10 Used Audi S and RS Models That Are Better Than Buying Brand New

Right now, somewhere in the used car market, there is a 560 horsepower Audi that left the factory at over $100,000. Today, clean examples sell for less than a new pickup truck. V8 sports sedans that cost more than a BMW M5 when new, trading now for what people spend on a used Accord. I am Marcus, 22 years working on Audi S and RS models. Today, I am walking you through 10 used S and RS models I would personally recommend right now. We start at the most accessible entry point and build all the way to number 10, the most powerful production Audi sedan ever built. And what it costs today will stop you in your tracks. Number one, the S4 B8.5, 2012 to 2016. The supercharged entry point. The B8.5 S4 is where a lot of people discover what the S lineup actually means. Under the hood is a 3.0 liter supercharged V6, not turbocharged, supercharged, making 333 horsepower with immediate lag-free delivery from any engine speed. Quattro all-wheel drive, sports suspension, and a cabin that still feels premium. Zero to 60 under five seconds. The 2016 B8.5 S4 had an original MSRP of $51,125. Today, that same model with 60 to 80,000 miles is selling for 18 to $20,000. Earlier examples are even less. A clean 2014 trades around 13 to $14,000. That is a 65 to 70% reduction. A customer bought a 2015 S4 at 87,000 miles for $17,500. Full dealer service records, fresh water pump and thermostat, timing chain inspection completed. That car drove like it had 40,000 miles on it. What to watch. Supercharger belt tensioner needs inspection above 70,000 miles. Do not defer this. Carbon buildup from direct injection is real. Budget for a walnut blast between 80 and 100,000 miles. Important, on the 3.0T supercharged engine, the supercharger must come off to access the intake valves, which adds significant labor. A specialist price is $600 to $900, not $300 to $500. Any shop quoting the lower number has not done this specific job before. Coolant pump and thermostat housing are known wear items. Timing chain tensioner matters at high mileage. Full cooling system refresh runs $600 to $800 at a specialist, roughly half of dealer pricing. At under $20,000, the B8.5 S4 gives you genuine S-car performance at a practical used car price. Number two delivers the same argument with modern electronics. Number two, the S4 B9, 2018 to 2022. The modern compact performer. Audi replaced the supercharged V6 with a turbocharged one for the B9 and the numbers justify it. 349 to 354 horsepower. 369 pound-feet of torque from low in the rev range. Zero to 60 in 4.4 seconds. Eight-speed ZF automatic. Virtual cockpit standard. MMI touch. Apple CarPlay. Drive select modes that actually change how the car feels. The 2018 B9 S4 started at $51,400. Today, a 2018 with 70 to 90,000 miles sells for 21 to $22,000. 57% off in seven years. A 2019 starting MSRP, $51,195 new. Trades between 22 and $28,000 depending on spec. A customer sold a loaded Kia Stinger to buy a 2019 S4 Prestige at 62,000 miles for $26,000. Six months later, he called to say he should have made the move years earlier. The refinement, build quality, and composure in all conditions were in a different class entirely. What to watch. Oil separator failure is the key B9 platform check. Look for blue smoke on cold startup and verify the service has been done if mileage is high. Target 2019 and newer for the ZF eight-speed automatic if you want the smoothest transmission experience. Verify transmission service history regardless of year. Timing chain and cooling system condition matter at higher mileage. The B9 S4 is one of the most complete performance sedans available near its current price. Number three puts the same powertrain in a more distinctive body at a price that makes even less sense when you consider what it cost new. Number three, the S5 Sportback B9, 2018 to 2022. The fastback for five. The S5 Sportback debuted in 2018 and gave buyers something the S4 could not. Five doors, a full hatchback trunk, and a fastback roofline that genuinely stands out. The powertrain is identical to the B9 S4. 