Future values

[SimonC]

Whenever someone raises the question of what these cars are worth, many existing owner reply that they are worth much less than the general public seem to think.
As a member of the general public I was happy to pay over 30k for an RS4 in 2005 because I thought it was worth it. Strong residual values was a major justification for me.
What I cannot understand is why existing owners seem so determined to drive the used values of these cars down. Buyers seem happy to pay good money for these cars until an existing owner announces that the price is too high.
The RS2 held its vaue extremely well. A combination of rarity, practicality, build quality, performance and the ability to look good ten years later play their part. The RS4 is no different.
So let's all stop being silly.
If somebody asks about one that is advertised for strong money, reply "that's a bargain, snap his hand off".
If somebody asks about a cheap one, reply "that's very cheap, offer him more"
At current rate the RS4 is going to end up cheaper than the RS2.
What do you guys think?

[K2]

Good point Simon.

[p.binks]

I agree too,purchased my RS4 as values seemed to be stable at the time most other vehicles were dropping in value,hope the depreciation settles again.

[simple1]

New model may have put a blip on the plot, but B5 has always held its value well, I paid £48K for my car in March 2001 and was offered half its value by dealer when B7 arrived, B5 was 5 and half years old at that point. Not bad considering most cars lose 60% of their value in three years. Good cars dont change hands often and this helps to keep the price up.

[derdle]

A dealer offered me insulting money for my RS4 against a good low mileage RS6. The RS6 still sits on his forecourt and I still enjoy the RS4. I know dealers have gott o make a profit but there is a difference between taking the p*ss, and insulting a good long standing customer.

[MCB]

Stealers

[flashyg]

SimonC spot on.
Dealers do not determine the price, sellers do.
Mines not for sale.
Thanks SimonC.
G

Idiots

[ScottyBoy]

Whenever someone raises the question of what these cars are worth, many existing owner reply that they are worth much less than the general public seem to think.
As a member of the general public I was happy to pay over 30k for an RS4 in 2005 because I thought it was worth it. Strong residual values was a major justification for me.
What I cannot understand is why existing owners seem so determined to drive the used values of these cars down. Buyers seem happy to pay good money for these cars until an existing owner announces that the price is too high.
The RS2 held its vaue extremely well. A combination of rarity, practicality, build quality, performance and the ability to look good ten years later play their part. The RS4 is no different.
So let's all stop being silly.
If somebody asks about one that is advertised for strong money, reply "that's a bargain, snap his hand off".
If somebody asks about a cheap one, reply "that's very cheap, offer him more"
At current rate the RS4 is going to end up cheaper than the RS2.
What do you guys think?

At Last, very well said
But wait for it i hear the pessimist's on there way to this thread, stand by.

[Golich]

I think this is a temporary blip.

In a strange kind of way Audi helped us with the release of the B7 RS4. While the B7 is a specail car. It looks nowhere near as special as a B5 and with a basic remap, the B5 gives significantly more bang for your buck and more pleasurable to drive over a B7. Combined with the exclusivity its got everything going for it.

What an all round performer for a bargain £20K!!

Its for all these reasons that I have kept this car for so long and in standard form! Now I am only begining to dabble with some little "tweeks"

[simple1]

Has to be done, mine was standard for 5 years apart from the exhaust and quick shift, was only in the summer, after getting brakes sorted that I added some horses to the under bonnet dept..................

[k5turbo]

B5s are the way t go !

[quattrokid1]

thank God for depreciation when these were new they cost £46500 plus a bit for additional toys, however 2 weeks ago my girlfriend bought a year 2000 RS4 for 19k with 88k miles on it.FASH etc... She has already had a brand new A4 cabrio 2.5 tdi sport out the box putting 36k miles on it in 13 months or so then replaced that with a 3 year old S3 which had 22 ish k miles on it... it was traded in for a brand new VW EOS 2.0 tdi sport 2 years later with 90k miles on it. The EOS which was returned to VW with 9600 miles in 3 months since the roof mechanism packed up so with what she got for trade in she got this misano red RS4. In hindsight buying the VW was a huge mistake but the mileage she was doing it made sense to go diesel but now her circumstances have changed her annual mileage has plummeted now allowing the RS4 to be a viable option...

