Audi RS6 Avant (C5) | Spotted
If the RS6 isn't a classic already, it's well on the way - here's one of the best
Given its reputation nowadays, it can be easy to forget what a bolt from the blue the original Audi RS6 was. Because although the RS2 and first RS4 had shown Audi could make small, fast, desirable small estates, it had been reluctant, seemingly, to upsize the formula. There had been S6s for a while, but they were as memorable as last Tuesday's lunch. It was more than eight years from RS2 reveal to RS6 debut - handy, then, that it was absolutely worth the wait.
Because the RS6 shown to the world at the end of 2002 really was like nothing else. That was quite hard to believe just a few years later, leave alone now, but it really was unique. Germany dominated the world of supersaloons and yet Audi was the one to really tap into the desire for estate equivalents. At the start of the 2000s both AMG and Alpina wagons were woefully underpowered against the 450hp, twin-turbo RS6, BMW didn't make an M5 Touring and even the most potent of SUVs - cars like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo - could only match the RS6. While weighing a lot more. And looking a lot worse.
No wonder the market demand for extremely practical and powerful estate cars took hold once this car had launched; the E-Class that came next had another 120hp and BMW resurrected the M5 Touring within three years of the RS6's debut. It's hard to imagine either making those moves without the Audi's arrival.
The RS6's significance and success, aided by its timeless good looks and a role in that Daniel Craig film, has been nudging it towards classic status for a while. Interestingly, however, it hasn't become revered for offering what we can no longer have, as so many classics do. Rather it proves what a brilliant idea a searingly potent A6 estate was, and remains. The original used a V8 with two turbos, Quattro four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox; the current RS6, and the generation before that, used a V8 with two turbos, Quattro four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. There aren't many cars with such consistency in their layouts, even if AMG runs it close. But Audi proved the validity of four-wheel drive in the concept, a point now proven by xDrive BMWs and 4Matic+ Benzes. Perhaps two-wheel drive best suited some of the saloons, but four driven wheels was the ideal match for the wagons.
The original RS6 hasn't exactly been trouble free as a used proposition - fast, heavy, complex cars seldom are - but this one looks better than most. Largely because whoever bought it last year spend more than £4,000 on it, or little short of a quarter of what's now being asked; work "in recent years" (so not necessarily in the past 12 months) has included new Bilstein B16 suspension (meaning no DRC problems), a cambelt change and a gearbox rebuild. Anyone eyeing up an RS6 of this vintage should enter into ownership with a healthy contingency fund, but it's nice to know those jobs shouldn't need attention for a while let. A pretty thorough service history is reassuring, too. A stage two remap isn't ideal for those after originality - the car is pitched as "collector quality", after all - but the suspension deviates from the standard spec already. And you wouldn't be the first tempted by an even faster RS6...
This one is for sale at £18,950. That's twice the cost of last year's Brave Pill and beyond even the upper threshold when the RS6 was indoctrinated to the Heroes Hall of Fame back in 2014. It isn't even the maximum for this generation - one of the limited edition Plus models is on offer at £21,000 with 50 per cent more miles. The RS6 has clearly appreciated, then, and may well go further still as the RS brand evolves. This time around, it would be easy to understand why.
SPECIFICATION | AUDI RS6 (C5)
Engine: 4,172cc, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 5-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 450@5,700-6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 413@1,950-5,600rpm
MPG: 19.3
CO2: 350g/km
Recorded mileage: 68,000
Year registered: 2003
Price new: £62,672
Yours for: £18,950
And the fire in your eyes keeps me alive,
I'm sure in her you'll find sanctuary,
I'm sure in her you'll find sanctuary”
Great car. Great song.
Driving the Plus version of one of these was an all time driving moment for me. Thing sounded like a Stuka at full throttle. Wonderful.
PS: The Cult’s “She sell sanctuary” is amazing
And the fire in your eyes keeps me alive,
I'm sure in her you'll find sanctuary,
I'm sure in her you'll find sanctuary”
Great car. Great song.
Driving the Plus version of one of these was an all time driving moment for me. Thing sounded like a Stuka at full throttle. Wonderful.
king slap”.Iconic film that made an icon out of the RS6-I really can’t think of a more appropriate car!
It’s a satisfying car to drive, rather than ‘fun’ - but then that suits what the car is for.
I’m not a big Audi fan but when I drove it for Modern Classics it was much more interesting than I thought it would be, even under the speed limit.
I was so happy to see the back of it.
He absolutely adored it but you could see the weight lifted off his shoulders when he sold it.
Still, an amazing piece of kit today; astounding when it was launched
I had my C5 for a couple of years... every bill was at least £1500... for anything it seemed.. apart from the gearbox of course.. and that needed rebuilt 3 times.
First rebuild was just before I bought it.. the "specialist Audi unit" was less than impressive.... so I refused their "help" to fix their mistakes and took it to my local auto gear box specialist (who I had used for years)... they used cheaper parts to "help me out" and "speed up the rebuild" without my agreement which promptly exploded on the outside lane of the M6 during rush hour.. they fixed it correctly free of charge, but have lost all future business from me.
I sold the car soon after that as I couldn't trust it...as well as them...Still glad I spent some time with it though...
Ultimately.... my S8, which was 100% reliable.. did 99.9% of what the RS6 could do..in more comfort/less drama at almost a third of the cost to run.
When they were launched, 450bhp from an estate car was insane and unparalleled at the time! And they looked so purposeful.
Arguably the last of the exclusive RS models launched late in the life cycle of the base model.
The Recaro seats and alcantara headlining made the car feeel pretty special inside, with a solid feeling to the switchgear etc.
A lovely carbon fibre plenum on the engine.
Just quite a few touches that made it feel special as an ownership prospect.
The engine was amazing and sounded great, will never forget how it kicked down and took off when re engaging the cruise control, or doing 140mph plus with 5 guys and luggage on the Le Mans circuit just after the race
Not the sharpest but it had feel good factor in spades.
But definitely ruinously expensive to run and maintain.
Water got into our one and soaked all of the ecu’s in the floor, and it also was found to be hugely down on power thanks to multiple boost leaks, and yes the DRC suspension went wrong
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