Audi RS6 V10 - genuine 200 mph daily
Discussion
I've been on this forum for decades, and posted a fair few threads of anything from Phase 1 Clio 172s, to 500 bhp tuned Saab 9000s, to more recently, E61 535d LCI and E60 M5. I kind of treat cars like a box-ticking exercise, and while recently looking for an M6 V10 to complement/replace my 535d, I realised decent M6s were few and far between, and so then looked at combining V10 and estate together and getting rid of the diesel. I don't do many miles, perhaps 5k/year.
E61 M5 was an option but they were slightly out of budget and I'd already experienced an S85. Back in 2004 me and my dad test drove a C5 RS6, then a couple of months later Layer Cake was released and I always had a soft spot for that, and also Temple's Arnage. C5 RS6s are getting a bit old now though and the gearboxes aren't the strongest. The later C6, with its 5-litre twin-turbo V10, always seemed unobtainable and too ridiculous to own, but recently values have been dropping. I assume being reasonably rare they're right at the bottom of their depreciation curve.
The fact is, if you want a reliable 700 + bhp for under £15k then you require either an F10 M5 or a C6 RS6 (or a Bentley Flying Spur/CGT but didn't fancy lugging another 400 kg around). The F10 M5 sits at 1870 kg sans driver, whereas the C6 Avant is 2025 kg, so while the F10 probably has the legs on a C6, I do like the idea of Quattro at this power level.
So anyway, a deal was done earlier and the chap who bought the 535d off me kindly gave me a lift in his V10 M6 to collect the V10 RS6.
All the usual checks.. HPI clear? Yes! Full service history? Yes! Recent gearbox and engine service? Yes! and so on, ensued.
It's also had new turbos and the all important "50p" oil seal (a staunch prerequesite) in the last 5k, as the previous owner bought it on warranty and it had some bad oil leaks and went legal on them and they got everything reconditioned, which is nice.
Just ticked over 104k miles, and other than slightly worn brake discs everything seems all good.
The power delivery is like a fricking bomb going off - my 535d was quick with around 350 bhp and 500 lb-ft, but despite being 300kg heavier, 572 bhp and (less crucially), 479 lb-ft more than makes up for that.
The previous owner is an engineer so had mechanical sympathy and never tuned it. I'm not, and am considering stage 2 to around 735 bhp and 750ish lb-ft, along with gearbox mapping. It's already had the pre-cats removed so passes the MOT emissions test, but liberates better flow?
While an acquired taste, sky blue is my favourite colour. It's in fact the same colour as the C5 me and my old man test drove 20 years ago, and the same as the Layer Cake RS6. I like the fact it's understated and has the front RS6 grille badge removed. Perhaps I'll do the same with the rear badge. Also the wheels would look better in silver to match the chrome bits, but it's all good for now.
E61 M5 was an option but they were slightly out of budget and I'd already experienced an S85. Back in 2004 me and my dad test drove a C5 RS6, then a couple of months later Layer Cake was released and I always had a soft spot for that, and also Temple's Arnage. C5 RS6s are getting a bit old now though and the gearboxes aren't the strongest. The later C6, with its 5-litre twin-turbo V10, always seemed unobtainable and too ridiculous to own, but recently values have been dropping. I assume being reasonably rare they're right at the bottom of their depreciation curve.
The fact is, if you want a reliable 700 + bhp for under £15k then you require either an F10 M5 or a C6 RS6 (or a Bentley Flying Spur/CGT but didn't fancy lugging another 400 kg around). The F10 M5 sits at 1870 kg sans driver, whereas the C6 Avant is 2025 kg, so while the F10 probably has the legs on a C6, I do like the idea of Quattro at this power level.
So anyway, a deal was done earlier and the chap who bought the 535d off me kindly gave me a lift in his V10 M6 to collect the V10 RS6.
All the usual checks.. HPI clear? Yes! Full service history? Yes! Recent gearbox and engine service? Yes! and so on, ensued.
It's also had new turbos and the all important "50p" oil seal (a staunch prerequesite) in the last 5k, as the previous owner bought it on warranty and it had some bad oil leaks and went legal on them and they got everything reconditioned, which is nice.
Just ticked over 104k miles, and other than slightly worn brake discs everything seems all good.
The power delivery is like a fricking bomb going off - my 535d was quick with around 350 bhp and 500 lb-ft, but despite being 300kg heavier, 572 bhp and (less crucially), 479 lb-ft more than makes up for that.
The previous owner is an engineer so had mechanical sympathy and never tuned it. I'm not, and am considering stage 2 to around 735 bhp and 750ish lb-ft, along with gearbox mapping. It's already had the pre-cats removed so passes the MOT emissions test, but liberates better flow?
While an acquired taste, sky blue is my favourite colour. It's in fact the same colour as the C5 me and my old man test drove 20 years ago, and the same as the Layer Cake RS6. I like the fact it's understated and has the front RS6 grille badge removed. Perhaps I'll do the same with the rear badge. Also the wheels would look better in silver to match the chrome bits, but it's all good for now.
Edited by Limited100 on Wednesday 20th November 20:19
Mr Tidy said:
Congratulations on buying a missile!
You're right, silver wheels would look better.
Not sure about the photos, but I always use "forum fit".
Thanks, I tried forum fit but it still limited the width. It didn't used to do that, hmm.You're right, silver wheels would look better.
