Dr. No

Don't get impetuous. That engine probably only has 933,000 miles left on it.

Falcondrivr

No kidding. Plus my son will be 16 in about a year and a half. I figure he could slide that thing down the highway at 90mph (top speed) on its roof, open the door when it stopped and get out and walk away...

FrenchToast

My vote goes to the RS6.

But it does have plenty of problems. The Dynamic Ride Control has since been recalled by the factory. And yes, the transmission is a pile of steaming ****. The problem isn't that it's an automatic (yes, it should have been offered with a manual), the problem is rather that it cannot handle the power.

Reviewers at the time cited the reason for the automatic was that the manual couldn't handle the power. Not sure who came up with that, but it isn't true. The 01E (Getrag manual) Champion used in the RS6 racecar could more than handle the power.

I believe the factory specification for a transmission rebuild is a whopping 75k.

Find one with a coilover suspension and manual swap = win! That's really the only RS6 worth anything at this point, unless its just been serviced.

Or get an S6 Avant, or A6 4.2 with the sport package. All the V8 models had the widebody. Or an allroad! (see my avatar). Or a B7 RS4. Or if you want to be really cool? 2009-2011 C6 A6 Avant with a 3.0T.

Take care,

M. Schneider

Audi RS6 pictures from the 2002 Geneva Auto Salon on Press day 1.

Kika

We tried to sell the 300CE when me wife decided she wanted a Prius, and our son started driving right at the same time, so we kept it for a few years for him to use. we always felt that he would be safe, whether he hit something, or something else hit him. I think old MBs are great cars for young drivers

Nurburger

I know a very wealthy local Doctor that will only drive pre-92 big body Benz's. He was in a significant multi-car accident & the only reason he survived was due to the structural strength of his 1987 560sel.

M. Schneider

I get your meaning ... A Saab 900.. BC the GM ownership model years or any 242 Volvo with an 8 track stereo..

JM993

They are safe cars, be he's kidding himself if he thinks a modern Benz (or BMW) isn't safer.

Nurburger

^ Agreed. I'm not trying to discount the advancements in safety at all - I just don't see too many real world parents putting their 16 year olds in late model MB/BMW/Audi's. BTW, he showed me pictures of the crash scene (multi-car / freeway / fog) & I would never argue with his reasoning....

Dr. No

That RS6 motor is a work of art.

And agreed on the safety of the large Benzs. Stuff that's subject to side impact crash testing now must be much safer on that score, but at the cost of a side-view killing B-pillar the size of a 2x4.

MielsOnWheels

I'm pretty familiar with the A6 C5 platform having owned a '99 2.8 and currently an '04 4.2. I had an RS6 SE exhaust on the 4.2 for a couple of years, thing sounded like a beast. I've heard about the suspension issues with the RS6, but man that motor is a total beast. I think the A6 C5 design to this day still looks modern and clean, it's one of those very enduring designs. While the can be expensive to fix when something does break, my 4.2 has been rock-solid and has held up extremely well,the cars are well built, solid, and safe, especially with the Quattro. I just did the timing belt and my Indie charged $1700, vs the dealer's $3300.

I can't believe RS6s are going in the $20's! That is ridiculous money for serious performance-and you won't see many of them on the road considering the 1 year only model run.

M. Schneider

General service costs, Tech availability can be, that's can be limited to a former RS6 dealership and parts availability. All the above promotes real pricing pressure on some otherwise nice vehicles, no?

The RS6 parts issue, namely its active suspension of the day reminds me of our old S6 wagon. Our MY95.5 UrS6 wagon required a wiring loom for the rear hatch (wagon) to the body.
Without a replacement the rear brake lights were Kaputt. After week 5 at the dealership and Audi USA not producing the ridiculously priced $745. USD part. On week 6 I would source the wiring loom at Audi Frankfurt for 130 DM having it FedEx'd to the Boulder dealership. Audi USA was all lip service. And think this through ... there's nothing unique about this S6 wagon hatch... other than there aren't many wagons sold by Audi USA.

Great car that UrS6 wagon with all the RS2 motor enhancements, suspension, 993tt brakes etc. Miss that uber ski wagon.

Texas993

Here is my vote!

Dr. No

TX993 - I've seen your car on the 500eboard - very nice!