bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

I do like these now they've come into an affordable bracket.
What do you think? An icon car or e39 m5 touring?

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Very nice but pricey on parts! Did they do an E39 M5 Touring?

BBB3

iTrader: (7)

They are a nice car, my mate just sold this exact model and got a 09" RS6 had it mapped and it's 657/570

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

They certainlly made them, but rare to find in uk I'd of thought.
Anything of this calibre is going to be expensive to run. Looked after, should do well?

Yeah the newer ones are just droll to me, too much money for me unless I win on a scratch card.

BBB3

iTrader: (7)

I think it's in the near the 30k mark, he give 4k for set of ohlins for it
It's nice bit of kit

Maz

iTrader: (34)

They made one.

E39 M5 Touring
Although an E39 M5 Touring was considered, and at least one prototype was constructed (in Titanium Silver with a Black Exclusive leather interior), BMW M decided not to produce an E39 M5 Touring due to financial considerations. In February 2010, as part of BMW's 25th Anniversary of the M5, they revealed this prototype M5 touring along with an E34 M5 Cabriolet, which also was never produced (a Cabriolet model would be spun off as part of the E63/64 BMW 6 Series and M6 for the next generation of the 5 Series and M5).

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Aren't these all Auto's only? Be the only downer for me.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Eh? Damm. I saw a few photos on Google.

stilover

Would prefer this to the V10 version.

Though, I saw a new RS6 today at a dealer, and it looked epic. Big money though!!

john banks

I always wanted one of these after driving one in 2005 but the reliability always stopped me.

ScoobyDoo555

Tbh, what stopped me was the suspension issue. The running costs weren't that much more than my S4, but they were significant.
And after running a modded S4 avant, that was quick, but ultimately boring as hell, I changed direction. Driver involvement is much more rewarding for me, rather than outright straight line speed.

The rs6 is still a bit of a bus. Just a very quick one

Matteeboy

Had a play with one when I had my R32 Golf; before anyone thinks I'm doing a Scoobyjim, it was a tight, twisty B road; the Audi just couldn't carry the speed through the bends. We stayed even which amazed me.

The following week, I absolutely could not shake off a well driven 106 GTi!!

fat-thomas

iTrader: (4)

Awesome cars I'd say!

300gnspitzer

Bloody fast in a straight line, that's why the standard brakes only last about five minutes. I weighed mine at Marham 30-130 day, with me and about a half a tank of fuel it was 2046 kg. Lovely car on big roads, not so much on twisty B roads.

stilover

Nothing shakes off a well driven 106GTI. Most fun car I've had the pleasure to own. Used to hound M3's back in the day in mine. Even hounded a Caterham one sunday morning on a back road. Hardest I've ever driven. He couldn't shake me though.

Matteeboy

I had the lesser but similar Saxo VTR as a young un. Even that was a little go kart!

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Are these really that unreliable? And bloody hell, just over 2 ton

300gnspitzer

The brakes are a known problem, also cost a fortune to fix, discs about £350 each, two sets of pads in the front Brembo calipers, about £400 then the rear pads, then when you're done they're not good. People were converting to the brakes from the V10 model but that's not a cheap fix, about £5000 I think. Cracking car but if you buy one be ready for some big bills.

chrishigham

I've just bought one two weeks ago. So far I love it. Mine has had suspension changed which is a known weak spot and the gearbox sorted. It's very comfy to drive but when you accelerate it's like a jet taking off.

chrishigham

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Nice.
Canny plate too.

thenewgalaxy

Fantastic cars but I genuinely don't quite see the point of them. Very big, very heavy, terrible on consumables and the impressive performance comes at speeds that would see you lose your driving licence if caught. I'd have thought one of the mapped 3-litre diesels would be a better car 95% of the time.

Lots of articles about running costs on RS6s this was the first I came across from an owner's point of view.

Not always worth asking if you can afford to run one, but if you want to.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/Owning-an-Audi-RS6-4-2-V8-Twin-Turbo-/10000000007557618/g.html

john banks

I just moved from a modern 3 litre diesel to a 4 litre petrol (identical Audis otherwise) and there is no comparison whatsoever, I tried to kid myself that the 3.0 TDI would be enough and perhaps if also running something fast it would. The power is doubled standard or tuned, 0-60 drops from 5.9 to 3.5. The sound changes from nice to wicked. The consumption is 50% greater.

