RE: Audi RS6 Avant (C7) | PH Private Area
RE: Audi RS6 Avant (C7) | PH Private Area
Today

Audi RS6 Avant (C7) | PH Private Area

The fast estate par excellence - just ask one Mr C. Harris


Given how the old C8 bowed out (the almighty GT) and how the current RS5 has introduced the idea of hybrid Audi Sport wagons, hopes will be reasonably high for the upcoming RS6. It might end up weighing three tonnes, measuring three metres across and making 800hp, but on a road that can contain it there’s every reason to think it’ll be very good to drive. 

It wasn’t always the case, of course. The first RS6’s were epic ground coverers, but rather blunt to steer. The V10 in particular was peak fast Audi of the bad old days: a spectacular engine of never-ending power, but little in the way of finesse. That all changed with the C7: a V8 returned (and with it a more exciting sound), and the smaller engine and new chassis tech made it corner more keenly, and less power didn’t matter because there was a little bit less weight as well. Just as fast, just as suited to a skiing holiday, now rather more enjoyable on those rare solo journeys. 

Which Audi was to be commended for, but it was the C7’s design that really won the people over. If anything, the C6 was a bit too subtle for its own good, while the C8 was probably overdone. The C7, which may have once looked overly aggressive, now looks just the right amount of menacing. With all of that combined, the RS6 proved very popular: there wasn’t an M5 Touring, and there wasn’t an AWD E63 for the first few years of the RS6’s life, so anyone who needed their estate fast, fun and four-wheel drive only had one choice. Good job it was great, then. 

So there are plenty around secondhand, including the later Performance version that took power beyond 600hp. They’ve retained value pretty well, too, with £25k the entry point - certainly not always guaranteed with a fast Audi. On the face of it, this one looks like many other Nardo Grey C7 RS6s, nicely optioned and with very few owners from new. But there’s some additional intrigue here, as the first owner was Audi UK, and the original specification was chosen by Chris Harris. 

You can see the original story here, grainy pics and all, where the £20,000 of options was explained by Chris (and hotly debated in the comments). He drove the car for a few months before it was returned to Audi UK; the next owner had it for 10 years, and the current owner has kept it for the past couple. All those options chosen back at the end of 2013 must make for one of the most highly specced RS6s out there, with the ceramic brakes, forged wheels, sports exhaust and B&O sound.

In the tens of thousands of miles since this RS6 was last seen on PH, all its services bar one have been with Audi, and a fresh set of Pirellis went on earlier in 2026 (not a small bill on 21s). It’s standard and said to have been ‘fastidiously’ maintained. Given it looks as good as it did a dozen years ago, that seems hard to argue with. And now the asking price isn’t a huge amount more than the original cost of those options - probably £100,000 less than a new one, too…


See the original advert

Author
Discussion

BikeSausage

Original Poster:

745 posts

98 months

With the possible exception of the colour, what a lovely car. They got a bit too blingy and muscle bound after this, for my tastes.

I had one of these. Loved it.

Billy_Whizzzz

2,643 posts

173 months

BikeSausage said:
With the possible exception of the colour, what a lovely car. They got a bit too blingy and muscle bound after this, for my tastes.

I had one of these. Loved it.
Conversely I love the colour

steveb8188

42 posts

10 months

I've often wondered how Mr Harris treats his cars. I imagine it's a bit like me. 99% of the time total mechanical sympathy but then the other 1% probably accounts for quite a lot of the wear and tear.

I'd love one of these but IMHO the colour really hasn't aged well. I didn't mind it when it was first released despite all the "you forgot to paint it" and "nice undercoat" comments but now I'm not a massive fan.

TechnoKnows

80 posts

20 months

I've always really liked these, have no need for one and it's the one car that makes me instantly think that your patio door locks are going to get melted off....

whp1983

1,397 posts

169 months

Perfect…. I’d take it debadged, dark blue, clear glass and silver wheels

Tim Cognito

1,228 posts

37 months

I like the premise, but looking at the photos all I can think is how harsh the ride will be on our roads with the size of those tyres.

badgerracing

153 posts

259 months

I’ve got one of these as my daily driver - brilliant thing. Can’t recommend it enough. Big, fast and surprisingly economical on a long run.
I did have to do some previous owner’s modifications and made some of my own of course.
Audi RS6 (C7) upgrades & improvements

Slowlygettingit

947 posts

71 months

Like the car, dislike the colour immensely.
I could see me running one of these if I changed jobs bad only did a few 1000 miles a year although mixed stories on reliability are a bit scary.


Edited by Slowlygettingit on Sunday 25th October 08:32

Johnspex

5,276 posts

214 months

I'm surprised anyone likes that colour.
I thought that cars were onmy bought in that shade at a huge discount otherwise nobody would want one.
Ni e car apart from that.

nismo48

7,165 posts

237 months

Great car, just needs the paint finishing off... wink

Keith-9fc7j

213 posts

11 months

Johnspex said:
I'm surprised anyone likes that colour.
I thought that cars were onmy bought in that shade at a huge discount otherwise nobody would want one.
Ni e car apart from that.
I dont have the facts but whilst Nardo Grey isnt popular with us oldies on PH, Id wager a decent amount of money that in the UK at least,they sold the most in this colour. They were everywhere in my experience. If someone mentions this shape RS6, I immediately picture this colour, the same way I picture Rosso Corsa for a Ferrari

Dombilano

1,460 posts

85 months