RE: Audi RS6 Avant: Spotted
Sunday 17th December 2017
When thinking of fast estates you can't help but picture the blistered arches, fat alloy wheels and honeycomb grill of an Audi RS product. Audi is one of the few manufacturers that has stuck to providing performance car junkies with their high-power hit, just in a more practical package. Think about it, the RS3 is a five-door hatch. The current RS4 is an estate, and so to is this, the RS6 Avant.
It must have been a question of prestige as to why Audi really went for this market. It's not an area which will lead to massive fleet sales: it's simply because both the E39 BMW 5 Series and W210 Mercedes E-Class had supercar-baiting offerings in the M5 and E55 AMG. "So how do we out do our rivals?" Audi must have asked themselves. "Let's give it not one, but two turbochargers and vanquish that naturally aspirated Merc. Oh, and we'll make sure it has more power than the M5 with its 'sophisticated engine management system'. And let's give it four-wheel drive to make it more usable in real world conditions than both of them."
It's easy to see why the whole fast Audi thing caught on. 450hp was considerably more than BMW or Mercedes offered, yet quattro made it accessible. However, while you may be going a hell of a lot faster, though the tyres do lose grip, the RS6 isn't the last word in driver involvement. The heavy steering makes it feel a bit leaden against the M5. The ride is a bit crashy, and Audi hadn't done anything to the spring or damper rates when turning the RS6 saloon into an estate, despite the additional weight penalty.
Audi RS6 Avant: Spotted
0-62 in 4.7 seconds and 450hp sounds like the recipe for a supercar. This one just happens to have space for a wardrobe.
When the RS6 came out, there were reams and reams of editorial produced that babbled on about the car's straight line speed. With the inevitable comparison being made regarding how this estate could out drag an old Ferrari (the Testarossa coming in for a bit of a kicking). Which it could still do even whilst carrying a builders ladder, for example.
Mind you, this one might be a little better than standard, since the owner seems to have thrown the kitchen sink at their car. Not only has it had the cambelt, waterpump and thermostat changed; its had a gearbox replacement, work done to the cooling system, and the suspension has had a refresh. The car also has four matching Michelin Pilot Sport tyres fitted to it - an important safety consideration when driving any four-wheel drive car.
So, returning to the original point of the Audi RS6 being the go to fast estate. Even though it isn't a car for an autocross, it is the right sort of car for any across country (or even continent) trip. When you need to get somewhere fast and you need to take, say, your dogs as well, then the RS6 Avant could be the car for you. Just bear in mind that the cornering forces the car can achieve, combined with its rock-solid ride, are the perfect cocktail for spreading previously digested pedigree chum all over the boot floor.
SPECIFICATION - AUDI RS6 AVANT
Engine: 4,172cc, V8 twin-turbo
Transmission: five-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 450@5,700-6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 413@1,950-5,600rpm
MPG: 19.3
CO2: 350g/km
First registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 88,000miles
Price new: £58,800
Yours for: £10,500
See the original ad here.
Max Adams
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Discussion
I love my one.
Lots of high end modern cars have shocking repair bills once they're out of warranty (body off to do a turbo on a range rover, for example).
The difference with the old RS6 is that all the issues and resolutions are well documented now and there's a good owners community with all the tips and tricks to look after them. The biggest single job - doing the gearbox - isn't actually "that" big a deal. If you've got an engine crane and a garage, it's a couple of weekends work and I think there's even a chap that'll fixed price it all for you - and he doesn't need to take the motor out. Actual cost of getting a rebuilt gearbox is circa 1800 quid. So not so bad really!
Moreover, all the good ones have all the jobs already done, now, and are on a much more frequent gearbox maintenance. With a stage 1 remap on the ECU & TCU, 3.9s 0-60mph is on the cards. While there is faster accelerating stuff around - the magic is that you can out drag everyone without having to even pause eating a pack of crisps.
So if you buy one with your eyes open, IMVHO, they're a good bet. I bought mine for the factory spec it had (black with black alcantara interior & ali trim with sports wheel) - knowing it needed the standard jobs doing. Now all done - and it's awesome.
Lots of high end modern cars have shocking repair bills once they're out of warranty (body off to do a turbo on a range rover, for example).
The difference with the old RS6 is that all the issues and resolutions are well documented now and there's a good owners community with all the tips and tricks to look after them. The biggest single job - doing the gearbox - isn't actually "that" big a deal. If you've got an engine crane and a garage, it's a couple of weekends work and I think there's even a chap that'll fixed price it all for you - and he doesn't need to take the motor out. Actual cost of getting a rebuilt gearbox is circa 1800 quid. So not so bad really!
