Autocar RS6 PE Review

[PSB1]

Some of you have probably read it - 3.5 out of 5 - their stock Audi RS score. It's not very absorbent. That rag amuses me - stick a Jag badge on the front and it would have been 5 stars all day long.

Of course, nobody is going to be swayed to or put off buying an RS6 due to one journo review but these guys are rather irksome.

[RS6chris!]

Does any one actually buy Auto car?

Only interested in rep mobiles and Jags.

EVO or similar for the win.

[q7_Not_So_newbie]

Is AutoCar an actual motoring magazine? I thought it's a parody mag. No? Oh. [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY] [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY] [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY]

[TobyRS4]

Does any one actually buy Auto car?

Only interested in rep mobiles and Jags.

EVO or similar for the win.

Affiliations with car magazines own journos and manufacturers are becoming more common seemingly leaning towards often confusing bias and there's always the element of personal opinion and taste.

I wonder if any back handers go on........

I did buy a copy of EVO a couple of months back after not having bought a car magazine in over a decade and was pleasantly surprised at its contents, so much now i have it most months.

[boff]

Autocar is a magazine for the drivers who like the value of a kia

[blm70]

OK, so they didn't give the Audi 5 stars, but this alone doesn't make it a poor/biased/amateurish magazine. I also read all the usual suspects: EVO, Autocar, CAR etc. and would put Autocar up there with the best. The layout is well-designed and easy on the eye (take note CAR) and the journalistic talent is a match for any of its competitors.

For example, I have the 31st July 2002 edition of Autocar where Steve Sutcliffe puts the RS6 up against the ST-R and M5, and whilst the M5 wins with the RS 2nd (and the Jag last i.e. they are clearly not Jaguar-biased), it is a thoroughly engaging read where he clearly identifies the strengths and weaknesses of each car. Then there's the October 2002 edition of EVO where David Vivian compares the same three cars whilst throwing in a wild card (Lotus Carlton.) In his conclusion the M5 and ST-R share the spoils with the LC and RS6 bringing up the rear. On that basis should we not take EVO seriously as it is quite clearly sponsored by BMW? Of course reviews are subjective, but to dismiss a magazine because it doesn't appear to thoroughly endorse a specific marque is short-sighted and folly.

I own a C5 RS6 btw and couldn't care less about KIA...

[Ian_C]

Maybe Sutcliffe just hated the S Type R after having a big crash in the passenger seat of one. Anyone remember this?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHFkd8fgBFQ

[PSB1]

I actually quite like Sutcliffe; shame he moved on. He seems to get 'RS' cars.

[robf]

Must admit sounds like sour grapes from some people!

You have to appreciate it is a very expensive car to justify to a lot of people when a TDI A6 does pretty much the same job for half the price. The problem with all car reviews is that journalists don't actually spend much time in the car. Audis are not the last work in dynamicism or involvement, but something like the RS6 over the long term really shows its merits because it has the ability to do everything to a high standard.

On the flipside, i remember the 997 Porsches getting fantastic reviews, but you know what? Never heard anyone in reviews mention the poor xenon lights, the pattery ride, the fact that EVERYTHING was a cost option and it had terrible NVH for a modern car. That's because they make their assessment within a few hours of driving, they don't actually own the things.

[Surrey Sam]

Here's a web link to the article in question:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/aud ... nce-review

[innercry666]

There's a noticeable negative tone to the review. However, the bit that made me chuckle was this paragraph where the reviewer tries to suggest that potential owners of high-powered 2 tonne fast estate cars actually want to drift their cars on UK roads:

"That, unsurprisingly, means it’s nowhere near as playful as the big Mercedes, either. There may be a sports differential out back and a rearward bias to the torque split, but you still won’t be drifting the RS6 Avant". (!)

Good reviews from Autocar always seem to depend on how much you can get the back end of the car to step out when driving...

P.S. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong!

[MikeFish]

Lol, if I wanted to drift I'd have bought a merc or beemer. I'd rather go round a bend fast in the wet and live. Im rather pleased that it doesn't drift. I think they are missing the point of quattro. Even the highly regarded B7 doesn't really drift but is still regarded as a good drivers car.

[Ian_C]

I actually quite like Sutcliffe; shame he moved on. He seems to get 'RS' cars.

Yeah actually, he was one of the people who liked the RS5 the most

[innercry666]

Mike, to be fair I would be surprised if anybody did want to have 'drifting' qualities to the RS6. I remember watching a video of Steve Sutcliffe pitching the RS4 against the latest C63 and him commenting on the C63 putting a bigger smile on your face because it could wag it's tail better than the RS4 yet the RS4 was the quicker machine on a drying race track. Translate that to the road, it says to me 'avoid the C63 as it won't be as usable in the wet on the road' and that the RS4 was the better choice. Same thing with respect to the RS6.

[superlightr]

There's a noticeable negative tone to the review. However, the bit that made me chuckle was this paragraph where the reviewer tries to suggest that potential owners of high-powered 2 tonne fast estate cars actually want to drift their cars on UK roads:

"That, unsurprisingly, means it’s nowhere near as playful as the big Mercedes, either. There may be a sports differential out back and a rearward bias to the torque split, but you still won’t be drifting the RS6 Avant". (!)

Good reviews from Autocar always seem to depend on how much you can get the back end of the car to step out when driving...

P.S. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong!

Having owned a E63 AMG and now a RS6 I can say that I never drove the AMG so as to drift around. Why would I? The AMG handled well but its a big heavy car and anywhere but a track then its just not suitable or that type of car to slide and drift around just for the fun of it. A little power slide out of a bend now and again but was a better feeling to get it hooked up and then thump it as is with the RS6 tbh.
Had Caterhams and some Porks and yes they were nimble and were fun to slide and drift a bit but totally different cars and aims for having them. The AMG ? nope comfy fast and road strong presence same as with the RS6. They are both heavy you can feel it its not for a natural flair for either of them to be drift/slid when you drive either of them tbh.

Slow in and then Hook up and Thump it. - that how to do it in the RS6 or E63

Not driven a C63 or RS4