New RS6 Order

[RSQ]

Going to replace my boring Q7 with an RS6, questions or views on the following appreciated:

- any view on living with old MMI vs the sexy new virtual dash on my Q7
- air vs DRC? DRC on my RS4 was great until it started knocking and needed quarterly repressurising
- dynamic steering?
- PE vs non PE?
- wheels?
- how bling is blue weave on carbon interior on PE? Looks a bit too shiny for me in pictures.
- regret factor on buying now when new A6 in 18 months will make it feel dated?

[wildbore]

My 2p:
You will be disappointed with the MMI. Visually it is spot-on (obviously the virtual dash is a step forward) - the A6 dash is very attractive and has a large colour display. But the weak point is that, despite being MIB2 (like the Q7), it lacks the interface hard points: steering wheel controls, menu options (especially in the dash display) and the voice control, all of which are old-school MMI and pretty poor.
Won't get into Air vs. DRC. That's a whole separate thread. I like air but I have a tow bar so it wasn't even a decision for me; I had to have air.
Journalists all criticised the dynamic steering and recommended standard steering. No perosnal experience to offer, but I was put off by the reviews and never tried a car with it.
I would go PE if I were ordering today but the only performance gain is at the high end of the rev range, though (although this will be argued endlessly, too) and it is difficult to get the car to the rev limiter on the public road and, once you are there, you are not left feeling wanting in the standard car. TBH, I only ever hit the rev limit on motorway slip roads. I keep running out of tarmac elsewhere.
You should definitely get wheels on the car.
No idea on the blue weave.
The new RS6 is a long way away by most people's reckoning. I am too old to worry about two-three years' from now. I might be dead by then but this is always a personal viewpoint. Personally, I think a new RS6 (and even the new A6) is too far away to be a concern currently. If this were June 2017, I would be concerned about this issue.

[robf]

If a new car was out next year i'd be concerned, but otherwise i agree - live for the moment and get the car you want NOW.

I love the PE's interior, with the blue stitching and carbon weave; it lifts what is otherwise a sombre interior. I've had loads of compliments from people about it, especially those not into cars! First thing they do is stroke the dash and seats.

I don't have a problem with Dynamic Steering. I have the Dynamic Pack with ceramic brakes so not sure i could have opted out, but frankly no Audi is the last word in handling finesse so i really didn't care. The only alarming thing about the RS6 is it's sensitive steering for such a big car.

Chris Harris seemed happy when reviewing a car with the Dynamic pack so that was good enough for me.

[Andy_W]

Personally I find the dynamic steering good and makes the car feel smaller than it is and a directness you don't often get in a big saloon. Haven't driven one on air but in Dynamic settings DRC again handles very well for what it is. It's up there with AMGs and M cars I've had before. Possibly even slightly better.

Wheels - personally I prefer the non PE 21s. They look more dished although I am currently considering swapping mine for some 22s as I think the car can take them. Not sure which ones yet ABT or HRE

[MikeFish]

PE or non PE: do you plan on modifying at all? If you are going to change the wheels and exhaust then you are probably better off getting the non-PE version.
If you are planning on getting an optic pack, privacy glass, 21" wheels, sports exhaust etc then you might as well get the PE as it's all included. Also, the external carbon pack is a grand cheaper with the PE.
And DRC is the only option for me.

I reallly like the PE alcanatara and blue interior. When I see the full leather now it looks a bit bland to me. I went for normal carbon though instaed of the blue carbon as there were no demo cars yet when I ordered mine. It's quite subtle though.

[MrBadger]

RSQ I would go PE- as per Mike the interior is superb place to be. The blue thread in the carbon is so subtle that it can only really be seen when a light is right on it which is probably why it looks bright in flash photos.

I didn't go with exterior carbon to save money and get the foot waving boot opening thing. Should have gone carbon. The black PE wheels look good with the Sepang Blue with black pack.

[RSQ]

Many thanks for the feedback (and the tip on the wheels ).

Here is my current spec:

RS PE Ascari Blue
Advanced Key with boot thingy
Assistance Pack(ACC, Side, Lane)
Audi Connect / Phone Box
5 year warranty
No badges
Sunroof
Heated front and rear seats
Carbon inlays (to replace the blue carbon, but maybe now I leave it blue)
Parking advanced
Rear side airbags
Speed Limit display
DRC

£95,930 !!!! For an estate car.
£39,000 3 year residual on finance.

But I do get a £12k discount so £96 turns to £84.

Even with that a 3 year 8k per year car losing 55% is quite painful. But you don't buy these as an investment

Based on the feedback above I may change to dynamic steering (so take the dynamic pack) and leave the carbon inlays blue. I don't like to advertise too much hence I will have it rebadged' it is quite obvious what it is if you are a car-guy but to others it looks like an A6 diseasel. Maybe I even add a TDi badge to the back.

I think if I didn't go PE then I would be irritated; I would rarely use the extra power (my 911 is similar performance and you can lose your licence 9 seconds after pressing the loud pedal, this will be the same) but nice to know the power is there for emergencies (!!)

Thanks for all the advice. I am borrowing the demo in a few days, I believe it has air so can get an idea of how boat-like it really is.

[RSQ]

Ps I wouldn't modify it.

I doubt I can improve on what the Audi engineers spend millions on developing! (Just my opinion, no disrespect meant to those who do)

So that means PE and sports exhaust.

[HDPete]

Make sure you see an Ascari Blue car first. Don't get pulled in by the fact it's a PE colour. To me, it looks really flat compared with the other blues (I went for Sepang).

Just, if you haven't seen it, check it first. If you have, then great!

[Boyakasha]

Make sure you see an Ascari Blue car first. Don't get pulled in by the fact it's a PE colour. To me, it looks really flat compared with the other blues (I went for Sepang).

Just, if you haven't seen it, check it first. If you have, then great!

Totally agree, mica blue is another stunning colour

[MikeFish]

I modify for looks rather than power but even still, the car is built to a budget so can be improved; it is not the best estate car that Audi can make but it is the best one they can make to make it competitive against the competition. But its also down to taste.if you think it looks and drives perfect then no need to modify. We all like it slightly different.

FYI, i dyno'd my car at MRC and it pretty much made the quoted power whereas the non PE cars make quite a bit above the quoted power. So the delta between the 2 cars is only really about 25ps at peaks. I didnt study the whole graphs to see if there was a bigger difference throughout the range, i only compared peak numbers.

[MikeFish]

Ps, 6 months ago i got a 14k discount on similar price, pretty sure you could get a better deal if you Shop around. But if you are happy with your dealer then thats a different story.

[RSQ]

Thanks. Good tip on paint choice. But sepang just too shiny for me. However no idea where I can see an Ascari one. Ordering Nogaro is another few 000 I think which would really be my preference.

My dealer is great. When a new R or RS product is launched their demo turns up on my drive on Friday with keys through my letterbox. Then on Monday the guy comes to get it again. If I need a specific car for some reason again I call and it turns up. Any problems with the car and they collect, drop an equivalent and then return. I know some have bad stealer experiences but mine is brilliant. But then I do have 20 years and maybe 20 Audis purchased . So I will take his best deal usually.

On this one I may push him just a little harder though, thanks.

[MrBadger]

Sounds like you have a great dealer who recognises a good customer-and gets the credit due. That said if you can be bothered pop your spec through car wow and you will get an offer along the lines Mike says I am sure. I did and my dealer matched it.

I've gone Sepang and love it but saw a Mica S6 a couple of years ago and it was lovely.

[MikeFish]

Wow, that sounds like a great dealer!