First up close look at a new RS6...

[tartan_rob]

How dissapointed I was...

I went into the dealer to collect a part for the wifes car and I walked straight past it. In fact I spent more time looking at the TTS they had. The RS6 is so dull inside, without looking at the various RS6 badges inside it could easily be a std A6....I am really dissapointed.

It was my next choice after the RS4 but I suspect I may be off to BMW instead....

What have Audi done to this fantastic line of beasts.....

I did enquire what it drove like and was told - heavy, muted, very thirsty, much slower in real world driving, cramped in the rear and the M5 is £60k....£20k odd less...........keep the RS4 mate.

[NumberoftheBeast]

I did enquire what it drove like and was told - heavy, muted, very thirsty, much slower in real world driving, cramped in the rear and the M5 is £60k....£20k odd less...........keep the RS4 mate.

Nice sales patter

[GardinerG]

I did enquire what it drove like and was told - heavy, muted, very thirsty, much slower in real world driving..

This is exactly what I thought when I drove it.

Another word to describe it... numb.

[W8PMC]

How dissapointed I was...

I went into the dealer to collect a part for the wifes car and I walked straight past it. In fact I spent more time looking at the TTS they had. The RS6 is so dull inside, without looking at the various RS6 badges inside it could easily be a std A6....I am really dissapointed.

It was my next choice after the RS4 but I suspect I may be off to BMW instead....

What have Audi done to this fantastic line of beasts.....

I did enquire what it drove like and was told - heavy, muted, very thirsty, much slower in real world driving, cramped in the rear and the M5 is £60k....£20k odd less...........keep the RS4 mate.

I think the new RS6 is going to really push Audi in terms of sales as it is not being well received.

On a different tack, the Salesman in question really should know his market, as an M5 is alot more than £60K. A base Saloon is close to £70K OTR & a base M5 Touring a good £6K more. With the options most buyers opt for you're looking at another £10K on either. The full leather options (leather dash & door cards etc.) is an option over £5K alone.

All told however, a good slightly used example looks very cheap when alongside a new RS6.

[NumberoftheBeast]

Been looking at used M5's this week. Mmmm. I like.

That said, because of my age, I couldn't even get insured on an older shape M3 (like a 2003 E46 one) last year. One company wanted 7 grand.

Anyway, let's kepe it on topic. So do people think the new RS6 might be a bit of a flop?

[GardinerG]

Anyway, let's kepe it on topic. So do people think the new RS6 might be a bit of a flop?

Nothing that probably coudn't be fixed with some dieting (did you feel how heavy the doors were?), ceramic breaks, tuning, zorst, custom body and bumpers but most importantly plenty of money.

Just my 2p.

[Nige_RS4]

Nothing that probably coudn't be fixed with some dieting

It would have to be one hell of a diet to shed 400+kgs!

You might be able to shave off 100kgs without getting silly and ripping all the luxury items out.

Better to wait for an engine from a written off car and stick it in an elise or an RS4!

[NumberoftheBeast]

Better to wait for an engine from a written off car and stick it in an elise or an RS4!

An Elise? That's suicidal.

[GardinerG]

I was thinking major body panel replacement because it looks boring anyway...

Hmmm, how's about a mid engined S3 with the V10 Biturbo... Like the Clio V6, only more insane.

But I guess something lighter than that would be better...

[Nige_RS4]

Hmmm, how's about a mid engined S3 with the V10 Biturbo...

I like the sound of that - the kids can sit in the boot behind the engine. That way I would hear them squabble!

[GardinerG]

doubt there would be much space left for rear seats or boot.

[Nige_RS4]

Supposed to say wouldn't hear them squabble - DOH!

[Robbo66]

All I can say is than God I got the £5000 deposit back.

If they had blown the arches a little more and generally made it slightly (though not scooby/evo blue anorak ) aggressive, then I believe it would have been a small success.

As it is, the next 12 months will be very interesting..... this is a real left footer of a car, poorly thought out in terms of looks and weight. It has alienated a huge % or potential clients. Even the salesmen agree.

Guy at Miltek said I'd be disappointed.....he was right.

Ironically, even at that money.....still believe it's a non starter for me......what a white elephant.

[A20LEE]

saw one on the road for the first time yesterday, considering the size of it it had no presence. Thats a quality the old RS's had in spades. The mid grey colour should have made the flares stand out but didn't.

[kent_phil]

I did enquire what it drove like and was told - heavy, muted, very thirsty, much slower in real world driving..

This is exactly what I thought when I drove it.

Another word to describe it... numb.

numb - really? Just by way of reference, what would you call a direct car?

When I did a test drive I was seriously impressed - not a direct, communicative or responsive as my 997 Turbo - but I was looking for a car to take the wife, 3 kids and 2 dogs out and about which wasn't like navigating a barge.

As for the sales patter I would put that down to a salesman trying to hit his targets and selling a car 6 months in the future being no good to him - been there with the 'well I would go for a delivery later in the year sir when theres expected to be a face lift or take a used car now....'

And as for the M5 - again give one a go before buying - I spent yesterday driving various BMW's and whilst they handled well and had great engines they feel like build was outsourced to Citroen...