Sounds excellent!

I really wanted an Avant but the potential maintenance costs versus a normally aspirated S8 (which don't scare me at all - famous last words!) really require deeper pockets than mine.


Pictures!!!!!

Seconded…for both sentences ;) …and miffed that I didn't get first dibs.

One of the reasons I'm on this forum is to read posts like this (tho' sadly, not quickly enough in this case… :-( ). Great read..+++

Nice reading Ian, i'm impressed by the analytic approach to finding your latest steed.

Looking forward to pictures like everyone else :)

Thanks Amar. I turned off the ESP last week. Briefly. The big yellow 'are you fecking insane?' warning on the DIS scared me into turning it back on... :D

The C5 RS6 I had has the same insanity about it, but wasn't really every day comfortable. Nothing adjusted, it was just mental. That one of yours was Mental plus and it still makes me chuckle how the wife could hear us test driving it over a mile away :D

I love the car, I really do. I know I've said that about virtually every car I've had but this is just so different. Its not possible to pine for a faster Audi this side of 50/60K and a stage 1/2 is far cheaper than that.

I've actually stopped looking at cars for sale.

Normally, on the way to collect a car, I'm already dreaming of my next one. Worrying about resale value, depreciation and how long I can keep it before I start to lose money.

But the canvas is blank. There is nothing on the horizon. If something happened to this car I would be proper mortified. End of. Its a proper weird feeling. Is this actually a keeper?.....+++

Consider your position in 2nd place confirmed +++

Honestly though, if you're vaguely tempted. Just bloody get one. Fuel hasn't been this cheap for a long time. This RS6 is costing less in juice than my S6 or S8 did due to fuel price reductions.

Buying an RS6 is very different to every other car though. 2 things matter, whether people realise it or not: Spec and mileage.

Once an RS6 is over 60K/70K its value falls off a cliff and they just don't sell. Bargain to be had if you're handy with a spanner. North of 100K and they're dropping near 20K - But there's no real evidence of any big issues with these cars at high mileage. I think its just hang over from the C5 days.

Specwise, it doesn't matter how low the mileage if it has nothing on it. And this is an interesting twist with the RS6+ - Unlike the C5, the C6 version has no more power. Just 'exclusive' paint and leather, leather trimmed dashboard, pretty numbered plaque, carbon engine covers and 174mph restriction lifted from 155mph. To be honest, its not really worth holding out for, and most of them are crappy specs, put together by dealers / folks who don't have a clue what exclusive means. Many of them are black, with black leather. Er... not very exclusive.

Different spec appeals to a different type of driver. Ceramics are popular in some performance circles, and not so much in others. keyless is always popular, and there's a good mix of demand for practical avants and the sleeker looking saloon.

But overall, the high mileage ones are a bloody bargain to be had. Slap a 3rd party warranty on it just in case and you're laughing. +++

Ta for confirming that, and good advice, as ever, but my next purchase won't need fuel :D...

Great write up, enjoyed reading :)

How long are you going to make us all wait???? Seriously!!! We need photos :)

My guess is that you'll be able to see it in the flesh at the Annual Meet in Snowdonia at the end of May. :)

Yup. That's for sure.

I'm currently under the weather with some serious man flu, whilst suffering under the weight of a bunch of DIY projects I'm determined to get out of the way before spring kicks in.

So, the car still hasn't been washed. Which is a shame, as it really deserves it. And without washy, no photos.

But I promise you, no photo does it justice. Come see it in May. :D

That explains the increased posting frequency: every cloud etc - and get better soon (so we can all see the pics ;))