Muzzlehatch wrote:I got 35K out of my last set of PZeros, which I was very chuffed with. Many of those were motorway miles, but some of them were track miles at Goodwood and Nurburgring, so it had a fair mix. I went for the same again when I replaced them, the dealer did it for under £1200.
I've been blasting across Europe the last 5 days and had written a post last night (in my hotel) teasing your Miss Daisy driving technique, but my iPad died during the post and lost it; so just wanted to comment what a great accomplishment that was on PZeros as they do wear quickly. Makes me wonder what we would get out of MPSS on your regimen...70k? Just goes to show what can be achieved with motorway driving compared with London driving!
But back to blasting across Europe as its far more exciting and interesting than tyre talk...I've done about 1,700km since Saturday fully loaded and 4up across Belgium, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, and my RS6Avant has been nothing short of amazing. I've really been able to drive the car as intended on the sorts of roads it was designed to devour...and devour it does with aplomb, and a great sense of satisfaction has been derived from this. You just can't drive a car like this on our roads legally; and its only when the car is loaded up, in dynamic mode to keep the pitch and yaw in check, and sweeping through long Autobahn curves and straights at silly speeds does this car really come into its own.
But it's also the way our European friends drive - I don't include the Belgians or Dutch in that I'm afraid - but everyone else has great lane discipline and doesn't pull out on you with a closing speed they haven't judged properly, or sit in the outside lane like at home. It's also been fun leaving the German über barges wanting in the power/torque stakes as our beasts really keep pulling hard past 193kmh (120mph) all the way to 290kmh(180mph) where I ran out of margin...and my limiter didn't kick-in which surprised me. Of course that sort of sprinting and speed is not sustainable for more than 100miles and she just drinks fuel at that pace. Once in Austria and Slovenia where the roads were less crowded I found that I could keep a steady 130-140kmh and fuel consumption was quite good...so from London to where I am has taken just under 4 tanks of super to do the 1700kms, not bad for the fun I've had and the smile that's been plastered across my face. And I don't say all this as some Autobahn virgin, who's giddy like a schoolboy after his first fast road experience. I've been on them since I was a kid and driving them for 20 years, and last on them earlier this year in my other RS on way back from 'Ring. It's just the way, all loaded-up, that the RS6 Avant does it and with so much power to spare...just effortless, refined and very comfortable for many hours at a time...this is what is so impressive about it. And I haven't even mentioned the ability to close gaps quickly so that others don't have to brake when they've pulled over for you...in anything else you would be busting a metaphorical car sweat to do this.
Another thing you may be interested to hear is that I have not seen another RS6 since I left London, on the Autobahns/Autotroutes. Lots of standard A6 Avants (especially C7s), one C7 S6 Avant, lots of F10 5 Tourings, A4s, A3s, lots of Passat Estates, Golfs, very few Porsches...and hardly any Mercs except the uber barge S500/S600s. Mercs are taxis I guess to most Germans and Austrians?
My only complaint is that the brakes really aren't good enough at these speeds - I've always pooh poohed (in my mind) those that say it needs ceramics - and doing massive haul-downs from big speeds on this trip has changed my view, but they are perfectly acceptable for our laws and limits in UK. Sat Nav has been faultless and not put a foot wrong - have the new 2013 DVD.
Anyway, after 4yrs of ownership I still really love my RS6 Avant and have been hugely impressed the last 5days, so thought I'd share the love
PF
