RS4 or keep CSL?
Discussion
I wonder if you chaps can offer advice?
I have owned my current black CSL for about 18 months and really enjoy it.
I do about 8 track days a year and use it everyday, including turning up to potential clients houses. I admit i love M cars but i have always hankered after a proper Audi.
What do you honestly think of RS4 v CSL. The luxury and quality of the Audi with a hint of rawness really appeals, especially that V8 engine.
Im looking at keeping the car for a while, got stung with the CSL depreciation, RS models seem to hold money well. I realise the CSL may have a slight edge on track but im looking at the complete package.
Any thoughts/advice?
I have owned my current black CSL for about 18 months and really enjoy it.
I do about 8 track days a year and use it everyday, including turning up to potential clients houses. I admit i love M cars but i have always hankered after a proper Audi.
What do you honestly think of RS4 v CSL. The luxury and quality of the Audi with a hint of rawness really appeals, especially that V8 engine.
Im looking at keeping the car for a while, got stung with the CSL depreciation, RS models seem to hold money well. I realise the CSL may have a slight edge on track but im looking at the complete package.
Any thoughts/advice?
This is a difficult one to call, the CSL is very specialized and the RS4 is very new.
I have an S4, of which, the RS4, is an uprated version. When Clarkson tested the S4, he loved it, and made lots of nice noises about it, so when he drove the RS4, I was not suprised he nearly wet himself. I don't like comparing cars, as they all have good and bad point's but the reason I have an Audi S4 and not a BMW M3 is ,the BMW is too low, two door, two wheel drive and too obvious. If I take the badges off my S4 you would find it difficult to tell it from a normal A4, which is somthing I like. John
I have an S4, of which, the RS4, is an uprated version. When Clarkson tested the S4, he loved it, and made lots of nice noises about it, so when he drove the RS4, I was not suprised he nearly wet himself. I don't like comparing cars, as they all have good and bad point's but the reason I have an Audi S4 and not a BMW M3 is ,the BMW is too low, two door, two wheel drive and too obvious. If I take the badges off my S4 you would find it difficult to tell it from a normal A4, which is somthing I like. John
I understand fuel consumption and tyre wear are both atrotious on the Audi. This may not concern you, but you may wish to take it into consideration.
There is also the rarity value of the CSL. Granted it is not as practical as the Audi, but do you need that? Unless you've got a big family and a large dog, does it matter?
There is also the rarity value of the CSL. Granted it is not as practical as the Audi, but do you need that? Unless you've got a big family and a large dog, does it matter?
I've got a CSL and was gonna ask the same question, but:
1) I dont think it looks anywhere near as good as the CSL, i saw one in Picadilly Audi and it looked too tall, too normal and not beefed up enough compared to the exquisite CSL.
2) It wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun round the track as the CSL, it would probably go at a similar pace round the track but i'm sure it wouldn't have the same level of driver involvement. (although to be honest the audi couldn't touch the CSL around the nurburgring (7 mins 50 seconds) as neither can the GT3!)
3) Yes it does sound good but the CSL sounds awesome! (if you're worried about the "Clarkson factor" then i hope you've seen the Top Gear piece on the CSL, you should see his face when mentioning the noise!)
Considering all these factors and the fact that the CSL is a limited edition so should hold onto its value somewhat more than the RS4 over time i'm gonna hang onto my CSL for a while yet but have to concede that the RS4 is a truly amazing car and if you want a car just for the road i'm sure the RS4 is the better choice.
1) I dont think it looks anywhere near as good as the CSL, i saw one in Picadilly Audi and it looked too tall, too normal and not beefed up enough compared to the exquisite CSL.
2) It wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun round the track as the CSL, it would probably go at a similar pace round the track but i'm sure it wouldn't have the same level of driver involvement. (although to be honest the audi couldn't touch the CSL around the nurburgring (7 mins 50 seconds) as neither can the GT3!)