Not sure about the photos, but I always use "forum fit".
It definitely feels like a missile, you just hang on when those turbos are at full chat!
Congratulations, these are awesome cars, I ran one for around 8 years, just sold it earlier this year in prep for a potential house downsizing resulting in less drive space. The V10 is sublime and the power delivery very impressive, they never run out of puff. Great for swallowing loads too, been camping in ours a few times just superb.
ninepoint2 said:
Congratulations, these are awesome cars, I ran one for around 8 years, just sold it earlier this year in prep for a potential house downsizing resulting in less drive space. The V10 is sublime and the power delivery very impressive, they never run out of puff. Great for swallowing loads too, been camping in ours a few times just superb.
Nice, I remember yours was stage 2 right? And there's another one on here with close to 1000 bhp? Yeh, bet these are superb on camping trips.Limited100 said:
Nice, I remember yours was stage 2 right? And there's another one on here with close to 1000 bhp? Yeh, bet these are superb on camping trips.
Nah it was standard, never did I ever feel like it needed to be faster, there is one on here that runs 1000bhp, think it might have been "IanH755" I'm sure it was him that coined the phrase (or similar) "nothing that big/heavy should be so fast"Oh and get the wheels back to silver please
ninepoint2 said:
Nah it was standard, never did I ever feel like it needed to be faster, there is one on here that runs 1000bhp, think it might have been "IanH755" I'm sure it was him that coined the phrase (or similar) "nothing that big/heavy should be so fast"
Oh and get the wheels back to silver please
I get you, it's silly, silly fast stock.Oh and get the wheels back to silver please
Congrats - they are amazing cars. I miss mine which was MRC tuned to 730hp.
It did actually completely change my perspective on driving though as when you daily drive something like that for 3 years, you get completely used to it and all other cars feel a bit flat afterwards.
Only criticism of it was how quickly it could get through very expensive discs and pads. Also, the read main oil seal is an expensive and seemingly inevitable job on these.
Enjoy it though - not many chances you get in life to run a twin turbo V10
It did actually completely change my perspective on driving though as when you daily drive something like that for 3 years, you get completely used to it and all other cars feel a bit flat afterwards.
Only criticism of it was how quickly it could get through very expensive discs and pads. Also, the read main oil seal is an expensive and seemingly inevitable job on these.
Enjoy it though - not many chances you get in life to run a twin turbo V10
I really like these, something so nicely understated about them, back when Germans did class better than anyone else. Those box arches are lovely, but not overdone either.
I had always (wrongly) overlooked Audi RS until recently. They do make phenomenal road cars. It might not be the fastest thing, but I'm really enjoying mine.
I had always (wrongly) overlooked Audi RS until recently. They do make phenomenal road cars. It might not be the fastest thing, but I'm really enjoying mine.
These cars are absolutely unbelievable on full chat. I had one mapped to 730 - 900 ish by MRC. I was a passenger in a 997 Turbo and it didn't have the same pickup. I'd say you'd need to be in a stage 3 or higher GTR, 991 Turbo S or some sort of McLaren to get a similar level of straight line performance - they'd all be starting at at least four times the price if not more. I don't think it would be possible to achieve the same sort of wall of torque from any NA engine. It was a real bucket list car for me and I intended to be buried in it but I was worn down gradually by a number of things to point where I put it in storage then eventually gave in entirely and sold it a couple of weeks ago.
First of all, I live in Dublin which is incredibly congested, even on weekends, which just sucks the life out of you - add sub 10 mpg to the list and it gets even more tiresome. Crap roads pretty much everywhere meant you felt the 2 plus tonnes bouncing around the road quite a bit. Finally, the fact you had so much power on tap but seldom got to use it just wound me up in the end.
Ideally, if you own a car like this, you live in the countryside about 30 minutes from the nearest large town, meaning you get plenty of time to warm it up and give it some beans. They are a stunning car, a real unicorn, and if I enjoyed different circumstances, it would still be on the driveway. I feel genuinely privileged to have owned this piece of automotive history.
First of all, I live in Dublin which is incredibly congested, even on weekends, which just sucks the life out of you - add sub 10 mpg to the list and it gets even more tiresome. Crap roads pretty much everywhere meant you felt the 2 plus tonnes bouncing around the road quite a bit. Finally, the fact you had so much power on tap but seldom got to use it just wound me up in the end.
Ideally, if you own a car like this, you live in the countryside about 30 minutes from the nearest large town, meaning you get plenty of time to warm it up and give it some beans. They are a stunning car, a real unicorn, and if I enjoyed different circumstances, it would still be on the driveway. I feel genuinely privileged to have owned this piece of automotive history.
Edited by prtyqwerty on Sunday 10th November 12:14
Limited100 said:
trails said:
Cool car OP, I much prefer these to the modern RS variants. I'd do the same as you; paint the wheels and map it.
Best of luck with it
Cheers, the pre cat removal is all the hardware required for stage 2 so just needs the mapping now, MRC are decent I think.Best of luck with it
prtyqwerty said:
My mechanic said the engines aren't all that complicated - essentially 2 5-pot turbos lobbed together. They are incredibly durable and take mods really well, even better than the C7.
Define “complicated” … 
The real issue is the packaging and in turn access. It’s frequently an engine out job to undertake what should be straightforward repairs.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff