Not finding love with my RS6
Discussion
It is looking more and more like a family family estate for the daily and something small with a decent power to weight might be the order of the day.
I've never been in a caterham/westfield/lotus so would have to give one a go and see how I felt with it. Ideally I'd like a 2+2 seater so my daughter and wife can head out in the fun car too as my daughter LOVES it when I mash the throttle in the RS6 but as far as I can tell theres only 911's, gtr and erm, not sure what else that'll fit more than two!
I've never been in a caterham/westfield/lotus so would have to give one a go and see how I felt with it. Ideally I'd like a 2+2 seater so my daughter and wife can head out in the fun car too as my daughter LOVES it when I mash the throttle in the RS6 but as far as I can tell theres only 911's, gtr and erm, not sure what else that'll fit more than two!
C7 JFW said:
Really interested to see how this pans out.
The one thing that does stand out to me, is that you need to start test driving other cars. a GT-R will probably alter your appreciation of what's quick and what's a supercar.
However, there are a lot of other cars out there within the sector - get some new miles under your belt and see what you bond with.
Ahhhhh, but which cars!The one thing that does stand out to me, is that you need to start test driving other cars. a GT-R will probably alter your appreciation of what's quick and what's a supercar.
However, there are a lot of other cars out there within the sector - get some new miles under your belt and see what you bond with.
Do I go the two car route and get something like a 5 series diseasle for my daily and something fruity for the weekend or aim for something with a few less cylinders and a lot less pork for another stab at an all in one car.
I was tempted by the 3.0 tfsi audi lump in either the A6 or S4 as a fast when it wants to be (revo tuned) yet circa 50% better on mpg but wasn't sure about the noise which given the RS6 only makes a good enough noise to hear in the cabin (it's that well sound insulated!) when it's angry makes me think perhaps getting a car that's a nice place to be AND sound good is possibly a bit of an oxymoron.
So I welcome recommendations for alternatives to get out and try. I'm not so sure on the classic route, the URq has left me wary! So anything up to about £25k!
Greg66 said:
It sounds like your problem is more to do with the roads you're stuck with than the car, TBH. Find an excuse to drive over to Europe. Having just got back from a round trip to northern Germany in the S8, I know now exactly what it was built for. Unfortunately the volume of cameras and other cars over here makes it difficult if not impossible to use to fully over here, but hey ho.
A strong accountancy brain and mashing the throttle are almost never going to play nicely together though, are they?
From last nights attempt to go for a hoon and this mornings abysmal commute I think you're right about the roads being a big part of the problem. For no known reason this morning each of the three ways I could have gone to work were pretty much stationary. 35 mins to do 3 miles. As for last nights attempt, well there are a few nice roads to take around here but I was plagued with the "I'm perfectly comfortable doing 35 on a 60 road" brigade which kinda ruined that attempt at fun too (twisty roads made safe overtakes a no-no).A strong accountancy brain and mashing the throttle are almost never going to play nicely together though, are they?
I am planning a trip to Dusseldorf to stretch its legs but that won't be until around December time (as we're going for the Christmas markets).
Honestly the car was completely wasted this morning, if I didn't have to be elsewhere after work I would have cycled and hindsight would have been lovely so I could have taken the Alfa. My teeny tiny little commute can take anywhere from 6 minutes to 50 and there's no set pattern!
To all those looking at moving to a car like this I'm more than happy to take you out in it if you're in the Southampton area. My comments have all concentrated on the negatives, but it's not a bad car, it's quite excellent in fact, it just doesn't seem to sit well with where I live, what I use it for and 'accountant brain'!
So I took the RS6 to where it feels home today, namely a run from Southampton via M27, M3, A34, M4 & M5 to my office in Bristol.
Was an effortless drive with the occasional blast to remind myself what I was driving. 25.8mpg.
However I'm fairly sure any exec car would do the journey equally as effortlessly and certainly didn't need 700 ponies to make the trip!
Will see how tomorrows exige drive goes!
Was an effortless drive with the occasional blast to remind myself what I was driving. 25.8mpg.
However I'm fairly sure any exec car would do the journey equally as effortlessly and certainly didn't need 700 ponies to make the trip!
Will see how tomorrows exige drive goes!
Brave Fart said:
Dave, I live in your area (near Fareham) and I'm an accountant. Guess we're just winners in the lottery of life eh?!
