I spent about 45 minutes behind the wheel of a RS4 today. I dropped my S4 off for some warranty work and the salesman at my dealership who is a very laid-back and friendly guy turned me loose with him on some delightfully twisty back roads in a gorgeous Daytona Gray Pearl Effect car. It is simply mesmerizing. The slick agile click of the gearshift through the locks, the velvety smooth clutch, the razor like grip as it twisted through the curves... exquisite. The adrenaline in my veins pumped in sync with the sinister sweet howl of the exhaust while the turbine-like engine whined from crescendo to crescendo. This car is a masterpiece.
I've driven M3's and I've driven Porsche's, and they are delightful cars, but this car is so refined and present yet all the same brutal and powerful. It's a well-mannered thug dressed in a tuxedo. Driving it makes me draw comparisons of course. There's my TT, which really is just a cutesy Karmahn-Ghia for modern times albeit pumped up on steroids. Then there's my S4 which in so many ways shares DNA with the RS4, but in the end pales by comparison. The suspension of the RS is just so much more agile and responsive while the linearity of the power plant makes the S4 almost seem anemic by comparison. The RS engine is almost like an electric motor with its seamless flat torque curve.
After the drive was over we played with some numbers. I'm content to wait for now. We looked at the residuals on leases and on a 3 year lease return for a low mileage car (under 35k miles) they're coming in at about 52% of sticker. That's going to be doable. I can wait for now. I'll just have to endure the secondary satisfaction of my S4. It's really not a bad car, just not a RS4.
He's a pretty cool guy. He knows that one way or another he's going to sell me one. I'm content to wait a little while. I don't buy new. Why should I take the hit in the wallet just to be the first owner? As amazing as Audis are they take a huge hit to their value by the time they are 2-3 years old and have about 30k miles on them. That's the time to buy as far as I'm concerned.
Beefy, I say do it too:) There's no way you're going to be able to wait it out for 3yrs. you're already going mad over the RS4:) Trade in 1 or 2 of your "3" Audi's and get the RS4 bro, seriously. I would forsure!
I love my TT and my A4 is my workhorse. I put about 20k miles a year on it. I need that car to commute. The TT, well, it's a long-term project and it's paid for, so is the A4. I owe just under $12k on the S4. I want to pay off the S4 and then dump it and use the money from the sale of it to put down on a low mileage RS4. I just cannot justify spending $75k on a car that's only going to be worth about $42k in 3 years.
I'll play with the S4 and the TT for now. They're both fun to drive, and when I finally get my RS4 I'll just appreciate it that much more. I just wish I had held out for a stick S4. I like the Tip, but it's just not the same. That's one of the nicer aspects of the RS4. I love the precise short throws of the shifter and the smoothness of the clutch. It's superb.
I hear yah, I guess I just see it differently. My RS4 is my only car and I put about 15k a year. I don't think I'll ever buy a car again, because of value depreciation for the RS4 or any car really. Unless I can buy one out right cash, but even then I probably would rather keep my money. I'm a 3 year kinda guy when it comes to cars before I want a new one. I'm hoping to trade my RS4 in for the R8 in a couple of years:)
The R8 is a delicous piece of machinery, but I won't even pretend to be able to ever afford one. I make a decent salary as a systems engineer at a large bank, but I've got the mortgage, the taxes, the 401k and the desire to invest in my retirement. I've already dedicated more than a fair share to my cars and building this TT I'm working on. I also am restoring a little VW Rabbit pickup and trying to decide about the future of a BWM 2002 that I've tired of. That car is likely going to be sold soon and the proceeds dumped into the VW.
Not to be the devil on your shoulder man, but you would be amazed at the deals out there in today's marketplace. Every car I've had in the past few years has been some form of online deal. You should seriously look at originating a lease on a used vehicle ( after the initial depreciation hit has been taken by someone else), or even assuming a lease. There are two great sites out there leasetrader and swapalease where there are some pretty wealthy dudes that tire of their cars pretty quickly and will give you hugeee cash incentives to assume their leases. All you do is pay taxes, origination fees and keep making payments on the lease for whatever number of months remain. I agree with stranger in that buying a car these days is not the most prudent financial decision. It's all about opporunity cost.. The things you could do with your money other than dumping it all into a car outright are legion. Just food for thought, and I can promise you this..... there are deals out there on rs4s, S4s and various other similar cars that would keep your payments lower than you could possibly ever imagine. Just takes some due diligence :)
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2007 Audi RS4 2006 Audi A8L 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG
I've never been one to lease a car. I like putting down a decent principal payment and making a smaller car payment. In the end, I have equity in the vehicle and if I am bored with it, I sell it, if I am not, then while still a depreciating asset, it's mine to keep. I put a decent down payment on my S4 and my payment is only $305. I'm figuring I'm going to have about $25k to put down on a RS4 when it comes time to buy and if I can get one for about $42k-$44k my payment is going to be about $525 or so. I'll easily be able to afford that.
I can't argue with you there.. I guess it all boils down to a difference in philosophy... for me.. it works better to take that downpayment, invest it in a number of different ventures yielding a higher rate of return than what my interest cost on the car loan would be... I usually just see it as a difference in opportunity cost... the more money that stays in my pocket up front the better... but either way man... I cant imagine there being something better out there when you are ready to snag your RS4... IMHO... hang tight :)
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2007 Audi RS4 2006 Audi A8L 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG
Sell'em Cato! Right on:) Beefy, 3 cars have got to be pretty costly too though, no? insurance, registration, gas, normal wear like tires, brakes, etc. let alone a payment. I can totally respect where your coming from though, I just hate to see your passion for the RS4 and not enjoy it............at least for now though, right?
The insurance isn't too bad really and two of the three are paid for. Registration is a little over $300 a year. Ohio is very low cost of living. As for gas, well, I can only drive one at a time .
The waiting game really isn't so bad. I do have the S4 and while it's short some hp and some handling of the RS4, it is a cousin and it does have its joys.
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The craving worsens... - 
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