A Used B7 Audi RS4 Is An M3 Crushing Super Saloon With A Ford Fiesta ST Price Tag

After oggling the facelifted Audi RS7 Sportback, we were inspired to take one of our usual trawls through the classifieds to locate one of our favourite RS Audis of recent times: the B7 RS4. The biggest draw is the powerplant: its 4.2-litre V8 revs to a spine-tingling 8500rpm while belting out 414bhp and 317 lb ft of torque. Those figures are enough to haul the car from 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds.

That glorious naturally-aspirated V8 still lives under the bonnet of the current RS4 (only available as an Avant these days), and it’ll be a sad day when it’s swapped for a smaller turbocharged unit.

The important thing about the B7 RS4, though, is that it’s not just a straight-line hero. It’s also a sharp handling brute which upon arrival finally gave Audi a car to battle its arch Bavarian rival, the BMW M3.

With prices starting at under £15,000, these are an incredibly tempting used buy. But beware, you need to make sure you have adequate funds to run one of these things: insurance and servicing will be predictably expensive, but the car also has a few expensive common issues.

The RS4’s trick hydraulic dampers can be temperamental; be sure to check for leaks if you take the plunge. The 4.2-litre engine is also known for depositing a delightful black sooty substance on the intake manifold, which will give you a drop in power until you book in a pricey clean. Finally, the flaps in the intake manifold and exhaust can seize, leaving you with a nasty bill.

Despite all the issues, if you’re realistic about running costs and careful about which example you go for, the RS4 is one hell of a car for the money.

This one could be worth a look. It’s done just 60,000 miles, has a full Audi service history, and is up for £18,495.