Anyway, I think the main problem round here is the roads/traffic. There really is almost nowhere local that is free of busy traffic, speed cameras, low speed limits etc. etc. My solution? I bought a Monaro, and just pootle around listening to the V8 feeling smug, but in a slow and relaxed way. Well, smug until it needs refuelling (18 mpg average, oh well). Hope you find the answer soon!
Mike.
Hi Mike, you're right the traffic round here is worst of all places I've lived (Aberdeen, North West London, Poole, Bournemouth, Weymouth & Plymouth!)Anyway, I think the main problem round here is the roads/traffic. There really is almost nowhere local that is free of busy traffic, speed cameras, low speed limits etc. etc. My solution? I bought a Monaro, and just pootle around listening to the V8 feeling smug, but in a slow and relaxed way. Well, smug until it needs refuelling (18 mpg average, oh well). Hope you find the answer soon!
Mike.
I'm just by Jn8 so 'your' side of Southampton. Thought long and hard about a monaro too. If you're free at some point I wouldn't mind having a poke around yours, promise not to talk shop!
slk 32 said:
I have a similar problem. I Bought an immaculate R171 SLK55 and upgraded it with remap, Kleemann cams and exhaust headers..Consequently it now puts out about 420bhp.
The challenge is (like you) I never get to enjoy the power for more than a few seconds at a time.
I think the real problem is the roads- I live in West London and consequently most of the time am just crawling along in traffic. I bought a 2008 polo bluemotion last November as a snotter and have actually done more miles in that (4.5k) than the slk (2k).If I lived somewhere where I had derestricted autobahns that I could really stretch it's legs it would probably be different but it's easier often to grab the keys to the polo.
It saddens me to say that as I love fast cars but in this day and age with the sheer volume of traffic it seems increasingly irrelevant
Agree wholeheartedly. I'm just about to build a racing cockpit in my mancave with a high quality wheel and pedals and run project cars, rFactor etc to get my daily speed thrills. Total build will be about £5-600 but then it'll pay for itself in no time as I'll probably use it most nights. I loved the immersiveness of the set up at 'the race centre' at Chandlers ford.The challenge is (like you) I never get to enjoy the power for more than a few seconds at a time.
I think the real problem is the roads- I live in West London and consequently most of the time am just crawling along in traffic. I bought a 2008 polo bluemotion last November as a snotter and have actually done more miles in that (4.5k) than the slk (2k).If I lived somewhere where I had derestricted autobahns that I could really stretch it's legs it would probably be different but it's easier often to grab the keys to the polo.
It saddens me to say that as I love fast cars but in this day and age with the sheer volume of traffic it seems increasingly irrelevant
stuart-b said:
Then you have to think, why the hell have I got an RS6 for the weekend? OP I think this is the wrong car for you - this car is a classic case of "more is not always better" and you realise that - you haven't bought into the marketing.
Did you consider something left field, like the Alfa for daily and a Lotus (Decent V6 one) or equivalent for weekend?
The realisation is dawning! Wednesday I popped into my local lotus/lexus/toyota dealer and have booked a test drive in an exige this weekend. Depending on how I get on I've then got the option to take an evora out for a spin.Did you consider something left field, like the Alfa for daily and a Lotus (Decent V6 one) or equivalent for weekend?
I really do want to love this car, but instead I think I like it a lot when it's warping space time and really don't like it at all in traffic!
mcelliott said:
So what about the S4 then. More frugal, and still fairly rapid, in that you can still rag it without ever getting to warp speed. 
Yeah I did think about the S4 with the revo tuning to take it to 400bhp - still not wholly discounted it but the one I sat in was a poverty spec special and was all round tatty to boot. That and I've always preferred the A6 interior and space to A4.... and I keep seeing full fat RS4's on the road!LasseV said:
Dave, do you remember this from Mustang-news thread
I did say:
"Not a good move my friend...."
I was right, and that was maybe my first time like ever 
A lot of hp doesn't mean that car is exiting to drive, so i would change that audi away. Actually i would stay away from all models from Audi. What about that Mustang which you have thought earlier?
You did indeed sir. Maximum win for you today :PI did say:
"Not a good move my friend...."
I was right, and that was maybe my first time like ever A lot of hp doesn't mean that car is exiting to drive, so i would change that audi away. Actually i would stay away from all models from Audi. What about that Mustang which you have thought earlier?Still stand by my point that ford customer service shoukd have been better.
Anywho took a supercharged exige it today. What a car. The sakes guy took it out first with me as passenger and the way it took corners at impossible speeds was amazing, combined with ťhe engine right by your ear and the supercharger whine made for an immersive experience.
