RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

I have noticed these cars now seem to be within my reach and fits everything I would want from a car right now.

I could afford to buy one, but the running costs worry me.

Anyone had one long enough to know what servicing costs are like, and whether they ever go wrong and what repair bills are like, i.e clutch etc.

I have no doubt petrol consumption is terrible, but don't rack up enough miles to worry too much about that. I am more worried about massive service bills at frequent intervals, and potential repair bills.

Can you get a good private warranty on one of these cars. ?

Cheers
Rob

Matteeboy

Rob - Evo did an article on one of the Supercar clubs and how much their cars cost to run.
The RS6 was shockingly expensive to run - they run Lambos, 911s, Ferraris and all sorts and really did have a wallet nightmare with the RS6. Worth bearing in mind!

Dracoro

Was that due to unreliability of that car or just standard servicing/running costs?

Anyway, there's a good general rule of thumb. A £60k car has £60k car running costs no matter whether you paid £600, £6k or £60k. (obv same goes for £10/20/30/40/50/70/80/90/100k etc. cars)

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Thanks thats what I am worried about - I could be mistaken for thinking audi = Bulletproof and long service intervals.

So many forget about the running costs of a car, and if we are talking supercar running costs then I am the first to admit its our my league.

Need to look into this one carefully. I will be stretching to buy the car, and don't want/can't afford to be spending £1000's per annum excluding petrol in running costs.

Its nutts.! I want a car I can just drive and enjoy for a few good years. It needs to seat 2 adults and 3 kids in relative comfort. Budget is around the 20-26K mark and the car needs to put a smile on my face, and like the understated look and comfort. But don't want huge service/repair costs. And yet struggling to find something.

***** out perfomance isn't everything to me anymore, but its needs to be quick enough.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

I should be shot for saying this on a Scooby forum, but I could consider a well sorted STI8 or even Hawkeye 25l sti, and know I could run one of these with relative ease and be under budget. But as great as they are I just so wanted to get away from the big spoilers and fields of black plastic and get something the missus would be happy with.

Andy M3

A6's are pretty good car's - my wife had a MY03 2.5 TDI SE avant. Very quiet, good dealers, cheap enough to run, handled pretty well. I can only imagine the RS variant to be 100 times better

RS Grant

The RS6 is an awesome car, however, is there not a known problem with the active suspension?? Also, those massive brakes cant be a cheap exercise to replace!!

If you're considering a Hawkeye... then have a look at mine and see what you think, I have all the standard parts for it if you dont fancy the modified look.


Cheers,
Grant

Jeff Wiltshire

Front discs on a RS6 are around £500 to replace....

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Know what you mean about getting away from the black plastic and big spoilers. I was in a new IS250 Lexus the other day with all the toys - made my WRX Wagon feel like it was built in the early 80's.

GCollier

I owned an RS6 for almost two years. Bought it when it was 10 months old, sold it a few months before the warranty expired. Running costs can be frightening, particularly if you won't have a warranty, so you need to go in with your eyes open. A quick summary would be:

Minor service - £400
Major service (every 2 years) - £800-1000
Cambelt (every 3 years) - £1000-12000
Brake disks/pads (it's a heavy car and it'll literally eat these if you drive it hard) - £1200-1500
Tyres - £700-900 a set

The cars major weak point seems to be the DRC suspension. This has failed on the vast majority of cars (there is a poll on RS246.com :: Dedicated to Audi S & RS Models) and costs up to £2000 to replace. The trouble is that even when it's replaced there's no guarantee it won't fail again quickly. Another relatively weak point seems to be the gearbox with a fair number of failures reported. With a 5 figure replacement cost this is something you'd probably trust to an indie. Engine wise they seem to pretty much bomb proof. I've never heard of an engine letting go (which is just as well as they're a bespoke Cosworth unit), though I've read one or two cases of turbos needing replacement at a cost of about £5k.

Fuel consumption averaged about 19mpg for me, though I didn't drive mine particularly hard as I usually had wife + kids onboard. Insurance was reasonable - around £700 iirc.

Warranty-wise, Audi will charge you around £1600/year for an extended warranty, though only up to 5 years old I think.

I enjoyed my RS6 - fantastic performance, soundtrack and build quality, top-notch build quality and materials. But I have to say I have no regrets in swapping it for a 335d M-Sport Touring, which is an all-round better steer and costs peanuts to run in comparison.

Gary.

billythekid

Exactly, the labour at audi is not *that* expensive but parts are up at the top end of the scale, brakes, clutches, suspension, tyres, exhaust etc etc are all rather expensive. Then add on mega money if a turbo goes then you are looking at TVR running costs. But if you do low mileage it could be a good car to own and reasonably reliable. One well known German ex F1 driver had one as his daily driver... so must be good! My main concern would be getting it nicked..

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Thanks all and Gcollier nothing like getting the opinion of someone who has been there and done it.

Quote:
Minor service - £400
Major service (every 2 years) - £800-1000
Cambelt (every 3 years) - £1000-12000

Dont sound too bad and what I would expect on a this type of car, but everything else you describe worries me lots. And like you say I would probably end up buying second hand and private or from a steeler. So I would be looking at an older example with either no warranty or a steeler warranty thats probably not worth the paper its written on.

Looking fast like I suspected and out of reach , without pouring all my hard earned into which is not what I want to be doing. I wanted a car thats built well, goes well, and wont leave me worrying from one month to the next if its goes wrong and where I am going to have to find the extra cash from.

There's no certainty with any car, but the RS6 looks like they do reside in the super car teritory.

I really like the look and package that comes with the new BMW335's but the purchase price is a bit out my reach.

Back to looking at either jap stuff again. Or more sensible nippy Diesal BMW or petrol Audi's.

GCollier

Here are two BMW approved used 335's within your budget.

