The trouble I have is that with the options I'd like the S4 comes in at around 45k.
I think you must have more expensive tastes than me. When I specced up my B5 S4 Avant, the list price was about £42K. Since the B6 does have a higher base spec, your £45K must be fully loaded?
Anyway I couldn't afford to pay £42K to a UK dealer for a new S4 so I paid £33K to a German dealer instead for the exact same car. [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Over 3 years it will lose half that, and I don't see the RS losing the same amount of money in the same time frame. In reality I reckon the S4 will actually lose 50% of its base price, as buyers don't tend to factor in the cost of options. Therefore it could be worth as little as 19k.
Absolutely - it's common knowledge that most options have no value on the used market. Again the RS4 had a higher base spec and so has less to lose.
Also the RS4 is still an enthusiasts car and was a limited edition, a recipe for good residuals. Even though the S4 is supposed to be limited supply (unless lots of people buy it!), it is a full production car so will lose money like the rest of the range. Also it doesn't look special, so for the uneducated it won't be worth the extra. In fact let's face it: How much more is the S4 over the 3.0 Quattro, and how much is that justified?
On a different note, I wonder just how well a new RS4 will fare, given that RS6s will be floating around on the s/h market at reduced prices by then (if they can be had for 50k now, could be down to 30k in a couple of years).
It'll fair very well because it will be new. Premium cars sell well because the buyers have massive EGOs!
