Will the RS4 be a better buy than say an M5?

[RobertH]

Just interested on people's thoughts, as the price is now going to be more like £55k for the car with Sat Nav, and with less features than the last RS4 (no electric seats to "save weight" seems one example and also leather fabric as another), so will it be a better ownership experience than the M5?

I realise that most people want the estate, but regardless are they going to be a equivalent place for the best part of 60 grand of your hard earned cash?

Robert.

[SunDiver]

A difficult question but one personal opinion is that I'd be *stunned* if the RS4 didn't hold its value better than the M5...

Edit : Actually I may just change my mind on that if it truly isn't a limited edition and there are unlimited numbers. I'm an Audi newbie having only recently aquired a B5 S4 but even I can tell that a major factor of strong value for the B5 RS4 has been the limited available numbers...Without that situation, and coupled with lesser "tuneability", I wonder how things may pan out..

Would I still like one though? Naturally - think it looks fabulous!

A

[Dippy]

I wish I had to think about this but I'm not in a position to buy a £55K car!

However if I were, I would still look closely at the BMWs. I think it is still generally true that BMW have the best chassis and engines. I believe the M5 will have a V10 with over 500bhp, and the next M3 will have a V8 similar (or better) to the RS4's. There is already rumour that the next M3 will be offered as an estate, so why not the M5 too?

However for me the winner is still 4WD. I only have a tuned S4, but a recent experience made me VERY glad I have 4WD. Sure it is possible to handle a powerful RWD car with skill, but not 100% of the time in 100% of the situations!

As for residuals that is really a gamble these days. With the manufacturers trying to out-do each other in this market segment all residuals will suffer.