean .. nice car hahaha..
Always wanted an RS4 avant. Black or blue though i have bad luck with red cars

The missus wanted me to get an Avant to help ferry the dogs around in (she's fed up of using her Freelander). I think she's a bit annoyed I went for the saloon!


Cheers for all the comments guys.

That is stunning buddy completely different to the meggy. Get it booked in with me <!-- s;-) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;-) -->

really liking the car. i think some darker alloys would suit it very well!