To RS7 or Not RS7 That Is The Question...

[998S]

Hey Audizine Fam!

I've been a long time lurker but stayed mostly within the C5 section since I currently have an S6 Avant. Been itching to upgrade to something nicer and newer as my old S6 seems a bit prehistoric, down to the navigation. LOL. I've been mulling over a 2013 S7 that I found locally with close to 90k miles on the clock and the third owner is looking to get 23k for it now. It's got a clean title but the rear bumper has been replaced due to minor dents and dings from parking on the streets of the Bay Area. I'm a bit apprehensive about purchasing it due to the mileage; since the dreaded oil strainer issue that I keep reading about hasn't been performed. Also, since I've been contemplating my decision about the S7, I keep thinking to myself, why not try to upgrade to an RS7 for about 20k more with lower miles? Which a local dealer (non-Audi) has; a 2014 RS7 for 46k with 54.975 miles. Any thoughts, opinions or advice is greatly appreciated!

[gk1]

IMO if you have the means I can't see why you would not go for an RS7. It is more than just the extra power. However they are not immune to the oil strainer issue, just less of them to fail.
If you are like me and preferred the sedan look of the 6 over any version of the 7 then you are sol for an RS until at least 2021 and even then you have to like wagons...which apparently you do.

[nick1980]

I've come from urs4 ,urs6 and s6 avant as well
I had the same feeling as you ,wanting something more modern
I first got a 2012 a6 3.0 supercharged
Then a A7 supercharged both with zf 8 speed auto.
The c7 platform is a huge upgrade
I think even if it's not a s/rs you'll be impressed

[xanmato]

I think even if it's not a s/rs you'll be impressed

I think this may be a good option actually, as the regular C7 A6 3.0T is faster than a C5 S6. So it checks the boxes for nicer and newer, the S7 and RS7 simply checks the option for fast and really fast.

[998S]

Thanks for the replies so far guys! Really, really great perspectives!

[PeytonBrandt]

I think this may be a good option actually, as the regular C7 A6 3.0T is faster than a C5 S6. So it checks the boxes for nicer and newer, the S7 and RS7 simply checks the option for fast and really fast.

There’s also the option to tune the car and make it faster than the next letter up. The $23k difference between the S7 and RS7 that you found could go a long way in terms of upgrading the S7. For example, you could buy the S7 for $23k, replace the turbo oil screen for $2k, upgrade straight to APR stage 2 and the APR TCU tune for $5500-6000 all-in. With APR stage 2 running 91 octane, you’re looking at around 575hp, which is 15hp more than the stock RS7. Even after all those upgrades, it is still over $10k less expensive than the RS7.

The same goes with an A to and S model. Buy and upgrade and A7 and you can make more power than a stock S7.


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[MattyMarkey]

Sounds like it's not all about getting the fastest car you can. Seems like the main focus is newer/better tech and creature comforts. I took a very small step back in terms of new tech with the MMI (MY16 A6 -> MY14 S7), but performance, braking, interior/exterior styling, stereo and more trunk space was more the name of the game for me. The S7 fit the bill for my needs/wants. I will also say, the S7 sport seats are more comfortable than the A6/A7 comfort seats.

Something with 90k miles on it, and still over the $20k threshold, is just too much money to spend IMO. I personally always try to find the newest MY possible, with the least amount of miles in my the price range I am willing to spend.

I think a big factor is; how many miles do you drive a year?

I drive 10-12k miles/year. If I had $46k to spend, I would pick up a newer (MY17+), low-mileage S7 that still has some factory warranty left. Buy an extended warranty for peace of mind and upgrade when that runs up.

[KFT]

I would go with the RS7, but it really depends on what you want to spend. In my opinion it is one of the most impressive sedans out there - design, speed, and utility. The RS7 has the exact same oil screen so no real advantage there. It does have less miles which is a pro. The S7 will give you 90% of the experience though.

