I'm looking for an RS2 - advice welcome

[GlynRS2]

I am new to the forum, but have been following the posts for a few weeks. Currently I drive a G60 Corrado with which I have had a lot of fun tuning and modifying for the past 8yrs or so. I also have a G60 engined Mk1 Scirroco which I have been building with a mate as a track day car - not quite finished yet. However, with a growing family I need something a bit more practical, but I still want something a bit different. I have always admired the RS2 ever since reading a road test & then seeing one at a dealer back in 1994. It appears to be my perfect car. I have been looking through the classifieds for a RHD RS2 for the past month or so, and although I am in no particular hurry I am now ready to go and have a look at a few this weekend. They are as follows: [img]images/graemlins/1syellow1.gif[/img] a black one with black leather with 118,000 miles up for a low £11,500 ( a little worried about the condition, as a bit too cheap), a Nagaro blue one with black leather with 108,000 miles at £15,750 ( apparently in excellent condition), a red one with black leather 80,000 miles at £16,500(excl. condition), or a Nagaro blue one with blue alcantara with 86,000 miles at Fontain Motors at £17,950 (my favourite spec & with 3mths warranty).
So I have got a good choice, and the danger is I will buy one as I am going to find it difficult not to. What do you guys think & do you have any advice on what to look out for.
Thanks in advance. Next week I may well be an RS2 owner too! [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Cobstar]

Go for it! Fantastic car to own and drive. Your preferred colour combination is spot on - snap! Given your current fleet, you know all about the quirks of the middle-aged car LOL. I always wanted a Corrado VR6 - never got round to owning one - well not yet anyway!

Got to be in RS Blue - the definitive RS2 colour. Can't believe Fontains have got the colour name wrong - it is not Nogaro Blue![img]images/graemlins/062802beat_prv.gif[/img]
Providing the car lives up to the advert though, the one at Fontain's sounds good and price seems fair given reasonable mileage, and only one owner!

Look forward to the piccies once you join the club!

The Buyers Guide from EVO is a useful reference source and gives a list of things to look out for.

[MattOz]

Hi Glyn,

Saw the RS2 at Fontains on Saturday. It will be perfect after a little spruce up. The chap there did say that he had at least one person interested already.

The red RS2 is in my home town and is a beauty. I have seen it around and it's certainly one luvverly looking car. [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img] Would have it myself if I had the cash.

I'm sure that you've done your homework on the RS2's so just find a good one and enjoy. [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img]

Matt

[markcanderson]

Advice : Take your time.. and look at them all. The most attractive will be the lower mileage cars - if they are in good knick and have good history.

History is one of the most important things - Fully dealer serviced stamped book with the recepts is a 'very good thing'. Also check out this link with all the published articles and buyers guides :

http://www.rs-zwei.com/magazin05.htm

In addition to the ususal checks you make on a force fed engine, check things like :

Are the tyres the correct size?
(i.e. Original 7j 17'' wheels - then it must have 225/45zr17 on anything other than Dunlop SP8000s which must have 245/40zr17).

Is there any rust on the car? anywhere ? .. really there ought not be.. Fully Galvanised - so rust is a sign of badly repaired accident damage..

Is the wear in the car consistant with the mileage ?

Does the chassis number start with WAC (instead of Audi's normal WAU) ? This way you can start to tell a fake (there are many out there!)

Welcome to the board and good luck.. there is also a good RS2 list on yahoo groups...

I've been lurking for around 8 months before I finally bought mine... in Porsche Polar Silver (much less predictable, than these RS Blue owners [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] )

Best advice also, get the one you really want AA checked (for stuff like Diff leaks etc..)

[scillyisles]

I did a similar search myself the other day on Autotrader.
The Laser Red one in Leicester looks interesting and it has a leather interior which normally wears much better than the alcantara which can be scruffy.

[Jani]

Loads of good advice here already. High mileage isn't such a problem for these cars. I'd say the critical, or expensive things (clutch, shocks) come around 110-130 kkm (70-80 kmile). Generally quite trouble free cars.

Try to find one with the bigger, drilled brakes. These are superb, best brakes ever on any Audi I dare say. Smaller ones are a little prone to fading with heavy use, and bite isn't as good. Plus they don't look as good as the big ones [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Also make sure brake discs are in good condition, even though these are based on Porsche items, they can't easily be sourced from Porsche, disc offset is unique to RS2. 2 big front discs cost 550€ in Finland, and are not a lot cheaper elsewhere either.

