10 Surprisingly Affordable (and Awesome) Audis
Though their pricing structure has been changing recently, most Audis still deliver better value than comparable offerings from Mercedes and BMW no matter if you’re talking about new or pre-owned offerings. On the pre-owned side of things, Audi vehicles suffer from the same steep depreciation curve as its Euro competitors, and these days there are a lot of solid cars from the brand that can be had at a very modest price of entry.
Audi TT (1st-generation, 2000-2006)
There’s a lot to like about the Audi TT in its first-gen form. Not only does it offer the handling and driving excitement you’d expect from an Audi sports car, but its unique “Bauhaus” styling makes it one of the coolest-looking Audis ever made, and one of few cars from its era that is aging exceptionally well.
Audi toned down the curves and contours with the second-generation car, so it’s the first-gen version, sold from 2000 to 2006, that we think is the most desirable. Headroom is limited in the coupes, so convertibles are a better bet for tall folks. These continue to depreciate these days, and you can find a used example for as little as around $5,500 if you’re willing to give it a bit of TLC, or $8k if you’re looking for something low-mile in prime condition.
Audi RS4
The RS designation—as you’re likely aware—is the bestowed upon the cream of the crop when it comes to Audi performance models, and unfortunately not many RS models made it stateside until more recently. Thankfully the award-winning RS4 is part of the pack to hit our shores, and one that has been hit with fairly significant depreciation. With a 420-hp 4.2-liter V8 under the hood and uniquely tuned all-wheel drive, the RS4 is the kind of car that will make you occasionally the laws of physics when shod with the right rubber. With four doors and a reasonably roomy back seat, you could easily make the case for this being the next go-fast family cruiser. Believe it or not, we’re seeing some of these down in the $25-$30k range these days.
Audi S4
If you can’t find an RS4 you like, may we suggest the next best thing: The Audi S4. Older (B7-generation) cars offered the same 4.2-liter V8 as the RS4, tuned for 340 horsepower, and Audi offered a convertible as well as a wagon version called the S4 Avant. You’ll find plenty of these cars in the sub $10k range these days, which is a steal in the grand scheme of things. Up your budget the the $15k plus mark, and you can get one of the newer B8 cars that are powered by a supercharged 3.0-liter V6. Fans of winding roads should look for a B8-series car with the Sport Rear Differential (which is accompanied by an active-damping suspension). This option greatly improves handling balance, making the S4 less prone to understeer than other all-wheel-drive Audis.
Audi Coupe (1980-1989)
Audi built a series of cool two-door coupes in the 1980s. These cars were long, low, and fashionably angular, and presented quite a contrast to both the boxy American land yachts and thrifty Japanese compacts so popular at the time. Most had exotic longitudinally mounted five-cylinder engines powering the front wheels. Handsome and good fun to drive, the Audi coupe makes a unique collector’s car. Just as you won’t see many on the road, you won’t see many for sale, and depending on the model and condition their prices can be all over the map. A testament to this is the 1983 Turbo Quattro Coupe that has surfaced (for now) in fantastic shape but priced at nearly $45k…
Find great deals on Audi Coupes for sale here.
Audi A4 Avant
One could argue that Audi is at least in part responsible for the modded station wagon movement that persists in the tuning world to this day. They did it with the Audi A4, a car that is handsome, practical, and great fun to drive. From a styling perspective, we’re rather fond of the B5 and B6 generation cars (1995-2005), which have a cool boxy look, but the later model A4 Avant benefits from the newer 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. There’s nothing wrong with the 1.8T four-cylinder and 3.2-liter V6 used in older A4s, mind you. Look for well-cared-for low-mileage examples; this is another situation where there a TON of reasonable cars in the sub-$10k price range.
Audi RS6
This is a rare bird to say the least. Audi only sold the RS6 in North America in 2003 and 2004, though there is once again speculation that it is heading back to our shores in 2020. The RS6 had a twin-turbocharged version of the 4.2 liter V8 that produced 450 horsepower, enough for a 4.6 second 0-60 run. Audi used the 5-speed automatic from the W12-powered A8, claiming it was the only transmission they had at the time that could handle that much power. As with Audi’s other RS models, this one is a rocketship on a twisty mountain road. RS6s don’t come up for sale very often, and over the last 3 or 4 years prices have remained pretty flat—expect to pay between $15-$20k for them.
Audi Q7
Audi is well known for their Quattro all-wheel-drive system, so when the company announced that they were going to build their first SUV, anticipation was high. The Q7 did not disappoint, delivering sure-footed handling and an upscale no-nonsense interior with plenty of space. Today, those first Q7s are not only good SUVs, but good buys as well. We found plenty of nice ones with moderate mileage selling in the $12,000 to $20,000 range.
Audi A8 W12
Audi’s flagship A8 sedan is a lovely car, big, luxurious and light—it was one of the first vehicles to employ an aluminum body in order to save weight. But if you’re an Audi fan, you’ll want the one with the W12 engine. Audi packed 12 cylinders into the length of a V6 engine by using a unique “W” arrangement with four banks of cylinders and two cylinder heads. (Warning: Looking at this engine with the valve covers removed may make your head explode.) The W12 is quiet, compact and powerful—and as an added bonus, it sounds cool as all get-out when you start it up. There aren’t a lot of these cars around, and we’ve seen them priced from $25,000 up to $60,000.
Volkswagen Phaeton
Wait a second—what the heck is a Volkswagen doing on a list of awesome Audis? The Phaeton was a close relative of the A8, offering the same V8 and W12 engines and rivaling the Audi-branded car it in terms of space, luxury and electronic goodies. Volkswagen priced these cars between $80,000 and $105,000, and few buyers could imagine paying that much for a VW. Volkswagen couldn’t give them away—but now they’re selling for giveaway prices, usually $8,500 or less (and we’ve seen a few under $5,000). These cars are complicated and somewhat trouble-prone, which means they are best suited to those with some mechanical acumen. For the right owner, though, the Volkswagen Phaeton may well be the ultimate bargain Audi.
10. Audi R8 Coupe
With R8s trading in the $80,000 to $90,000 range, one might think we’re pushing the boundaries of the word “affordable”—but when you consider that a new R8 goes for around $165,000, the used models are a real bargain. And they’re also great cars: Whether you go for the 4.2-liter V8 or the 5.2-liter V10, these are proper supercars that can light up any curvy road, and they are comfortable and well-engineered enough to use as daily drivers—something we wouldn’t attempt with a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. Few people use them that way, so you should have an easy time finding a good low-mileage example with a five-figure price tag.
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