[998S]

There’s also the option to tune the car and make it faster than the next letter up. The $23k difference between the S7 and RS7 that you found could go a long way in terms of upgrading the S7. For example, you could buy the S7 for $23k, replace the turbo oil screen for $2k, upgrade straight to APR stage 2 and the APR TCU tune for $5500-6000 all-in. With APR stage 2 running 91 octane, you’re looking at around 575hp, which is 15hp more than the stock RS7. Even after all those upgrades, it is still over $10k less expensive than the RS7.

The same goes with an A to and S model. Buy and upgrade and A7 and you can make more power than a stock S7.


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That's definitely a viable route. Thanks!

[998S]

Sounds like it's not all about getting the fastest car you can. Seems like the main focus is newer/better tech and creature comforts. I took a very small step back in terms of new tech with the MMI (MY16 A6 -> MY14 S7), but performance, braking, interior/exterior styling, stereo and more trunk space was more the name of the game for me. The S7 fit the bill for my needs/wants. I will also say, the S7 sport seats are more comfortable than the A6/A7 comfort seats.

Something with 90k miles on it, and still over the $20k threshold, is just too much money to spend IMO. I personally always try to find the newest MY possible, with the least amount of miles in my the price range I am willing to spend.

I think a big factor is; how many miles do you drive a year?

I drive 10-12k miles/year. If I had $46k to spend, I would pick up a newer (MY17+), low-mileage S7 that still has some factory warranty left. Buy an extended warranty for peace of mind and upgrade when that runs up.

That's exactly what I'm aiming to do with the next "daddy mobile" / daily commuter. I'm looking for something more enjoyable than my creaking old S6 but at the same time trying to be practical with the cost. Having a hatchback is a huge thing for me, since I'm able to haul quite a bit of stuff when I need to. Also, I'm always amazed on what you can stuff in a hatchback!

For the next car, I wanted to pay it off in cash, hence the reason why I was looking for something in the 20k range. Spending anything more would get me stuck with the dreaded car payments for X amount of years. The seller of the '13 S7 says he still has an existing balance of 27k left and that's the reason why he can't go much lower than 23k. Hence the reason why I'm still contemplating if it's a smart choice or not to pay 23k for an S7 with that many miles. If it was under 20k, I would have probably pulled the trigger already since any money saved would go straight into maintaining whatever else it might need.

I drive about 14-15k miles a year and something with a warranty would definitely be a plus.

[998S]

I would go with the RS7, but it really depends on what you want to spend. In my opinion it is one of the most impressive sedans out there - design, speed, and utility. The RS7 has the exact same oil screen so no real advantage there. It does have less miles which is a pro. The S7 will give you 90% of the experience though.

I've been daydreaming about a 2016 RS7 with 24k miles for $63,580 but it's way more than what I'd like to spend at the moment especially if I don't know what might break in the near future?

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

Carfax history seems pretty clean...

[delz05]

If you are looking at RS7's... then DON'T settle for less...

I went through the same dilemma last November through January... Wanted the S6, loved the looks of the S7... drove an RS5 sportback... then decided if I was going to spend more than 50K... it had to be an RS.
Searched cross country and finally found the RS7 that checked off all the options I wanted (except color... there are NO red ones out there!!!) about 100 miles from home.

Sure, I spent a little more than I had planned, but no regrets... The RS7 platform is amazing... stable at high speed, comfortable as a daily driver and a pleasure to drive every day!

Good luck with your search, but once you drive the RS7, you will not want anything but...!!!

[998S]

If you are looking at RS7's... then DON'T settle for less...

I went through the same dilemma last November through January... Wanted the S6, loved the looks of the S7... drove an RS5 sportback... then decided if I was going to spend more than 50K... it had to be an RS.
Searched cross country and finally found the RS7 that checked off all the options I wanted (except color... there are NO red ones out there!!!) about 100 miles from home.