3.0 liter turbocharged V6, 354 horsepower, 369 pound-feet, eight-speed ZF automatic, quattro all-wheel drive. It seats five, hauls real cargo, and does it wearing a silhouette borrowed from the A7. A 2018 S5 Sportback Premium Plus started at $58,925 new. Today, with good history and 60 to 80,000 miles, it trades between 22 and $25,000, a 57 to 60% reduction. A customer came from a Passat R-Line and bought a 2019 S5 Sportback at 58,000 miles for $27,000. His first report back was that the B&O sound system was a reason to buy the car on its own. The performance was the adjustment. He had not owned anything with that kind of immediate pull before. What to watch. All B9 platform concerns apply. Oil separator check is the critical inspection item. On the Sportback specifically, inspect the rear hatch seal and latch mechanism for moisture intrusion. Check the cargo floor for any sign of water. Sport adaptive dampers, if fitted, should be verified as functioning correctly at a specialist before purchase. The S5 Sportback is consistently overlooked and consistently underpriced. From here, the badge changes from S to RS, and so does everything about the car. Number four, the RS3, 2017 to 2020. The five-cylinder cult car. The RS3 arrived in the United States in 2017 with a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline five-cylinder, making 400 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds through a seven-speed dual clutch and quattro. The five-cylinder note, audible from inside, unavoidable from outside, is unlike any four-cylinder, any V6, anything produced in Stuttgart or Munich in this class. It is a sound with real engineering history behind it, and money alone cannot manufacture it. The 2017 RS3 had a starting MSRP of $55,450. Today, a 2017 in good condition trades between $27,000 and $31,000. That is a 46 to 50% reduction on a car produced in limited numbers with a genuinely significant engine. The RS3 was never imported in high volumes, and limited supply keeps prices firmer than most on this list. Buy this car because you know what you are getting. That is a different ownership experience than buying it purely for the discount. What to watch. Walnut blast service is not optional on this engine. Budget $300 to $500 for carbon cleaning every 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Dual-clutch transmission service history matters. Low-speed shutter indicates skipped fluid changes. One item most buyers miss. The Haldex rear AWD coupling requires its own fluid service every 30,000 miles. Skip it, and the Haldex pump wears out, at which point your quattro becomes front-wheel drive until you spend a significant amount at a specialist. Verify it was done. Get a full specialist pre-purchase inspection. Do not skip the compression test. The RS3 is an entry point to RS ownership that compromises nothing. Number five is the last naturally-aspirated V8 Audi we'll ever put in an RS car. Number five, the RS5 B8, 2013 to 2015. The last naturally-aspirated V8. Audi will never build another naturally-aspirated V8 in an RS model. That is confirmed, not a prediction. The RS5 B8, coupe only, United States market, 2013 to 2015, carries the 4.2 liter V8 at 450 horsepower. Power peak at 8,250 RPM. Redline at 8,500. The note above 6,000 RPM is a sound turbocharged cars cannot replicate. It is historically significant and it is gone. The RS5 B8 launched at $68,900. A well-maintained 2014 example trades between 23 and $28,000 at a dealer today. Practical car money for a car the factory cannot build again. A customer bought a 2015 RS5 coupe at 62,000 miles for $24,000. Single owner, full service records, both Walnut Blast services completed, oil separator done. Flawless for 30,000 additional miles since purchase. He calls it the best automotive decision he has made in 20 years. What to watch. Walnut Blast service is mandatory on this engine. Every 40 to 60,000 miles, three to $500 at a specialist. If there is no record of this service, do it before the car goes back into regular use. Oil separator is a known wear item. Budget three to $400 if not done. Timing chain tensioner inspection above 100,000 miles and here is a specific test. On a cold start, listen for a metallic clacking or rattling that fades within the first few seconds. That is the timing chain guides. If you hear it, walk away or demand at least $5,000 off the asking price. Rear control arm wear is worth checking