Service History

[TomRS]

Guys,


Just a quick one for you, as many of you are aware i do a lot of my own work on the RS myself, plug changes and oil/filters plus mostly anything else that needs doing as i find it very difficult to trust garages after many a bad experience... i do have a selection of places i trust and use but when im confident with the spanners i dont really feel the need to spend money on fitting say a wheel bearing or doing the oil and filter.

So my question is, would you buy my RS6 if it didnt have main dealer service history...yet had reciepts with date/millage stamps of when things were done? i mean i have garage reciepts for the gearbox oil and the new front suspension arms etc as thats not something i can do.

Its mainly aimed at spark plug and oil/filter changes, do people want to see Audi/specialist stamps or would you be ok with the above? personally i'd rather buy a car from an enthusiast who's looked after the car even if that means he's done work himself.
But thats my view so im curious whats everyone elses views on the subject.


Thanks!

[Farravi]

The latter, as long as you can show receipts/proof of purchasing the perishable item(s) then that's good enough for me as I don't trust stealers having had many personal awful experiences.

[discostu49]

Yes I would buy a car that's had all the jobs done regardless if it was dealer or owner. As long as the jobs are done the perfect buy would be a mechanic who is also a rs6 fanatic/enthusiast who does his own work dealer prices are through the roof for the smallest of jobs

[TomRS]

Yes I would buy a car that's had all the jobs done regardless if it was dealer or owner. As long as the jobs are done the perfect buy would be a mechanic who is also a rs6 fanatic/enthusiast who does his own work dealer prices are through the roof for the smallest of jobs

I certainly fall into the enthusiast and mechanic sector... not by trader but been spannering for 10+yrs as a hobby so know my way round most things very well, the RS is no exception i enjoy working on it.
I also make sure i dont cut any corners and always use oem parts from TPS (i get great discount)

Dealer prices are extreme and as much as i want to please everyone i refuse to pay out of my pocket for a bit of paper or electronic stamp to say its done, half the time dealers dont even do a good job.
At least if i do the job myself and i break something i then fix it, but thanks for the feedback, cars not for sale anytime soon, i was just discussing with my father who owns a B7 RS4 about if we should just pay the money to have a stamp in the book even though we carry out nearly all maintenance ourselves (barring big jobs like engines out etc)

Just thought i'd get people opinions, i find it odd how a lot of people are so focused on dealer history that sometimes a real gem would slip through there fingers because of it.... i've always bought cars from people who are enthusiastic and many of them self maintained, it helps if you know the car through the forum etc, you all know my car and always post my problems and what i did... didnt do etc.

[rtd]

That all being said the only real barometer is the market place and you will only know the effects of this when it is time to sell.

Personally for a car like this which is only going to appreciate in value a service history supported by a reputable specialist or dealer only adds that element of credibility to the whole overall package.

[rs6_sid]

To be honest I do a combination of specialist and my self although I do have my own workshop , I get them to do the oil change just so I have paperwork

But I keep a log of all the parts and excel sheet all work undertaken and when it was done

It's more worrying to me if someone puts the wrong grade oils or uses poor quality parts most things you can't go too far wrong as it's just a normal car bar things like Drc ect

[Jim Haseltine]

My cars before the RS were either end of life or classics so I've never been that bothered about history and I've never bothered with it in cars I've sourced for family or friends, I'm more interested in the condition of the thing and how it's been looked after and service history is no proof of that - if it's obviously had minimal care it's out.
The RS had part history and the dealer I sourced it from was an enthusiast, using it himself and was treating it well. As I'm knocking on in years it was my intention to go the Audi service route with it but I can't resist using spanners so it'll only go there for the things I'm not equipped to do or if I'm pushed for time. Things might be a bit awkward because a long-term project in my garage means I'm stuck with working in my drive but as a mate who owes me some serious favours is the manager of a local autocentre I've got access to lifts and the like on days when they're quiet.
It was my intention to keep the car until the above mentioned project is finished but the sound of the thing in hooligan mode means it's going to be staying much longer than that.

[discostu49]

Is the c6 rs6 really a car that's going to appriciate in value???? I don't think it is and based on a market valuation I've lost 5k in 4 months ...

[Farravi]

I don't care but I will keep her until she drops, once i get a bit more settled, I'll park her up and carry out extensive restoration and modifications including wide arching, new paint/wrap, etc over time. I have stuck by her and don't intend to let her go. (Hopefully my missus doesn't read this as this is the most romantic notion that's come out of me, yet.)

[Jim Haseltine]

Is the c6 rs6 really a car that's going to appriciate in value???? I don't think it is and based on a market valuation I've lost 5k in 4 months ...

Based on my experience, in the short term values aren't going to rise, that doesn't usually happen until a vehicle drops into the 'classic' category (and often not even then) and the C6 is still a few years too young for that to happen just yet.
It took a good 15-20 years from the end of the production run for Ur quattro prices to start rising and by that time you could buy a condition A example for between 15-20% of it's original sale price - even now except for the prices being asked by chancers or dreamers you'll still be paying less than the first owner did.
All things considered, the C6 is (in my opinion) destined for classic status eventually but not for many years and with very few exceptions, cars do not increase in value in real terms - basically, they're a machine, drive it, enjoy it and if, at the end of things you haven't spent too much money then you've done well.

[TomRS]

Thanks guys i appreciate that.


I do most of the work myself and i intend on keeping the RS for a a few years, probably until a C7 comes into the afforability sector and more tuning options have come around for it.
As its stands the C7's V8 is no match for the V10.. with the right exhaust and fettling i also prefer the sound of the V10 i like that its the last real big engined marvell to come out of the Audi factory.

with all these emissions rules etc i reckon the next RS6 will likely be a v6 and then getting the big power outputs we can quite easily will be harder and harder.
I do belive that the C6 will acheive a premium eventually simply down to its engine, car people like big engines and 5.0 L V10 is nice and big, you've never been to a motor sports event and commented on how nice the MX5's or even the touring cars sound.
Sound is what made the UR quattro an icon, you knew it was a S1 when you heard that thunderous 5cyl noise and turbo chatter, if the thing sounded sh!t i doubt it would have attained the status it did.
Take the Pug 205 T16 and other Group B rally cars, they mostly did sound brilliant but compared to the S1 werent really there, and if you ever mention rallying or car noises the UR Quattro is always one of the first mentioned.


For this alone i do think the C6 will get its classic "worth some money" stage but not for a good few years, long after i've sold it... unless its worth pennies in which case i'll lock it away in a garage for 10yrs.
Its biggest downfall is its bloody heavy and it doesnt look that great, Audi have really brought looks round with the new models but the C6 really is a let down in the looks department.
It has no angry lines (apart from its rear quarter panel) otherwise its just a round blob.

[Jim Haseltine]

It has no angry lines (apart from its rear quarter panel) otherwise its just a round blob.

That's it's beauty - it looks like a A6 and drives like one until you plant your right foot, wolf in sheep's clothing sort of thing. It's comfortable too, there's no way you can make a 200 mile trip non-stop in an Ur-quattro without feeling like you've been run over when you get out of it but with the RS it's like a trip to the shops.
Short distances and/or twisty country roads and I'd pick the Ur - long distance and motorways, it'd be the 6.

[discostu49]

Is the c5 not even heavier? I agree the c6 lacks in the aggressive look department but when you see one on the road coming towards you then going past into the horizon they do look great and wide. The c6 looks OK on its own but next to a c7 the c7 is just so good looking ...this is the best pic I have of my car at the moment. ..

[IanH755]

The C5 is lighter by about 175kg IIRC. I like my cars to be more 'stealthy' than 'shouty' so I prefer the cars in reverse order C5 best to C7 last as it's lost it's Q-Car stealth which the C5/6 had in spades. If a C7 hoons up behind you, one look at that 'angry' front and you know it's something quick which kind of spoils it a bit for me. I prefer that no-one had any clue until you hit the warp pedal and go full tilt boogey for freedom leaving them shocked by the automotive violence that just shot past

[TomRS]

The C5 is lighter by about 175kg IIRC. I like my cars to be more 'stealthy' than 'shouty' so I prefer the cars in reverse order C5 best to C7 last as it's lost it's Q-Car stealth which the C5/6 had in spades. If a C7 hoons up behind you, one look at that 'angry' front and you know it's something quick which kind of spoils it a bit for me. I prefer that no-one had any clue until you hit the warp pedal and go full tilt boogey for freedom leaving them shocked by the automotive violence that just shot past

Ian i do somewhat i agree i enjoy the wolf in sheeps clothing for the most part, but somtimes when your filling up and you get some bone head pop his over and ask "is that real RS6?... " which leads onto a conversation about its poor super car stylng i mean each to their own, personally a button that made it turn into an angry beast for the 10% of the time you want people to know its an RS6 haha!

But as you say Jim i agree, i plan on keeping my 6 for a long time, i love its comfort and its brutality when applying the throttle..