The B7-generation Audi RS 4 comes from an increasingly desirable era of German performance cars. Featuring a high-revving naturally aspirated V8, six-speed manual transmission, and Quattro all-wheel drive wrapped in a relatively understated sports sedan, its recipe was refreshingly straightforward.
Finding an untouched example nearly two decades later, with mileage low enough to make you question whether its owners ever drove it, isn’t easy, though.
That certainly helps explain the attention surrounding a 2008 RS 4 that recently appeared on Cars & Bids. Despite its age, the Audi has traveled only around 12,200 miles and remains completely unmodified.
The auction ended on September 10 after 26 bids, with the winning offer reaching $75,000. Remarkably, that’s slightly above the $74,135 shown on its original window sticker.
Barely Driven In 18 Years
According to the seller, the RS 4 spent most of its life stored in a garage, which goes a long way toward explaining its condition and unusually low mileage. Cars & Bids described it as the lowest-mileage unmodified B7 RS 4 it had offered to date.
Finished in Daytona Grey Pearl Effect over a silver interior, the sedan came equipped with Audi’s Premium Package. Features include 19-inch seven-double-spoke wheels, Silk Nappa leather, carbon-fiber interior trim, heated power-adjustable front seats, a sunroof, and dual-zone climate control.
The sale also included two keys, the owner’s manual, service receipts, and the original window sticker. Its Carfax report shows no reported accidents, although one age-related detail stands out: the tires carry 2007 date codes and would need replacing before regular driving.
A Naturally Aspirated V8 And Six-Speed Manual
The main attraction sits behind that large Audi grille. The RS 4’s naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 produces 420 PS, equivalent to approximately 414 hp, and 317 lb-ft of torque.
Every bit of that output is managed through a six-speed manual transmission and sent to all four wheels using Audi’s permanent Quattro system. Audi quoted a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds, while top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph.
It’s a combination that has become increasingly difficult to replicate in modern performance cars. Naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engines have largely disappeared from this segment, while manual transmissions are even rarer.
Someone Paid $75,000 To Own It
Paying $75,000 for an 18-year-old Audi might sound excessive until the condition, mileage, and specification enter the equation. This RS 4 essentially represents a preserved example of a performance formula Audi no longer offers.
There is an amusing detail to the final price, too. At $75,000, the RS 4 sold for $865 more than the amount printed on its original window sticker, although inflation means the two figures aren’t remotely equivalent in real purchasing power.
Whether its new owner continues preserving those 12,200 miles or finally starts adding to them remains to be seen. Either way, this sale suggests exceptionally original B7 RS 4s are becoming genuine collector cars rather than simply old performance sedans.
Would you drive this Audi RS 4 the way it’s intended, or keep it locked up? Let us know in the comments.