RS2 Buying Advice

[Chris_N]

My trusty daily runaround 140k mile BMW E30 3-series Touring is starting to feel a bit tired, so I have been thinking about possible replacements (need an estate for my main car), only this time something a bit more rapid. Then it hit me, an RS2!

Basically I am looking for any advice anyone can give me:

What problems should I look out for?
What I should expect to pay (LHD/RHD)?
Any specialists or good places to find them?
What colour do they come in? (I can picture Blue, Red, Black, Silver but there must be more)
Any good websites to do with them?

All help appreciated.

Chris

[jeremyc]

Chris,

Evo ran a good buying guide in issue 043 (May 2002): if you don't have a copy I may be able to sort one for you - email me off line. The current price range seems to be 12K - 20K depending upon LHD/RHD and condition.

You might also get some useful information from Fontain (www.fontain.co.uk). They seem to specialise in RS2s and know pretty much every one that is on the market in the UK at a given time. Chat to Mark Hodge there (and mention my name - I'm working up to my first commission cheque ).

Other links that might be useful to you:
Independant specialists & tuners Quattro Sports (www.quattrosports.co.uk/) - Kim Collins.
Independant specialists & tuners AmD (www.auto-amd.com/)
Audi Owners Club (www.audi-owners-club.co.uk/) and associated Yahoo! Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/audiowners/messages)
RS2 Owners Yahoo! Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RS2list/messages)
French RS2 Club (www.rs2-club.net/)
US enthusiast site (www.s-cars.org/)
Tuning by MTM (www.mtm-online.de/) & Dahlback (www.audituning.com/english/main.asp).
Chris Knott Insurance (www.chrisknott.co.uk) who do an Audi Owners Club scheme - mine is insured as a 'future classic' with a limited mileage policy and an option on a guaranteed valuation.

The cars were available in: Laser Red, Polar Silver, Ragusa Green, RS Blue Pearl (usually known as Nogaro Blue), Volcano Black and the original GB sales brochure also lists Brilliant Black, Amethyst Grey, Indigo, Brilliant Blue, Emerald and Ruby Red although I've never seen any in these colours.

Finally, there are some contemporary road test articles here:
www.rs2-club.net/LaRS2/Essais/PerfCar/pcar.html
www.rs2-club.net/LaRS2/Essais/RoadTest/roadtest.html
www.rs2-club.net/LaRS2/Essais/rs2vs993/index.html

Oh, and Auto Trader currently have at least 7 RHD examples for sale - you know it makes sense.

[Chris_N]

JeremyC, That's brilliant - thanks for all the information. That should keep me busy for a while to come. Bit of a busy week this week but hoping to start looking at/driving cars next week.

In the meantime I need to dig through my "archives" - better known to my girlfriend as my piles of old junk to see if I've got the issue of Evo you mention.

Chris

[jeremyc]

And last but not least a site devoted to all RS models: www.rs246.com

[r13ras]

You may also like to consider MCP Motorsport in Norfolk who import/stock what they call 'depreciation proof' cars including the RS2.

I believe they currently have two, a silver and a blue, both LHD. I drove the silver before Xmas and it's very tight & tidy even with 100k miles. Martin's also a good source of parts info - I've just purchased a set of discs(4)and pads from Berlyn for £315 inc VAT over £1000 less than quoted by my local Audi dealer!

The URL is www.mcp-motorsport.com

I bought a RHD

[plotloss]

Jeremy, you're right of course. Whilst the brochure listed those colours there has never been an RS2 released from the factory in any colour other than those in your first list.

Matt.

[Chris_N]

r13ras said: You may also like to consider MCP Motorsport in Norfolk who import/stock what they call 'depreciation proof' cars including the RS2.

I believe they currently have two, a silver and a blue, both LHD. I drove the silver before Xmas and it's very tight & tidy even with 100k miles. Martin's also a good source of parts info - I've just purchased a set of discs(4)and pads from Berlyn for £315 inc VAT over £1000 less than quoted by my local Audi dealer!

The URL is www.mcp-motorsport.com

I bought a RHD

Thanks for that - I had come across MCP and seen some of the cars they have on the web. A few issues have prevented me visiting them:

- Still undecided whether to go LHD or RHD. Don't mind too much either way but there doesn't seem to be *that much* difference in price in which case I'd probably lean towards RHD.

- Was concerned about high mileage on some of the cars I'm seeing advertised, especially given they are Turbo cars. Should I be concerned or can they take big miles?

- Lastly, finding time to get up to Norfolk! (I'm to the West of London)

Thanks for the reply, I look forward to reporting before too long that I've joined the ranks of RS owning PHers!

Chris