Not everyone has pockets able to accomodate the cost of new RS models so think yourself very fortunate that your able to buy the cars you want out the box and the cars you trade in gives someone else who isnt on the same financial pegging as you to be able to buy such a car and enjoy it for what we can afford. I arranged for her to have a test drive of an RS4 when she had her SAAB 900 turbo... then that went for the Audi cabrio, see above.... She has always wanted an RS4 after her initial first taste of what Audi power was about. Now being on her 3 rd Audi in 4 years or so is a great indication as to where her loyalties lie. Me however has had a UrS4 with 128k miles for nearly 6 years but recently sold with 200478 miles on it (only because of my financial situation) and I have a Ur WR quattro. These cars were great in their hayday but since I had to wait nearly 17 YEARS until I was in a position to buy one brings me back to depreciation and 16 years in the Royal Navy to think about such fantasies!!

So you big spenders are paveing the way for us less fortunate mortals to eventually buy what we have always wanted.... so a very big thanks then i think is order of the day

[SimonC]

I think we're confusing depreciation with deterioration. You can still buy an immaculate (and not autotrader immaculate which generally means nothing) RS4 but it will cost you circa £30000. At the other end of the scale you can buy an accident damaged one for £10000. These cars have been around for long enough now that there are plenty of deteriorated examples around. If that's your thing then that's fine, but for all of you out there with an immaculate RS4, don't let anyone tell you it's worth peanuts when the time comes to sell... And if you're in the market for a used RS4 then your chances of getting a decent one for under £25000 are slim. Just bear in mind that you can easily spend £5000 on one of these machines just to bring them up to scratch. If you doubt this then £100+ just for a replacement key is a good starting point and then you still have the knowledge of someone else having access to your car.
My own car cost me over £30000 from a main dealer in April 2005. It had one owner, 31000 miles, new tyres, RS246.com sticker (that one alone has got to be worth a couple of grand!!!), came with a warranty and was a credit to its previous owner who was Johnpg on here. The single greatest problem I have had with this vehicle has been directly due to the incompetence and dishonesty of the selling dealer, but thanks to the excellent response of Audi UK that is all sorted and I have been spared a small fortune in costs due to an excellent warranty.
I have had a fantastic time with this car and aside from servicing, tax, insurance, Autoglym, liquid leather, Optimax/VPower and a set of tyres I have suffered no expenses and it has been like owning a new car. I doubt the same could be said of a £20000 example.
My car has no doubt lost value - I added an owner to the log book, I crossed the 60000 mile threshold, the rear seat has been sat in and it is about to visit a bodyshop for the first time to have a scratch removed. But it is still some considerable way from being worth as little as £20k.
I never imagined RS4 owners as having more money than sense.

[quattrokid1]

In hindsight I bought my UrS4 for 4k with128k miles on it with full ASH. I had it for nearly 6 years bringing it up to 200478 miles. For a car that originally cost 37k I think I was extremely lucky to find such a healthy car for what I paid for it with a full spec sheet as well. Same with my girlfriends S3 and now hopefully with the RS4.

There are cars that have been lovingly looked after but with 90k miles on it now THATS bound to be a big hitter in the value dept. ok not every car will be in new pin condition for 20k as you would get for 30k but mileage as side its the luck of the draw at the end of the day... even new cars arent perfect so to put down a new owner because his/hers was 10k less than what you paid and done a 2/3 more mileage is in bad taste I recon. It also depends how the car has been used by its previous owners so mechanically wise unless you strip it down to component level and check every bit for tolerance any second hand car will have the possibility of hidden gremlins as does a car straight of the shelf. We have been in that situation twice, firstly with the Audi cabrio roof and again now with the VW EOS which didnt even last 3 months!! not everyone who buys high performance cars will or want to take it to within an inch of its life everytime they get the chance.

We wanted one because of its pedigree and performance and because it is an Audi RS4. Beggars cant be choosers but they can see a good healthy car for a sensible price when it crosses their path. Also buying it from a specialist dealer who has won a few prestigeous awards in Audi Driver, I feel comfortable that they wouldnt be selling us a bag of trouble either.If they did then I'll be on their case pretty sharpish.

I agree that there are cars out there that look like they were used for Mad Max movies and only a few years old or less and some cars end up wrecked because the owner didnt look after it or did his/her best to break it them move on. Perhaps 1 dayI will be in a position to take a car out the showroom and have many happy years with it. This time round we have found a healthy car for a price that suits our financial situation.

[SimonC]

Quattrokid I meant no offence, my comment was by no means in bad taste.
If I sell mine at 90k with a bulge in one of its tyres, missing keys, a broken armrest, jammed ashtray, worn out brakes, missing undertray, etc then I suppose 20k is a fair price. As you say, it does indeed depend on how the car was treated by its previous owner....