To put the record straight, every car is expensive.

It doesn’t just have to be the purchase of the car itself. We could be talking about the whole process of owning a car. From fuel efficiency to insurance you have to pay on it, and expenses that you’ll have to pay if it needs repairing. Those are just the simple facts of owning any car, not just an Audi.

Make no mistake, owning an Audi is a privilege, and they really are a great car to drive. To some, they might be expensive, to others the cost of an Audi may just be pocket change. What we want to explore is whether an Audi is expensive to own for the common man.

Here are just a few things to think about as you consider whether or not purchasing an Audi will be feasible for you...

The Purchase

Audi is a higher end manufacturer, so their prices are going to reflect that. If you want to buy a new Audi outright, then you’re going to be set back quite a lot. However, the price you pay is shown in the quality of the drive, the materials, and the long life of the car.

Buying a new Audi is a statement of luxury and you definitely will get attention. Like most end car manufacturers, you can get cheaper models if you’re wishing to go secondhand. Secondhand can mean that the car is either a few months old, or a few years old. That’s not to say that buying a secondhand car means that you’re going for the lesser option. If you go for one that’s really well-maintained, you’ll easily have a car that will last you more than a few years and the quality of the drive will be no different.

The Insurance

The cost of insurance really depends on which make and model you get, and whether you get diesel or petrol. If you’re slightly older, then insurance shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Plus, we can assume that if you’re willing to pay the price of the car, you should be able to afford the insurance that comes with it.

For example, if you were to buy the RS6 model, you can expect to put your hand in your pocket for both the insurance and for the car itself. You can find cheap car insurance if you get the right model and you can find ways of getting the costs down, even if you don’t get a cheaper model. You can put the voluntary excess up, reduce your annual mileage, and put other people on the insurance. We always recommend checking the cost of the insurance before you actually buy the car.

Maintenance and General Running Costs

Maintenance costs for an Audi will depend on how you drive the car. It’s no secret that Audi's are quick, and if you’re a bit foot heavy on the pedal, your fuel costs will reflect that.

You also have to deal with the fact that an Audi can be rather expensive to fix, so you may also have to think about the cost of an extended warranty. However, it really all depends on the model you have and how old it is. If you have an S-line or RS-line performance model with all the bells and whistles, you may spend more than owning an A-line model.

Suggested Reading: Car Care Maintenance Mistakes to Avoid

Newer model Audis are actually really cost effective on fuel. If you were to get a 1.6L diesel Audi A3, you really won’t be putting much in the tank to get yourself around.

Overall, if you take care of your Audi, drive safely, and get a good deal on a purchase, an Audi doesn't have to be very expensive to own.