3) Yes it does sound good but the CSL sounds awesome! (if you're worried about the "Clarkson factor" then i hope you've seen the Top Gear piece on the CSL, you should see his face when mentioning the noise!)
Considering all these factors and the fact that the CSL is a limited edition so should hold onto its value somewhat more than the RS4 over time i'm gonna hang onto my CSL for a while yet but have to concede that the RS4 is a truly amazing car and if you want a car just for the road i'm sure the RS4 is the better choice.
I have had my name down for an RS4 for over a year and the wait has been massively frustrating, although dealer tells me I should get my car in March. I have been desperately searching for info and opinion on the RS4 and thus far all reviews are very favourable. I saw the mock-up car in London and thought it looked fab - suitably discrete yet quite menacing.
I had an M3 and loved it but at the end of the day I just wanted something you saw a lot less of. Decided against a CSL as didn't like the SMG box but everything else was very impressive, bought a 996 targa which I have just sold in anticipation of the RS4. 91 ownership was all its cracked up to be and more but time to move on and get something else with a few more ponies under the bonnet. Appeal of the Audi for me is relative exclusivity and practicality combined with big performance that is accessible.
Having said that, the wait is driving me mad and opportunity to buy an SL55 for under £60K is hugely tempting, having driven one....
Anyone else got an RS4 coming soon?
I had an M3 and loved it but at the end of the day I just wanted something you saw a lot less of. Decided against a CSL as didn't like the SMG box but everything else was very impressive, bought a 996 targa which I have just sold in anticipation of the RS4. 91 ownership was all its cracked up to be and more but time to move on and get something else with a few more ponies under the bonnet. Appeal of the Audi for me is relative exclusivity and practicality combined with big performance that is accessible.
Having said that, the wait is driving me mad and opportunity to buy an SL55 for under £60K is hugely tempting, having driven one....
Anyone else got an RS4 coming soon?
billy83 said:
I've got a CSL and was gonna ask the same question, but:
1) I dont think it looks anywhere near as good as the CSL, i saw one in Picadilly Audi and it looked too tall, too normal and not beefed up enough compared to the exquisite CSL.
2) It wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun round the track as the CSL, it would probably go at a similar pace round the track but i'm sure it wouldn't have the same level of driver involvement. (although to be honest the audi couldn't touch the CSL around the nurburgring (7 mins 50 seconds) as neither can the GT3!)
3) Yes it does sound good but the CSL sounds awesome! (if you're worried about the "Clarkson factor" then i hope you've seen the Top Gear piece on the CSL, you should see his face when mentioning the noise!)
Considering all these factors and the fact that the CSL is a limited edition so should hold onto its value somewhat more than the RS4 over time i'm gonna hang onto my CSL for a while yet but have to concede that the RS4 is a truly amazing car and if you want a car just for the road i'm sure the RS4 is the better choice.
I thought you all got a damn good kicking on depreciation in the CSL's?
The original RS4 faired rather better I thought?
Cheers,
Steve
really interesting view points, i agree with most comments made. i was at the ring last year with my mates for some track action and to watch DTM (why cant we buy cars like those racers??!!) and saw, heard, sat in an RS4. i was fortunate enough to be on track at the same time as the RS4 and i can tell you the RS4 blew my CSL into the weeds!!!! before any BMW haters get too excited that RS4 was being driven by the one and only mattias ekstrom. that guy was amazing!!
initial impression of the car was bad colour, that yukkie blue they use in the advertising, in reality looks cheap. the car did look fantastic, not as "fat" as i thought it would, but aggresive and athletic, also it was a saloon, which would be my prefered choice. RS6 looks better in avant form IMO. sound was fantastic, best V8 i have heard, except the F430 that was blasting round the ring. i bet with a miltek on it will be mega! overall i thought car in black, ummm maybe.
how the car performs on track and how it makes me feel on track are important. i aint mr. ekstrom, and could never get an RS4 drifting at high speeds!! the CSL isnt scary and is very forgiving if you push too hard. RS4 used every day would be just about spot on for me, but having fun on track is just as important.
