What to budget on maintenance costs ? My £5K year

[Capt Ric]

Non owners considering RS6 ownership might find my last year interesting.
Over 13 years my RS6 has been very reliable and probably suffered little depreciation, but I have always treated it gently and not cut corners on maintenance.
Bought as 2 owner 29,000 mile car, the best one I could find at the time.
Now on 80,000 miles having had 3 gearbox services & cambelt changes plus the usual brake, tire replacements and common issues rectified along the way.

Having added up cost over the last year, approx £5,500 with about 1000 miles use, it's been more costly, but not unreasonable, greatly helped by family mechanic.
Here's my list:
Full cambelt change (unit 20)
Powers steering pump change X 2 ( it's a long story, don't use Power steering services Greenwich for rebuild)
Rear brake calipers
Brake fluid change
Engine oil service
New air con compresser, drier and recharge
Couple of locks
Reconditioned rear view mirror
Diff oils changed
New Alternator
New F125 switch (gearbox selector)
Gearbox service ( auto trans Wembley)

All running perferctly.

Sounds like alot? Maybe not when you consider the £120k price of a new RS6, or the £10K a friend has just paid for 12 plugs / coil packs and 2 rebuilt ECU's on Aston DB9 that was misfiring!

I do wonder if I should keep kit, only because I don't really need it but when one considers that you couldn't even buy a new basic Dacia (good cars) I know I could never get anything anywhere near as good to replace it.

Summary - If you want one and are prepared to keep on top of maintenance, try to find a good one and look after it. There's nothing else that even comes close.

[srichards]

Bang for buck there is very little else worth having. Mine is on 100k miles more or less now. Cost me £11k to buy in 2014. Probably spent about that on maintenance...it seems to come in clumps. Nothing for a few years then loads happens at once.

[steve2003rs6]

Exactly. What a car for the money. And yes you have to keep on top of the maintenance.
Not putting on here what I have spent during my 11years of ownership.
As my wife might find out ?

If you are thinking of buying one of these. You have to expect that there will be some hefty bills to keep the car in good condition. After all said and done they are around 20 years old.
I personally like to look at the garage bills in a positive manner, in that it’s another job done and out of the way.
Future proofing if you like.

[srichards]

I think someone suggested about £1 a mile for more than a few thousand miles a year as a rough guide. Otherwise it's generally a couple of grand with odd years of not a lot and some years of mayhem.

[steve2003rs6]

Spot on Suz.

[Capt Ric]

I think someone suggested about £1 a mile for more than a few thousand miles a year as a rough guide. Otherwise it's generally a couple of grand with odd years of not a lot and some years of mayhem.

I'll try to get round to adding all the bills up over the years, but £2k a year on average sounds about right!

If there is little depreciation, then that compares favorably with most modern cars.

I've also averaged about 19mpg. High twenties on motorway but idling in traffic drags it right down. I doubt the c7 & c8 are much better?

[Weiß-sechs]

Mine's going to need front discs soon by the look of them. Had a look on ECP for shiz n giggles, £749.99 for ONE! No thanks; AutoDoc are sending me a pair of Zimmermans for just over £500.
As said, there really isn't anything else that can raise a smile for the money, just hope we can source spares for the foreseeable...

[steve2003rs6]

Zimmermans are really good IMO. I am on my second set (front and rear), drilled and grooved. Last month got a spare set for when I need them.

Just for info. I have also been very happy with the phaeton calipers.

[Weiß-sechs]

Zimmermans are really good IMO. I am on my second set (front and rear), drilled and grooved. Last month got a spare set for when I need them.

Just for info. I have also been very happy with the phaeton calipers.

Yes Steve, Zimmermans are my go to discs, especially as OE are pretty rare nowadays. Lost count of how many I've had over the years. You got actual Phaeton calipers or the cooling vents fitted? What's the difference if any?

[steve2003rs6]

Phaeton calipers mate. Grizz recommended them when I was having a lot of work done.
They do look a little different but still 8 pot.
A bit cheaper and a straightforward swop.

[Weiß-sechs]

Ahh...so same calipers but avoiding the "RS tax". Good call