Hello,
Here are some pictures of the new RS6 in green on the track. Unfortunately I didn't take that many pictures. The weather was crap and I was coming back in two days to do some more RS6 on track. However the when I did go back yesterday the weather was perfect although my camera batteries were not :-( doh! I forgot to charge the camera. Anyhow a few pictures of the day I didn't drive :-).
However when I drove yesterday I must say I was a bit disappointed with the car. Don't get me wrong it's a great car but some how the equation doesn't really add up for me. On the track one notices that the car is a heavy beast. Go into a corner to fast and there is definite under steer and you really feel the weight of the car. It's fast but it's defiantly not a track car. The one I drove wasn't equipped with ceramics but it really needed them. The breaks were smoking hot after but a few laps.
Also the car is fast yet somehow the sense of speed is lost due to all the "comfort extras". It did not feel significantly faster than my RS4. Even on the straights. The gear box is great but I prefer manual. That however is pure taste. Otherwise the car looks superb. The comfort level is top notch and the technology is all there (as in all the stuff you need).
However what I mean when I say it doesn't add up for me is the price really and what I fear will be some killer depreciation. Buying one here in Latvia is pretty much accepting that you won't be selling it any time soon for anything other than an insultingly low price. The market here is simply way too small. Also considering that Audi here sold something like 3 RS4's I think it they get one RS6 sold I'll be surprised. Also consider things such as the current economic lookout and the rising price of petrol I think this car is a hard sell. At 150K EUR with all the extras I rather keep the RS4 as a family car and buy me a V10 R8 next year if it's out then.
So for me this test drive was important. It eliminated the RS6 from my decision list. Now it's down to two or three cars :-).
We will be having a RS/S Audi track day here in Riga in August and I'll post some pictures from it once that has happened. Maybe there will be an RS6 there so I can get some interior shots.
// jpb