Quote:
Originally Posted by Egrunt
The difference is 20k/21k from the Golf R (48k) to the Audi RS3 (68k) and M2 (69k). When we looked at a M240i xDrive as optioned it came in at 62k and my suggestion was to consider the M2 for 7k more, hence the reason for the M2 over the M240i xDrive. She wants to drive an automatic and even though she learned how to drive on a manual transmission and early on in our marriage all vehicles had to be a manual transmission this is no longer the case with the congested roads in SOCAL (San Diego County). She considered the Integra Type S at 51k but it only comes in a manual transmission.
At the end of the day, I am here to answer the questions she has about the vehicles she likes and is considering and I am in now way telling her which way to go but when she asks me a question or my opinion, I am going to answer truthfully. Truthfully she knows if it were a vehicle for me, I would not choose none she is considering but we very rarely agree on vehicles since we have been married.
I know that over the past several months she has always gravitated back to the RS3 but she did not want us to pay 68k for the vehicle and keeps considering the Golf R only because of the price. I have told her and she knows as well that we have the money and I will be writing a check for vehicle no matter what direction she chooses.
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If she truly cares about "price" she should look at the TCO and factor in the depreciation curve and running costs. Yes the Golf R has a lower initial price, but they also drop faster than the RS3 year by year in depreciation.
A cursory glance at say autotrader;
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ars/audi/rs-3/
5 year old models with 50-60k on them still go for near 50k. This is less than a 10-15k delta from new, which to say the least is an outlier for the marque.
You compare this to the Golf r;
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...swagen/golf-r/
And you'll see that the same 5 year old car that sold new at 45k is under 30k with miles. She might say "oh but it's the same dollar amount" sure, but it's higher in terms of percentage. The older you go back, the worse it gets for the Golf R. Why is that? Because it's not special. Sure it's a little special, it's the only non-mediocre VW, but it doesn't have the only i5 in the entire world.
Unique or special things like this will usually always retain more value than a regular pedestrian version of anything.
I welcome anyone to make a point that the RS3 is not the answer. Your biggest problem will be keeping your foot out of it, followed by not modding it. Stage 2+ they can really rip.