RE: Audi Sport unveils all-new 600hp RS6 Avant

[eddharris]

kars said:

If I had the money, I wouldn't buy a car witch doesn't have a RWD (or rwd option*), It's a deal breaker for me.

I wouldn't buy a car witch either, she'd annoy the st out of me as a passenger and I'm allergic to cats.

However, I love this Audi. I'm glad this giant, heavy, all weather estate car is AWD.

Edited by eddharris on Thursday 22 August 00:08

[Adz94]

Soon to be seen with an illegally spaced plate I imagine

[mat205125]

Dale487 said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

Oz83 said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

the lack of defuser means they can offer a tow bar for the first time

Earlier this year when I was doing some man maths I found several RS6 with factory tow bars fitted. There is simply a cut out in the diffuser like on the Allroad models.

that's surprising as RS models are not normally regulation approved for tow bars so its not normally an option

Henry Catchpole stated the old air suspension models, but not the sports suspension, could have a tow bar - both have the ability for a tow bar now.

That's really a positive step forward, if the car is officially available with a tow bar.

Aside from the savage fuel costs, that is the ultimate tow car for your track day toy

[67Dino]

Ali_T said:

Lord Vader, your taxi has arrived.

[Vee12V]

Looks great to me. And I don't even particularly like Audis.

[Court_S]

cerb4.5lee said:

I can't afford one either and even if I could I don't think that I'd be able to afford to fuel it as a daily. I heard one start up the other day(I was a tad disappointed at how quiet it was though), and I just love the shape and how fast they are in such a practical body.

If a new car, I’m guessing the PPF can be blamed for that. It’s made the RS3 rather muted.

All of these super saloons / estates are rather pointless given how bloody fast they are these days but they’re still cool as a halo product. I can’t afford one, but an RS6 estate is kind of the ultimate fast family, dog, bike etc lugger. Rather one of these than a performance SUV.

[Court_S]

Kubevoid said:

Wow... well over two tons now. Loads of tacky tat glued on. Yet lots of praise here. I guess Audi know their market!

I prefer old school Audi, where the fast versions merely had a small badge.

Whatever next. Maybe three ton cars with 1000bhp. Something to look forward to

Not really surprising though is it? The V10 was a bit of a porker and since then there’ll be more gadgets, PPF etc.

[Dave Hedgehog]

thesmurfs said:

Onehp said:

RS sports suspension sounds interesting, similar tech to what McLaren has on the 720s

Pretty sure it's just magnetic ride, where the oil is magnetised with an electric current to stiffen the ride.

the jurnos say no, its an oil based system which changes the amount of oil to adapt to the road conditions, lean into bends etc

its also got 4 wheel steering as an option

catchpoles vid is the best one i have seen so far

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqcYlCQaTHI

[Robert-nszl1]

I am lucky enough to have spent the summer driving around Europe in my 997, GT4, and Cayenne and I can say they all fulfilled their briefs with aplomb. My Cayenne is a recently acquired year old S, and I looked at the RS6 and other fast estates as well as SUVs before deciding on the Porsche.

The first thing I'd say is all these 2 tonne plus rocket ships are amazing things. They are fast, comfortable, and can carry huge amounts of kit and people. They are all too big (as in wide), and heavy to be in any way thought of as sports cars on European roads, and while the SUVs also have the centre of gravity in the wrong place, modern suspension does a great job at containing the more obvious excesses of this. But forget the idea of nimble, even when looking at the lower estate buses, these are super fast mile munchers, that can carry 5 (in my case) people and their luggage in comfort over long distances without breaking a sweat. And we mustn't forget they are the last of a breed as pure ICE cars are nearing extinction, being replaced by what seem to be even heavier behemoths....yes the previous poster's 3 tonne/ 1000 bhp car can't be far away.

So why choose the Porsche? Well as you can see, I'm a Porsche fan, and while I really wanted a Panamera Turismo, the rear seat configuration still isn't great for 3 in the back for any distance. The Mercedes AMG offerings, in both wagon and SUV form are really impressive, and drive well, but I just couldn't buy the looks especially of the E wagon, even though it has the best engine (in my view). But it was a close run thing, and I'm sure I'd be just as happy had I gone for the E63 estate. Bad historic experiences with BMW dealers (and coming from a 5 series estate and wanting something different) put them out of the running straight away, and I was treated with such contempt in the Range Rover dealer, I'm amazed they sell any vehicles at all!

