Considering a RS-6

[Kurt Koseck]

I have a 98 A4 2.8L, a 00 S4, and I've been thinking about getting the next Audi. I have a friend who has her 03 A4 3.0 (76,000 miles) and I can pick that up for about $12-K. Then, I started looking at the A6, thinking that maybe a larger car would be better suited for our family. So, based on my experience with A4s, the S4 is much more fun to drive. So why not go with a S6 (RS6)?
I have found a couple for sale, both 2003. They have about 35,000 miles each, and can be purchased for under $40-K. If I could pick on up for about $35-K, I think that it may be a good buy. Is this a good price for these cars?
Why is the RS4 so much more expensive? Seems like it has the same engine as the RS6.
Are there any other cautions you can help with (problems)?
Thanks for your advice.

[PRVWing]

RS4 and RS6 dont have the same engine. RS6's have a 4.2 biturbo engine, and B5 RS4's have V6 2.7 biturbo, B7 RS4's have 4.2 V8 FSI non turbo. And yes, $35k for a RS6 with that millage is pretty good.

A reflash, Diverter Valves, inbox K&N and some simple mods will have above 500chp. A friend of mine had one with the mods I mentioned and that beast was a rocket!

[audirs]

if you dont mind maintenance then you should be fine. they are really expensive to maintain. if you thought ur b5 s4 was bad, this is alot worse. i think something like every 35k u need a new timing belt. i think that would be the only negative point, if you dont mind the maintenance, id get it!

[Daft]

RS4 and RS6 dont have the same engine. RS6's have a 4.2 biturbo engine, and B5 RS4's have V6 2.7 biturbo, B7 RS4's have 4.2 V8 FSI non turbo. And yes, $35k for a RS6 with that millage is pretty good.

A reflash, Diverter Valves, inbox K&N and some simple mods will have above 500chp. A friend of mine had one with the mods I mentioned and that beast was a rocket!

It is important to note that he is located in the US. Therefore, he won't be able to get his hands on a B5 RS4 very easily. The B7 RS4 would be his only US option.

This is then a difference between the Biturbo 4.2L in the RS6 and the N/A 4.2L in the RS4. You're also talking about two cars that are 4 years apart in age.

Granted the RS6 makes more HP and TQ than the RS4, the RS4 is a bit more simplified with it's N/A motor and it's a bit more sporty than the RS6 due to it's weight distribution. The RS4 was one of the first Audis in a long time than had less weight at the nose of the car due to the lightweight motor and it being shifted slightly back from the bumper. Many reviewers have noted that the RS4 is far less likely to understeer than previous A4 bodied cars.

As audirs mentioned, the RS6 is very expensive to own and maintain.

The 2.7T is somewhat pricey to handle but, the 4.2T is worse in a few aspects:

9.5QTs of oil per oil change. You must unbolt the front sway bar to do the oil change.
21.7Gal fuel tank.
Timing belt replacement is said to be required every 35K miles. Although, I've still never seen ANY documentation to prove it.

[Kurt Koseck]

Thanks for the advice, sure helps to make some decisions.
I called my local Audi dealer, to ask for a quote on timing belt. They said that since the never were authorized to sell the RS6, they also can't work on them. So I called the next closest Audi dealer (60 miles away) and they can't work on it also. Seems like the very rare car is going to be difficult to have serviced (if ever needed). I'm contacting the next closest Audi dealer, and they are looking into their 'qualification', and the service interval for a timing belt.
I've changed the timing belt in my 1998 A4 2.8L, it wasn't too bad of a job. Is it probable that the RS6 would be as 'easy' to do?

Thanks

[banditoamigo]

Figure about $1500 for a TB job, $350 for an oil change, $600 for brakes, and get ready for issues with the suspension -- they have a fancy-pants hydraulic setup (don't remember the acronym) that's prone to issues.

We have one for sale if anyone's interested... search my posts for pics/details/a comparison write-up between the RS and my stage 3 allroad.

