I drove every Audi RS6 to decide which one was best - and worst!
The Audi RS6 has been one of the world's greatest super estates for more than 20 years. But which of the four generations built so far is the best of the lot - and which one goes home with the wooden spoon?
All RS6s have four-wheel drive and stacks of power. The original model, the C5, set the template in 2002 when it arrived to take on the BMW M5 with a twin-turbo V8 producing 450bhp. It was replaced in 2008 by the C6, now with a V10 engine borrowed from a Lamborghini supercar.
The C7 emerged five years later with a smaller engine and less power than its predecessor - almost unheard of in the performance car world. Most recently, the C8 variant arrived in 2019 with outlandish styling and the most sophisticated powertrain ever fitted to an RS6.
Read our Audi RS6 comparison test - www.the-intercooler.com/libra...
0:00 Introduction
0:28 C5 RS6
3:38 C6 RS6
7:56 C7 RS6
10:56 C8 RS6
16:24 Conclusion
#audi #audirs6 #germancar
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I have the C6 and with that V10, it is an event every time I drive it, fast or slow. I love the clean but muscular looks, with almost every body panel changed from the regular A6 Avant. It has probably the greatest engine ever to sit in a wagon, with a lovely bassy burble at low revs and a feral top end. Although not cheap to maintain, it has been reliable and an absolute pleasure to own. It covers so many bases. In town, it's happy to slush around in Comfort suspension and Auto, and on the faster stuff, put it in Dynamic ride and Manual or Sportshift and it feels like a different car. It's a thing of wonder, and we will never see anything like it again.
I didn't even know there was a V10 RS6 at one point. That's so special, like a useable R8.
Can you share what it has cost to maintain? What would you budget on an annual basis? Thanks!
@@HiddenWen even the S6 of this generation was a 5.2 litre V10, in a different state of tune to the R8. But that was without turbos and by all accounts actually didn’t have much torque and wasn’t that brilliant. In a wagon, I think the turbos are needed to give it that muscular torquey feel.
Best engine to sit in a wagon would be the s58 in the new m3
@@Chrissy-H That's cool to know. A nice sounding V10 is still really amazing in a family wagon.
When the C5 came out, and i worked on the engine for Cosworth at the time, it was considered a bit of a barge. Now it looks tiny, compact and even rather modest when compared to the current version. It also looks effortlessly cool in a way the modern versions simply can't manage.... ;-)
The later one's really do just look a bit too OTT. The old one's blended in a bit more, wouldn't get stared at unless you were in the know. You'd probably also be quite happy putting muddy dogs in the back, filling them with furniture and doing the odd tip run.
I'd love to see an RS4 equivelent video
This would be very interesting because I think B8 was so good. I think only the newst performance version can beat it.
B7 was best!
I have a B9.5 vorsprung and I love it, I’d love to see the same comparison!
@@xu10j4rs1 .....tell me you've never suffered the curse of B7 RS4 ownership without telling me you've never owned one....TERRIBLE CARS! I'm an AMG fan for life thanks to owning and suffering the B7 RS4!
The C7.5 was by far my favorite generation. I won't argue that the C8 is the better handling and better performing car, but one of the best things about the Audi RS avants was that they were subtle; the styling was noticeable to the enthusiast, but the average person really couldn't tell there was typically a monster behind the curtain. The C8 completely did away with that concept and looks sporty even to someone who couldn't care less about cars. And that is what sort of ruins the C8 for me; the styling is just too much. Too many body lines, too many angles; there really isn't anything subtle about the C8.
Bang on. The C7.5 is a stunner. So tempting to pick up an S6 with DCT but scary too out of warranty plus can't stand Audi's quilted leather seats.
