RS6 itch...
 

Guys,

I have a terrible RS6 (old shape) itch that, despite 12 months with the S8, is still there. When I bought the S8, all the RS6s in the spec I wanted were over budget, but they are extremely accessible now (want a black over tan RS6+ with sunroof ideally).

:Confused:Can you enlighten me with ownership experiences, please...Ian? Craig?

Size is important - I am tall with 2 children. Speed is important (nuff said) and reliability and build is important.

Please try and convince that it would be a bad idea......

Zip

Well, I can happily share on that one....

The RS6 I'm running (as of only a few days ago) was bought by the business a few months back with a view to renting it out - however, given the nose dive in the economy recently, a quick review of the plan, suggests that there probably wont be as many people lining up for weekend jollies with spare cash like there was, so we've canned it.

Still got the car though....

It's very high spec, which is why we wanted it, but it has a few small problems cosmetically mainly that we'd need to fix to sell it on. Given the climate, and the fact that I rather like the power, I'm going to run it myself instead of my S8, which is going to David@a8parts....

But, dont think this was an easy descision. The RS6 gives a few benefits over the S8, power and braking being the obvious ones. Dont overlook the massive improvement in braking, its a real pleasure to have. The estate is, well, just not as cavernous as you'd think really. The 8 boot was huge and I dont need more room, so the estate is 'ok'. The fold through rear seats may well come in handy one day though.

The biggest problem to me is comfort. Silly things about the 6 make it feel cheap compared to the 8... There are far fewer air vents on the dashboard, so you are more prone to getting drafts from air blowing at you. The center vent can't be adjusted independently for temperature (i personally like cool air to my face)...

Its noisier and although this has got twin pane (which really does make a difference I promise) its still not as civilised as the S8.

The seats dont have as much adjustment, and they dont have memory. The DIS is all in red, and feels cheap, for a 60K car of the same era as our 8's with full colour ones.

The alcantara roof lining is standard, but I think they must have done that to stop it sounding really tinny !

MPG on the S8 averaged around town at 22. The RS6 wont pull above 18.

I have had 3 kids in the back, and I'd say its no more of a squeeze than in the S8. On the plus side, the rear cup holders in the rear are better thant the pretend ones in the armrest of the A8, and at a push you could use the A6 ones on the move.

The Bose does seem better in the 6 than the 8. There is better Bass...

The Rs6 probably has more 'pose power' and definitely sounds the part, but if the business didnt have one that it needed rid of, then I wouldn't have gone out specifically for it.

The power is good, it seems to just have the extra pick up you need where the S8 feels flat, but if you like comfort, refinement and a the feel of an understated rocket limo, stick with the S8....

If A8_tony lets me, I'll bring it along to whatever meet we do and you are welcome to have a good look, or if you're ever in North Yorks, again pop in.

You've probably seen the black over tan RS6 for sale by the guy in docklands claiming its one of his 20 cars that hes selling. It does look nice indeed, but remember that the RS6 prices have fallen a little and are now accessible, but be prepared to have lost a lot more on your S8. The cost to change will probably be higher now than it was 6 months ago....

Remember the RS6+ is 480bhp, where its quite easy to chip a standard RS6 to 500 and cheaper overall. Depends if you're also after the 'black chrome look'

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...E:B:SS:GB:1123

2nd time hes listed it too... Must have quite a high reserve on it.

Craig hasn't been on here yet, but if he does make an appearance, i'd really love to know if he shares the same views as me on the 2 cars...

Interesting...
 

...looked at a few at Fontain way back. Seemed slightly more cramped in the rear seats, and definitely narrower inside.

I would only go with the Plus because I like buying the runout and highest speced of any model, otherwise I end up being jealous of others (hence paying over the odds for my high spec S8 last year...and running a very last of the breed specced up Saab 9000 Aero...again that I payed over the odds for). Love the blacked out trim and "natural" leather:love: finish of that black Plus on Pistonheads

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/745317.htm

Your right - depreciation on the S8s has been unbelievable in the last 12 months. Wished I had waited now...makes you sick. I bought from Oscar Goldman as well (like James - saw his car before it was detailed...hmmm, he wouldn't have liked it!)

Off to France later this year, and although I have the official Audi roof bars (£9 on ebay!!!!! - almost brand new!), I will be getting a top box anyway, and as you say, boot space in the S8 is enormous.

If funds suddenly fell out the sky, I would probably make the leap (and may even keep the S8 in the short term - mind you, I am sure someone would find a good home for it).

Just looks like I will have to put some calomine on the itch in the mean time.

