RE: PH Heroes: Audi RS2

RE: PH Heroes: Audi RS2

Wednesday 22nd October 2008

PH Heroes: Audi RS2

An unusual mix of Porsche 911 and Audi 80 created an unlikely performance hero. Ollie Stallwood drives the Audi RS2...



‘Faster than the McLaren F1’. That’ll be the 240mph, Gordon Murray-designed, V12 supercar, McLaren F1 then? So what, in the mid-nineties, dared to step forward and give this legendary automobile a cheeky slap round the face?


An Audi 80, that’s what. OK, so the reality was that when Autocar tested the freakish RS2’s 0-30mph time and found that in fact 1.5 seconds was faster than the F1, it was mostly down to the Teutonic car’s all-wheel drive, but it did give an insight into exactly what we were dealing with.

I mean, it was an estate for crying out loud – exactly how fast do you need to get to the gymkhana? Little did we know that not only had Audi created a beast in a rather old-fashioned suit, but it had reinvented itself as the creator of seriously fast (usually load-lugging) executive cars.

The RS badge was new and what it meant was that Audi had completely lost it, but in a good way. Frankly, the 80 had been around for too long already, but this was to start a trend of pushing the boundaries of what is capable by way of a run-out model.


It was nothing less than a Frankenstein’s monster, but was destined to be an instant classic. Look at Audi’s RS models now and you’ll see a cohesive blend of visual performance features and improved components that work in harmony with each other.

The RS2 looked like the creation of the A-Team when they were locked in a barn with a written-off Porsche 993, an Audi 80 and a welding kit. But that’s why it looks so good. There is something so right about the way Porsche parts have been bolted on – the 993 wing mirrors, the 993 Turbo’s brakes, the Porsche indicators, the rear reflector panel that apes a 911 – to create a mind-boggling hybrid of two manufacturers.


The car was a direct collaboration between Porsche and Audi, but was assembled at the Stuttgart carmaker’s plant in Zuffenhausen. It may seem the norm now to have outrageously overpowered estates and saloons these days, but this uber-wagon was to make Audi’s name in this brave new world.

Power was provided by a heavily reworked version of Audi’s 2.2-litre five-cylinder unit, as found in the Quattro coupe turbo. Porsche fitted a larger KKK24 turbocharger (boosting at 1.4 bar), along with a heavy-duty intercooler, improved induction system and exhaust, a redesigned camshaft and a new engine management system.

This 80 now had 315bhp and 302lb ft of torque, which were big figures in those days, and pushed the car to 60mph in a barely believable 4.8 seconds, almost on par with a Porsche 993. Bespoke tyres were made for those Porsche Cup alloys (which have a slightly different diameter hole in the middle), the suspension was tweaked, dropping the car 41mm lower, and top notch Recaros were bolted into the cabin.

The result – nothing quite like anyone had seen before. The RS2 set about smashing everyone’s preconceptions about performance, estates, Audi, life in general, and duly took the world by storm. Only available in Europe, it was known across the world, a masterplan of this German carmaker’s ambitions.

All this was 14 years ago now and while most 80 Avants languish in the bargain pages of Autotrader, good RS2s command £20,000 and above – hardly surprising though, considering they were almost £50,000 new. The RS2 is a fascinating car and I couldn’t wait to find out how much of the legend is true.


It is the mark of a very special car that gets people talking when it appears in the car park underneath PH Towers. The RS2 did exactly that, creating a chatter through the office and drawing people from their PCs to the window. This particular example is in mint condition and owned by Jeremy Copp. And if you think owning an RS2 is lucky, try owning one to use as a tow car to drag around a Caterham.


Jeremy says it works great as a workhorse, and is a perfect fill-in when he can’t get his hands on his 996 GT3. I’m jealous. The RS2 looks every bit as good as it did when I sat in one at the British Motor Show almost half my life ago, and getting the chance to drive one seems like a real privilege. It just looks so cool – this is my kind of car and I’m hoping I won’t be disappointed.

