PDA

View Full Version : My first month with my RS6



Dave
November 30th, 2002, 16:22
Well, a month has passed since I first collected my RS6 Avant so I thought that I would tap a few keys and let you guys know how I have got on.

As some of you know I had an S6 Saloon (4.2l V8 340bhp) before. A short re-cap for you:
When I first went to my Audi dealer back in 2000 I was after an RS4 but I had missed the boat by about 50 , thus my second choice was an S4 (2.7l bi-turbo) but these had stopped being made as the production line had been shut in preperation for the new A4. My dealer gave me details of the S6 and mentioned that he had heard rumours of a more powerful RS6. Of course, back then we were thinking of around 400bhp (M5 power). I took the S6 on the understanding that I would be first on the list for the new RS6 if and when it arrived.

After waiting just over 19 months after I had taken delivery my S6, the RS6 arrived. I was a little unsure of the difference I would feel (don't forget the S6 isn't slow!) and this time I had ordered Avant instead of saloon. I had read just about every magazine article publsihed on the new car had seen it in the flesh (but not driven it) at a couple of Audi events.

The day arrived when my car arrived at the dealers. It looked stunning.. aggressive.. but not overdone in a sort of EVO way. Nice discreet spoilers and drilled discs, with those huge front calipers, give the impression that this is a beast not to be messed with. Very pleased with the colour : Daytona Grey and the five spoke alloys looked great.

Fished all the paper work and the dealer took me out to the car. I got into the drivers seat and put the key in the ignition. The dealer said not to close the door until I had started it up... funny.. why's that??.... bloody hell.. :squared: .. turn the key and the noise is just fantastic.. spine tingling.. and at tickover you can hear a low distant rumble :D .. I was enjoying this and I haden't even moved. Everybody (and I mean everybody!!) in a 20 metre radius turned to look at what was making that growl!!.

After finishing with the check over it was time to be set loose.. well.. what, WHAT a car... floored it out of the dealers.. wow.. S6 doesn't even come close.. this thing just puts the power down and goes and goes and goes.. pins you back in your seat.... :MTM: had to come off the throttle at about 90 because I was comming to a bend.. hit the brakes and nice... the speed just pours off. The steering is rock solid.. heavier than the S6.. but I prefer it.. I think 'meaty' is the word for it. The 255/35 profile tyres give massive amounts of grip but can give a little road noise on poor surfaces.

First impression were good.. certainly everything I expected.. the thing that did suprise me the most was how refined the car is. It isn't at all like the RS4... the RS6 is deceptively fast.. look at the speedo and your not doing 80mph.. more like 120mph!!!
The suspension is firm but never uncomfortable. I would say to people who like a 'floaty' ride to give the A6 4.2 quattro a try, but personally I like to know what is going on under me and this is just great.

The next couple of weeks I was crusing up and down motorways at an average of 100mph.. so easy and the miles just dissapeared. You could turn up after a 400 mile journey and feel like you had just popped round the corner for a pint of milk. Saying that.. you wouldn't have so much fun just popping to the shops.

In my first fortnight of ownership I was becomming aware jsut how fast this car is. You only start to realise the potential of thsi car when you compare it to what else is on the road. Many people clock the car (probably due to the adverts on the telly) and so come up close for a look.. those with a bit more brain power then back off.. but you always get a few who like that ' I can tell my mates that I took an RS6 in my Escort 1.6 LS'.. sorry boys.. no chance :D .. they dissapear out of the rear mirror like they were in reverse... you can't help but chuckle in the drivers seat.

In my 3rd week I came across my first real test.. a Porsche 911 Turbo.. on the motorway.. I came up fast behind them.. not baiting them.. I must of be doing about 110.. they were around 90.. came up beside them and saw a good looking woman driving with a male next to her (probably husband :( )... I could see that he wasn't too happy about being overtaken by an estate so was urging her on... before the game started we came to traffic works.. 50mph limit with cameras.. so she's in lane two.. I'm in lane three.. nose to nose, neck and neck... we both knew that we were going to floor it at the end of the works.. I thought I had nothing to lose.. surely the 911 will sprint way????
Not a chance.. got to the end of the roadworks and we both floored it.. we were absolutly neck and neck.. nothing in it at all... unfortunatly she backed off at 120mph and I sailed off to about 140 mph... nice.. enjoyed that :D

By the time I was home again in the 3rd week I had completed about 2500 miles and the engine was loosening up nicely.. the throttle responce is much quicker and the car puts the power down more quickly and without hesitation.