Sure, I spent a little more than I had planned, but no regrets... The RS7 platform is amazing... stable at high speed, comfortable as a daily driver and a pleasure to drive every day!

Good luck with your search, but once you drive the RS7, you will not want anything but...!!!

That's exactly the same boat I'm in now. Was interested in the S7 at first, then looked into an S6 because there were more available but really wanted something with a hatchback. Contemplated on an RS5 sportback as well but if I'm going to spend 70k, I might as well get what I really wanted in the first place but an RS version of the 7.

Thanks for sharing!

[Who8Tokyo]

Even though I am new to the Audi world. IMHO these are the things I have learned some the hard way.
What are your long range plans?
What's your budget?
You need to check the insurance cost between a S7 and a RS7. I am 50 years old married with a multicar discount and live in northern Kentucky and insurance on a RS7 was 162 verses 93.00 a month for the S7.
With any high end car. The Holy Grail car is a 1- Owner. Low Miles with all service records and still under a warranty from Audi. But you will pay for it.
If you are gonna modify you can save the money buy an S7 tune it and like the others have stated its 90% of the RS7 without the cost.
Hope this helps. Good Luck with your purchase. Feel free to message me and i am more than willing to share in my experience and help you make the right choice. David

[KFT]

I've been daydreaming about a 2016 RS7 with 24k miles for $63,580 but it's way more than what I'd like to spend at the moment especially if I don't know what might break in the near future?

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

Carfax history seems pretty clean...

I went with a S7 exactly because I did not want to drop an extra $40k for the RS. Did I want a RS? Of course - it's the same car, but up another level. Do I regret my S7 - not at all. I have loved every minute with it. As others have mentioned the option is always there to get more performance as well. I'm in the middle of converting to stage 3 with flex fuel.

If you're worried about things breaking, the one upside for the RS7's you're looking at are they are lower mileage. Also they have one advantage with the ZF 8 speed transmission being more reliable than the DSG. Otherwise you'll likely have the same risk for things going wrong between both models.

[998S]

I went with a S7 exactly because I did not want to drop an extra $40k for the RS. Did I want a RS? Of course - it's the same car, but up another level. Do I regret my S7 - not at all. I have loved every minute with it. As others have mentioned the option is always there to get more performance as well. I'm in the middle of converting to stage 3 with flex fuel.

If you're worried about things breaking, the one upside for the RS7's you're looking at are they are lower mileage. Also they have one advantage with the ZF 8 speed transmission being more reliable than the DSG. Otherwise you'll likely have the same risk for things going wrong between both models.

Thanks KFT!

[Nosferatu]

With any high end car. The Holy Grail car is a 1- Owner. Low Miles with all service records and still under a warranty from Audi. But you will pay for it.

That is not a holy grail. I can tell you though in dabbling with exotics (or even some low volume production cars) I can tell you much better getting a car with some mileage is always the better deal. I'm not talking a 100,000 mile car but I mean your typical 8-15k/year type of mileage. You don't want a car that wasn't driven for multiple reasons.

1.) Cars are meant to be driven. Having them sit for long periods of times don't do them any good.
2.) You now inherited your 1-Owner low mileage car that didn't get a chance to have either the car stretch it's wings nor have a multi-owner experience. You don't need both but I prefer a car that has some mileage. If there was some manufacturer defect or issue, the less the car was driven, the less opportunity available for said problem to show itself. You now inherited a car with issues that would have likely been sorted out on a car that had some mileage on it. You now have an older car that has no warranty or little warranty remaining.

