RS6 Drive.

[retired99]

Spent about 45 mins driving an RS6 yesterday courtesy of an Audi invite to an event where all ( I think) RS models were available to drive.
OK 45 mins is not a long drive, but quick impressions

On typical UK roads the ride in ‘Comfort’ (std suspension) was OK, a bit thumpy but acceptable. Became quite crashy in other settings, especially ‘Dynamic’. Given the car’s remit a good set up.

Double clutch gearbox fast and smooth most of the time, but jolts occasionally at town speeds. Not bad and more of an observation than anything I would worry about.

Steering much more precise than my Allroad, body control also miles better.

Usual A6 inert steering.

Performance is brutal, but in lower gear when accelerating hard, especially exiting a bend, the steering fights back. It feels like a front wheel car displaying torque steer. I found this quite unpleasant. I assume power is being transferred to the front wheels to maintain traction.

In day to day driving situations ( town, traffic etc) pretty much like my A6 Allroad wih a firmer ride, a good thing.

As a quick post script, went from the RS6 to a couple of hours driving a Porsch Macan Turbo. Not as fast (pretty quick though), but so much more fun. On some nice twisty roads very fast, composed, fluent, neutral handling. Much faster than me I suspect.

[chesterfield]

Its not a double clutch box in the RS6, its the 8 speed HF box torque converter. I found it can get jerky if left in sport mode (tap the stick down when in drive), and certainly in manual it will be as it will hold the gear for a long time before reverting back to auto mode.

Im surprised you found the ride harsh in comfort mode, I found it fairly soft, and actually handled bumps better than my Range Rover Sport on air. Are you sure the car had the standard suspebsion (air) or was it a DRC equiped car?

[chiefbadger]

I've just been invited to what must be the same event in Brighton next weekend. Chance to look at and test drive all the S/RS models apparently. I'm hesitant to say yes as can't imagine I'll much enjoy my current car having had a drive in an Rs6/7. Realistically, it's the new S4 that I'll be interested in so still a while away.

[retired99]

Its not a double clutch box in the RS6, its the 8 speed HF box torque converter.

Im surprised you found the ride harsh in comfort mode, I found it fairly soft, and actually handled bumps better than my Range Rover Sport on air. Are you sure the car had the standard suspebsion (air) or was it a DRC equiped car?

The chap who gave me the car said it was the standard suspension; but I must say he didn't look too sure.

Ride is quite subjective, in comfort I described it as 'thumpy'. Possibly down to the rather large looking tyres ( didn't check size). As I said it was acceptable, especially given the sporty remit for the car, and better than a BMW 535D I owned.

I stand corrected about the type of gearbox.

[zollaf]

if you want an rs6 you have to accept that the suspension will be a bit harsher than say a ford cortina. this is because they are fast, and require firm suspension in order to blow away porshe's and ferrari's.

[retired99]

I've just been invited to what must be the same event in Brighton next weekend. Chance to look at and test drive all the S/RS models apparently. I'm hesitant to say yes as can't imagine I'll much enjoy my current car having had a drive in an Rs6/7. Realistically, it's the new S4 that I'll be interested in so still a while away.

I was really interested in driving the S6 but that wasn't available.

Having driven the RS6 I have to say I don't really want one;somewhat one dimensional. Lots of power, lots of grip, not very agile and little driver involvement.

This doesn't make it a bad car it just doesn't line up very well with what I would be looking for in a sporty car.

It would be boring if we all looked for the same things in cars.

[retired99]

if you want an rs6 you have to accept that the suspension will be a bit harsher than say a ford cortina. this is because they are fast, and require firm suspension in order to blow away porshe's and ferrari's.

S6 / RS6 M5 and so on have adjustable suspension. It's possible to combine a compliant setting for a 'Driving Miss Daisy' mode of driving' with a setting for a 'Lewis Hamilton' mode.

You can have a good ride quality when you want it and a sporty drive when you want it. These things are not mutually exclusive.

[chesterfield]

if you want an rs6 you have to accept that the suspension will be a bit harsher than say a ford cortina. this is because they are fast, and require firm suspension in order to blow away porshe's and ferrari's.

On the contrary, Ive had a demo RS6 for a couple of days just the other week and this had the standard suspension for the RS6 (air). It also had the standard wheels (20 inch). The ride in comfort was better than my range rover on its squshy winter setup of 19" wheels and ballon tyres (and air suspension).

When in dynamic, the car was notably harder, but not even close to being as hard as my Ferrari F430 suspension was in its softest setting.

It is however subjective as you say. The ride in the RS6 in comfort was also softer than my wifes Ford S-Max.

[chesterfield]

I was really interested in driving the S6 but that wasn't available.

Having driven the RS6 I have to say I don't really want one;somewhat one dimensional. Lots of power, lots of grip, not very agile and little driver involvement.

This doesn't make it a bad car it just doesn't line up very well with what I would be looking for in a sporty car.

It would be boring if we all looked for the same things in cars.

Id agree with this, if it were an outright sports car requirement, then my money would be going on a Nissan GTR, Porsche GT3 maybe a used 458 or similar.

Right now I find myself to be Audis target audience for the RS6. Im a petrol head and I sold my sports car before the first child arrived, and now the second one is here, I will have almost zero time to use a 2 seater sports car. I want a sports car, but I need it to be able to cope with a daily drive routine of taking a couple of kids to nursery and off to the shops.

I could have a weekend car, but then again the weekends are spent playing with my kids and having fun as a family, not dissapearing to play with my toy car and leaving my family at home.

When my little boy & girl grow up a bit, if they start to take an interest in cars and show signs of becoming a petrol head like their old man, then Ill get a weekend car again. But thats a few years away yet.

For now though, I can take the kids to nursery/school in a safe and sedate car, then afterward find myself alone in a car that can become a monster when I want it to.

Its also 4wd and an estate, the combination of which is not available from Merc or BMW's offerings. Meaning pushchairs and wet weather present no problem. It was this process of elimination that had me ordering the car before test driving any. :biglaugh:

[chiefbadger]

Id agree with this, if it were an outright sports car requirement, then my money would be going on a Nissan GTR, Porsche GT3 maybe a used 458 or similar.

Right now I find myself to be Audis target audience for the RS6. Im a petrol head and I sold my sports car before the first child arrived, and now the second one is here, I will have almost zero time to use a 2 seater sports car. I want a sports car, but I need it to be able to cope with a daily drive routine of taking a couple of kids to nursery and off to the shops.

I could have a weekend car, but then again the weekends are spent playing with my kids and having fun as a family, not dissapearing to play with my toy car and leaving my family at home.

When my little boy & girl grow up a bit, if they start to take an interest in cars and show signs of becoming a petrol head like their old man, then Ill get a weekend car again. But thats a few years away yet.

For now though, I can take the kids to nursery/school in a safe and sedate car, then afterward find myself alone in a car that can become a monster when I want it to.

This sums it up perfectly for me. I just can't afford the RS6 and therefore will have to make the most of the a6 for the next 18-24 months and then hope finances will allow for an estate with a bit more punch.

[chesterfield]

24 months time, youll pick up an RS6 for about half price. Depreciation is not a friend of mine.

[wildbore]

... Its also 4wd and an estate, the combination of which is not available from Merc or BMW's offerings. Meaning pushchairs and wet weather present no problem. It was this process of elimination that had me ordering the car before test driving any. :biglaugh:

And the RS6 is the only performance estate with a tow bar.

[chesterfield]

Sadly if you have the DRC suspension, then you cant spec a towbar. Same if you specify the carbon fibre package (which has a rear carbon valance).

I've ordered the DRC, so cant have a towbar. Though there are people questioning this elsewhere so Im waiting to see if one can be fitted - if it can then it may be my first modification.

I did not bother with the carbon fibre package because although I like it, Audi seem to have confused the price of carbon fibre with the price of gold leaf. £4,250 for a few bits of carbon fibre. The carbon wing mirrors being another £1,500. Thats just bonkers.

[wildbore]

Hmm, thinking about the mechanics of the cross-linked dampers of DRC I am wondering just how successful a tow bar would be on an RS6 thus equipped if you loaded it with a heavy caravan. Presumably Audi didn't think it would work well or they would still offer the tow bar option even if you specified DRC.

Regardless, when I looked at an E63 before settling on the RS6 I found that not only would MB not fit a tow bar but no reputable tow-bar fitting centre would, either, simply because the car wasn't type-approved for a bar. I don't know if type-approval accommodates different options (i.e. DRC in this case, the carbon kit being merely a cosmetic barrier to fitment) but I would be interested to find out if a reputable towing centre would fit a bar to a DRC car.


You will miss out on the ESP integration, too, of course, with an aftermarket fitment (unless it can be enabled in VCDS) but then mankind spent years towing trailers without ESP assistance so maybe that won't be such an issue .

[chesterfield]

That was my thinking behind the lack of tow bar option with DRC, I can imagine it would cause all sorts of issues with the cross linking. It would be loading up the fronts by virtue of the exra weight on the rear and thats before any stuff is thrown in the luggage space.

I wouldnt be taking this car on any jaunst where I need to tow anyway, but a cycle carrier attachment would be nice. I dont like the ones that sit on the bumper and glass. Not for this car anyway. Think Ill have one fitted to the Mrs' car instead.

[Chesterfield313]

Please, please, please stop with all this talk of RS6's with tow bars and caravans, it's ruining my fantasy of one day owning one. If you want a caravan, buy a volvo, or a big Peugeot, or any other large box, but not an RS6!

An RS6 should be flying down the autoroutes to the south of france, nice hotel in Monaco, or a villa by the sea if the family is with you. It should not be parked in a muddy field next to a caravan, watching you empty the toilet out before breakfast.

[wildbore]

If it helps mollify you, mine will be towing a motorbike trailer with bike to race tracks, and in the passenger seat will be Belinda Stewart Wilson. Oh, no, hang on, it will be my wife. Maybe Belinda comes along when you own a McLaren.

[Chesterfield313]

If it helps mollify you, mine will be towing a motorbike trailer with bike to race tracks, and in the passenger seat will be Belinda Stewart Wilson. Oh, no, hang on, it will be my wife. Maybe Belinda comes along when you own a McLaren.