shame i cant comment on RS4 track fun...yet
initial impression of the car was bad colour, that yukkie blue they use in the advertising, in reality looks cheap. the car did look fantastic, not as "fat" as i thought it would, but aggresive and athletic, also it was a saloon, which would be my prefered choice. RS6 looks better in avant form IMO. sound was fantastic, best V8 i have heard, except the F430 that was blasting round the ring. i bet with a miltek on it will be mega! overall i thought car in black, ummm maybe.
how the car performs on track and how it makes me feel on track are important. i aint mr. ekstrom, and could never get an RS4 drifting at high speeds!! the CSL isnt scary and is very forgiving if you push too hard. RS4 used every day would be just about spot on for me, but having fun on track is just as important.
shame i cant comment on RS4 track fun...yet
Having never driven an M3 CSL or an Audi RS4 (new or old model) in anger or steady commuting (sorry, track use 
or daily use) I can only comment on the looks of them both, I see a M3 CSL every working day and I too agree that the M3 CSL does have road presence, but find it difficult to comment on the Audi RS4 as I have only be able to see and read advertising or magazine literature on it so-far and never in the flesh, however owning an Audi with the new “bearded grille” I do think that the RS4 looks fantastic with it’s honeycomb grilles and deeper bumper/splitters, but the standard S-line models look very similar to the untrained eye. (Big mistake by Audi)
I do also feel that the BMW is starting to show it’s age, especially the CSL as it has the older front light arrangement, instead of the upgrade made in 2003 (I think, correct me if I am wrong) and if the new BMW M3 were also on the market, to co-inside with the RS4 you may not be asking the question in the first place.
I am also interested in seeing the RS4 Avant; the old “shooting brake” (as my grandfather would say) is going to be the one for me.
I just feel that the build quality of BMW has dropped in previous years, one might say, stood still, whilst Audi’s quality has come on in leaps and bounds, it is just a shame about Audi’s Dealerships and Customer Service, that needs to be just like BMW’s. If I was you I would wait until the new M3 is out and then try them back to back, Audi would have ironed out all the glitches by then, because the dealerships are next to useless at resolving issues let alone you having to use there old A2 whilst your 60k RS4 sits in there workshop for weeks on end.
Happy shopping!
or daily use) I can only comment on the looks of them both, I see a M3 CSL every working day and I too agree that the M3 CSL does have road presence, but find it difficult to comment on the Audi RS4 as I have only be able to see and read advertising or magazine literature on it so-far and never in the flesh, however owning an Audi with the new “bearded grille” I do think that the RS4 looks fantastic with it’s honeycomb grilles and deeper bumper/splitters, but the standard S-line models look very similar to the untrained eye. (Big mistake by Audi) I do also feel that the BMW is starting to show it’s age, especially the CSL as it has the older front light arrangement, instead of the upgrade made in 2003 (I think, correct me if I am wrong) and if the new BMW M3 were also on the market, to co-inside with the RS4 you may not be asking the question in the first place.
I am also interested in seeing the RS4 Avant; the old “shooting brake” (as my grandfather would say) is going to be the one for me.
I just feel that the build quality of BMW has dropped in previous years, one might say, stood still, whilst Audi’s quality has come on in leaps and bounds, it is just a shame about Audi’s Dealerships and Customer Service, that needs to be just like BMW’s. If I was you I would wait until the new M3 is out and then try them back to back, Audi would have ironed out all the glitches by then, because the dealerships are next to useless at resolving issues let alone you having to use there old A2 whilst your 60k RS4 sits in there workshop for weeks on end.
Happy shopping!
waiting for the E90 M3 causes another headache as it will probably launch same time as the RS4 PLUS, i wonder if this will be a stripped down DTM road racer? it surely would be the car to finally tempt all bmw owners, especially with the quality of the cars. interesting comments on dealers, pal of mine had rough ride not so long ago.
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