Skirting around Jaguar (are any of their products even close to best in class?), Maserati (seem very expensive for what you get), Alfa Romeo (I still want a Giulia, but wish they did a wagon), left the RS6. I really wanted to like it, as a couple of friends have owned them, and have generally enjoyed the experience. I am off course referring to the previous version but in a nutshell I just hated the interior, especially the seats (which don't look like they have really changed on this new version). The car I drove was about 18 months old, and the leather looked like Prius minicab quality, just awful. Maybe the car I drove hadn't been well cared for and other owners may dispute this, but I was shocked at how poor they looked. Indeed the interior in general was not really to my taste, recognising one man's bling is another man's luxury. It also seemed a bit claustrophobic in the rear, which is odd given it's a big car. Not a feeling my (co tester) daughter felt about the Mercs or Cayenne.

The whole experience (Range Rover aside) of choosing was such fun, there should be more on here about what makes people actually go for a particular car. My comments will no doubt be criticised for not being nearly driver focussed enough, but I already have other cars for that. Dealerships matter (I generally find Porsche pretty good), and it can be the smallest thing that puts you off a car (for me the 'cheap' RS6 seats) - indeed maybe there should be a thread on what are the smallest things that have put people off buying a car. But I'm delighted with the Cayenne, it really is a great piece of engineering. And while I don't drive hundreds of miles a week, I couldn't have done what I did in a pure EV, so for me these 'polluting' luxuries will be around for a while longer.....

[MDMA .]

Meridius said:

Front and rear bumpers look daft, like some aftermarket tuner stick-ons

Front end looks like a new Civic Type R.

[Amanitin]

neil1jnr said:

It's all about having reserves of power, it's there when required. Although personally I fail to see how you CAN'T use 600bhp daily in a heavy car with 4WD.

I imagine very few people in the world do delimited top speed runs on a daily basis

[C.MW]

One of the things that defined the original RS2 was its subtlety which this car totally lacks. Isn't the whole point of driving a fast estate is to be a wolf in a sheep's clothing?

[silentbrown]

Amanitin said:

neil1jnr said:

It's all about having reserves of power, it's there when required. Although personally I fail to see how you CAN'T use 600bhp daily in a heavy car with 4WD.

I imagine very few people in the world do delimited top speed runs on a daily basis

You don't need to be at top speed to use all the BHP, but you do have to be near the top of the rev range, because that's how BHP works. So in the UK you can legally use all 600 bhp in only first and second, unless the gearing's very strange. Which is bit of a dickish way to drive...

It's odd: I complain that even with "just" 330bhp in my S4, there's few opportunities to really wring it's neck for more than a few seconds. Yet the prospect of a diesel S4 with similar power and oodles more usable torque seems totally unappealing to me. I guess I'm going to have to drive one and see.

[FlukePlay]

Gorgeous, even with Dijon Mustard coloured seats.

[Hackney]

• buys lottery ticket*

[Baldchap]

Funny how comments are either:

I loved my RS

OR

I don't like these/they're unnecessary and I have no firsthand experience beyond reading road tests.

I wonder which group is right?

[Yellowcab]

Smacko said:

Agreed, owed many a fast car. The Nardo Grey RS6 Performance is still the best car I’ve ever owned. Incredible.

Same here, loved mine. Sold
It last September so this new one is going to be my next car

[RSbandit]

Pretty standard on PH alot of armchair know-it-alls with no first hand experience of the car in question ...loved my RS would he tempted to have the new one in a couple of yrs

[thelostboy]

RSbandit said:

Pretty standard on PH alot of armchair know-it-alls with no first hand experience of the car in question ...loved my RS would he tempted to have the new one in a couple of yrs

Exactly.

The RS6 is a great example of flexible, any gear performance which is actually perfectly usable. It also creates overtaking opportunities that you cannot contemplate doing in a regular car. I found plenty of opportunities to stretch mine's legs.

That's not meant to be condescending (I drove to work in my Smart car today), but driving truly is believing.

[Yellowcab]

With black pack looks a lot better