It only helps slightly. Next we'll have em pulling burger vans to the local B&Q car park. Motorbike trailers should have an Astra van pulling them! An RS6 is a race horse, not a shire horse, stop coupling it to things.

[chesterfield]

The RS6 is more a wolf in sheep's clothing. Its a racehorse disguised as a hippo.

When I had the fezza, everyone knew what it was. Everyone expected it to be fast and at the traffic light grand Prix boy racers just wanted to see what it would do or egg you on. It felt highly strung, like at any moment something was going to go ping, bang or pop, and that something wasnt going to be cheap. Hence the £4k per year extended warranty.

That was a racehorse, with running costs to match and you couldn't take it anywhere without people staring. I never took that car out without somebody taking pictures or giving a wave (or w*nker sign). Not a car for the shy or wallflowers.

The RS6 is very different. To the untrained eye, it is an Audi estate. While the Audi badge may still be regarded as a premium brand, its not a Ferrari badge, regardless of the fact that ironman drives an R8. Pull up at the tragic lights and the boy racers that don't know their cars wont think twice, you won't get people looking you up and down at every red light.

You will be able to drive to the local pub without drawing a crowd, you won't get a Spanish inquisition on "how many horses", "what's the fastest you've had out of it" etc.

The RS6 can blend in, it can be that unassuming car in traffic, and I can unleash it and expose its racehorse side when I want to. Its not permanently lifting its skirt and showing a bit of thigh.

I thought that part of the fun in owning an expensive car like that was the fact it showed itself off, you want people to know its an expensive motor. The typical "look at me" stuff. And while that's true, my brief time in the RS6 has confirmed my thoughts that there is more fun to be had in a relative "Q" car. Winning a traffic light grand Prix in a Ferrari is not surprising to many, and a bit of a hollow "victory" if there is such a thing in those brief childish sprints. Doing it in a car that is unsuspecting, raises much more of a smile. And you aren't tarred with the "w*nker" brush.

[zollaf]

which is exactly why i love my s4 avant so much. to most it is just an old estate car.

[Chesterfield313]

Dream on in the RS6, I even get questioned about my diesel and get it looked at and admired. The look of exhausts alone on the RS6 mean it's not the q car of your dreams, plus quite a bit of body styling to give it away. First couple I saw I thought, wow, that looks great. And I wasn't looking for them, I was in my xf then and not even thinking about audi's.

It's only a q car when someone doesn't look directly at it, the rest of the time you've had it.

The only thing I'll concede is that it's less conspicuous than a red ferrari, but what isn't?

[Allroad_2013]

If that large, pointy finger in the sky, was directed at me, I'd definitely have an RS6 (with many, many, possibly ALL options selected) as an everyday car along with a Range Rover :D

[wja96]

I think given the option most of us would have the RS6 with our choice of options.

i am, on balance, extremely satisfied with my allroad as a near-perfect load-lugging q-car.

i happened across a review of the Audi S3 and new Subaru Impreza WRX and I was very surprised to see that my 313PS allroad was a match for them (in a straight line at least). I very much doubt that anyone would look twice at my jacked up allroad on it's 18" wheels and they're definitely not thinking that's a FAST car.

And I like that a lot:)

I'd still have the RS6 though;)

[Splash]

which is exactly why i love my s4 avant so much. to most it is just an old estate car.and also why the cogniscenti keep a Fabia vRS PD130 in their stable...

1995 RS Blue RS2 (bought for my dogs)
2001 Nogaro Blue RS4 (bought for me, wife and dogs) '98 R33 Skyline GTR V-Spec UK car sold due to lateral G making first-born prone to vomiting (allroad for dogs).
2005? Sprint Blue RS6plus (bought for me, wife, dogs and now 2 kids)

and now I'm a diesel and possibly hybrid convert; and occasional motorbike tower.

Weirdly the Fabia remains one of my favourites, and nobody wanted to touch it...

[wja96]

and also why the cogniscenti keep a Fabia vRS PD130 in their stable...

Are you on Briskoda?

[Splash]

Are you on Briskoda?
bestimmt

[wja96]

bestimmt

Leider, Ich spreche nuer ein bischen Deutsch, aber es ist immer gut zu ueben, nicht wahr?

lol!

[razor77]

1995 RS Blue RS2 (bought for my dogs)
2001 Nogaro Blue RS4 (bought for me, wife and dogs) '98 R33 Skyline GTR V-Spec UK car sold due to lateral G making first-born prone to vomiting (allroad for dogs).
2005? Sprint Blue RS6plus (bought for me, wife, dogs and now 2 kids)

Wow your dogs drove the RS2 :-). One on pedals, the other steering and gears?

[Splash]

Wow your dogs drove the RS2 :-). One on pedals, the other steering and gears?
Yeah. The dachshund I inherited worked the pedals and in fact invented DRLs because he thought it was always dark! Didn't have as far to roll in heavy braking compared to the spacious (to him) boot.

Did contemplate taking my other dog to Vmax as representative of the breed - estates that is....

Only clocked 168 in the RS6 anyway so he would have had a mardy....