Approved Used BMW

Approved Used BMW

billythekid

The one at blue bell is an ok ish spec for the money.

pippyrips

i've just gone over to an RS4 - different kettle of fish to the scoob but am loving it - Sure you won't be disappointed if you did get an RS6

Skittles

I owned an RS6 until about a year ago. I thought it was quite heavy on maintenance costs (cam belt, chewing through pads etc).

Moreover, do not own one out of warranty - there is a suspension design flaw (DRC) which has not been solved. I had three DRC failures in 18 months. Audi simply replace the dampers and unless you are under warranty you pay for it.

Other than that they are great cars on roads, but not too great on a track due to terrible understeer and brake fade.

ScoobyDoo555

I've currently got an S4, and am in the same boat - been looking at RS4 and as there isn't THAT much difference in price (about £2k), to the RS6s......

There seem to be quite a few for sale, and the DRC issue seems to be one of the big reasons for not buying one.

However, the RS4s are commanding very high (relatively-speaking) prices.....

Gonna keep on looking but, it might end with a newer S4 (na V8) with a Stage 2 upgrade + miltek.......

But the RS6 is tempting (more of a heart ruling head moment though)

Dan

SimonD

Legacy Spec B.

ScoobyDoo555

Not thread hijacking, but I'd looked at the Leggy. But Audi cabin is such a nicer place to be. Better built too. Also, in terms of performance, the Audi (RS) destroys the Subarus (especially at the top end) Handling? well, that's a toughy, but think about what the car is used for. Not everybody uses there car as a rally car everyday.

I found that when I had Scoobys, I always had that urge to drive quickly (get in the car, fire up the car - the feeling of ,"3,2,1 go!") all the time. The Audi isn't as exhausting in that way.

Personally, I *would* get another Scoob, but an old Classic, as a track car

Perhaps

Dan

Bakerman

My choice would be the beemers by a mile (I cant stand unexpected running repairs), those two seem very very good value when compared to how easily you can spend £20k on noting special.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Wow.! That really suprises me, and has shed a totally different light on things. They represents huge value for money, and as good as close as you ever going to get to trouble free motoring. I was thinking 30K+ for a 335

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Had a scout round and the The more favoured by me bling! 'M' sports are around the 30K mark.

Only other consideration at the moment is perhaps an older 400bhp M5 For much less at around 12-15K but again worries me that I could end up with a bill as much as the car itself. But brought from specialist trader with decent warranty I suppose it could be a consideration.

Either that and back to the idea of a 10K 2 seater toy for me and a boring but nice sensible family car.

VoteConservative!

those 335 SE's dont seem to be holding onto their value well at all. Over 10k lost in a space of 6 months is astonishing!

The Chief

What about a BMW 335i Bi-Turbo?

Over 300bhp as standard and 160mph + top speed.

a good alternative to a new M3

Then there is an option of a remap

ZIPPY

Avoid the 335i TT Petrol the diesel 335d has to be driven to be believed it is simply astonishing.

My mate has just bought a brand new 335d Msport Coupe and it is amazing.

Expensive new yes but 2nd hand they are within your budget and you wont be dissapointed.

Andy M3

Although the majority appreciate such a car, I am not the biggest fan of diesels, and was somewhat under whelmed by the 535d Sport I drove.

VoteConservative!

Diesels are very good at what they do, but im sure for a true petrol head well then its ummmm.... all about petrol?

Philip Attaway

I have had my RS6 for just over a year now. It is a fantastic car and is great for your needs. (I came from an 03 STi). There is loads of legroom in the back so my little one has some growing to do before he can kick the back seats! A huge boot for prams, and related kids stuff and all the toys as standard. TV etc
Power is effortless. You will keep up/burn up anything you feel the need to BUT it is thirsty. My average is 19mpg. As in from really empty £75 to fill up and only 270ish miles to the tank. I only drive around 8000 miles a year so managable.
My suspension has been fine (touches wood) and if it does go wrong, after market kits scrapping the DRC are available for much less cash as well as discs and pads now the car is older. If you want Audi servicing you will pay big bucks!



Costs so far have been:
PLANNED
Insurance with wife £750 (London postcode, wife SP30 ,no claims, with APLAN)
Independant major service inc 8 spark plugs £500

UNPLANNED
Water pump failed. Front of car off job! Had cambelt changed when I bought car but as car was coming to pieces and belt is only £30 odd, I had pump, cambelt and tensioners done for £700 again at an independant audi garage. Audi quoted almost £2000!

The car has no warranty now and it does make you worry a bit in case anything goes wrong. You can see from the water pump how costs can mount up for a relatively cheap job on a scoob even at an independant garage.

On the whole though a great car and no regrets. Buy one

Phil

webby v7 slipperwagon

iTrader: (2)

My sister ran 2002 S6 Avant for a short while. Never again, the steering rack had a knocking noise after about 5 months and it cost over a grand to replace. All because the rubber mounts built into the rack failed and Audi dont sell them seperatly. Complete rack only. Wheel bearings and then drive shafts meant she had to cancel her holiday. All this and only 72,000 miles with FASH. Then the aircon went and she traded it in for a 540 BMW and only ever had to service it, no probs. She said the faults the Audi had did'nt really bother her that much, but the attitude of the dealers and the shocking cost of parts has put her off for life. It seems a thing with Audi, that there parts prices are a p*ss take. A real shame as well, because the fantastic interior and that lovely V8 deserve better.

VoteConservative!

She shouldnt have taken it to a audi dealer IMHO. VAG do seem rather unpleasent when it comes to doing spare parts for steering racks as they simply dont seem to do many. Really audi should have given her a replacement car whilst hers was in for work unless it was at really short notice.

My SEAT dealers are nice. they gave me free dustcaps once