De-cloaking!!

[Daveperc]

Time I think to step out of the shadows have been lurking here for several weeks!

My new toy arrives tomorrow - well as long as the dealer finishes the final touches today - and I can't stop smiling!!

Not that the car needs any introduction to you - "edcase" is about to step back from the Misano Red RS6 that has swept him round Europe, and watch it quietly (?? ) roll off into the distance!

More news when I've got it and had a play - Cambridge on Monday, Derby on Tuesday - then I'll have a feel for the beast

And piccies - well for now I'll cheat - here are Ed's:
Exterior: http://edbartlett6649.fotopic.net/p30341631.html
Engine: http://edbartlett6649.fotopic.net/p34778239.html
Interior: http://edbartlett6649.fotopic.net/p34778238.html
Rear end: http://edbartlett6649.fotopic.net/p34769273.html

I'll take some in the next few weeks - once I've stopped grinning!

Cheers

Dave

[Rupert]

Welcome!

I've only seen one Misano in the flash and it is a stunning colour! Photos don't do it justice.

[Daveperc]

Just heard that the parts won't be in till tomorrow so pick up is delayed till Saturday

Oh well, the trusty V70R AWD lives to drive another day - I guess I'll survive.

Why can Volvo get parts from Sweden to an independent garage in one day, but it takes Audi 2 days to get them from Germany to one of their own dealers?? Sigh!!

Dave

[SteveH]

Evening Dave, Welcome to the unofficial club!

Slightly confused though, you bought it from Ed or from a dealer? What parts you waiting for.. new boys toys or something?

Oh, and a mighty fine set of RS6 mats you've bought there

[Daveperc]

Yep - it was the mats that sold it - I just knew I had to have a set like that, and Ed threw in a car to go with them!!

I'm buying off Ed, but the cars been in for MOT and they decided to do some more work on the suspension before passing it - all under the warranty. So hopefully I'll have a smooth riding mat-set by Saturday!

Dave

[B9Boy]

Hi Dave,

Im new to the forum too having only just got my Misano red RS6 a couple of weeks ago. Im still loving mine and was abroad when the missus collected it fro mthe dealers so know exactly what its like not to get behind the wheels straight away. Trust me though, it'll be worth it!!!

[SteveH]

Superb... I can assure you the feeling does not fade, I am still loving mine after 30,000 miles!

Goodness only knows how Audi have got away with not calling in a full recall on RS6 suspension, as it appears that most owners have had problems with the DRC system. Other than that they are bullet proof considering the level of performance. Enjoy!!

[bbigman2000]

Agreed, they are bullet proof, nice choice on misano, I origionally wanted misano
and infact did a deal on one which fell through.

Welcome to the elite club

[edcase]

Hi fellas,

Not been on for a while due to work work work.

It will be a real shame to see the car go tomorrow, but I feel I have scratched an itch.

What will I miss? Well...

The interstellar straight-line performance
The interior / build quality
The endless admiring looks and comments
The load carrying ability without the usual load carrying performance-sap
The colour
The mats...well actually I've just got the same girl to make an M5 set
The nav / sterio system (the M5 one is appalling)
The 4WD sure-footedness in any weather
The look of awe on people's faces when you trot out the stats (faster 0-30 than a McLaren F1 etc.)

What I won't miss:

The lack of ultimate driver involvement in 'the twisties' (TM)
The fuel bills (mind you the M5 isn't too much better)
The service and parts costs (thank god for warranty)
The harsh ride on the 19's

So, definitely more things to miss than not, however I have been getting an increasing itch to get back on a track, and the M5 delivers most of the positives along with a really awesome level of driver involvement. I love it more and more. However.....I am off to Stratford tomorrow to look at a 997 GT3 for delivery mid-2007, so watch this space!!!

Will I be back?

It's possible. I was originally planning to be first on the list for the new RS6, but after the S6 and having seen the recent spy shots they have an awful lot to do to convince me, especially as I was told this morning that the M5 Touring is now confirmed for early next year. However once we move out of central London and I get enough room for more than one car, I may very well get another one in this shape when they fall below the £25k mark for the Europe trips it proved so amazingly capable on. I just can't think of a better vehicle for carting a couple adults and their extreme sports gear to the Alps!

I will definitely be popping in from time to time if only to see if Dave does what I managed to avoid and starts the slippery slope of modding! Unfortunately I have to say I haven't been quite so good with the M5...I have a short-shift, exhaust and brakes going on next week, but then I bought the M5 outright so not so worried about the resale of this one as I was the RS.

Dave, best of luck with the car. You know she's a good-un and well loved by an enthusiast, and the boys on here are a wealth of knowledge and general good guys. Thank you all for all the advice etc. over the past months.

cheers!
Ed

[bbigman2000]

Nice one best of luck Ed.

[CliveH]

Welcome to Dave

and farewell, or hopefull "au revoir" to Ed

btw, did you really find the ride that harsh?

[Daveperc]

I'm a miserable Dave this afternoon!

Dealer called this morning to tell Ed and I that there was still a "clonk" from the suspension especially when cold - yes, almost certainly more DRC trouble. They want to keep the car till it's sorted - hopefully next week!

I haven't quite fathomed what they have and haven't yet replaced (all under warranty) but would really appreciate any insights etc from you guys. I know there are quite a few threads here, but if anyone has some well informed views on what this is likely to be, and more importantly, what needs to be done to sort it, I'd be hugely grateful!

So, the sturdy V70R comes out once again, and will have to do the Cambridge and Derby runs next week - 150K miles on the clock, and goes like a train (and no, I don't mean that it's always late!). Been a great workhorse as three kids passed through the teenage years - run faultlessly apart from a tendency to eat propshaft uj's at 75K mile intervals!

So - what's the diagnosis guys?? (on the RS - not the V70!)

Dave

[edcase]

Dave,

My (limited) understanding is that the suspension is linked diametrically opposing corner-to-corner, and the system then increases and decreases pressure between them accordingly to help eliminate body roll etc.

The issue is that a fair number of owners have experienced leaks, which requires replacing both shocks plus 'recharging' the pressure system. Yours has now had all four corners replaced in the past 1000-or-so miles, but I also understand that there have also been some issues with some engineers not recharging the system correctly? Not sure if that is the case here or if its something totally unrelated...I know some owners have had the exhaust bracket break, it could perhaps be that, hence it stops knocking once it warms up due to expansion.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[SteveH]

Check that when the dampers have been replaced, the central reservoirs fixed next to the spare wheel well (IIRC they are called Pressure Accumulators) have been replaced also. They are pre-charged at factory at a whopping 16 Bar and when the damper fails, when used these are very likely to fail given the sudden drop of pressure on one side of the system. Also its basically a real bugger to bleed the system of all air, took them one week to bleed two dampers once on my car and I know that my dealer is experienced in DRC suspension as he had seven RS6's in for the same repair in the space of 10 days!!!!!!

[Rupert]

I really don't know why Audi keeps faffing around with this system. It's obvious to the owners that is not fit for purpose (it works well when it works, but it's not durable on such a heavy car).
Surely we would have some case to demand they fit a more conventional suspension to the car?
At least they don't quibble on the warrantee side of things!

Dave, the dealer will learn from this experience, and it sounds like they're determined to get it right. There is a certain procedure which must be followed for replacing parts and pressurising the system. Once the dealer knows how to do that, things will be sweet again.
The best things come to those who wait.