Chris from Cali

Cross-post from OT for non-members:

I'm looking at a sub-40K mile Misano Red 2003 RS6. It looks gorgeous, feels tight, and pulls hard. If any of you own/owned a 2003-vintage RS6, please give me some feedback on the car. It's priced very well and I think it'd be a fantastic DD.

Thanks in advance! PMs are welcome, too.

sbpsu354

I've never owned one, but came close a couple of years ago. I had an 03 A6 4.2. While my V8 didn't have the twins, it did have the belt driven cams much like the RS6. My service writer told me that the cam belts on the RS6 need to be changed fairly often. I forget the exact interval, but it was a $3,500 service every 30K miles I believe. The C5 A6 has one of the best looking interiors of any of the cars I've owned over the years. Have it checked out and buy it. Those things are awesome!

Z356

Chris: I bought one new and owned it for one year. It was fast, reliable...and quite heavy. The weight, after a while, does manifest itself (negatively, I believe) in the handling characteristics of this vehicle. Also, the RS6's Quattro system was not as advanced as the one they later developed for the newer RS4. That one had more rear bias and more suitable for 'sporty' handling. Nevertheless, the '03 RS6 was a thrilling ride!

Audi mishandled this model in the US market. It was announced as a limited production 'special' model, expected at less than 1,000 examples for US. Instead, Audi imported 1400 and brought them in fairly late in the Model Year 2003 (late Spring and early Summer of '03). And a completely new body platform (MY2004) was introduced in the Audi 6 line right after the '03 RS6 arrived in the US, while the RS6 still wore the older A6 platform! As a result of all of these factors, Audi dealers in the US were left with a few hundred unsold '03 RS6 in the fall of 2003, which continued into the spring of 2004. Audi then gave dealers generous 'trunk money' to move them out. So I actually bought mine (brand new) at thousands of dollars below dealer invoice in the Spring of 2004. About one year later, in August of 2005, I sold my RS6 with 10K miles to a dealer for only $5K less than I paid for it new, which is unheard of in the world of high depreciation modern cars.

Until the new RS4 arrived many years later, the '03 RS6 was the most talked-about and exciting Audi in the US market. With a 450 hp bi-turbo, this car was a beast! It also was incredibly comfortable and elegantly appointed - the alcantara headliner, the leather seats with contrasting welting, the perforated leather steering wheel with paddle shifters!

Hope some of this helps. Best of luck should you decide to pursue it. I still have fond memories of my '03 RS6! Saludos, z356 (Carmel)

mcdonagh

I too had a RS6-great euro muscle car. It does need the $3,500 worth of timing belts every 30k and the front brakes are $1,200.00, but an assume car to drive. Honestly I enjoyed my my 2003 Audi S8 more. I lost the S8 in flash flood and bought the RS6 to replace it.

CarGuy21

While I've hear great things about the RS6 I've also heard that the trannies don't hold up all that well. Have a complete PPI done on the car before you close the deal would be my advice.

Chris from Cali

It's at a dealer I trust (I know, oxymoron) - the service manager is a personal friend. I don't think there'd be any trouble getting it inspected thoroughly. From the posts in OT, it sounds like I definitely need to get an extended warranty though. Thanks for the input...

WTFitsCarter

I know someone with one for sale but its daytona gray with 72K on it. asking 27K let me know if your interested.