torquesteer11

That's a huge price difference to be sure. I've looked into BMW pricing, and I think you are spot on. What repels me is that jerk stigma that is attached to BMW drivers.

Draxinum

Yes and yes

DrGP

That comes at no extra charge

RickFLS4

I had to build a 335ix M Sport to see what could cause such a large difference. My 2013 S4 had an original MSRP of $61K+ but I have sports diff and adaptive damping, so if I drop one of those it would be just a bit over $60K. I built what I considered to be a comparable 335ix and it came out to just over $60K as well. I think some of the key differences I saw were:
* V6 SC with DSG vs I6 (corrected) Turbo with automatic in BMW
* Nappa leather (or option for Leather / Alc) vs. Dakota or leatherette in BMW
* Quattro with sport diff or adaptive damping (or both for more $) vs. BMW AWD with adaptive damping (no sport diff / torque vector?)
* Stanless steel / piano black or carbon fiber trim vs. alum hexagon or wood in BMW
* Flat bottom steering wheel in S4
* BMW includes maintenance vs. $800 for Audi Care (but you should have gotten another $1K off for Audi loyalty, so I think this is a push)

If you truly prefer to rent the car for 3 years and never consider buyout or trade, $8K is a lot of money and hard to ignore. However, if you consider the value that may reside in an S4 trade or buyout at the end if the lease + run flats on the BMW + the points above I guess it isn't so crazy for the rest of us to be driving an S4. In any event, as I said earlier, enjoy the BMW. I suspect you will have wider enthusiastic support for the choice on a BMW forum.

Goony

Actually an I6 turbo.

Once again..........only YOU have to be happy with the car/deal. If you're trying to impress or convince someone else to justify it, don't bother.

Skioutwest

I have a 335xi m sport now and love the car. I am trolling this forum because I might lease a 2014 s4. BMW leases are probably the best program out there....Infiniti is also pretty good. I have to assume that BMW is able to eat some of the depreciation since many of their cars go back through their CPO program....they make a lot of dough on those cars. It's just a different profit model.

I have replaced my RFTs with non-RFTs with no issues at turn in. Also have a Procede tune wish makes the car much more fun, but not quite up to s4 caliber, I think,,,,,this is why I am a troll at the moment.

-Mark

seinsmeld13

My car was free after 85,000 km of driving. I paid $52,000 for my 10 and traded it for $36,000 on my 13. That's $16,000 for three years. Factor in my monthly car allowance I then had enough left over to pay my yearly insurance. Yes these S4's are scarce and hold their value. Your best bet as always is to buy the basic car, Stronic with sports diff. A loaded S4 will get you more when trading but for the most part you lose 60% on your options. My car also had a scratch from the left fender to the rear quarter that was factored into this trade. That's 85,000 km in 3 years of driving offset by driving my convertible in the summer and the wife's GTI 2 to 3 days a month. Without those cars I'd be putting on 40,000 km per year. Try leasing a car putting on that kind of mileage, the monthly cost would be huge. Leasing is never an option for me. I only compare the list prices and work from there. Leasing is good for some but not for us who actually drive their cars and not worry about mileage. Good luck with your rental and be careful not to scratch it.

MonzaA5

Both are good cars. In absolute terms, the S4 is better. However, considering the cost difference, I would have done the same thing as the OP if I was leasing.
For those who don't suffer from such insecurities, this is not really an issue.