We head out of the urban sprawl and find some back roads to see how quick this Audi 80 really is. It’s time for my go and as I get myself comfortable with electric seat adjustment, I’m a little nervous that the RS2 will be impossibly overstretched and unruly. I’m wrong; the RS2 couldn’t be easier to drive. The five-pot growls away in that fabulously off-tune way and while the gearbox is light and initially feels a little vague, each gear snicks in accurately and with no fuss.

The steering is light, perhaps a little too much, but again, under the surface there is a reassuring directness. The car rides reasonably well for what it is too, and while we chat I almost forget why I am here, content with just feeding the RS2 through villages the same way I would any other estate.


But there is a reason for much of this docility, and that is known as turbo lag. What happens when you do plant your foot down is frightening, and for more than one reason. Try overtaking in third and you are faced with that why-the-hell-aren’t-I-moving kind of millisecond that seems to happen at the wrong moment - i.e. on the wrong side of the road.

This is followed by such a sudden and overwhelming swell of power that spits you down the road so quickly your mind is still in the why-aren’t-I-moving moment. The acceleration is savage and unrelenting. The RS2 goes from a heavy car that seems uninterested in moving its own mass, to an unstoppable steam train. It’s fantastic.


The problem is keeping the turbo on the boil to make the car flow through a serious of bends, without having the kind of on/off power that will leave RS2 pieces decorating hedges. Jeremy suggests sticking the car in second if you are going to overtake, or if you want to start making progress, thus firing up the turbo and then keeping it on song for as long as you dare.

It works, and before long I’m holding on for dear life as the RS2 devours large chunks of tarmac. It’s quite softly sprung, which can be a little disconcerting given its mass, but after a while this works in its favour. The car soaks up bumps and is more forgiving when you carry too much speed into a bend, which normally results in understeer.

But pile in some power at the apex (preferably over about 3,500 revs) and the power seems to get directed rearward, tightening your line considerably, and balancing the car. To me it is an absorbing experience because at first you drive it like a modern, high-powered four-wheel drive, throwing it into bends and letting the chassis sort the rest out.

This won’t do in the RS2, the driver has to be involved and take responsibility in a very old school way. Grip is phenomenal and the car will cover ground at an astonishing rate, but the driver is always at the helm. The brakes are fantastic, as you would expect, but for all the progressive race car feel, you can almost forget they need a decent shove when you are crawling through town. The RS2 is a unique experience. Not as polished as today’s super-fast German estates, and almost a crude test bed for the concept, but it works exceptionally well. Tow cars don’t get much better than this.  


Author
Discussion

hope2421

Original Poster:

446 posts

212 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
The only thing i can add is,they are very,very fast! did he say that?

I am lucky enough to own one of these rare beasts and i can tell you that everytime i drive it, a huge smile is all over my facesmile

Audi RS2 Avant....a true super car.

And here is minesmile
[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2856881480078509834FVdVaP][/URL]

Edited by hope2421 on Wednesday 22 October 08:00

minimatt1967

17,089 posts

205 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Awesome car a true classic!

S3_Graham

12,830 posts

198 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
i recently had a trip in a tuned S2 estate... it blew my mind so i can only imagine what an RS2 would go like!!

albawill

1 posts

185 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
its good to see my old car again... i owned this actual car about 5/6 years ago.. and fitted the twin 3" tail pipes and 993 turbo brakes (the original brakes are smaller diameter and not cross drilled) down at quattro sports. I see the present owner has swapped out the old half leather/half alacantara interior for full leather which i think is a shame but still looks in excellent condition which is good to see as it was the favourite car i ever owned.

jeremyc

23,335 posts

283 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
albawill said:
its good to see my old car again... i owned this actual car about 5/6 years ago.. and fitted the twin 3" tail pipes and 993 turbo brakes (the original brakes are smaller diameter and not cross drilled) down at quattro sports. I see the present owner has swapped out the old half leather/half alacantara interior for full leather which i think is a shame but still looks in excellent condition which is good to see as it was the favourite car i ever owned.
wavey The power of PistonHeads! You are indeed listed as the previous owner on the V5 - I've had the car for the six years since you sold it. I've sent you an email. smile

And yes, I told the dealer I'd only buy the car if he swapped the alcantara for the leather interior from another RS2 he had on the forecourt. hehe

Edited by jeremyc on Wednesday 22 October 09:05

Robatr0n

12,362 posts

215 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
I love the RS2, very understated and suprsingly quick.