at 80,000 plus miles. The factory will never build this car again. The window to own it for practical money is narrowing. From here, the cars on this list were six-figure purchases when new. Number six, the S6 C7, 2013 to 2018. The V8 Sleeper. The S6 is the best argument for anonymity in the S lineup. It looks like a well-optioned A6. Nothing outside telegraphs the 4.0 liter twin turbocharged V8, 420 horsepower in the 2013 through 2015 cars, 444 from 2016 onward. The same engine family in different states of tune powers the RS7 and the RS6 Avant. A V8 performance sedan built to be invisible. The 2013 S6 started at $72,795. A 2017 model with 70 to 100,000 miles trades between 23 and $24,000 today. A 2013 in good condition can be found under $16,000, 65 to 78% off original price. A customer bought a 2014 S6 at 78,000 miles for $19,000. Three years of ownership, 107,000 miles. Total unscheduled costs, one valve cover gasket at $300. And tires, zero major failures. What to watch. Oil is not optional. VW 504 specification only. 5,000 mile intervals maximum. The cylinder deactivation system requires clean oil to function over time. Now, the most critical check most buyers skip entirely. The turbo oil feed screen. The 4.0T has an oil pickup screen feeding the turbos. And on some examples, it clogs. When it clogs, the turbos starve of oil and fail. And when a turbo lets go on this engine, metal goes into the oil system. Audi issued service action 21H7 specifically for this. Before you buy any C7 S6 or S7, confirm that service was completed. It is the difference between a $20,000 car and a $20,000 parts car. Timing chain inspection above 100,000 miles. Air suspension condition on equipped examples. Air spring replacement runs 800 to $1,200 per corner at a specialist. Buyer tip. The 2016 to 2018 C7.5 facelift brought a better sport exhaust, updated MMI, and the 444 horsepower upgrade as standard. At similar mileage and price, take the 2016. The C7 S6 is one of the most credible performance bargains in the used luxury market. Number seven. Wears the same drivetrain in one of the most distinctive body styles Audi has produced in 15 years. Number seven. The S7 C7, 2013 to 2018. The V8 Fastback. The S7 runs the identical 4.0 twin turbo V8 as the S6. The difference is everything around it. The C7 S7 is a five-door fastback with a dramatically sloping roofline and a full hatchback opening. One of the most visually compelling designs Audi has produced in the last 15 years. People still turn and look. The 2013 S7 started at $78,800. 8,000 more than the S6 for a different body and a slightly elevated cabin feel. Today, a 2013 S7 trades around $16,000. Later examples from 2015 to 2017 with cleaner mileage sit between 20 and $28,000. The S7 buyer is not choosing a trunk. They are choosing a statement that right now costs what people pay for used pickup trucks. A client purchased a 2015 S7 in Nardo Gray at 79,000 miles for $22,000. He had been looking at S6 models until he saw the S7 in person. He changed his mind in under five minutes. 15,000 additional miles since purchase. Zero mechanical complaints. What to watch? Identical mechanical priorities to the S6, including the turbo oil feed screen covered in number six. Service action 21H7 applies to the S7 equally. Verify it was done. Oil discipline. Timing chain above 100,000 miles. Air suspension inspection on equipped examples. On the S7 specifically, inspect the rear hatch seal for moisture intrusion. Check the boot floor for any water sign before purchasing. The S7 gives you visual distinction and the identical mechanical foundation as one of the best performance sedans Audi has built. Number eight is flagship territory, and its depreciation story is unlike anything else on this list. Number eight, the S8 D4, 2012 to 2017. The flagship, 520 horsepower, 479 pound-feet of torque. Zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds. Air suspension, 21-inch wheels, 22-way massaging front seats, four-zone climate, B and O audio. The 2013 S8 D4 cost $110,895 new. Today, a 2013 in good condition trades between $17,000 and $20,000. 