What to get for a new RS-6?

[ksurg]

OK all you experienced RS-6 owners help me with some decisions. I have been thinking about what to get when I take delivery. Options include clear bra, custom wheels.... Wish I could get the Recaro seats and Nav+ offered in Europe. Lastly I'm thinking about chipping the car though my enthusiast friends say don't. What's the concensus?

[rs6w]

Originally posted by ksurg
OK all you experienced RS-6 owners help me with some decisions. I have been thinking about what to get when I take delivery. Options include clear bra, custom wheels.... Wish I could get the Recaro seats and Nav+ offered in Europe. Lastly I'm thinking about chipping the car though my enthusiast friends say don't. What's the concensus?

I'd like the Recaro's as well but not at the moment. Myself I'm with your enthusiast friends on chipping it. It's just too big of a hassel to deal with. If you don't have a chip friendly dealer it's probably not really worth trying. Besides isn't 450hp enough? :D

Clear bra is something I could see ( thinking about that ). Currently I'm loading up music to try in the PhatNoise system that my wife got me for my birthday!

[rs6w]

dang we're pratically neighbors!

[JAXRS6]

Originally posted by ksurg
Options include clear bra ... (and) I'm thinking about chipping the car though my enthusiast friends say don't.

I've had a clear 3M product protecting most of my (ahem) frontal exposure for over 9K miles. It works well & has four year warranty. ClearBra isn't available here, so it wasn't an option for me (although it might be if 3-4 owners got together in one location). Whatever company you choose, make sure the pattern is for a U.S. RS 6; either that or have it cut for a custom fit during installation (which won't be cheap).

As for chipping, the U.S. market has produced several brands & approaches in recent months. Strain on the tranny is one of the concerns raised; scroll through other threads for more info & some data.

I've had good experience with APR chips on my A4 and S4, but I'm not sure I want to be among the first to try their new direct port technology -- although it sounds promising. Programming an ECU through a plug under the dash does have advantages over physically replacing a chip.

Personally I still haven't decided whether to chip or reprogram the ECU. I figure I'll wait a while, see what others here report & then maybe do it later -- when I'm comfortable with the risk. (Yes, I too am addicted to speed, but Audi warranty coverage is voided in the U.S. for problems caused by aftermarket chips. And after a well informed friend told me the price of replacing an RS 6 engine is $46K, I decided to wait for now.)

[ksurg]

Originally posted by rs6w
I'd like the Recaro's as well but not at the moment. Myself I'm with your enthusiast friends on chipping it. It's just too big of a hassel to deal with. If you don't have a chip friendly dealer it's probably not really worth trying. Besides isn't 450hp enough? :D

Clear bra is something I could see ( thinking about that ). Currently I'm loading up music to try in the PhatNoise system that my wife got me for my birthday!

Is a chip friendly dealership an oxymoron? I saw the post from the owner in Boston but I have yet to find any dealer willing to overlook the warranty restrictions after chipping. I do believe there are tuners who will warranty their work but at what cost?
We are neighbors and I don't know about you but all the gravel and other debri on the roads is killing me. That's why I'm thinking of doing something to protect the car from the start, be it clearbra, 3M, or some other product. PhatNoise sounds great. Let me know how it works out.:)

[jimmy94507]

Search on Clear Paint Protection.
Here is one thread which has info:
http://www.rs6.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1806
Regards,
Jim

[ksurg]

Originally posted by jimmy94507
Search on Clear Paint Protection.
Here is one thread which has info:
http://www.rs6.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1806
Regards,
Jim

Thanks fot the tip on the thread. Did you get the Xpel and how does it look and work? There's several installers in San Jose so it should be easy for me to get.:hihi:

[rs6w]

Originally posted by ksurg
I do believe there are tuners who will warranty their work but at what cost?
We are neighbors and I don't know about you but all the gravel and other debri on the roads is killing me. That's why I'm thinking of doing something to protect the car from the start, be it clearbra, 3M, or some other product. PhatNoise sounds great. Let me know how it works out.:)

I don't think that there are any tuners in the US who will who will cover things if Audi doesn't.

My S6 got more scuffing on the front flares than any where else. I didn't get too many chips on the hood which is rather remarkable.

[JAXRS6]

Originally posted by ksurg
I'm thinking of doing something to protect the car from the start, be it clearbra, 3M, or some other product.

Excellent idea, because at 7K miles my 3M product took hits that otherwise would have chipped paint on the front bumper and the front of the passenger side flared fender. My hood was not protected til 7K miles & took two small hits that chipped paint, but it's protected now after repair & having to wait 30 days for paint to cure. (BTW those 7K miles include no gravel roads that I can recall. Interstates with lots of truck traffic seem to be the worst, especially repair zones & commercial trucks with no top over their cargo.)

The lesson: If you want to protect your car, do it before it's damaged -- at delivery if possible.

[GoFastKindaGuy]

Mostly, this boils down to personal taste here in the USA. The only option I would not be without is XM sat radio.

[gregoryindiana]

I'm probably an "outlier" but I'm getting the clearbra (armourfend) and I have rear splash guards on it already. I would like to have front spash guards as well, but the A6/S6 parts don't fit the front. Supposedly Audi USA is at work on this.

My 94 S4 was the victim of uncovered sand and gravel trucks on interstate highways. I vowed that with the next car for daily driving, I would get the vulnerable areas protected before I did much driving.

[ksurg]

I'm planning to at least get Xpel. Not sure about mudflaps. So far Phatnoise sounds better than Satellite radio as I already have a large music library. Besides it may be awhile before I want to hear anything except the engine!:cheers:

[Bauer]

Great thread!!