3.) I had no choice when I bought my R8 V10 Plus I bought it in 2017 when these things just came out but 25,000 miles later I love it and I know that once it passed 10k and then 15k it was now deemed the OMG!?!?! HIGH MILEAGE! Guess what? Free car now. It's at 25,000 miles and climbing. Whether I sold it today at 26,000 miles or sold it 3 years from now with 50,000 miles the car is going to be worth roughly the same. You buy that low mileage car the second you put 5,000 or 10,000 miles on it, BAM, you just took a massive depreciation hit. No one likes to lose money but if you can't afford the depreciation hit then you should re-evaluate your finances and reconsider your purchase. An RS car or an R8 or any other higher end vehicle is a want and not a need. It's pay to play if it's the car you want. Don't mean to sound rude but it's a reality check. So many like to stretch their budgets. Is this 40K RS7 a good deal? Is this salvage title 09 R8 V8 R-Tronic for 45k a good deal? These people can't afford the car.

With that said, happy shopping, but don't be naive in thinking you need a "one owner" or "high mileage" car. For those that do, I'll happily scoop up that other car for less that'll lose less, have more of a history, and likely stick on the market longer because others just look right past it.

[Szaid001]

one owner low miles don't mean anything. As long as there are service history and no accidents or damages then it should be fine. I would not get the S models with high milage without the major items replaced like turbos, screens, PCV, etc.

That is not a holy grail. I can tell you though in dabbling with exotics (or even some low volume production cars) I can tell you much better getting a car with some mileage is always the better deal. I'm not talking a 100,000 mile car but I mean your typical 8-15k/year type of mileage. You don't want a car that wasn't driven for multiple reasons.

1.) Cars are meant to be driven. Having them sit for long periods of times don't do them any good.
2.) You now inherited your 1-Owner low mileage car that didn't get a chance to have either the car stretch it's wings nor have a multi-owner experience. You don't need both but I prefer a car that has some mileage. If there was some manufacturer defect or issue, the less the car was driven, the less opportunity available for said problem to show itself. You now inherited a car with issues that would have likely been sorted out on a car that had some mileage on it. You now have an older car that has no warranty or little warranty remaining.

3.) I had no choice when I bought my R8 V10 Plus I bought it in 2017 when these things just came out but 25,000 miles later I love it and I know that once it passed 10k and then 15k it was now deemed the OMG!?!?! HIGH MILEAGE! Guess what? Free car now. It's at 25,000 miles and climbing. Whether I sold it today at 26,000 miles or sold it 3 years from now with 50,000 miles the car is going to be worth roughly the same. You buy that low mileage car the second you put 5,000 or 10,000 miles on it, BAM, you just took a massive depreciation hit. No one likes to lose money but if you can't afford the depreciation hit then you should re-evaluate your finances and reconsider your purchase. An RS car or an R8 or any other higher end vehicle is a want and not a need. It's pay to play if it's the car you want. Don't mean to sound rude but it's a reality check. So many like to stretch their budgets. Is this 40K RS7 a good deal? Is this salvage title 09 R8 V8 R-Tronic for 45k a good deal? These people can't afford the car.

With that said, happy shopping, but don't be naive in thinking you need a "one owner" or "high mileage" car. For those that do, I'll happily scoop up that other car for less that'll lose less, have more of a history, and likely stick on the market longer because others just look right past it.

[Nosferatu]

one owner low miles don't mean anything. As long as there are service history and no accidents or damages then it should be fine. I would not get the S models with high milage without the major items replaced like turbos, screens, PCV, etc.

We agree on "high mileage" but if the car isn't driven much the odds of finding something faulty reduces. Plus, you will lose more in value because you paid a premium for a false sense of security.

[MattyMarkey]

We agree on "high mileage" but if the car isn't driven much the odds of finding something faulty reduces. Plus, you will lose more in value because you paid a premium for a false sense of security.

I hear what you are saying and in most cases it holds merit. But it also all depends how old the vehicle is with low miles. The first 3 years almost every car, no matter the manufacturer, will lose roughly 50% of its value. After those three years, the percentage of depreciation drop slows down dramatically (some more or less depending on the OEM)

I bought a 2014 with very low miles for the year. With the car being 6 years old, the amount of depreciation has reached it's peak and now slowly decreasing vs the amount it would decrease with high miles. No matter how many miles I put on the car, it will still be worth more than one with higher miles, and stay much closer to what I paid for it.

With the car sitting for some time, you are correct, things will pop up because it sat. The things that popped up are still some the most common failures these cars have; low miles or high miles (Engine Mounts, Rear Diff). You will also have things that likely wont pop up on a low mile vehicle vs a high mileage vehicle, because its low miles (wheel bearings, brakes, control arms, turbos) - not to mention the higher priced regular maintenance items needed once closer to 100k miles

The main point is, you do have to know what you are getting into, especially with these cars. The OP wanted to be able to buy an S7 outright and at his price point, would need to be higher miles. With an S7 over 75k miles and truly most cars over this mileage, the likelihood of running into expensive repairs increases. But hey, you do have the car completely paid off. Sounds like he can afford the car and the repairs if need be.

[998S]

Thank you guys for the excellent insight. This situation is definitely a want versus a need. Nobody really needs an Audi for basic transportation but at this point in my life, I'd rather be happy with a major purchase than have regrets down the line. This additional insight on cars with more miles definitely decreases my apprehension towards them. Also, I'm not sure if I can fully trust the Carfax reports regarding all the maintenance performed either for every interested vehicle...

[dab]

There’s also the option to tune the car and make it faster than the next letter up. The $23k difference between the S7 and RS7 that you found could go a long way in terms of upgrading the S7. For example, you could buy the S7 for $23k, replace the turbo oil screen for $2k, upgrade straight to APR stage 2 and the APR TCU tune for $5500-6000 all-in. With APR stage 2 running 91 octane, you’re looking at around 575hp, which is 15hp more than the stock RS7. Even after all those upgrades, it is still over $10k less expensive than the RS7.

The same goes with an A to and S model. Buy and upgrade and A7 and you can make more power than a stock S7.


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What I paid for a 2014 s7 and a 2016 rs7 was relatively the same with under 17k miles, the s7 cpo and the rs7 was not. Tune is the same cost, but oh my rs7 with the tune a whole other animal.

[flyfishing]

rs7 have dropped in price. if you can afford it, then buy it. otherwise buy the s and invest the difference :)

i bought s7 a while ago when used prices still much higher. i eventually upgraded to rs7 turbos. it's fun and cool to mod over the years and say that i have a stage 3, but if rs prices were more reasonable to me back then, i would have gotten it instead. i love cars, but i just don't see the point on spending 90-100k for a car or more. let it depreciate then buy it. more so if you plan to mod it and void warranty anway.

[998S]

Thank you everyone for the responses so far. I think at this point, I'm veering towards getting an RS7 so that I won't have to do much right away; as in aftermarket mods. What do you all think of this one that I found? It's a 2014 with slightly under 50k miles, 3 previous owners and a clean Carfax report. It has the Audi Exclusive Package, RS7 Dynamic Package, Carbon Optic Package, Innovation Package, Driver Assistance Package, etc... The dealer is asking $52K. Price seems fair for a vehicle that MSRP-ed for $140k?

IMG-20200614-WA0004.jpgIMG-20200614-WA0005.jpgIMG-20200614-WA0003.jpg

[daytona rs7]

that is a very highly optioned RS7 and price seems correct for year/miles.

the seats are nice, but not my cup of tea with the red wheel and shift boot. to each their own. there is something to be said about having a more exclusively optioned car though.
May not matter to you, but i dont think the finish on those wheels is not OEM. pretty sure they were never offered in all black paint. inspect them well for any damage/bends/wobble that may be hiding under the refinish.

At that year and mileage, factor in removing/replacing the turbo oil screen into your finances. about $2-2500. high price to pay, but this will give you a good peace of mind.

one last thing, matte paint is very nice, but it takes special care as it "stains" easy. ceramic coating will help, but ideally it should be garaged.