We have no way to afford an RS6 but would have the C6 in a heartbeat. That said we bought a 2007 A6 S line 2.7TDI Quattro 2007 Le Mans Edition eight years ago for GBP 4000 and it has been amazing. The Le Mans Edition is lightened, lowered and has bigger wheels. We did not know what we were buying at the time. So many people have tried to buy the car from us since. Its performance with the torque of the diesel and much lighter engine means it handles and you can drive the nuts off it on the back roads. My house to Cadwell in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds is about ten miles and I scare the hell out of Subaru's on the back roads in the wet. We keep it services and looked after and have 150k miles on the clock. Will never sell it. Audi Quattro at its best and absolute value for money. And you can use it as a daily driver and a family car.
C7 is Peak Audi. C8 is just to “ influencer “ for me. Don’t know how else to say it
C8 handle so much better than the C7.
@@TheEryk03 enjoy that extra 250kg
@@stfu6397 I know that mild hybrid is unnecessary but this even with more weight it handle much better.
Perfect description of C8.
These are stunningly shot. They deserve to be uploaded in 4k!
Was the RS6 ever meant to be the drivers car? It was an E Class competitor. The RS4 is always where it was at.
Agreed. Rs6 was never meant to be a drivers car. The e63 wagon was the fun one and bmw never really knew if they wanted an estate m5 or not. For me, the e63 is the one to get but I’m a Mercedes fan so I’m biased towards the thumping amg v8
Having recently just picked up a low mileage sepang blue C7.5 I'm obviously biased towards the C7 which is widely regarded as the peak of the RS range. The C8 is no doubt a brilliant machine, but the touchscreen ipad interior which has been copied and pasted from nearly every other manufacturer in its' class just kills it dead for me. For pure cool and legendary status the C6 is a walloping brute and there are some tuned ones around kicking out serious figures and putting a lot of others to shame - pretty sure it will easily hit classic status before the decade is out. Yes, maintenance costs will always be a factor no matter the generation but as with any car older or newer it isn't hard to find these in good condition as most have mainly all been well looked after. This is the main reason I ended up buying one, I originally considered the RS3 but most have been modded by 30'somethings with money to spend and no doubt all of them have been ragged out on the obligatory traffic light drags against Golf R's/Focus ST's et al. However nearly all the RS6's for sale within my budget all had FSH and extra paperwork for extensive maintenance by mature owners. My own car had near 18k worth of extras added by previous owners, full stage 2 package with miltek downpipes, Vossen VS1 alloys, full front end PPF and uprated AP racing brakes. I intend on keeping it properly maintained/low miles and will enjoy every rare spare time I get the chance to take it out. There is something about these cars that draw the right kind of attention, I've had everything from young kids pointing and waving, teenagers taking pics/vids through to flashes and thumbs up from other drivers. A far cry from what I was used to when I went through my phase of full fat BMW M cars!
The C5 is perfect. Classy looks without nasty vents and tacky trims like the new model. It also sounds the best, no silly pops and bangs or fake exhausts.
That twin turbo v10 understated wagon is such an autobahn screamer, peak Audi
C7.5 is perfection
If you’re into nose-heavy pigs. The weight of a medium size cow sitting out on the front edge of the hood… Perfection indeed.
why? It have the same engine as C8 but it handles much worse than the C8.
@@TheEryk03much worse? They just said they are about the same.
@@flavioc5389 no they didn't
Agree, best looking of the lot! C8 is too fussy for me.
The C5 and C6 are always going to be my favourites 🙂
How does this channel not have over a million subs?! This is REAL car journalism.