I have the Clear bra and it has save me BIG time on several occasions. The stuff is magic....had a 1" diameter rock fly up in traffic and hit square in the front @ 60mph....NO DENT NO SCRATCH:bigeyes: . I have all option on mine and the Sat radio which I love, curently can't get Phatnoise and XM together. I am friends with tht parts manager at my dealership and he says that the Phatnoise is cool....but takes a LONG time to load the music.

As for the Recaros...I have found an importer that will get me the whole set(front and rear) for around 6K:bigeyes: (ouch) I really don't like the stock seats but 6K gives me some pause.

I would love to "tune" my car to 510hp but have reservations about the warranty...and as for tuner friendly dealers, you have to handle this with kid gloves. I have been told by two dealers unoffically that they have several customers that they do work for on modified cars in the name of building a relationship. This conversation is "NO" right off the but but as you get into it......you can find out who will work with you and who won't. Still to me very touchy and for now 450hp is working.

I do think that I will eventually get a second set of rims for the car....just don't know which I like curently:cheers:

I say yes to either XM or Phatnoise and the front protection is a MUST.

By the way there seem to be quite a few of us in the Bay Area..........a meet maybe?:cheers:

[rs6w]

Originally posted by Bauer
Great thread!!

I have the Clear bra and it has save me BIG time on several occasions. The stuff is magic....had a 1" diameter rock fly up in traffic and hit square in the front @ 60mph....NO DENT NO SCRATCH:bigeyes: . I have all option on mine and the Sat radio which I love, curently can't get Phatnoise and XM together. I am friends with tht parts manager at my dealership and he says that the Phatnoise is cool....but takes a LONG time to load the music.

By the way there seem to be quite a few of us in the Bay Area..........a meet maybe?:cheers:

Actually the PhatNoise comes with a USB 2.0 cradle so uploading is really pretty quick. (If you have an older PhatNoise you can order a USB 2.0 cradle).

Yes at some point the bay area RS6'ers should meet up...

[ksurg]

Yesterday a bay area dealership told me that they could "lose their franchise" if they were to be "chip friendly." The issue was potential liabilty for Audi. In other words they don't want to be responsible for any problems resulting from aftermarket mods. I can't really blame them but why would it be OK in the UK? Also the salesman made another good point which is there are far fewer tuners for Audi in the US than BMW, Porsche...and many other brands. Sort of limits the choices, not to mention potential quality. I believe some of the tuners like Dinan will independently warrantee their work. So for now(jeez haven't even gotten the car yet) 450bhp will have to do.
As for protection ...seems the consensus is that it is a must! Not too much chatter yet about rims but I think the car would look great with a set of custom wheels. I would however probably stick to 18".

[Benman]

Originally posted by ksurg
I can't really blame them but why would it be OK in the UK?

Why is it OK for us in the U.S. to get a 4 year 50,000 mile warranty and in the UK they get only a 2 year? Different country, different rules.:cheers:

Ben:addict:

[gjg]

may have something to do with lawyer density ....

[GmbHouse]

I have a "chip friendly" dealer but when a turbo blew on my old A6 2.7T the regional Audi Service rep wanted to see it for himself. All my dealer could do was stand back and watch him void warranty coverage because of the chip.

[Klint]

Originally posted by gjg
may have something to do with lawyer density ....

That has to be the funniest theory I've heard in some time! :hihi: :hihi: Kudos to that! :D

Ksurg,

I've brought the thread up, ever take delivery on the RS6?

:cheers:

[ksurg]

I'm embarrassed and sad to say no! But on the up side I had a great drive in my C4S today. My plan for now is to get a M5 E60 or a used/new RS-6 in late '05 or early'06. By then my A6 lease will be up and I might be ready to part with my Porsche. Passing up on a new ebony pearl RS-6 today was painful( see my post today under bauer's thread new RS-6).:cry:

[Klint]

Ksurg,

That's unfortunate, I'm also sure there's no hurry. I guess one doesn't/couldn't miss an experience they have yet to have (If that makes sense) :hihi:

I had a close look at a 996 C4S yesterday, it was in that Porsche yellow (strange I'm good with Porsche colours), it looked the badgers nadgers. :0:

:cheers:

[noushy]

Hello everyone, good thread and discussion. I have the same reservations as the rest of you. I am going to get the stongard tx. My local detail shop swears by it (and they do the audi/porsche/bmw/benz/bentley and ferrari dealerships).

Anyways, as for the wheel upgrades, I have been having the same thoughts, stick with 18 inchers, choose a reputable wheel manufacturer. I have had several sets of HRE wheels, amazing, perfect fitment, very high quality, but expensive!. Plan on at least 900 a wheel. One piece wheels, buy an ultralight BBS wheel, or one from abt, mtm, oettinger, or another audi tuner, they will fit best.

Chipping is another issue. MTM, GIAC, ABT all seem to be well tested. They are designed from the ground up to work, and seem to be very stable. The issue is torque on the transmission. Again, the better ones will mod the transmission ecu as well, so as not to abruptly shift and put less strain on the transmission. MTM in particular recommends this. Check with your local dealer, usually there is someone who will work with you. Our dealer has an RS6 specialist who amongst other things will remove the limiter and even reprogram the ecu or replace it for an undisclosed fee. But just remember that ultimately it is still your car, and if they back out, or worse, you are stranded far from your dealer with a wrecked car, you may be purchasing a new drivetrain. AOA is just looking to cover their a__, and can you blame them. They have a huge headache with the S4 manual trans, my dealer has already replaced two. An AOA if certainly not looking to have the same fiasco with the RS6. They are currently pulling trans off the assembly line just for repairs. One moron wrecked the trans with only 254 miles on the odo.

Anyone from the Detroit area, let me know, or contact me by email.

Noushy