S6, RS6, RS 4, whats going on?

[golfman]

I am considering the S6 Avant, as apparently there is no such thing as a new RS6, even though you can buy an RS4. The “R” has been lost apparently but only on the 6 series?

Also the RS4 is a V8 which is highly rated, but the S6 is a V10, more powerful yet I can’t find any reviews on it?

Can anyone comment on the “S6” for me? Thanks!

[bogie]

try www.rs246.com for lots of info

new RS6 is due this year - 5.2 V10 but with 2 turbos and rumoured to be 550bhp+ ...but will be £70K+ too

S6 didnt get very good reviews and is slower than the outgoing RS6 - the 5.2V10 adds weight

If you want an S6 sized car then Id get a 2 year old RS6 plus (480bhp) now - very rare, but nice ones are £40-45K and then wait...or even a 3 year old RS6...a remap will give you 500bhp/500lb/ft (like mine)then you can upgrade later

[GSCollie]

The S6 has now been well documented as an autobahn barnstormer and the suspension is set up as so. However take it on our quaint UK B ( and some A) roads and it is not as composed.

Also S6's are plummeting in price; my local dealer had a 6 month old one in Sprint Blue (granted not the best colour for a car that size) with a list if just under £60K and they've only just managed to shift it for early £40's.

Give it another 12-20 months and they'll be an absolute bargain. Alternativley if you have £40K ish to spend now wait another 6 months and you'll start to get used RS4 Avants instead.

As for the old RS6 IMO they are fantastic cars but in a couple of years may look dated and belt driven turbo'ed V8's unless looked after will often spell huge maintenance costs.

[batster]

I test drove a new S6 whilst waiting for my RS4 avant and have to say found it eneromous fun. Quite why it has had such average to poor reviews I do not know. It feels very quick, has lovely engine note and the looks are very understated (save for front LED lights), so don't be put off, go try for yourself. From a practicality point of view, lots more space than my RS4 and interior wise makes old RS6 look very dated. If they can be had for bargain prices, then it is a very attractive proposition in my mind.

Am sure new RS6 will be a monster, so if you have the cash and can wait, just hold out for one of those...

[KUB3]

GSCollie said:

belt driven turbo'ed V8's unless looked after will often spell huge maintenance costs.

Why exactly is this?

I have heard rumours of expensive RS6 ownership but never why. Personally I'd take the RS6 over all the option available, particuarly so at the relatively bargain used prices.

As a close second I'd definately take the S6 over the RS4. The S6 is at least as fast, but smoother and more effortless. I also think that less stressed cars offer a much better long term bet imo.

Paul

[GSCOllie]

KUB3 said:

GSCollie said:

belt driven turbo'ed V8's unless looked after will often spell huge maintenance costs.

Why exactly is this?

I have heard rumours of expensive RS6 ownership but never why. Personally I'd take the RS6 over all the option available, particuarly so at the relatively bargain used prices.

As a close second I'd definately take the S6 over the RS4. The S6 is at least as fast, but smoother and more effortless. I also think that less stressed cars offer a much better long term bet imo.

Paul

The servicing for cambelt and replacement turbos are the big cost, IIRC cambelt change every 40,000 miles at around £1K per time and those that have been chipped or 'well used' can have turbo problems.

I think they are great cars and have even thought of buying an RS6+ and they have held values well. As for current S6 it is a good car, but for me, too quiet in engine note and on A roads it is good but B roads it was terrible. And I mean terrible in the respect that it doesn't get anywhere near my S4 and even a 3.0TDi A6 a friend of mine had was better road holding. They've miseed a trick with it purley for the purpose of carving a hole for a twin turbo'ed V10 with decent suspension.

But it will be the used perfomance bargain in another 24 months and fairly exclusive. As for the RS4, if you want a taut, well handling car with mega performance it is the one to have (and it is a fair bit faster than an S6), although IMO it's not worth the extra £15K over an S4, but then I don't have £60K to burn on a car anyway so I would say that!

[KUB3]

I came very close to buying the S4 a few years ago when I first came out (the 4.2). I may well still look into a used example for my new ride.

The thing which puts me off the top models a little is the stress they are under. Stress from an engineering point of view, plus the stress their owners will inevitably put them under. I feel the second from top models will have an easier and so longer life.

[GSCollie]

KUB3 said:

I came very close to buying the S4 a few years ago when I first came out (the 4.2). I may well still look into a used example for my new ride.

The thing which puts me off the top models a little is the stress they are under. Stress from an engineering point of view, plus the stress their owners will inevitably put them under. I feel the second from top models will have an easier and so longer life.

V8 S4's are very reliable, especially B7 variants. All the S4 V8's are chain driven so are pretty indestructable. The only thing to watch with B6's is the auxiliary radiators which are prone to corrosion becasue of insufficient ducting space behind the front bumper, rectified by the B7 bumper assembly. Other than that I know many S4 owners who have not had any problems with their cars and there are some decent bargains out there. the V8 engne should be good for twice around the clock, brakes / discs every 35-45k miles, clutch 80-100k miles.

[KUB3]

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind. I hope the people pushing for the latest toys will drive their prices lower.

[GSCollie]

KUB3 said:

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind. I hope the people pushing for the latest toys will drive their prices lower.

TBH they will start to level out in price after a while unless RS4's become really affordable. The B8 S4 probably won't be here until end of 2009 / 2010 going by normal patterns where the B5 and B6 S4's came out two years after the variant launch. Most S4's lose the bulk of their depreciation in the first two years, so best to get one then so long you are not bothered about only having 12-24 months warranty.