For those with RS6 on order.. there is a huge difference between the D setting and the S setting on the gearbox.. I've decided that D is for my wife and S is for me :D . Everything is sharper on the S setting.. gear changes & throttle responce.. just makes the car lightening.. it keeps the revs up above 2200rpm so the turbos are always spinning.. therefore no lag.. (not that there is much before!!). D seems to be for more fuel economy and comfort.. don't get me wrong.. it's still quick.. but not S setting quick.

As you can probably tell from now I am smitten with my car. It does everything I want in a car.. fast (very fast!!), can carry all my clobber and kids and it is discreeet so I don't have to worry when it's parked in a car park.

Is there anything I would like to change.. well , from performance terms.. no.. not really. I will visit MTM at some time for the stage one upgrade (500bhp/ 690nm) and I hope to put movits on too.. but make no mistake .. I am not changing poor parts.. just improving slightly on what's already there!!

Any dislikes??... well it drinks fuel like a boeing 747. Use the performace and you'll be on first name terms with your local filling station ( I am!! :D ). But this goes hand in hand with having a performance car and you can hardly blame the car for that. I really cannot think of anything else...

I love it :cheers:

Dave

krm
November 30th, 2002, 16:35
Thanks for the wonderful review, certainly sounds like you are having a wonderul ownership experience thus far. Hope you have many more happy miles to come! :cheers:

TheBrit
December 1st, 2002, 11:24
Where is my RS6? The waiting is so painful, and you're not helping Dave! :p

Did your S6 not have Sport mode? I think this is probably a 2002 model year change, my S8 does have it and you're right, it's much more dynamic but I still prefer Tip mode for Lincolnshire's winding roads. Supposedly the RS6's gearbox is pre-programmed for sportier response, so I'm looking forward to comparing.

Nice writeup!

Dave
December 1st, 2002, 17:19
Hiya,

no my S6 was previous to the S setting gearbox.. came out shortly after I had mine.. mine had the Drive, 3 and 2 settings.. it had the tiptronic of course with buttons on the steering wheel.

The RS6 is different in that in the S6 you had to move the gear stick over to the right to activate the tiptronic.. on the RS6 the paddels override whatever the setting on the gearbox.. so you can be in drive or sports and change up and down via the paddels. The auto kicks back in after 30 secs of no action.. if you move the stick over to the right it remains in tip but will change up if max revs reached or the engine is going to stall.

I prefer if and because of the paddels there's no chance of accidently changing up or down.
My only wish is that the paddels were illuminated at night so that you could read which is which.. easy to forget at 120mph :D

Cheers
Dave

JP4
December 2nd, 2002, 01:06
Really enjoyed your post Dave and first impressions.

Thanks!

J.Seven
December 2nd, 2002, 11:05
Great report Dave, thanks for sharing.

J.Seven

Thilo
December 3rd, 2002, 14:26
This post also makes my waiting time a little bit shorter. But is there a life before June/July 2003.


A waiting Swiss guy:bye:

Dave
December 3rd, 2002, 15:08
Thanks for your replys guys... the car really is that good :D

And for those of you with RS6's on order.. it really is well worth the wait.
I'm looking forward to more people taking delivery and going for aftermarket parts so that I can pinch some ideas :D

Dave

schvetkaaks
December 4th, 2002, 04:29
Isn't one supposed to lay low on the rpm's before break-in period? It sounds like you tested it to the max right off the bat. To tell you the truth, I don't know how one couldn't wait, but I guess that's the 'rule', you know?

Dave
December 4th, 2002, 09:44
The engines are pre run-in.. they have a big test at quattro GMbH before they pass for release....

I do agree.. I didn't go too mad until about 1500miles...
90 in the RS6 is gentle. I can assure you !

Dave:D

Nrn
December 4th, 2002, 23:14
Intresting reading, you seem to be quite pleased with it!
And i would be suprised if you werent! :D

I think you picked the right colour aswell!

BR /Nicke

quattro
December 31st, 2002, 00:47
Still happy? :cheers:

Any difference now the car is run in? :incar: