Newbie / possible buyer, with loads of questions.......

[AidenL]

Hello all

I'm a long time lurker on here, ever since I drove an RS4 back in April when Speccin' a new 3.2 TT for my wife.

I've always had a hankering for something in the M3 / RS4 class - having being a long time BMW driver, I naturally has been thinking about an M3 - I've gone so far as to getting leasing figures, reading all the M3 forums etc, but I have to say I'm getting tempted to switch my own car to Audi, having being quite impressed with the TT to date. The quattro really works on the damp undulating roads we have - maybe the Magnetic Ride helps too, but I am quite impressed.

I'm Mr. Average - not a track star, but not an incompetent driver either I hope - this is what leads me to think that 4wd IS good for our climate. I really can't see myself hanging the tail of a car out on every corner, as the M3 seems to be good at, and maybe that makes me boring, I dunno? But the RS ability to make safer ? progress in bad conditions has to be a bonus?

Few questions for you all:

1. Is the Avant currently out of production? I know the saloon is, but is the Avant and Cab still being made? Ive found a Daytona Grey Avant with a nice spec, see the following link. You'll also see what Irish prices are like........

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=798070

2. Is it mentally foolish to plough a lot of money into an 'old-shape' B7 platform car, when the new A4 is on the way and will make B7s look dated? Is mega-depreciation on the horizon?

3. With no kids and no dogs, is the Avant a waste of empty space being towed around behind? If so, theres a black, lower specced saloon available, with wood trim , but I'm sure that could be replaced.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=640716

4. Not to get the age old M3 / RS debate going again, but is the RS just streets ahead for our climate, wet weather, muck and farm residue on the roads. Has the new M3, by its more recent design got the knack of making progress with 2 powered wheels only?

5. Is there more cachet attached to the M badge? The RS is, I would say more exclusive, and maybe for a more discerning customer perhaps, but does the M have the motorsport bred heritage?

Thanks in advance for your comments and replies - I'm so close to going with an M3, but something is telling me I need to check our RS alternatives further.

Good forum by the way, nice place to be

[ARSEY4]

1) I think the avant is out of production now.
2) Not sure on that one but residuals seem to be holding relativley well. AFAIA the RS6 is on the production line then maybe rs5 or TTrs so it could be quite a while before we see a B8 RS4.
3) There seem to be far more avants available at the moment and I would say if no dogs or familly then yes the avant is a waste.
4) I had a deposit on an M3 but took it back as soon as I saw the car and drove the rs4. To me the M badge is not as exclusive because of production numbers and I do like having a car that you dont see many of on the road.
Good luck wich ever you choose.

[lee,m]

Hi IMO ive had lots of bm s and to be honest got bored of them quite quickly , as for the new interiors my avant is my first audi, apart from a few niggles overall im happy with it. Fourteen months on and i have no plans to change, as for Avant or saloon i think go for either the avant is not a big car and certainly doesnt feel it, and as we all know they are a bit quicker especially in black

[sonny]

well as for question 2, I paid for a B7 RS4 last week (CASH) I saved 6-8k this way instead of going down the finance route, and its all about the enjoyment factor really, and to be honest I cant see them depreciating a lot, well I hope!

4) yes the Quattro is awesome, i took a mate for a test drive in the pouring rain, he was well impressed how well it stuck on the road, I feel a lot safer in the RS4 than I did in my old BMW, just something about that Quattro system in place!

[Dom81]

Agree with Arsey except for the avant comment. Of course we all have our preferences, but for every one who thinks estates are only worth having as a necessity, there's someone else (including many road testers & respected journos) who think the estate is a better package - truer to the original RS estate-only ethos, and more of a wolf in sheeps clothing

[ARSEY4]

Agree with Arsey except for the avant comment. Of course we all have our preferences, but for every one who thinks estates are only worth having as a necessity, there's someone else (including many road testers & respected journos) who think the estate is a better package - truer to the original RS estate-only ethos, and more of a wolf in sheeps clothing

You do get a selection of pipes and associated tobbaccos with the avant which is a nice touch.

[ARSEY4]

and rs4 bath salts

[ARSEY4]

plus rs4 v neck jumper and farahs.

[lee,m]

To go in the bath u can carry

[audijohn]

Just my 2P, I have the saloon, it's lighter and has loads of space and room ( I came from an A8 4.2TDI sport) the BMW 6 series I drove last week was all over the place on the twisty roads in wet/cold conditions, awful, put me right off. the M6 was worse still in cold wet conditons. The RS4 is sure footed and much safer and can even be pushed in bad weather, it's your choice, as for the new M3 335i with body kit, and don't handle well in poor conditons + there will be 1000's soon in showrooms.

[AidenL]

Thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated

I had a drive in an RS4 saloon, but it was in the confines of the city - so I didn't get to experience the whole effect unfortunately

So the Avant will automatically make me a pipe and slippers man?

[ARSEY4]

Thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated

I had a drive in an RS4 saloon, but it was in the confines of the city - so I didn't get to experience the whole effect unfortunately

So the Avant will automatically make me a pipe and slippers man?

Absolutley.....Grandad.

[Dom81]

I feel a poll coming on - who's older - Saloon or Avant drivers??

You'll probably find that the Avants are driven by families with kids & stuff, and Saloons are driven by the empty nesters

Good thing about the Saloon is that your bowls don't rattle about as much though...

[S4INT]

Thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated

I had a drive in an RS4 saloon, but it was in the confines of the city - so I didn't get to experience the whole effect unfortunately

So the Avant will automatically make me a pipe and slippers man?

Absolutley.....Grandad.

Nonsense, the Avant has always been far cooler!

[Norrs2]

Nonsense, the Avant has always been far cooler! [/quote]

Couldn't agree more

Arsey4, you forgot got to mention it also come complete with dog pasted over rear window.