Which way would you go?

[KaiserCO]

So I'm looking into buying an S4 and can't make my mind up between 3 options right now.

1. My dad's friend just bought an rs4 and is selling his 2004 s4 for $27000. 45,000 miles and loaded minus navigation. Black on black. My uncle has a used car dealership and can get me a 3 year extra extended bumper to bumper warranty for another $2000.

2. 2006 dolphin gray black interior manual tranny with 48,000 miles, audi certified(6 years 100k miles) loaded minus nav. About $38,000(high mileage worries me, anyone know how well s4's hold together from 50k to 100k miles?)

3. 2007 6000 miles, black on black loaded minus nav with audi certified warranty $46k. A lot more expensive than the other

I know this seems like a strange mix of mileage and prices but I just can't decide. #1 Is an excellent price even after purchasing a warranty but it's the first year of the S4 with a v8 and I'm worried about reliability issues, also it is way more boring looking than the other two since it is a b6 platform vs b7. #2 is the way I'm leaning right now since it's got a fair amount of warranty left and the new body style and probably better reliability. I just have trouble justifying 10k markup from option #1 but actually having MORE miles on the car.

Finally, #3 seems like a really solid option, it's just that I was hoping to find something in the range of 600 a month but with #3 I'm looking at more like 750 a month.

So which way would you go? The older boring looking but extremely affordable route? The nearly new but pricey route? or the new, fair priced but high mileage route?

Thanks for the help and suggestions!
Kaiser

(ps please don't tell me to get a 335. I've looked at that but I need AWD(colorado) but the 335xi is too high/soft of a suspension for my liking among other reasons)

[Youngsta]

go to an audi forum then .. why ask people on a bmw forum?

[KaiserCO]

Originally Posted by Youngsta

go to an audi forum then .. why ask people on a bmw forum?

Sorry, didn't realize people who are members of a bmw forum aren't allowed to have opinions about non-bmw cars... guess that's why they have a specific section(this one) for non-bmw threads...

[sinnet112]

Hum, Audi's reliability has always been shaky, and their resale value is horrible. So I'd go with the one that maximizes the life of the car probably, which is option 3.

[san~man]

Originally Posted by KaiserCO

Sorry, didn't realize people who are members of a bmw forum aren't allowed to have opinions about non-bmw cars... guess that's why they have a specific section(this one) for non-bmw threads...

I don't think Youngsta meant it in that context. I "think" he meant that an Audi forum would provide you with answers from experience, rather than speculation. There's only a handful of owners here (IIRC) that have actually owned an Audi prior to their 3.

[OBI_agent]

If you willing to spend 46k(3rd option), why not go for a 335i

[TheAcAvenger]

Option 2 makes the most sense... granted Audi's aren't hardly as unreliable as they used to be (it's going to be hard to shed the rep they created for themselves). Option 2 gives you the slightly refreshed look, the second lowest cost, and a warranty. It's a no brainer, IMO.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by sinnet112

Hum, Audi's reliability has always been shaky, and their resale value is horrible. So I'd go with the one that maximizes the life of the car probably, which is option 3.

+1 to reliability; I have also heard that it improved with later models -- so, opt#3 in that sense...

However, the resale value of the Bimmer is not what I expected at all, it all depends on the demand I guess, and not the approximate numbers posted by the manufacturer or KBB...

[Greeney]

0 issues with my S5 (Understandable because its new) I dont really understand the stigma of Audis reliability. Maybe its because I am young who knows.

I say go for option 2, with that huge warranty, why not save yourself a couple of bucks.