Why are RS6s like barges

[PP]

I like the RS6 very much,and the handling is more than adequate.

However, I do feel there much too much roll and understeering for a car of such immense ability.

A Porsche Cayenne with less ps, but with air suspension handles better, IMHO.

As a sporting luxury tourer,it is supreme. Round the Nordschleife,I would want a stiffer suspension.

I had the same with Alpina 5 series cars.

[PP]

Over supply of the RS6 and competing models (even Porsche Dealers are incredibly friendly nowadays, and BMW Dealers less snooty), the UK consumer has spent all his money and is borrowed to the hilt, and we are all putting into the runaway stock market train!!!

[johneroberts]

I had the pleasure of driving a Porsche "Pepper" yesterday and it was the turbo version, very impressed with its power and handling and would definately say a better buy than a RS6
Cheers
jr

[BlackShadow]

Yes, with the consumer and housing bubbles ready to pop as the Bank of England cranks up interest rates, there will definitely be less around to spend on RS6s. The depreciation curve could go pretty steep in this scenario. Do you sell the house and kids or the RS6?

[ChrisB]

However, I do feel there much too much roll and understeering for a car of such immense ability.

Unfortunately, this is the penalty for making a performance verison of an existing exec car - heavy engine and gearbox mounted a long way forward. If it had been designed as a performance car, this would be pretty unforgivable, but as it's a souped-up luxo barge, I can overlook it.

[ChrisB]

Do you sell the house and kids or the RS6?

Just the kids, by far the biggest ongoing expense...

[peterb]

I had the pleasure of driving a Porsche "Pepper" yesterday and it was the turbo version, very impressed with its power and handling and would definately say a better buy than a RS6

Admittedly, I haven't driven one, but the same power as the RS and more torque but almost a full second slower to 60mph with higher fuel consumption - all for around 10k more than the RS? The 'better buy' judgement has to be questionable. Added to which, I would much rather drive a reasonably anonymous estate than a high-profile SUV.

[runrowsam]

I have to agree with Peter on this one. The RS6 is an amazing beast, and although the Cayenne Turbo will get from A-B a tad faster, it does guzzle fuel in an even more dramatic fashion than the '6. Plus it's irretrievably vulgar, and the fun of scaring people to death as you hoon past in "some A6 estate innit" is stolen as everybody knows it's "that big ugly Porsche tank thing". The Cayenne is Americanism gone crazy, whereas the RS6 is the sophisticated cruiser which will always be the more purposeful. And an RS6 may be expensive to maintain, but the Porsche is "less indestructable", and Porsche maintenence costs are notoriously ridiculous [img]images/graemlins/crucified.gif[/img]

Rock on
Sam [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

[Nige_RS4]

Porsche maintenence costs are notoriously ridiculous

Not in my experience, it's Audi prices that scares the [email]cr@p[/email] out of my wallet - my Porkers have seemed a bargain in comparison. Get a quote for Pagid S4 pads, then get the same for the 993tt [img]images/graemlins/nodder.gif[/img]

[TarmacTerrorist]

As a sporting luxury tourer,it is supreme. Round the Nordschleife,I would want a stiffer suspension.

I thought that the rs6 had some sort of fancy computerised suspension set up? Can this not be reprogrammed, perhaps on a toogle switch or am I thinking of something else?

[peterb]

I thought that the rs6 had some sort of fancy computerised suspension set up? Can this not be reprogrammed, perhaps on a toogle switch or am I thinking of something else?

No computer involved in the RS6 suspension at all. It's totally passive!

[martian]

'Based on the standard A6, the RS6 receives major work to its suspension including uprated spring and shock rates and Audi's Dynamic Ride Control, an active suspension where each corner is linked diagonally via hydraulic lines. Interestingly, DRC is operated through purely mechanical means--no fancy computer wizardry here. Of course, it is augmented with EDL (electronic differential lock), ESP (electronic stability program), and EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), all of which have been retuned with more aggressive parameters'-
believe me it all works as well!! [img]images/graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[MushroomMan]

I spent time on a floating RS6 in Srinigar (Kashmir) for a couple of weeks last Summer. It was actually part of a converted houseboat and rentable. God knows how it got there but it was all stripped out and you could play chess in the front part. I played chess with a bloke from Clapham for about five days on the trot. So barge - houseboat what's the difference.

[Nordschleife]

The RS6's suspension system uses DRC, Dynamic Ride Control, its very effective at preventing nosedive on braking, for example, and helps smooth out the bumps, its purely mechanical, no electrical or electronic control.
However, the problem Audi has with the suspension system is that it is too firm at low speed and too soft at high speed. Obviously, the suspension team has trapped themselves in one corner of the envelope and need to work to get out. The car is really quite horrible when going through a series of bends at speed on a country road (with good visibility, of course), and I mean at about 120 mph.
Its different on the race track as we are able to set the car up for each turn in ways which are not always possible on the road (I don't always want to be irrevocably committed on the road).
It is possible to improve the turn-in, as well. I am in discussions with various people about how best to sort the suspension, I would not like to lose the DRC.
Unfortunately, I shall miss the RS6 Challenge, I can suggest that everybody sneaks rides with Frank Biela, a charming guy.
R+C

[TarmacTerrorist]

DRC Knew it had something on it. Could this system be adapted for use on other cars i.e does it just bolt on?