Still fancy selling it to me for a knock down price Jeremy? wink


sprinter885

11,550 posts

226 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Quite an icon & coincidentally I followed one into town only a few days ago. (Lincolnshire)First one I've seen on the road in years.

littlemidgetgem

5,993 posts

214 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Love it biggrin

Did Audi not do an RS2 Coupe though? Don't really know much about them paperbag

Luca Brazzi

3,974 posts

264 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Top review of a top car owned by a top bloke. I'll never forget the time we were returning from the Motor Show, flying down the A30 Staines bypass, 4-up, whooshing past a Corvette. Ahhhh the good old days smile

LBsmile

Robatr0n

12,362 posts

215 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
littlemidgetgem said:
Love it biggrin

Did Audi not do an RS2 Coupe though? Don't really know much about them paperbag
I wish! frown

I don't think Porsche would have built that as it would be direct competition for the 993.

You can however fit all the RS2 bits to an S2 which can see you to around 360 - 380bhp.

Plotloss

67,280 posts

269 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
littlemidgetgem said:
Love it biggrin

Did Audi not do an RS2 Coupe though? Don't really know much about them paperbag
No, Porsche only undertook the project on the basis that the Coupe was not made, as they saw it as a potential threat to sales.

There is one saloon, which was the development mule, owned by the Dr in Germany. Its probably been crushed now though.

jeremyc

23,335 posts

283 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Luca Brazzi said:
Top review of a top car owned by a top bloke. I'll never forget the time we were returning from the Motor Show, flying down the A30 Staines bypass, 4-up, whooshing past a Corvette. Ahhhh the good old days smile
Happy days .... and all within the speed limit as well. smile

The look on the Corvette driver's face as he was passed on the outside by an anonymous blue estate car has been repeated many times since. biggrin

Dr G

15,159 posts

241 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
I thought that was a familiar car, Mark's no longer here but Rob says hello!

jeremyc

23,335 posts

283 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Robatr0n said:
Still fancy selling it to me for a knock down price Jeremy? wink
For that premium price you promised, of course! wink

jeremyc

23,335 posts

283 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Dr G said:
I thought that was a familiar car, Mark's no longer here but Rob says hello!
Want it back? winkhehe

filski666

3,841 posts

191 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
I remember when this came out there was a photo in Performance Car magazine (or had the name changed to EVO then - I can't remember) of the RS2 in mid-air, jumping over a bridge, or a lump in the road or something...(sorry, long time ago) - anyway, it was an awesome photo and I have loved this car so much ever since!

Love it! Would have one of these over an RS4 anyday - I think it has more character and is more like one of those secret projects or homologation specials that OEMs surprise you with every now or then (like the Lotus Carlton).

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
the article said:
pushed the car to 60mph in a barely believable 4.8 seconds, almost on par with a Porsche 993
a quick google said:
The Porsche 911 993 Carrera offers a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds
So it's actually quicker to 60 than a 993?

Robatr0n

12,362 posts

215 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
jeremyc said:
Robatr0n said:
Still fancy selling it to me for a knock down price Jeremy? wink
For that premium price you promised, of course! wink
hehe

Plotloss

67,280 posts

269 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
monthefish said:
the article said:
pushed the car to 60mph in a barely believable 4.8 seconds, almost on par with a Porsche 993
a quick google said:
The Porsche 911 993 Carrera offers a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds
So it's actually quicker to 60 than a 993?
Yep.

If you remember the Autocar article, its quicker to 30 than a Mclaren F1.

I remember getting the original press car off the truck in the UK, flooring it in an empty yard and thinking 'Whats all the fuss about, its about as quick as a VR6?' then of course, in a moment I can only describe as similar the launching of a Viper in 70s epic Battlestar Galactica the turbo kicked in and a wall approached very fast.


mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Few cars that 15 years old, and based on a humble model that was introduced over 20 years ago, look as great both inside and out cloud9