Thanks for the info,
Zip

Ah - Must-have-the-best-itis. I suffer from that :rolleyes: Its cost me a lot over the years +++

Good ol Oscar, love him or hate him, he cherry picked the best cars always - and he knew it so hiked the prices accordingly. Its smugly satisfying to see on Autotrader he's been landed with a few lemons hes really struggling to shift now....

depreciation is a bitch, but that's life.

i too paid over the odds for mine BUT i still would of paid over the odds now as it still is the only colour combo for me.

i made my mind up before i got there that i wanted it and i dont regret it one bit, its only money......

think of the poor people who brought there's new 7 years ago, that's depreciation :ROFL:

yeah he might have to sell his R8 if times get hard :D

ha!
 

not sure he's actually driven it yet......nice car though.:o

Zip

Lemons
 

Hi,

So, having been to look at the Akoya Silver with cream int http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...leRegLetter=56 on Oscar Goldmans yard I was intrigued to read about the 'lemons'. Is that due to the spec or are they mechanically off?

The car seems fairly tight. However, the other ones have no heated seats which seems daft when you're sat on leather.

Can anyone shed anymore light?

CBA

Don't worry...
 

I'm sure James and Ian would agree that the reference to 'Lemons' is that Oscar has been unable to shift the cars...purely due to market conditions and demand. He does seem to source the best cars...it's not a comment on any mechanical issues.

Zip

Zip,

Thanks for the swift reply. I've had a PM from Ian and my mind has been put at ease. Didn't think I would be mechanical, but it's a lot of money to spend not to ask the question!!!

CBA

RS6 itch
 

My mare has sweet itch although not as bad as your poor baby and I have tryed coopers for the first time and she has been amazingly better hardly any at all,she hasnt rubbed her tail once touch wood.I just water it down and use it as a fly spray,£22 a bottle but the best money i have spent in a long time

The RS6 V8 is a great car. A simple stage 1 ReMap is good for 515bhp BUT MUST be a good one or gearbox issues will follow!!!
RS6's have 2 air mass meters to fail, and they do - which is what causes the majority of gearbox failures.

Bare in mind too that the DRC (dynamic Ride Control) suspension is very pr0ne to failure. If one shock fails it is mad to not do all 4 as once the system is opened to replace the one shock the others and their balast tanks begin to fail - however, this is DEAR!!! I fit the KW Variant 3 kits to ones with failed suspension. Very good but not a cost you want just after buying one!

Cam belts MUST be done every 40k, rather than 80k with the A8's. Front discs and pads are £1000!!!!! :Confused:

If you can truely afford to lavish atleast a couple of grand a year on it then you'll have a failthful friend but if it stretches you at all to buy it, running it will bury you! A good one is great, a bad one is MUCH worse than any A/S8!!!

I'm not trying to put you off the car, they are lovely and very quick but really do your homework and buy a very, very good one! Saving say £2000 on the asking price could cost ££££'s later on!

One more thing - make sure which oil they are run on. Many dealers and specialists alike use the wrong engine oil. The V8 RS6 MUST use only the PD engine oil from Quantum. Yes, that is Diesel engine oil but it's what these are designed to run on. The normal 10w 40 or newer 5w 30 is NO GOOD FOR THESE!!! Turbo failures are bad news! These cars should NOT be on LongLife servicng (AVS) - if they are, they have been serviced wrong and using the wrong oil!

If I can help with any advice please do let me know. Always only at end of a phone....

I'm confused on what to choose a B5 RS 4 or a C5 RS 6? The manual aspect is really calling to me on the B5. How much performance difference is there? There's a vid on Youtube of an RS6 avant doing 0-60 with just and engine and gearbox tcu map in 3.6 secs. I've been in a 540 BHP and they are quick!

Mate, with a GOOD MAP you don't need a TCU map aswell. If the MAP is a full re-write the gearbox will carry on happily. The software I use manages 520bhp with no 'box mods very safely and VERY smoothly.
As for RS4 RS6 comparrison, I do alot of both. They are very different cars. RS6 extremely capable and very quick but RS4 the more focused driver's car. Both very good at cruising and munching long miles and RS6 marginally quicker than RS4 in straight line but the RS4 definately the uicker back-lane hero due to lighter weight, tighter dynamics and manual 'box. With a simple re-map they will give a comfotable 440+bhp.

Just with BOTH they can be seriously expensive if not very well maintained!

I'm used to expensive by now! Need to be 21 for the insurance so have to wait two years but they are both deffo on the list. Will probably have it as my weekeend car and run the S8 with LPG on the week.