Also make sure calipers are OK, especially rear ones are prone to salt and dirt, which makes pads stick. Can be rebuilt with Porsche parts naturally.

Another thing, if 17" Cup isn't big enough, easiest option is to buy one with 18" wheels already. RS2 has Porsche bolt pattern, 5x130 mm, but the center hole is unique. So you need Porsche wheels, with drilled out center hole -£££.

Stock suspension is good, I'd stay clear of ones with aftermarket suspensions. Tuningwise, anything below 380 hp can be reliable. Just a chip will get 330-350 hp, then you start needing hardware. Above 400 hp con rods can be an issue.

On yahoo RS2 list we have a guy who has Corrado VR6 and RS2. I see a pattern developing.

Anyway, good luck with finding one. I've had one for 4 years now, as a daily driver -still puts a grin on. Darker colors and grey suit the car as well, if you are not into drawing attention to yourself.

[scillyisles]

You'll be lucky to find one with bigger discs in the UK - I ordered mine from new and have all the internal dealer documents for the UK which don't list the bigger discs.
The brake discs are prone to corroding and can be reskimmed but might need replacing if badly corroded. Make sure you drive the car after washing the wheels etc as if you don't the pads will rust onto the discs.
I've had no build quality problems with mine and I'd rate it as one of the best built cars I've ever owned.
Things I've had to do to mine in 8 years of ownership other than normal service items are
- replace discs due to corrosion.
- replaced cambelt after 6 years as a precaution.
- changed tyres to 225/45ZR17

[GlynRS2]

Thanks for all your replies and help. Like I said I'm not in any hurry and I fully intend to take my time and see as many as possible before buying. The only problem is I know it will be difficult to remember that when I am there in front of a shiny RS2 having just been blown away by a test drive. I will have to keep telling myself, I am not going to buy the first one I see (unless I have seen some others since).
Fontain have already taken a deposit on the RS2, so I guess that one is going to be out of the equation. So now I will just be doing a tour from Sussex, to Basingstoke, to Leicester, and then across to Macclesfield and back again. At least I will have a lot to think about on the drive. [img]images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

[MattOz]

Glyn,

As I said in my previous post, this one ......

1995 RS2,Red,FASH, tracker fitted, totally original, new tyres, two owners from new, beautiful etc ,80k miles at £16450.......

is in Leamington Spa, which is where I live. If you'd like me to have a look at it on your behalf (provided the vendor is OK with that) before you made the journey up, I'd be happy to. [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Cheers
Matt [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[GlynRS2]

Matt, thanks for the offer.
Yes it is 118 miles to Leamington Spa from here, so if you could go & check it out before I drive that would be great.
I will give the guy a ring and see if he would be happy with that. If you have a digital camera a few extra pics would be helpful too. What a great forum, when total strangers are willing to give up there time to help out someone. Thanks again. [img]images/graemlins/1syellow1.gif[/img]

[GlynRS2]

Matt, I have just spoken to guy with the red RS2 and he is more than happy for you to pop round and give it the once over on my behalf. Certainly sounds like a cracking car from his description. If you give him a ring on the phone number on the ad, he is free most of the weekend.
If it is too much bother don't worry I will pop up & have a look myself. What is your own car, by the way?

[Jani]

One more thing came to my mind: try to look for a car with CRB gearbox. The early ones came with CGR boxes, the later one has stronger 1st gear, so it should be more reliable.

[MattOz]

Hi Glyn

Shouldn't be a problem. I'm free most of the weekend too! I haven't got a digi camera, but might be able to get hold of one. [img]images/graemlins/nodder.gif[/img]

I'm currently driving a new 330d Sport. I did have an M5, but it was proving a little thirsty, as I do a fair few miles a year. Spending over £300 a month in fuel out of my own pocket was getting a bit daft! LOL

Anyway, I'll give the guy a call and arrange a meeting. Please mail me if there are any specific questions that you would like me to ask. Matt.Osborne@sun.com

Cheers
Matt

[zagato10]

How can you tell whether the RS2 has CRB or CGR gearbox

[Jani]

Look at the option code list. It's a sticker, on first page of service booklet, and in the spare wheel space (under boot floor). There you have all the option codes the car had from the factory, as well as VIN etc. Engine code is always ADU, gearbox either CGR or CRB (the later one).