Moreover, all the good ones have all the jobs already done, now, and are on a much more frequent gearbox maintenance. With a stage 1 remap on the ECU & TCU, 3.9s 0-60mph is on the cards. While there is faster accelerating stuff around - the magic is that you can out drag everyone without having to even pause eating a pack of crisps.
So if you buy one with your eyes open, IMVHO, they're a good bet. I bought mine for the factory spec it had (black with black alcantara interior & ali trim with sports wheel) - knowing it needed the standard jobs doing. Now all done - and it's awesome.
It's not really 10K for a gearbox, nor is it 10K for a set dampers, any more. A set of Konis is 600 quid and a day's labour. A gearbox is 1800 quid and about 3 days labour at a garage. (The core gear box, in both 2wd and 4wd versions is used in something like 20 different cars....)
That's the difference between "then" and "now" - the right way to do everything is well documented and it doesn't involve a single trip to an Audi main dealer. And the good cars have already had all the hard stuff done.
I wouldn't ever let a main dealer near mine - I'm sure they'd enjoy charging me 10K and still messing it up.
That's the difference between "then" and "now" - the right way to do everything is well documented and it doesn't involve a single trip to an Audi main dealer. And the good cars have already had all the hard stuff done.
I wouldn't ever let a main dealer near mine - I'm sure they'd enjoy charging me 10K and still messing it up.
Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Sunday 17th December 18:23
Love that. Wish I could buy it for Christmas 😄
Couldn’t afford to fuel it though with my current silly mileage 😞
Here goes head above the parapet time . So, instead, I’m running an A6 Avant 3.0 Tdi. Remapped to 310hp 0-60 just over 5 secs. Slower, heavier, but near 50mpg
It’s a monster in straight line and comfier with 18’s on a fatter tyres instead of the original 19’s.
Good luck with the V10 they’re apparently awesome 😎
Couldn’t afford to fuel it though with my current silly mileage 😞
Here goes head above the parapet time . So, instead, I’m running an A6 Avant 3.0 Tdi. Remapped to 310hp 0-60 just over 5 secs. Slower, heavier, but near 50mpg
It’s a monster in straight line and comfier with 18’s on a fatter tyres instead of the original 19’s.
Good luck with the V10 they’re apparently awesome 😎
I looked at these before buying my S8, the only thing that put me off was the somewhat dated styling (I still think it’s a handsome car but I see too many old A6 estates knockin about locally)
It certainly wasn’t running costs that put me off, I know you can slap a good set of KWs on and a rebuilt gearbox for 2K. (By comparison lambda sensors are an engine out job on the S8! Alternators cost £2K)
Still, I know a lot of people with C5 RS6s and they all love them. The go like the clappers...
From what I hear Grizz at Unit 20 is the man too, good choice
It certainly wasn’t running costs that put me off, I know you can slap a good set of KWs on and a rebuilt gearbox for 2K. (By comparison lambda sensors are an engine out job on the S8! Alternators cost £2K)
Still, I know a lot of people with C5 RS6s and they all love them. The go like the clappers...
From what I hear Grizz at Unit 20 is the man too, good choice
Edited by 1781cc on Sunday 17th December 20:21
The readers car thread on my C5 RS6 is somewhat dull as despite buying at the bottom of the market, it has on the whole been a very reliable machine. Running costs according to my up to date blog is £160 a month. What would that get me on a PCP or lease?
A set of KONI shocks to replace the woeful coilovers that in turn replaced the great but unreliable DRC system and the car rides fine. I'm even squeezing a real life 22mpg from the thing which is remarkable to me.
As to the comment about the car being agricultural, I'd suggest a read up of the Cosworth developed 40valve twin turbo engine may change your mind. The engine is a peach seriously pegged back by the gearbox tech of the time. It sounds fantastic even standard and is still more than capable of holding its own against modern machinery
I was thinking of a change to a C6, but never really appealed as much as the C5, also the C6 is more than capable at the age it is of throwing up huge bills.
A set of KONI shocks to replace the woeful coilovers that in turn replaced the great but unreliable DRC system and the car rides fine. I'm even squeezing a real life 22mpg from the thing which is remarkable to me.
As to the comment about the car being agricultural, I'd suggest a read up of the Cosworth developed 40valve twin turbo engine may change your mind. The engine is a peach seriously pegged back by the gearbox tech of the time. It sounds fantastic even standard and is still more than capable of holding its own against modern machinery
I was thinking of a change to a C6, but never really appealed as much as the C5, also the C6 is more than capable at the age it is of throwing up huge bills.
Remember this engine went into the Gunpet Apollo, and was used in the North American Racing series in an RS6. It is the sole RS6 engine that has been used for racing.
