Do I or dont I ? R32 to RS4 - is now a good time?

[RS4-Chew]

Hi peeps - been lurking for a few years now

here is my situation :-

Currently own a MK4 DBP R32 - have done for nearly 3 years which is unheard of as I usually change motors every 12 months...every mile has been joyous and I really do not know what to go for next... I adore B7 RS4's and always deemed them as almost supercar unreachable territory - especially pre recession! - my personal circumstances have changed in the last 6 months.

Split up with Ex girlfriend, moved out and am renting off my skin and blister which is working a treat. Not itching to move on and find a place just yet as its working well, but I have enough deposit to do so if something crops up...or stay there for another 6-12 months and keep adding to the deposit.

R32 fast approaching 74000 miles and Im wanting to move on (I think) will be so sad to see it go... (god knows what I would get for her)

I'm not sure if I should take advantage of a) my personal situation having quartered my monthly outgoings and b) the recession (not a bad earner either) and have quite alot of "disposable" cash each month.

I was looking at S4 Cabbys, 8P S3 or maybe 987 Boxters S.. something quick and interesting - but looking at some of these B7's at under £30k, Im seriously considering stretching to this... When I say stretching, I "dont think" it would be too much of a stretch but dont know if now is a stupid time to go for such a car...should I be saving more and more for a gaff (its not as though Im back at my parents or anything so I dont see the issue with having such a car AND renting at my sisters - different if I was at "the olds".. I am 31 btw LOL)

Do I throw caution to the wind and do it whilst I can..

or put my sensible hat on, keep the R32 and save like a barst00l for another place (i could poss save and have an RS4 ) guess it depends on service costs and schedules etc... Not to bothered about mpg - why should I be!?

What would you guys do in my situation and at this dyer time with the climate? (let me guess!)

Are these <£30k RS4's sheds?

Inspire me

cheers!- over and out for now

R32-Chew

[P_G]

Have you also factored in the costs of running an RS4? Most if the sub £30K ones will be just about to run out of warranty unless you buy from a dealer to get a 12 month extension. On top of that is £600-1000 for tyres, £3-500 for a service and £400 road tax plus the extra drinking ability of the RS4 over a R32 plus the increaed insurance premium.

If front disks and pads need replacing, near £1K. They are fabulous cars and if you can afford one get one, but if you are in any way stretching your budget to afford I'd wait a bit. IMO of course. I have also changed cars frequently, every 2 years but the RS4 is now coming up to two years old and it'll be in my garage for at least the same again, it is that good.

[RS4-Chew]

Cheers PG

yeah Ive been looking at the cost of services and tyres etc....the way Im kinda looking at it (with a biased hat on) is that I get X amount per month car allowance (I dont opt in and never will) and also get X amount fuel allowance, so in essence as I have such a passion for cars (I also compete in Hillclimbs and sprints) Im kinda prepared to put the same amount again of my own cash towards the other to "have what I want whilst I can"..if that makes sense? especially as my outgoings are at an all time low (and Im earning more than I was before I bought the place with my ex)

I was recently looking at and test drove 987 Boxster S (3.4), S2000, 8P S3, Cayman S ClubSport, and poss Z4M coupe, with a definate view to buy (used of course!) But I cannot escape my love of RS4's - if RS4's are above and beyond the cars listed above in terms of their budget requirements than I guess I will have to pass, but if they are similar to "some" of them in terms of service costs/intervals etc then bring it on. Insurance for a Z4M and Cayman S was around £650-£700.

My work commute is circa 60 miles per day round trip and its across the M42 at 50mph due to the traffic management cameras..so even my R32 has seen 36 mpg which it never used to on my old commute...

I hear you with the warranty reference and that does make me a little uncomfortable, cos of course buying from a stealer almost puts the car over budget (seriously need to sit down with a calculator)

Even if I kept it for 6-12 months - at least i would have owned one and could definately afford to budget for such a car for that period of time....

Awwwwww why do I like cars so much!?

[MSLRS5]

Hi R32-Chew

Like you I spent a long time looking and taking the time to make a decision. For me the biggest factor was the extra fuel costs. My previous car (A4 DTM) was suprisngly good returning 35 regularly and dropping to 25 if it was really pushed. I estimated that I would average about 22mpg. I have had the car 2 weeks and have seen it return 26 on a 75 mile motorway journey and around 21 on a 30 mile cross-country comute.

However..despite this I must be the only owner who has the computer function set on mpg. It's become a bit of an office joke that I've bought this car but can't release it's full potential. I had factored in the tax,service and tyres but since it had only covered 4000 miles I knew I should be pretty safe for the next six months. I intend to get it checked out by the main dealer soon to see if any issues come up before the warranty expires.

All in all it is a fantastic car...awesomely quick when required and also a comfortable motorway cruiser when needed. Aside from the fuel costs (£300 per month from £150) I assumed that like my previous Audi's that it was a quality product and therefore wouldn't necessarily be any more troublesome.

In summary I think it's still a good time to buy and assuming you get a good one get out there and enjoy the sound of that glorious V8.

Cheers.

P.S.

I don't mind getting the reputation of the tight git on this forum!

[aidanjaye]

I was also in same boat but though, f@@k it - you only love once.

The difference on petrol between the r32 and rs4 would be as big as you'd expect. Currently getting 21 ish mpg with the rs4 (mostly round town) but I did have a "loan" of an r32 and was shocked to be getting 23 mpg. My old golf GTI was alaso crap at 27-28 mpg.

