Has the Ar5e fallen out of the second hand market?

[rs6express]

I've started looking around again for another RS6 Avant as I've missed mine more than I thought I would since selling it in May this year. Looking at the prices outside the Audi network I can see only 2 to 5 grand difference between a 2003 RS6 with 50K+ on the clock and older 2001 RS4's (B5). Do you think people are scarred off by the warranty factor? Do you think the size of the RS6 puts people off? Or are the B5's more rare? Either way, it should be good news for me when I find the right one. Any thoughts?

[Fen]

It was like that in June - I was considering a late B5 RS4 until I realised I could get a newer RS6 for not a lot more. I was thinking that that was a good thing as (hopefully) they shouldn't fall much further for a while, but then again in the BMW world the 5 series doesn't hold value as well as the 3 series - not sure if that goes for the M5/M3, mind.

[el_ringo]

I think most of the 6's will stop falling much beyond 20k over the next year or so. Those with an intact Audi warranty going for a premium perhaps.

[Virdee Autos]

Well April this year I was also considering the '6 only like you say due to the very small difference in price between the B5 '4, and '6.

In the end I went for the '4, reason being due to the costly bills for the '6 when it comes to repair times, especially the common gearbox/DRC problems.

Seeing as 2003/4 cars are out of warranty, you will have to fork out for this unless I guess you take out some kind of aftercare warranty. But obviously they'll do anything not to cough up.

All in all, this is why I went for the B5. Saves money in every area IMO, and I don't think will depreciate that much in coming time, mainly due to the rarity. I know I see more '6's than the B5, thats for sure!

[Fen]

Seeing as 2003/4 cars are out of warranty, you will have to fork out for this unless I guess you take out some kind of aftercare warranty. But obviously they'll do anything not to cough up.

All in all, this is why I went for the B5. Saves money in every area IMO, and I don't think will depreciate that much in coming time, mainly due to the rarity. I know I see more '6's than the B5, thats for sure!

Its £1,500 to replace the DRC once and for all - not a massive amount. I have also been told £2,500 will replace the 'box should it become necessary, using a brand new cartidge. I wouldn't want to have to pay the money, but I've coped with £2,500 bills for car maintenance in the past.

Apart from the meet in September I've seen two other sixes since buying mine. Mind you I've probably only seen 2 or 3 B5s in that time too - where did they all go as I used to see them semi-regularly whereas the six has always been rare. There were 2 blue B7 saloons in the car park at work today so they are common as muck

[Virdee Autos]

I agree with the B7 part...see loads of those around!

I would replace the DRC system with a PSS9 setup...whether thats what you meant I don't know.

Gearbox is the real killer.

I might get shot down for this, but IMO the B5 looks better than the '6.

With the new '6 imminent, I wonder how the prices will fare

[GardinerG]

With the 6 just insure the major bits with an aftermarket warranty. half the price of Audi - just read the fine print and make sure it covers the gearbox.

Well I would think IMHO that nobody buying a £20-30k 2nd hand RS6 would really be looking to buy a £70k new car so it shouldn't affect the prices too much. Don't get me wrong, if I won the lottery I'd buy one tomorrow (along with a Gumpert Apollo - just because, Brabus K8 for topless times - or similar, and a lambo murcy).

RS6's are more expensive to run but if you need rear seat space with a tall driver like me - the RS4 just won't work. Even kids in the back won't have much space. You know one of the reasons I don't like the RS4 as much as the '6 is the single twin exhaust. How sad is that. P.s. I had the Milltek'd V6 in my 2.7T - very nice but it's not in the same league as the V8 '6 stock.

In the end all the RS'es are the elite of the Audis and are all someone's dream car. 'nuff said.

[Virdee Autos]

Very well put.....and your right about the single vs double exhaust thing! And the V8 rumble!

[rs6express]

All good points!!
Your right about the space in the rear on the 4. I think when I find the right one again I just have to make sure the right warranty is in place. I remember there were threads last year going over running costs including depreciation over years 1,2 and 3. I would have thought Years 4 and 5 will be nowhere near these figures even with the 80k service. In saying that, when I had mine last year I lost only £1500 all in. This is not including fuel and running cost but just plain depreciation due to a fab trade in on a cupra I ran for a couple of months before hand. When you see run of the mill cars loosing 40-60% over the first 18 months then it's a no brainer for me. The 6 is quite expensive to run but even at it's age now, I can't see a big drop happening like the M5. Mind you next door turned up with a new M5 estate this weekend. Had to say it looked good from the back.

[LondonRS6]

Interesting topic, i started looking at B5 RS4 at the beginning of the year. Then after some research, i discovered that most of the vehicles had 50k+ miles on the clock...not much i know for a 6yr+ old car but they also lacked some of the basic specifications i was looking for. Nor did i want anything retrofitted. Running cost seems a benign point as driving either i think is relatively expensive, especially if Ken gets his way on the congestion charge (£25/day)

I thought the B5 were rich compared to say my RS6 (28k miles) i bought in Aug 07, admittedly they are two very different propositions. I went for the RS6 for the following reasons-it was the larger of the 2 cars, i thought why change again if i need a bigger car for a bigger family. So it is a keeper for me for the long term. From what i can see on the classifieds they both dont appear to have moved much since i started looking in Jan 07. I think do your on research on the warranty issue and find the best provider as this will mitigate some of the expense on those big mechanical problems. Furthermore i felt the B5 seems 'dated' maybe that is more because of the new RS4. Personally i think both cars having been made in limited numbers should have strong residues and are at a good entry price now, but facing facts the current RS and even the porsche marquee are almost mass produces cars, these will weigh on residues either way. I think it is a shame that the 'exclusivity' of the RS brand is being underminded...

[skiwi]

i think the b5 rs4 looks better, avant vs avant - by a long way - the only rs6 talisman's are the exhausts and wheels/tyres/ride height after all whereas the rs4 got modified body kits.

however the manual isn't very good, and there is no room in the car, and so the practicality factor is limited - there is really no room in the back. that and the absence of the saloon clinched it for me, as well as better electronics in the 6.