They are not a cheap car to run and I was always worried about something potentially going wrong which detracted from the experience.
It was shockingly fast - more so than the 0-100mph in 11 seconds indicate.
I’m so glad I owned one for a year. A car I always wanted - race engine - Lauer cake (mine was identical to that one) noise power and yes truest crap sat Nav and a TV function which wouldn’t work as it’s analogue.
They are not a cheap car to run and I was always worried about something potentially going wrong which detracted from the experience.
It was shockingly fast - more so than the 0-100mph in 11 seconds indicate.
I’m so glad I owned one for a year. A car I always wanted - race engine - Lauer cake (mine was identical to that one) noise power and yes truest crap sat Nav and a TV function which wouldn’t work as it’s analogue.
t/tree gunk and there are a couple of kids seats in the back
If you're going to get an older RS6, this has to be the one. That list of preventative maintenance, together with the work done at RS specialists Unit 20 should give you plenty of years' service with nothing more than routine servicing and consumables (brakes, tyres etc.)
The guy who's had this has taken the maintenance very seriously - I think you'd look long and hard to find one 13 years old which has been looked after better. At this age, a lot have had maintenance skimped and are on sale because something big and expensive is looming.
if I were looking for one of these I'd be on the phone to him in fairly short order! If I had the money......
The guy who's had this has taken the maintenance very seriously - I think you'd look long and hard to find one 13 years old which has been looked after better. At this age, a lot have had maintenance skimped and are on sale because something big and expensive is looming.
if I were looking for one of these I'd be on the phone to him in fairly short order! If I had the money......
Arnold Cunningham said:
It's not really 10K for a gearbox, nor is it 10K for a set dampers, any more. A set of Konis is 600 quid and a day's labour. A gearbox is 1800 quid and about 3 days labour at a garage. (The core gear box, in both 2wd and 4wd versions is used in something like 20 different cars....)
That's the difference between "then" and "now" - the right way to do everything is well documented and it doesn't involve a single trip to an Audi main dealer. And the good cars have already had all the hard stuff done.
I wouldn't ever let a main dealer near mine - I'm sure they'd enjoy charging me 10K and still messing it up.
"Set of Konis for £600" yeah Ok. That's the difference between "then" and "now" - the right way to do everything is well documented and it doesn't involve a single trip to an Audi main dealer. And the good cars have already had all the hard stuff done.
I wouldn't ever let a main dealer near mine - I'm sure they'd enjoy charging me 10K and still messing it up.
You should be spending £1500 + 4-6 hours (depending on how rusty/seized things are when you get into it. These are not new cars anymore) Labour on some coilovers from H&R or Bilstein before some cheap Konis!
Gearbox. Well what can I say! £10K is for a brand new one. Sure a dealer is unlikely to want to rebuild it. So I would say go to a Auto specialist. Who told you the "core gearbox is the same"
I've fitted a few cambelts to these over the years. It's not a cheap job, but it's not difficult. Labour is 4-5 hours from memory. That was at a dealer obviously. I wouldn't just blanket assume everyone at a dealer would mess it up.
TBH I appreciate the cars, charismatic engine and discreet. But they aren't brilliant. Never feel electric. Cruisers.
And the V10 one is even more of an Autobahn smasher rather than B Road tool
Rich_W said:
Gearbox. Well what can I say! £10K is for a brand new one.
Mackies in Glasgow are the only "A" rated ZF agent in the UK and charge around £3.5k for a fully refurbished box, fully fitted with a 100k mile guarantee 
would never dream of taking either of my Audis anywhere near a main dealer
Edited by briang9 on Sunday 17th December 23:28
briang9 said:
Rich_W said:
Gearbox. Well what can I say! £10K is for a brand new one.
Mackies in Glasgow are the only "A" rated ZF agent in the UK and charge around £3.5k for a fully refurbished box, fully fitted with a 100k mile guarantee would never dream of taking either of my Audis anywhere near a main dealer
(I guess it might be a bit less than 10, with hindsight, but not 3,5 ) I daresay they haven't got many left eitherAs I say dealers are hit n miss in terms of who you get. I know very good techs and some fairly shonky ones at Audi dealers. Hypothetically if I had ANY S/RS or R product I know who I'd get to work on them. But it's 1, maybe 2 guys at that 1 dealer which has a workshop staff of 10. So the odds are against you.(Id specify them by name at drop off)
The main problem is that IME dealers have high turnover of staff. And often let good people go instead of giving them a payrise of a grand or 2 to keep them sweet. Then they assume they can get someone else in for less money and they will do the same quality of work...
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