C7 S6 Avant

[Babw]

After a lot of back and forth, we've finally decided on an S6 Avant as the daily driver. Due to lack of used availability I'm going to order new with a considerable discount offered by a couple of dealers (just waiting for Orange Wheels to get back to me.)

We considered everything from an RS6 to a Range Rover Sport but the S6 seems to tick the most boxes. I know I'm likely to take a bath with regards to depreciation but hanging onto it for a number of years will hopefully lessen the effect.

I've gone for pretty much a full spec apart from the B&O, 20" wheels and nightvision. Any options other owners have bought and regretted? Any they wish they'd ordered?

RS6 was tempting but I can't really justify an extra 20k for the daily driver and buying a 2-3 year old RS6 with a lesser spec is too much compromise for the gain in performance/status/presence which I don't really need in a daily driver. RS6's also seem to be depreciating at a similar rate to the S6's if not worse; far fewer S6's which will hopefully help.

[drmark]

I would urge you to reconsider. The RS6 is such a better car that does al the S6 does (comfort and wafting etc) but has a dark side too. So much more entertaining than previous versions if you like A and B roads. And looks great.
As for costs. Buy a 2015 facelift good spec one for mid sixties max and I think it will be the cheaper car in terms of depreciation over 4-5 years if you intend to keep.

[Babw]

drmark said:

I would urge you to reconsider. The RS6 is such a better car that does al the S6 does (comfort and wafting etc) but has a dark side too. So much more entertaining than previous versions if you like A and B roads. And looks great.
As for costs. Buy a 2015 facelift good spec one for mid sixties max and I think it will be the cheaper car in terms of depreciation over 4-5 years if you intend to keep.

Apart from the depreciation the RS6 doesn't offer me anything more than the S6 does. Having driven both I would order the RS6 with the air suspension, the handling feels no different on the S6 with air. Brakes afaik are the same steels and interior is exactly the same. I actually like the cleaner look of the S6 front, the RS6 looks a little OTT with the front splitter etc

Sure the RS6 is faster and with the DRC handles better but the S6 is more than enough performance for me. I've been looking at the RS6 used market like a hawk and unfortunately a lot of options I would order - comfort seats, heated steering, parking pack advanced with the surround cameras don't seem to get specced on these cars. Even adaptive cruise is sparse which in a luxo barge I'd expect as a minimum spec.

If I didn't have a 800bhp GTR I would have an RS6 without a doubt but the performance of the S6 is more than adequate especially coming from a 300hp V6 daily driver.

Also I think the RS6 depreciation curve will be much steeper than owners anticipate for this model compared to the last. When the last model hit I remember they were offering crazy discounts due to the recession yet only a few were getting sold. With the current model loads are selling yet supply outstrips demand, many dealers I spoke to are offering in stock new cars at very good prices (nearing 20% discount). Once the PCP deals are up there's going to be plenty on the market.

However if someone can point me in the direction of a sub 15k mileage/mid 60k price RS6 with adaptive cruise, comfort massage ventilated seats, heated steering, parking pack advanced, dynamic steering, LED matrix, BOSE, power door closure, advanced key, smarthphone interface and head up display I could be convinced. It'll still take some convincing because the brand new S6 with all the above spec and more will work out in the mid 50's.

[drmark]

Sounds like the S6 is the car for you.

I doubt there are more than a couple of RS6s in the spec you want in the Uk. If any. I know of some with round steering wheel, but none with comfort seats.

I tried a S6 but missed the torque of the RS, and much prefer the ZF 8 speeder to the DSG set up for refinement.

Enjoy yours. Very nice car.

[Babw]

drmark said:

I tried a S6 but missed the torque of the RS, and much prefer the ZF 8 speeder to the DSG set up for refinement.

Enjoy yours. Very nice car.

Thanks.

That's interesting regarding the gearbox because Audi say they've significantly improved the S6 S-tronic gearbox for 2016-17 which is taken from the new R8 V10. I do think the ZF 8 speed is very good but do enjoy the instant downshifts (even compared to the ZF) of the S-tronic.

I'm hoping to drive the RS6 and S6 back to back next Wednesday and will hopefully be in a position to lock in the order.

[drmark]

Babw said:

Thanks.

That's interesting regarding the gearbox because Audi say they've significantly improved the S6 S-tronic gearbox for 2016-17 which is taken from the new R8 V10. I do think the ZF 8 speed is very good but do enjoy the instant downshifts (even compared to the ZF) of the S-tronic.

I'm hoping to drive the RS6 and S6 back to back next Wednesday and will hopefully be in a position to lock in the order.

Did you go for the S6?

Out of interest I Googled how many RS6s there are in UK. Depending on which website you believe it is around 3000. Just over 1000 of which are latest model so seems not that common given three variants.

[jkh112]

I am looking at an S6 avant and possibly an RS6 but it must have comfort seats with massage. I agree it is a rare combination, but there is a late RS6 avant with those options in the PH classified at the moment.

[superlightr]

jkh112 said:

I am looking at an S6 avant and possibly an RS6 but it must have comfort seats with massage. I agree it is a rare combination, but there is a late RS6 avant with those options in the PH classified at the moment.

that's an acquired taste for sure.

Find my rs6 standard seats great but then Ive not tried a massage seat.

[Babw]

drmark said:

Did you go for the S6?

Out of interest I Googled how many RS6s there are in UK. Depending on which website you believe it is around 3000. Just over 1000 of which are latest model so seems not that common given three variants.

I did go for the S6. Daytona Grey with all the options apart from Night Vision, Privacy glass and 20". Should have plenty of toys to play with and I'm hoping the Grey is easy to keep clean as it's going to be used as designed. Most looking forward to heads up display, comfort massage seats, surround cameras, heated steering wheel in winter and hopefully being under the radar.

The order went in on Friday, just waiting to confirm details as everything was a bit of rush with the close of the quarterly order window on Friday.

RS6 styling and extra power was just unnecessary for me with the GTR. Also I get annoyed enough with people trying to kill themselves trying to race me as it is now, don't need it in our daily as well so model designation deletion, 19" and a non fancy colour was required.

[Adrian E]

I tried the HUD in an RS6 and RS7 recently and was really impressed with it - I actually didn't notice it was fitted to start with, as it's so well set up to not distract you in daylight. Didn't get to try it in the dark. It's a very subtle white light that you can focus on very quickly when you want to, but you just don't notice if you're concentrating on the road ahead.

Have you tried cars with and without dynamic steering? I detest it on our S5 Sportback, as it goes heavy at too low a speed when driving in town and feels artificially heavy. I have individual drive mode set up with the steering in comfort, which removes the uncertainty of what the weight will be, but is a little too light. This is how the German professional drivers we had at a demo day had individual mode set up on the R8 V10 Pluses we drove too.

[Babw]

Adrian E said:

I tried the HUD in an RS6 and RS7 recently and was really impressed with it - I actually didn't notice it was fitted to start with, as it's so well set up to not distract you in daylight. Didn't get to try it in the dark. It's a very subtle white light that you can focus on very quickly when you want to, but you just don't notice if you're concentrating on the road ahead.

Have you tried cars with and without dynamic steering? I detest it on our S5 Sportback, as it goes heavy at too low a speed when driving in town and feels artificially heavy. I have individual drive mode set up with the steering in comfort, which removes the uncertainty of what the weight will be, but is a little too light. This is how the German professional drivers we had at a demo day had individual mode set up on the R8 V10 Pluses we drove too.

I actually had the HUD in my old E60 550i, it was brilliant. In adverse weather or pressing on it was so useful and really missed it when I moved onto an Audi daily.

Did try the dynamic steering it was fine, the girlfriend really liked it so have specced it.

[Adrian E]

Babw said:

Did try the dynamic steering it was fine, the girlfriend really liked it so have specced it.

Good stuff - it may have improved on later cars/bigger platforms compared to what we have (2011 model)

[Babw]

So the dealer called today and according to him I missed the quarterly deadline for my order by 20 minutes on Friday. He now wants an extra £5000 as the deposit contribution have changed with Audi.

Not sure what to do now as the S6 was good value around 60k but at 65K there's an awful lot of Range Rovers/Cayennes with a great spec. 5k isn't a massive amount relative to what I'm likely to lose with depreciation but it's definitely making me reconsider...

[Jobbo]

Can you point out that he missed the deadline, not you? I'd not be continuing if asked for £5k more when I'd already placed an order (or thought I had).

[barryrs]

I take it that £5k was in addition to the centre contribution?

Audi are offering £5800 against a 2.0 TDi at the moment without asking and carwow are suggesting savings of £8500 against an S6.

Edited by barryrs on Wednesday 5th October 16:26

[Babw]

Essentially the whole contribution amount has changed insignificantly but the source of the contribution has changed significantly which affects the deal I was getting. I'm going through a broker for the best price as they were able to give a 22% discount previously which now is about 14%.

To be fair to the dealer he did say when I went to order it's a close call with timing but neither of us had any idea what the revised offer from Audi would be for this quarter.

I've said on Friday I'll confirm whether to proceed or not.

[MEC]

I test drove an S6 and a 3.0 BiTdi yesterday and much preferred the diesel - might be worth a test drive?

[Babw]

MEC said:

I test drove an S6 and a 3.0 BiTdi yesterday and much preferred the diesel - might be worth a test drive?

The main reason for going petrol was due to doing lots of short journeys some months with some longer ones in between. DPF issues worry me and frankly don't have a lot of time for doing unnecessary miles just to clear the DPF. I've never bought a diesel as have never done big mileage.

However we might have to reconsider and take a risk but if I was going for a diesel wafter I'd go the whole hog and get a Range Rover Sport/Cayenne. The comfort and toys are more important in my daily than outright performance otherwise the BiTdi would be a great shout.

Rookie error was letting a friend buy the current daily before I've confirmed the replacement!!

[Babw]

Just to update I didn't have any luck with trying to revert the price with Audi and couldn't justify the extra so decided to stick to my 60k budget and put a deposit down on a 1yr old Range Rover Sport V6 Autobiography.

[drmark]

Babw said:

Just to update I didn't have any luck with trying to revert the price with Audi and couldn't justify the extra so decided to stick to my 60k budget and put a deposit down on a 1yr old Range Rover Sport V6 Autobiography.

Good choice.