[998S]

that is a very highly optioned RS7 and price seems correct for year/miles.

the seats are nice, but not my cup of tea with the red wheel and shift boot. to each their own. there is something to be said about having a more exclusively optioned car though.
May not matter to you, but i dont think the finish on those wheels is not OEM. pretty sure they were never offered in all black paint. inspect them well for any damage/bends/wobble that may be hiding under the refinish.

At that year and mileage, factor in removing/replacing the turbo oil screen into your finances. about $2-2500. high price to pay, but this will give you a good peace of mind.

one last thing, matte paint is very nice, but it takes special care as it "stains" easy. ceramic coating will help, but ideally it should be garaged.

Thanks daytona rs7! Not my cup of tea either but I might learn to live with the red interior pieces if everything else is fully functional.

[BCT]

I just traded in a clean S7 with 69K on it. It has Audicare so the big 75K service is covered! The Turbos have been replaced at 38K along with the screens that caused the problem. Breather valves/PCV also. Never launched. The wheels are the 7 spoke "blade" wheels and they are clean and the Pirelli P-Zeros are practically new. Prestige with Black Optics and cold weather pack. It hasn't hit the line yet as I am still driving it as my new RS5 is being prepped. Drop me a PM if you would like to know where it is. Very clean car!
I'm kinda sad to see it go but the deal I got on a RS5 was just too good to pass up!

PS: I also have a set of HRE 's with Michelin PS4S's on them if you want to pick those up at a steal!

[Ford Prefect]

Thanks daytona rs7! Not my cup of tea either but I might learn to live with the red interior pieces if everything else is fully functional.

I think that price is really good with that mileage. Anywhere else that car is high $50k’s. In my opinion anyway.

I find that forums aren’t the best place for buying advice. Just about everyone wants one owner and low mileage at bargain bottom prices.

You’ll get used to the red and people will love it (if that matters). I had a young kid (late 20s tops) in a new modded camero flag me down to tell me how nice my RS7 is (he had seen me before). My ‘14 is over 80k miles and looks and drives brand new.

PCV was replaced on extended warranty that I learned about here. That where forums excel. No offense to anyone who replied, my comments date back fc3s.org.




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[998S]

Been a while but I think I might have found the one. From an actual Audi dealer with a service history for $54k.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

[IbisA7TDI]

Been a while but I think I might have found the one. From an actual Audi dealer with a service history for $54k.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

Beautiful!!

[kapio]

Been a while but I think I might have found the one. From an actual Audi dealer with a service history for $54k.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

Pretty pricey for the milage and features or?

I paid 60k € for a 37k miles 2016 RS7 Performance from an Audi Dealer with nearly full spec

[998S]

Pretty pricey for the milage and features or?

I paid 60k € for a 37k miles 2016 RS7 Performance from an Audi Dealer with nearly full spec

I went into the dealership and test drove it. I offered them $54k OTD and they wouldn't take it. Now they lowered it a thousand and it's still sitting in the lot. Oh well.

[gta7]

I think you should have negotiated a bit. Those are Performance wheels and not cheap. I have the same. It’s a pretty loaded car.

[Alabama]

I offered them $54k OTD and they wouldn't take it.

Warranty not included, but this dealer did all the servicing per the Carfax report. What is their OTD number?

[dab]

if you look at my signature it will tell you how I feel. Rs7 faster than my stage 1 tuned s7 when stock, handles better and with apr tunes reduced in price stage 1 is a no brainer. When at any speed you can hit the gas and all four wheels spin, I love this car. Go big or go home.

[El. Cid]

I think this may be a good option actually, as the regular C7 A6 3.0T is faster than a C5 S6. So it checks the boxes for nicer and newer, the S7 and RS7 simply checks the option for fast and really fast.

then again, someone once told me.....there is no replacement for displacement.

[GTRCATCHME]

Well stated advice for consideration of any car purchase