Who's watching the weight watchers?

[JohnW]

I think its more to do with the kit we now expect as standard.
A Caterham has no leccy windows, aircon (lucky if it has a heater !), no big thick wads of sound deadening, etc.

My guess is that a 90 quattro probably had no sunroof, central locking, aircon etc as standard. We expect these now, and then add more kit on top too like satnav, bose, etc.

Its a tricky problem. Some people want a fully loaded car for all the toys, and others want the 'no kit light as possible' route. Trouble is the latter doesn't appeal to the masses.

Just my opinion. The best solution is to have a lardy cruiser AND a lightweight sportscar [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Cheers,
John.

[JohnW]

Depends if it were to be my only car, and how many miles I'd be doing in it.

If it was my only car and miles were high, then I'd go for the RS4. Comfort and reasonable performance.
If it were a second car, or I was only doing a small number of miles then I'd go for the R4 - assuming I could afford it.

I have a caterham too, and no way would I want to do a 55 mile drive to work every day in it. Once in a while is fine, but not all the time. That is why I have a Passat Estate. I want to replace the Passat with a more sporty estate like the S or RS, but I want creature comforts for day-to-day driving too.

I think the bottom line is different people want different things, so it is always going to be a compromise, and IMO the RS is trying to be a grand tourer, not a sports car as such.

Now if Audi were to stick the RS lump in a TT... [img]images/graemlins/1syellow1.gif[/img]

Cheers,
John.

[Nige_RS4]

Mmmm, the TT a true sports car ?? I don't beleive it is - anyway, consider this - kerb weight of a std 225TT is 1410kg - add say 100kg for the RS4 engines' additional weight = 1510kg, hardly a lightweight - nope you want to stick it in an Elise chassis - hey, hasn't that already been done ?? [img]images/graemlins/sleeping_2.gif[/img]

[JohnW]

Well, yeah, I agree [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
I was trying to think of the closest thing Audi make to a sports car, and that was all I could come up with ! [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Maybe this goes to aid what I was trying to say though, by pointing out once again different people will view the same car as being in a different category, and so have different requirements from it.

What I want is a car the size and weight of an elise, with the power and load carrying capacity of an RS6, and capable of going off road (and coming back on!) like a range rover.
Oh, and it has to do 50mpg, and only cost 10k [img]images/graemlins/3flypigs.gif[/img]

Somehow I think I'll have to compromise [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Cheers,
John.

[s2driver]

Somehow I think I'll have to compromise [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Or buy second hand after most of a car's depreciation has occured. You can get considerably closer to your 'specification wish-list' than you think!!

I think you'll still have to comprimise somewhere though....but not that much [img]images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[JohnW]

Somehow I think I'll have to compromise [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Or buy second hand after most of a car's depreciation has occured. You can get considerably closer to your 'specification wish-list' than you think!!

Sure, I know that. Only twice have I bought a new car, prefering to buy 18 month old cars with low miles [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[/quote]I think you'll still have to comprimise somewhere though....but not that much [img]images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [/quote]

lol
Yeah, currently I compromise by having several different cars [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
I wanted a Cayenne Turbo, but the mpg is scarey and the wife doesn't want me to spend that much, so I'm hopefully compromising with an RS4 (with all the toys if possible) [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/1syellow1.gif[/img]

Cheers,
John.

[Dippy]

John,

It might be worth waiting just a little bit longer before buying. It appears that B5 S4 prices have suffered from the release of the B6, as expected. However it's quite possible that RS4 prices will suffer too, but it may take a little longer for Audi to see that some potential RS4 buyers are going for the B6 S4 instead.

Aside from that, your strategy is the same as mine would be. I bought my S4 new before the RS4 had landed, but at least mine was an import at £9K less than a UK model. If I were buying now I would certainly consider an RS4. As a daily driver it must be a fantastic car - a blend of comfort, practicality and performance.

[JohnW]

Dippy,

more sound advice mate, thanks.
My daily driver is starting to cost lots to keep it going, so it is time to out it. We want a sporty load-lugger for daily use.

We have gone from looking at a 4Motion Passat estate (24k new) all the way up to a Cayenne turbo (68k !), and are now on the way back down again [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I personally like the B5 S4, but I haven't seen a good clean one with low miles for the right money.
The new S4 is tremendous, but although it starts at 37k by the time you add all the toys it is close on to 45k.
This is where the RS4 comes in (cheaper with more performance).
I expect the RS4 to lose less money over a 3 year period when compared to a new S4 (assuming 45k new and 50%depreciation).
Money wise (not percentage) an RS4 is also likely to lose less value than even a Cayenne S (50k new with options, projected 50% depreciation over 3 years).

No one really knows where the RS4 prices will head.
I expect them to still be 20k or better in 3 years though,
and if the car turns out to only lose 3k a year that is a bonus, as it would be no worse than the 4Motion Passat

I plan to have a replacement car by September. If I can't find an RS in the next month or so then I'll be going for a new S4.
So. If anyone sees a Nogaro blue RS4 with silver leather, satnav, bose, cruise, etc, and low miles, give me a shout [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Appologies. It would appear I have inadvertently highjacked the original thread ! [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Cheers,
John.