80% reduction. The S8 D4 is not a budget car to own. Do not mistake the purchase price for the total cost of ownership. The air suspension is expensive when it fails. The timing chain at high mileage requires attention. This car rewards buyers who did the homework. A client bought a 2014 S8 at 110,000 miles for $21,000. Full dealer service history, both rear air springs replaced at 87,000. Timing chain cleared, oil separator done. 42,000 miles since purchase. Total costs above routine maintenance, one set of tires and a rear wheel bearing. What to watch. Pre-purchase inspection at a specialist is mandatory. Air suspension condition is the first check. Have it inspected on a lift and tested under load. Original air springs at high mileage need a cost estimate factored into the offer. Budget $800 to $1,200 per corner for replacement. Timing chain inspection above 100,000 miles, oil separator, transmission fluid condition. The S8 D4 is the most dramatic depreciation case in the S lineup. Number nine shifts to RS territory. Number nine, the RS5 B9, 2018 to 2022. The everyday performer. In 2018, Audi Sport replaced the RS5's naturally aspirated V8 with a twin turbocharged V6 co-developed with Porsche for the Panamera 4S. 444 horsepower, 443 pound feet of torque from 1,800 revolutions per minute, zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds. The V6 delivers in a way the old V8 could not at low speed. Relentless pull from almost any throttle position. The 2018 RS5 Coupe started at $69,900. The 2019 RS5 Sportback started at $74,200. Today, a 2019 RS5 in good condition with 60 to 80,000 miles trades between 38 and $42,000. 44 to 47% off in under seven years. A customer traded a BMW M4 for a 2019 RS5 Sportback at 72,000 miles for $36,000. He gained two rear doors and all weather quattro traction. He said it is the first car in 20 years that he has no desire to replace. What to watch. Coolant pump replacement is a planned item around 120,000 miles, budget for it. Oil change discipline on the EA839 V6 is non-negotiable. VW 504 or 508 specification, 5,000 mile maximum. Verify transmission fluid history. Carbon buildup is present but manageable. Specialist inspection before purchase regardless of mileage. The RS5 B9 Sportback is one of the most practical high-performance cars on the used market at its current price. And now, number 10, the car this whole list has been building toward. Number 10, the RS7 C7, 2014 to 2018. 560 horsepower for the price of a truck. This is the car I teased at the beginning. 560 horsepower from the 4.0 twin turbocharged V8. Zero to 60 in 3.7 seconds. Four doors, a full hatchback trunk, a fastback roofline. When the C7 RS7 launched in 2014, it started at $104,900. Today, a 2017 RS7 in good condition trades between $28,000 and $36,000 at a dealer, often less on the private market. A 2014 example with higher mileage and documented history can be found below $26,000, 65 to 75% off its original price. In practical terms, what you paid over $100,000 for in 2014 now costs less than a loaded Ram 1500 pickup. A client bought a 2016 RS7 at 64,000 miles for $31,000. Full service history, oil separator done, timing chain cleared, rear air springs replaced at 58,000 miles, 32,000 miles since purchase. Only unscheduled expense, one set of tires, zero mechanical failures. What to watch. Pre-purchase inspection is mandatory. Air suspension is the first priority. Inspect every corner. Pressure test the springs. Factor replacement costs into the offer. Timing chain above 100,000 miles requires specialist assessment. Oil separator is a known wear item on the V8. Confirm walnut blast history. On brakes, standard steel rotors. Budget an 1800 to $2,200 four-corner service as part of initial ownership. But first, verify what is actually on the car. If you see large rotors with a wavy outer edge and a gray ceramic look, that is the carbon ceramic brake package. When worn, replacement runs 10,000 to $15,000 for a full set. Factor that into any offer aggressively or stick to a car with steel rotors. RS7 values on 2016 to 2018 examples have been holding firm and beginning to move upward. The buyers who know what they are looking at have been paying attention. Find the right car with the right history. And this is one of the most extraordinary value propositions in the used market. Check the history, do the inspection, buy the right one. Take care of your Audi and it will take care of you.