Change my B7 RS4 for another B7 RS4??

[iluvmercs]

Evening all.

I am torn by a quandary at present, a decision for which I hoping can be aided by you guys and gals.
Albeit hardly life and death, I would be interested to hear enthusiasts views on the subject.

As some of you know, I have been running my RS4 a daily drive for the last five and a half years, covering almost 64,000 (almost trouble free) miles - total mileage is not far off 70k miles now.

However, a car has recently come on to the market which seems fantastic. It is basically identical to my car, but it has only 23,000 miles on the clock (and is a year younger), plus it has Ceramic brakes (a BIG plus).

If I sold my car, I would adding about £10k for in essence the same car, but lower mileage, less wear and tear on everything else and THOSE brakes.
Negatives amount to me not knowing the history of this car and any other costs which could be as a result of a lesser used example.
I have emailed the owner. At time of writing, I am yet to hear back, but this is the car in question: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... 07/2441674
I have an enormous list of very detailed questions to ask the owner, so I would be thoroughly investigating the car's provenance and condition, then comparing it with my car.

I could retrofit new Ceramics to mine, sort out some stone chipped paint and refurbish the alloys for around the same amount, but I'd still have a 70k miler.
The main plus for my car is that I pretty much know this car inside out. The original DRC is fine, she's just been main dealer serviced and MOT'd (yesterday), and the mileage is lower than average.
There have also been little things, such as head light modules, oil cooler issues, clutch and flywheel renewal which could rear their ugly heads on a different example. Of course, they may not and those items could have been one off for my car.

The replacement would still be used in the same manner as my current car, adding approximately 15k miles per annum, so it would suffer depreciation. That said, it isn't as much of a concern as potential costs hinted above.

So I turn to the learned people of rs246 for some sound advice.
Are there any members who have changed their car for an identical, but lower mileage example? Any regrets?
Did you consider this, but ultimately stick with your car?
Does a lower mileage car really equal a better example?

Maybe I'm just being stupid with mileage and future wear and tear to my car shouldn't be of a concern!

Opinions and advice would be most welcomed.
Thanks in advance,

Darren

[Rick_RS4]

you know the history of yours, id spend the money that you would to change on the brakes and clutch etc

[HYFR]

Miles! Its just a number!

[rocket1]

If your gonna be putting on those miles each year as you said I'd stick with what you got. Otherwise a few years time the low miler will soon be where yours is now mileage wise. Better the devil you know!

[iluvmercs]

While I certainly agree with the comments thus far, thinking on it more, I guess I am concerned with the interior wear and tear (I've already had to attend to a few creaks/rattles) as well as longer term mechanical wear (engine, gearbox itself and differentials), with mounting bills.

Basically, I am seeing a lower mileage car a potential to extend my general B7 RS4 ownership and this route as a cheaper version of "upgrading" my daily driver (Other newer RS alternatives don't really "do" it for me, plus they are more expensive.)

An upgraded clutch I would look at when this current one expires

Darren

[hlbeckley]

Miles! Its just a number!

Agreed...digits on the dash, 2miles aroud brands hatch are different to 2miles around the M1. Who cares, if it feels better then do it, else save 10k and get a stage 1 from JHM and use the change to buy the Mrs a new frock

Infact 2miles of HYFRs driving around the ring are different to 2miles of Bam's i bet....seems like Bam drives in the ring and DK around it

[S4WON]

This might sound strange and get abuse, but have you considered a B8 S4? I went from a B7 rs4 to one and I'm loving it. The gearbox is the biggest win for me and I just couldn't go back now. The b7 is a legend, its iconic and if I could keep one i my garage for weekend loving I would, but as a DD i think the newer models are just all round better.

Plus if u were so inclined you could get a stage 2 from MRC and it's then R8 v10 performance........

My suggestion, drive a B8 S4 before u make up your mind.


/flame retardant suit on

[Regy53]

To me, it sounds like you want it and have 90% made your mind up.

A low mile car is good but sometimes having a car sat around is not always good too.

Not with this marque but I have changed cars twice to the same car MG ZS180, and it never works out how you want it to.

Your talking about 3 years additional running to get to where you are now for 10k, it isnt a bad deal. £277,77 a month plus anything that goes wrong or needs maintaining, you also get the added benefit of the brakes.


I think you should put your 10k away for a rainy day and keep enjoying your car. I can see the reason why your looking though, if your car had 120k on the clock I would make the move but its still got decent miles and 120k is 3 years away still.

[neilparf]

I'd personally stay with the car you have - the £10k could be your contingency and indeed retro fit the ceramics. Miles. Who cares. If stay with what you have...

As Regy mentions, sounds like you have made your mind up...

[daytonamart]

I would stay with the car I know, but I think you have already made your mind up Darren. You know those brakes would be awesome, less brake dust too!

[R1RS4]

Personally I would stay with what you know and have, low mileage or age does not mean fault free driving and no guarantee its a better car

[toyneg]

i have often thought the same with mine as I approach 100k miles but like the others have said, at least I 'know' my car and all the things I have had to replace over the past couple of years may well need doing on the lower mileage car at some point so I would be forking out again. so for now i am just going to forget about the mileage and just keep enjoying it. might stick some tape over the dial so i can't even see what it is on haha

[adsgreen]

fitting brand new ceramics and sorting out the bits is unlikely to cost anywhere near 10k.
Remember the ceramics on the 2007 are used so not a fair comparison. It's quite common to see 2nd hand ceramics on sale for much cheaper than the 6k new.
You will always have the niggle that if anything happened after buying the new car with it's old ceramics then you could be looking at a large bill.

But even then with the new car as many have said above - with modern cars mileage is a terrible way to judge and value a car.
With a higher miler car such as yours you are likely to get more wear and tear items rather than fundamental issues.
Assume constant use that car has done around 3k miles or less. which means it has been sat around for a long long time without use - potentially months at a time. Not great for engines, not great for tyres... and 23k miles big things could still go pop as it's barely run in really.

For example, I'd go for (and have done) well looked after track cars than display models that sit around collecting dust.

The question I'd ask is that do you really really need ceramics on a daily driver? Might be worth looking at alternative conventional brake options for your current car as these can really transform things. For example go for a softer pad for initial bit (great for day to day) or something a bit tougher if you feel you're pushing them too hard.

Interior squeaks are easy to sort - as with so many things in life... just need the right lube

[Surrey Sam]

Personally I would move into the lower millage car - I think if you could get the cost of change to 8k it would make sense. As of last September the quote I had for all the required parts to fit Ceramics came to £7763.30 inc VAT. You then need to factor in cost of fitting unless you're happy twirling the spanners yourself.

I had been looking at that one myself as I was thinking about buying it to pilfer the brakes and fit them on mine, in the end though I had decided it was a bit over priced and another option was better to pursue.

[toyneg]

is there a big benefit of using Ceramics unless you track the car? other than them looking the nuts!