There’s something quietly satisfying about driving a high-revving, naturally aspirated Audi RS sedan with Quattro all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox. Of course, that’s simply not possible in a brand-new Audi these days. The company has long since moved with the times and retired the stick shift, just like most other OEMs.
But for purists and enthusiast collectors who hanker after those halcyon times, a used B7 Audi RS4 – available in the United States during the 2007 and 2008 model years – is something to behold. These cars are still trading for reasonable money right now, but they’re likely to become more coveted as purists start hoarding these special Audis in such an automatic world.
The Last Stand Wasn’t Loud When It Happened
2007 – 2008 Audi RS4 Sedan DashboardAudi
2007 Audi RS4 Quattro Sedan Specifications
Engine
4.2-liter naturally aspirated FSI V8
Transmission
Six-speed manual
Drivetrain
Quattro all-wheel drive
Power
420 hp
Torque
317 lb-ft
The B7 Audi RS4 arrived in the USA for the 2007 model year without too much fanfare, even if it was late for the party. Elsewhere, the RS4 had already developed a cult reputation, particularly through the earlier B5 RS4 Avant models that you could buy outside the US. When the B7 reached American buyers, the model presented itself as a sedan, compact in proportions and complete with flared bodywork, Quattro traction, and manual transmission.
This was the full-strength RS4 formula, with plenty of motorsport pedigree in its background, but it arrived at a time when the sands were beginning to shift. Now, dual-clutch gearboxes were seen as potentially faster, more efficient, and better able to meet emissions mandates. Performance car buyers were even starting to accept that an automatic transmission might be the quicker choice, even if that idea filled the stick-shift purists with horror.
As it turned out, this RS4 would be the last of its type to feature a system where the engine, drivetrain, chassis, and gearbox all felt distinctly analog. The RS models that came after it would be quicker, perhaps more refined, and easier to drive faster, but the B7 RS4 would be the car to ask the most out of its driver. And that’s why purists are quietly starting to squirrel them away.
The B7 RS4 Still Feels Like A Mechanical Contract
2007-2008 Audi RS4 Sedan 4.2L NA FSI V8 EngineAudi
Under the hood of the B7 RS4 is Audi’s 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8, producing 420 hp at 7,800 rpm and 317 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm. It also revs to 8,200 rpm, which immediately sets it apart from the turbocharged RS cars that followed. Audi engineers set this car up to reward commitment and timing, and much of that came down to the six-speed manual transmission.
The gearbox in the B7 RS4 had six forward gears with closely spaced ratios and a drivetrain carefully calibrated around the AWD system. There’s a center differential with a rear-biased 40:60 torque split, which makes the RS4 feel much more agile than some of its older, nose-heavy predecessors.
The RS4’s chassis worked very well with the engine and transmission. It had Dynamic Ride Control, and the car came with 14.4-inch front brakes, eight-piston calipers, 19-inch wheels, and 255-section tires. And all of this meant that the RS4 was a serious performance sedan, crafted for the purpose, and not just a regular A4 with a bigger engine.
The Manual RS Line Continued Temporarily
2007-2008 Audi RS4 Sedan Black Interior Driver AreaAudi
Some purists believe that the B7 RS4 was the last manual Audi RS in America, but that particular accolade fell to the 2012 Audi TT RS instead. This vehicle came exclusively with a six-speed manual, and there are several examples circulating in the used car market today. However, the B7 RS4 can claim to be the final manual RS4 and the final manual Audi RS sedan. It was the model that was closest to the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C-Class argument, and it still represents an interesting proposition in the used market.
Audi would soon move on with its B8 RS4, which used a seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission instead. The B9 followed with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic, and the RS5 also arrived in the Audi camp in the dual-clutch era. Today’s modern RS3 centers around a seven-speed S Tronic, and you could argue that those cars are quicker from A-to-B and perhaps easier to launch consistently. However, they present a very different type of relationship between the driver and their machine on the open road.
Collector Interest Is Starting To Show Up In The Numbers
2007 – 2008 Audi RS4 Sedan Front Angle DrivingAudi
Auction results are now showing consistent activity in the low- to mid-$30,000 range for driver-grade, higher-mileage B7 RS4s. Special trim and rare colors are pushing higher, with a 2007 Imola Yellow example selling for $45,250 in May 2026. Meanwhile, CarBuzz Marketplace shows prices in the mid-thirties for 2008 examples. Production scarcity could add more pressure on pricing, as some estimates put the global total at roughly 10,000 B7 RS4s, with about 2,000 US-market sedans across model years.
This points to a limited supply of a car that was never a mass-market model, and to a relatively small pool of desirable cars today. After all, there are sure to be plenty of neglected vehicles, those with accident histories and many with some unfortunate modifications. Serious enthusiasts are starting to snap up the RS4s with the best provenance, which is the same kind of behavior that often surrounds the E90 BMW M3 and naturally aspirated AMG-era C63.
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Purists Are Buying Now And Keeping Values Strong
2007 – 2008 Audi RS4 Sedan on the roadAudi
Far-sighted purists may recognize that these B7 RS4s are relatively attainable and that the market may become less forgiving in the months and years ahead. Some of these enthusiasts may be tempted to buy a strong driver-grade car with a good service history rather than hold out for the perfect garage queen.
One long-time Audi owner talked about buying a higher-mileage RS4 in California simply because the history, price, and condition now made it a useable restoration candidate. And that may be the kind of thinking that’s starting to shape the market differently. However, the vehicles most likely to hold their value will be those that feel complete and present, just as Audi intended.
The ownership reality is still important, especially for the B7 RS4, which is not cheap to run properly. Issues could arise from carbon buildup on the direct-injected V8, and Dynamic Ride Control systems could be costly to repair if a previous owner neglected them. Buyers should also pay close attention to clutch condition, intake flap issues, suspension wear, oil cooler and auxiliary radiator condition, and brakes. Overall, it’s best to look for a clean RS4 with documented carbon cleaning, original character, well-maintained suspension, and a complete book of records.
The strongest long-term argument for the Audi B7 RS4 is indeed its old-fashioned analog presentation. The onboard experience is not something that manufacturers can easily re-create today through launch control, faster automatic systems, or trick software along the way.
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Certainly, modern RS cars could be technically superior in very measurable ways, but none of them can deliver the same type of experience through the gnarliest of canyon roads. Here, the B7 RS4 offers a blend of compact sedan usability, naturally aspirated V8 drama, and six-speed involvement. And that’s clearly what makes the difference between an old performance car and a car with a reason to matter.
The B7 Audi RS4 cannot claim to be the last manual Audi RS model altogether, since the later TT RS complicates that conversation. It was certainly the last manual RS4 and the last manual RS sedan, and that’s enough to make collectors pay attention. Those collectors know that this RS4 sits at the end of a very specific Audi performance lineage involving naturally aspirated, high-revving all-wheel-drive, stick-shifted machines.
Collectors also know that the B7 RS4 is more than just a used luxury sedan with a cult following; it’s closing a very specific and well-written chapter. So perhaps it’s not surprising to see that the smartest buyers are quietly buying, sorting, and preserving the best examples before the rest of the market fully catches up.
Sources: Audi, Bring a Trailer,