Buy from a dealer and haggle - get a years warranty and ensure tyres / brakes are ok before purchase. While Audi charge a fortune for bits - if you Shop around then consumable can be found cheaper (4 tyres fitted and balanced 680 quid and should last 12 months plus).

Insurance: Golf GTI was 250 quid - RS4 an extra 150 quid which I thought wasn't too bad as was getting quoted 50% again for a Subaru STI.

Go one - you know you want to.

[HYFR]

is now a good time . . .well its not a bad time, but you seriously missed the window of opportunity that was Dec - Feb when pricing it rock bottom.

As I understand it RS4 prices have held up quite well since, and even increased - which is somewhat unheard of.

If your thinking to drop down a level to S4 - the saloon (b6) is at fair money these days, I managed to pick up a steal. Then sold it on at a profit to finance the cab iv got now. 344bhp would be a good intermediary step up from the R32 - MPG wouldnt be too much less - and you could keep saving for house / RS4 in the meantime

My next car will be an RS4

[aidanjaye]

I'm actually getting more MPG on the RS4 over the S4 - was lucky to get 19 mpg on the S4. Think you need to wring its neck a tad more than the RS4 to make good headway.

[RS4-Chew]

thanks for the input guys - appreciate it

I recently went in a suppliers (IT services not drugs LoL!) B7 S4 saloon (quad exit zorsts) and it rocked! the sound track was awesome! A colleague also has a B6 S4 Cabby which got me looking at those too - very well priced for an 05.

I could have one as a pathway to my dream B7 I guess - BUT if I did, then kept saving and adding to my house deposit, would I actually in reality progress to an RS4 further down the line when Ive made the next property purchase....cash may get a lot tighter making this progression a more difficult/impossible....not that an S4 is a failure thats now what I mean.... far far from it!

Im also surprised at how low the R32's MPG can be - anywhere between 17 and 35 mpg (on average readout)

Oh if only there was a member of the forum in the west mids - that would probably seal the deal if i was to experience one

I also read one of the threads about RS4's with 25k miles being high milers! WTF? (not in my eyes) whats all that about!?

so what do you B7 boys budget annually for your RS's? (I know its dependant on mileage - lets just say 15k/annum - pootling to work in the week and ragging it at the weekend)

I did notice the slump around the xmas/new year period but then wasnt a good time for me personally - now though is a different matter LoL.

thanks again for taking the time out to read this guff

[reevesroadster]

I had a Z M roadster, and bought this "cos I could".

The Z M was awesome to drive, especially when a bit wet outside. Then the RS4 arrived, and the difficult choice of which to drive each morning.
The Z M roadster was sold several months later having hardly been driven.

I dont regret the sale, and love the RS4. It'll be staying with me for a while yet, and Ive had mine almost 3 years.

Make sure you are fairly sure you can afford an RS4 before you test drive - because a test drive will have you handing over cash!!!

[HYFR]

thanks for the input guys - appreciate it

A colleague also has a B6 S4 Cabby which got me looking at those too - very well priced for an 05.

I picked mine up for £15k - thats 05/05, 26k, every option ticked, and from AUDI

I've put a non res milltek on and it sounds every bit as good as my old RS 6, especially with the top down !!

Im averaging 22mpg over my first 1.2k

On the RS4 front, I know what your thinking in wanting to go for the RS. . . sharing my experience from owning an RS - they do like emptying your wallet.

An RS 6 was always a dream car of mine, and when they dropped below £20k they were in my line of fire and so I bought one from Audi.

Now, I earn a decent wage for a 25yr old, but, putting fuel aside, the runnings costs in tyres, brakes, servicing & potential costs arising from breakdown were huge in comparison to other cars. Probably like yoursefl, I could of afforded to keep it, but its just whether you want so much of your disposable income to be swallowed up by your car

So I traded "down" to an S4, iv got a 3 yr warranty - so all I've got to worry about is fuel . . . no more DRC, gearbox worries . . . .

[aidanjaye]

15K a year - you'll need tyres and brake pads for thats sort of mileage....
but, with the price of RS4s stabilizing, you might not lose out much on resale.

AND, park a S4 (which I have had and loved) next to an RS4 and you won't need to drive them - the looks alone will win you over. The RS4 is so much sportier looking.

[HYFR]

15K a year - you'll need tyres and brake pads for thats sort of mileage....
but, with the price of RS4s stabilizing, you might not lose out much on resale.

AND, park a S4 (which I have had and loved) next to an RS4 and you won't need to drive them - the looks alone will win you over. The RS4 is so much sportier looking.

agreed

S4 is very subtle

thou improvements can be made. . . but will cost, whereas RS4 as standard looks perfect

[chrissyr32]

Go for it!! i was the same humming and harring for months..do it you wont regret it..you only live once..

I came from a MK5 R32 to ym RS4 and TBH didnt notice a great deal of difference on the MPG front although i dont do a lot of miles and the RS isnt my daily driver.

However as mentioned above running costs can be high if things go wrong.but hey?Its an Audi things dont go wrong!!!! lol...
Its now or never at the end of the day high performance cars cost money we all know that..so do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[karl]

R32,
You only live once mate (as far as we know anyway); go for it, life is too short!

[_RS_]

When I got my RS4 I couldn't part with my R32 and still have it. Got rid of my B5 S4 instead [flamesuit]. The R32 was such a great car out of the box, but if you think you want to take the leap, you'll get over it, the RS is all around fantastic.
Spend a little less on meals out or something and save for the costs.