I'd suggest a 6MT 2.7T plus $10-$15K in upgrades -- you'd end up with a faster, funner, cheaper to maintain car. But that's just based on my personal choices with experience on both. :-)

[jrau13]

Thanks for the advice, sure helps to make some decisions.
I called my local Audi dealer, to ask for a quote on timing belt. They said that since the never were authorized to sell the RS6, they also can't work on them. So I called the next closest Audi dealer (60 miles away) and they can't work on it also. Seems like the very rare car is going to be difficult to have serviced (if ever needed). I'm contacting the next closest Audi dealer, and they are looking into their 'qualification', and the service interval for a timing belt.
I've changed the timing belt in my 1998 A4 2.8L, it wasn't too bad of a job. Is it probable that the RS6 would be as 'easy' to do?

Thanks

Maybe ask around on this site as they may have some more suggestions for you.
http://www.rs6.com/forum/

[onemoremile]

My dealership said the same thing about not being able to work on an RS6. They said the initial investment in tooling and training was over $100k and they didn't think there was enough of a market to justify it.

I second the idea of building up a stage 3 A6 or better yet a stage 3 allroad.

[Daft]

My dealership said the same thing about not being able to work on an RS6. They said the initial investment in tooling and training was over $100k and they didn't think there was enough of a market to justify it.

I second the idea of building up a stage 3 A6 or better yet a stage 3 allroad.

In the early days of the RS6, this was true because any dealer that was going to work on the RS6 had to own the fancy "autopsy table" that allows you to drop the whole subframe out of the car. That hydraulic table alone was the majority of the $100K+ in tooling costs.

Now that the Q7 has been out and is sold in the majority of dealerships, they can buy that same table for far less money. Realistically, the shops that can work on the Q7, *should* be able to repair an RS6.

[FrankA6]

I hear after so long the suspension leaks, but besides that and the TB service, id say go for one, oh any poor mpg but what twin turbo car gets good mpg? , go for it.

[Stampy]

TB on the 4.2 is time consuming and requires special tools. 4.2T is that stuff plus more fun and a billion coolant lines to go through. If you have the cheese to support the C5 RS6, get it. I think it is truly a rare car and looks fantastic. Anybody can stage 3 a 2.7T blah blah blah, but RS6 just demands respect.

[RAUDIS6]

My local stealership, quoted me 12 hours, and a cost of $2350 for a TB on a RS6, and I have the documentation on the maintenance intervals if you need it, and it is 35000 miles. I researched the hell out of that car before I ultimately decided that I was not ready for that kind of maintenance costs on a 6 year old car. Brakes are mucho dinero also!!!

Good Luck!!!

[ukr77]

The service manual states that the engine needs to be lifted to replace the O2 sensors. I wonder if there is a work around for that one? I would love to wrench around on one of these. We have hydraulic floors for overhauling our gas turbines....I could drop the engine/subframe in a jiffy....but I would have to start and finish the job during a weekend.. that would require a lot of pre-planning! Or better yet, just use as a summer car and spend al winter messing around in the garage....

[THM]

get cpo'ed or skip
to many problems with rs6's

[Snowhere]

$35G would be a good price. I was checking out one at Prestige Imports, an Audi and Porsche dealer in Lakewood Colorado this morning. It was also a 03 with 32,000 miles and they were asking $46G for it. Hot car with out a doubt, but for kind of money I think I would look at a S5. Having a A6 Avant for the family frees up the possibility of picking up another coupe.

[Apex]

I thought about one too. They are holding the value better than the AMG's and M's. But repeated DRC failures and O2 sensors that you need to pull the engine out just to change seem a little much.

[Daft]

My local stealership, quoted me 12 hours, and a cost of $2350 for a TB on a RS6, and I have the documentation on the maintenance intervals if you need it, and it is 35000 miles. I researched the hell out of that car before I ultimately decided that I was not ready for that kind of maintenance costs on a 6 year old car. Brakes are mucho dinero also!!!

Good Luck!!!

I'd really like to see those docs on the maintenence intervals. I have the Bentley CD for the A6/RS6/allroad and there is nothing like that included in any section of the software for the RS6. They only cover the A6 and allroad maintenence intervals.