I have much now to think about. Maybe octahedral visit estate as daily and else or exige as a weekend car.... Hmmm
Either way jumping back into the RS6 felt numb after the exige even if it does do fast very quick.
Tickle said:
Chalk and cheese the RS6 and Exige, glad you enjoyed your time in the Lotus OP. I am a firm believer in the right tool for the job; a car for commuting and a car for raw driving.
Providing you have the space/storage for two and time for weekend blats its a combo that's working very well for me.
Absolutely right.Providing you have the space/storage for two and time for weekend blats its a combo that's working very well for me.
But I get bored so quickly with cars which is why I thought a go in a proper sports car might slow my purchasing down a little bit!
Chances are I'll never be satisfied and before long I'll end up at 100 cars!
Lefty said:
Dave, honestly, it's like looking in a mirror. I'm 35 and have had 44 cars since I was 21. I had a 450bhp Impreza p1 for 3 years (up until May this year) which was pretty much my ideal car (fast, practical, fun, anti-social, raw, great in all weather) but was just too unreliable for 20k+ per year. I went to the MRC RS6 which I found not "special" enough. Changed it for the v8 m3 which is a bit better (and 100% more exciting than the e46) but it's still boggo 3-series 95% of the time and actually less special than the Audi.
The s1 Elise I bought 3 weeks ago couldn't be more different! Every drive is an event. I took the day off on Friday and ragged it 300+ miles into the highlands and back, just because I wanted to. It did 320 miles on one tank of V-Power!
I'm selling my m3 and going to buy a cheap Land Cruiser so I can stick 15k into the mortgage and have something to pull my trailer.
Elise + practical 4x4 is 100% the way forward for me, you sound in a very similar situation!
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that's got an issue with buying cars and finding 'the one'! If you want the spookiness to continue, I used to live in Aberdeen and my brother worked in the oil industry up there too (I'm assuming from 'oil wThe s1 Elise I bought 3 weeks ago couldn't be more different! Every drive is an event. I took the day off on Friday and ragged it 300+ miles into the highlands and back, just because I wanted to. It did 320 miles on one tank of V-Power!
I'm selling my m3 and going to buy a cheap Land Cruiser so I can stick 15k into the mortgage and have something to pull my trailer.
Elise + practical 4x4 is 100% the way forward for me, you sound in a very similar situation!
e' & highlands that you're around that part of the world!)Aids0G said:
My approach is gtc Astra Sri cdti 160 for everyday commuting etc, old defender 90 for rough stuff and having a car I care about + 1992 Westfield 1.7 crossflow with a silly cam and big carbs for speed kicks (going about 50 hahah) I know 3 cars = 3 x insurance tax etc but it is good fun!
RS6 must be stunning above 100 where most cars tail off......
AG
Aye at higher speeds it accelerates just as it does at 50 which is almost as fast as it goes from 0! Pure comical when you pull along side someone at xx speed and boot it, very quickly the other car becomes a small speck!RS6 must be stunning above 100 where most cars tail off......
AG
daveofedinburgh said:
There is little else in the automotive world that leaves me more 'cold' than a modern Audi.
Model doesn't seem to matter, regardless of how fast/ powerful/ capable.
People talk about Jap cars lacking soul or character- that's the feeling new/ newish Audis give me. Never stepped out of any hot Audi wanting to spend more time with the thing.
Can't put my finger on exactly why, but they just don't suck me in.
Bear in mind my last Audi was a 1987 UR Quattro which had character, noise, feedback through the wheel (though I needed to polybush to achieve that) and a sense of occasion. The RS6 on paper suggested it would be an occasion too, but it can't hold a candle against the UR for occasion. I suspect you're right about all fast modern Audis. Think I'll give them a miss for a while, least until an R8 comes into budget!Model doesn't seem to matter, regardless of how fast/ powerful/ capable.
People talk about Jap cars lacking soul or character- that's the feeling new/ newish Audis give me. Never stepped out of any hot Audi wanting to spend more time with the thing.
Can't put my finger on exactly why, but they just don't suck me in.
Well there you go:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Lets see where the wheel of fortune stops next!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Lets see where the wheel of fortune stops next!
BrabusMog said:
It's a nice looking car but if I was buying an RS6 I'd want it in the lighter blue color - it looks a bit boring in navy blue. All IMHO of course, I drive a silver BMW so what would I know 
Edit - that's not a criticism.
Haha, liking the sneaky edit put in there Edit - that's not a criticism.
Edited by BrabusMog on Sunday 20th September 17:32
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