If we are comparing new 3.0 TDI to old RS6, I still don't think there is a comparison having owned the former recently and driven the latter in the past. Before tuning the RS6 has 450 BHP, the diesel about 250 BHP. Perhaps if you had a 3 litre bi or tri turbodiesel or 4.2 bi turbodiesel tuned it would get nearer, but then so do the costs.

The way a well turbocharged petrol V8 gives proper thrust at any engine speed will always be hilarious. It is so unstressed and competent and never fails to surprise with a proper haymaker punch of torque over a massive power band that a diesel barely suggests at very briefly. So no matter how impressive the turbodiesel is, the petrol V8 just has to remind you it can be turbocharged too and then it is game over.

john banks

That jet take off is what I'm talking about The small engines and diesels don't do that. With your suspension and gearbox sorted you have an incredible car. Personally I think the cost of fuel, oil, brakes and tyres are well worth it. I also didn't find the C5 RS6 too large to pedal along Subaru roads, it was actually a revelation. On this road in a Puma I was all over an S4, but I don't think much would stick with an RS6, mostly down to driver and visibility was always the limit to cornering, not the grip of the car. The sound I still remember from driving it years ago

Matteeboy

I had a great play with one in my mk4 R32 Golf; clearly it was far quicker on the straights but there weren't many on this twisty B road; the sheer mass of them just ruins their agility.

They make a great noise though; proper bassy woofle.

thenewgalaxy

Fair enough John, but I'd have the diesel (and something for the weekend). Just as capable at overtaking the Micra in front, vastly cheaper to run by a magnitude and carries four or five occupants just as well. Yes the RS6 goes like stink but does the enjoyment extend beyond blasting it from the lights or seeing how quickly you can pull away from Porsches on the motorway?

If I wanted something mentally fast in a straight line I'd get something a lot more focussed than a particularly overweight German barge. A skyline maybe!!!

I've never understood the point of these cars, as impressive as they are. I feel the same way towards the M5 and M6 cars, but they are far more chuckable and a lot more involving.

Matteeboy

I think anything much over 1500kgs will be compromised, even with a zillion horsepower.

john banks

Personally I find the good German barges a lot of fun, in the case of the C5 RS6 much more fun than the press said it was, and I tested it on some of my favourite twisty roads. Interestingly my present S8 which in many ways is the nearest modern equivalent to the old RS6 saloon is still making my GTR seem irrelevant which is no longer fun in comparison. When you ask for equivalent acceleration on all but a smooth, dry surface, the S8 just goes and sometimes lightens the tail if provoked whereas the GTR, like a powerful BMW, requires nursing of the throttle, a steering or stability control intervention. I cannot find an equivalent deficit in performance on the S8 compared with the GTR except the turn in doesn't feel as crisp and perhaps it isn't as much of a challenge. However, the reason the GTR feels a challenge is the lack of rear end stability, IMHO this is not a good thing. Some people love that.

I don't buy the 1500kg compromise either. Things that weigh nearer to 1000kg or 2000kg don't live or die as good road cars because of their weight in my experience. If you want to make it objective, if you look at figure of 8 times or slalom tests, the lighter cars do not always win. To much derision, the original R35 project manager said he aimed for 1740kg for the GTR's weight. Its weight isn't the issue in my eyes, it is too much torque to the rear making it feel like a BMW which just doesn't work in many of the conditions I drive in.

Matteeboy

Interesting; shows how mag reviews are so often flawed. The GTR can do no wrong, the S8 gets a bit of a bashing.

I still think anything too heavy is just over compromised; how many driving greats weigh more than 1500kgs?

john banks

Weight tends to give refinement, ride quality, interior space, equipment, crash safety, all things which most value in a daily driver.

There are lots of reviews that love the S8, and some that don't love the GTR but few would rate either below average. The ability to oversteer on a track is near universally praised by reviewers but I usually find translates into a PITA road car.

You could easily if you wanted look through Evo and find five star cars that weigh over 1500kg. Whether Evo aligns with what you want out of a car is another matter.