IanH's C5 RS6 - A Car Diary

[thatguy11]

Love these big beasts, Fabulous car!

[manmaths]

IanH755 said:

Well, that makes a big difference! Had the brace bar welding across this morning and driven down to Alresford and all the 1800-2300rpm resonance drone (and slight vibration felt through your feet) has gone and the exhaust note has increased in pitch slightly. It almost sounds like a nasally Subaru boxer 4 (best example I can think of). I "think", although it may be me thinking too hard to find differences, that it's slightly quieter now as well but that may well just be down to the lack of drone at those lower rev points.

It's certainly more civilised around town from inside the car but still sounds just as loud outside according to my mate who did the drive-by vids for me.

Overall, I'm very happy with it!

That's interesting that the drone could be removed with just a brace. I never would have thought of doing that.

Sounds great too.

[IanH755]

manmaths - Audi had the idea as the stock exhaust has a brace bar to keep the tips from moving outwards, the change in exhaust note on mine is just a very welcome coincidence.

27th July 2014 - Myself and a bunch of fellow Audi petrolheads all met up for a quick blast or 4 through the Hindhead Tunnel before heading off to MB World to watch the Hungarian F1 GP!

Hindhead Video - RS6, 2x RS4 and Nissan GTR doing 4 runs through the tunnel. That GTR is ridiculously loud! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUZY3wMzp9U

[IanH755]

1st August 2014 - Had a 10,000 mile service done at MRC as the mileage passed 80k a few weeks ago. Got a nice clean bill of health with a lighter wallet although Ben "somehow" managed to talk me into Wagner Intercoolers in the near future, the silver tongued devil

[IanH755]

9th August 2014 - Took part in the "On Your Marks" charity day run by ASDA by giving passenger rides for donations at the Rally For Heroes gate.

The weather was stunning (I'm now a nice shade of lobster) and the entertainment was phenomenal considering the whole event (10,000 people) is invite only.

I had an absolute blast and our gate alone (20 cars) raised over £2200 and there was 300+ cars doing rides so the final total should be epic.

Sadly my day came to a slightly abrupt end when a boost pipe spilt leaving me Turbo-less but the awesome driving I managed to get in before it went wrong more than made up for it. Everyone seemed to enjoy it hugely as these reaction videos show, although in the 3rd clip I managed a 4-wheel drift over the chicane rather than around it much to the amusement of the passenger

The Reactions Video is here - http://youtu.be/jirlMHJBbdE



At the Rally For Heroes Gate -





The typical queue for rides at the Rally For Heroes Stall

Edited by IanH755 on Friday 15th August 18:14

[OliilO]

IanH755 said:

Hindhead Video - RS6, 2x RS4 and Nissan GTR doing 4 runs through the tunnel. That GTR is ridiculously loud! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUZY3wMzp9U

Slightly random, but from your location and the noise of the GTR, is it quite tweaked and has a plate fitting to its model? If so, it does sound awesome and is incredibly quick!

[IanH755]

OliilO said:

Slightly random, but from your location and the noise of the GTR, is it quite tweaked and has a plate fitting to its model? If so, it does sound awesome and is incredibly quick!

It's running 650hp ( SVM Stage 4.25) but I've no idea what the plate was sorry

[mwstewart]

IanH755 said:

A few stops away from greatness

[IanH755]

15th August 2014 - After my issues at the ASDA charity day last week I finally got the undertray off and found that the the drivers side lower hose had slipped it's jubilee clip off which caused the boost leak rather than a split hose. I managed to get the bugger back on (damn you Audi with your way too short hoses) and took it to MRC today to have the uprated Wagner intercoolers and silicone hoses fitted.

From the feel on the drive home and the oil stains on my old intercoolers I'd say mine had been leaking a while. With the RS being so quick it's sometimes difficult to notice when the powers a little down but the difference pre/post wagners is definitely noticeable. On a 300m stretch of the airfield I work at I'm now getting an extra 10mph over my last run on it this morning, so I'd say I've regained what ever power the leaking I/C's had cost me previously.

[Bungleaio]

Nice to see a proper car being properly maintained. It's a credit to you.

[IanH755]

31st August 2014 - Popped down to Kemble Airfield (just to the west of Cirencester) for a PistonHeads meet at the AV8 cafe. For a small meet (8 cars) it was a nice eclectic range of cars from a Porsche 911 to a Lotus Evora and a Scimitar! It was a good little meet with a chance to swap stories with other like-minded people at a really nice venue.

After a few hours of swapping tales I headed off home and right into the Cotswolds Triathlon which explains the ridiculous amount of cyclists (30+) I nearly had to peel from the front of my car as I came around a fairly sharp bend and found them static and blocking the whole road (both lanes) at a crossroads figuring out where to go (I think) so I gave them a wee toot of the horn as I stamped on the brakes to remind them that's it's not a good idea for such vulnerable people to stay in the way of a 2 ton metal object doing 60mph, although judging from the friendly way I they told me I was a masturbator via sign language, I'm guessing that they thought blocking an entire A road with their frail bodies just after a blind bend was perfectly OK!

There was an ambulance car flying the other way (easy 80+) about 30secs after I passed them which I flashed so hopefully they didn't smash into the cyclists.

Here's my pics -

[IanH755]

26th September 2014 - Fitted some new Brembo rear brake pads which was a very quick and easy job which has firmed up the brake pedal and stabilised the brake balance again. As I was a bit bored I also cleaned and polished the all the alloys and drilled out all the blocked holes in both the front and rear brake discs too.

I also bought some new Centre Caps which also came with these Audi tyre valve covers too!

Edited by IanH755 on Friday 26th September 16:55

[RS Grant]

Always been a huge fan of these cars. But your cost breakdown has confirmed that, unless by some fluke I found a car wwhich had been cared for like yours, they are not an option for me because spending so much money on maintenance (I also like to over-do things) for it would taint the ownership experience.


Cheers,
Grant

[Planter]

Out of curiosity, what camera are you using?

Great pictures and use of filters.

[IanH755]

Planter - Initially I was using a Canon 7D with 50mm F1.4 and Adobe Lightroom but I sold that recently and have gone back to a Sony point & shoot HX-5V which is nowhere near as good for quality but much more usable day to day.

[Planter]

IanH755 said:

Planter - Initially I was using a Canon 7D with 50mm F1.4 and Adobe Lightroom but I sold that recently and have gone back to a Sony point & shoot HX-5V which is nowhere near as good for quality but much more usable day to day.

I did wonder if you had changed cameras. Your earlier pics are great shots. The latter are still great and good use of light. I used a 5D myself. Keep up the updates, am enjoying the read and love the car.

[IanH755]

18th October 2014 - Spent the day driving around the Brecon Beacons with some fellow RS owners, fantastic day!

Edited by IanH755 on Monday 25th January 23:11

[richardracer]

Hello Ian,

A word of warning with the chromed metal valve covers. On my S8 with tpms valve stems, the differential corrosion, meant they were locked on solid after 6 months and broke before they would turn, outcome, new tyre valves and remounting tyres, balancing etc. Suggest plenty of grease and check regularly.

Cheers

Richard

[IanH755]

Thanks for the tip!

[IanH755]

Well after losing my job I've decided to put the RS6 up for sale as 17mpg and a daily 70+ mile commute to my new job just don't work out that well together!