The lack of originality, the tired delivery. The stale format. Etc
I have owned for 8 years and still do, a low mileage RS6 C6 saloon in sepange blue 797 ps 1187 nm torque MRC tuned with ap uprated brakes, DS 2500 pads front and rear and H&R anti roll bars, being a saloon only people who know what it is appreciate it, its a rare sleeper. The anti roll bars are the best bang for buck modification ( couldn't believe the improved turn in with no understeer) she is comfortable fast when needed and the big old girl has done a track day and acquitted herself well (i also race, so have a good feeling of handling), but a stage 2 plus tune totally transforms the car, still makes me laugh after all these years when I exercise her potential. When I traded in my tuned Audi S4 saloon I was worried it would be a bit of a barge, but it is the longest i have kept a car as for me she still fulfils what I want in a weekend car
i had the chance of owning 2 RS6 C5 when they were like 5-6 years old and then the C6 when it was 4 years old...i loved and still do the C5 for its good lookings and the beautiful engine, one of the best engines ever made and very reliable, i have a friend who had one which had done more than 350k km and was still going strong...unfortunately as you have very well outlined the dynamics of the car wasn't that good, riding quality was too harsh on not so good roads however on a good road the C5 would hold its grip really well due to the not very reliable DRC system but when it worked it made the car keep its balance on the road, engine noise and exhaust were so good even stock, i had a Milltek installed on my first RS6 C5 and then it sounded superb. Now the C6 just like you noticed, was a great improvement over the C5, much more useful on daily basis, more comfortable, a chasis a lot more stiffer, good gearbox and a better DRC system, the only downside i found was the engine noise and exhaust in its stock form. The 5.2 NA on the S6 sounded a lot better than the 5.0 twinturbo on the RS6, but the power of the V10 was even better put on the road compared with the C5 which it already put the power done well. If i were to pick only one RS6, i would probably choose the C6 of all generations simply because the V10 engine is just so cool and rare and the car still looks pretty much as a sleeper. Dynamically the C7 and C8 became better, much better when we talk about the C8 but in my oppinion it lost the strong character of the RS6 and it became too flashy and the 4.0 whilst it does deliver it's just too commonly used on various other cars of the group.
C5 looks fantastic in modern standards…. 💯🤘💙
Loving these tests gentlemen…keep it up
Whilst your criticisms are valid, the majority refer to traits at the outer limits of performance, a space the majority of owners will never ventures into. As an everyday prospect that covers all the bases, and provides thrills when required, any S or RS Avant is a perfect companion.
Yes, he is describing them like a dab of oppo hot hatch. We had a C5 RS6 Plus that was used to get food and wine from France and Italy. Winter tires it's a Ski shuttle in Val d'sere, absolute missile and used it to haul tires for a friends race car at Spa on an overnight run. School run on Monday morning. It's the Daddy
I fell in love with the V10TT RS6 through Gran Turismo 5 and 6 never actually driven one but it made an Impression on me. Audi was going crazy in those years as well as supercharged 3.0 V6 S4 a bit later on
Currently the owner of a C7, so I was really excited about the review. Gutted you couldn't take it out but amazingly shot video guys! ❤
0:13 - Gran Turismo 3 RS6 / Hammond v Ski-iers RS6 / Jon Olsson RS6 / Annoying touchyscreen-y RS6
C5 is the layer cake RS6
@@sensiblezoomer Great film
C7 rs6 all the way. You see one and it's like wow.
i don't think the C6 and C7 look at all outdated. especially the interiors. you can tell it's from an earlier era but i wouldn't say it's dated. good design is good design.
I'd have to go for a C7. Such a great all round car as every RS6 has been but it just ticks all of the boxes. Definitely the generation model where I'd say Audi got the looks spot on to!
You guys neee to do this with all the m5s!
C7.5 is the greatest Audi ever made
C8 screams: LOOK AT MEEEE!!!!!
That's why I prefer the new RS7, much more subtle.
Yes
As a journalist driving a 2004 C5 RS6 today is hard to give the previous models a proper review as you cannot forget your experience of driving so many modern 2010 and newer cars. Back then I’m sure it felt great compare to other performance 2004 models. A 2024 Audi a6 probably feels better than the old RS6.
I drove the B5 RS6 in the USA....It was kind of underwhelming....Wallowed its way down the road and didn't accelerate much faster than the Cadillac CTSV sedan. In 2009 I bought a low mileage B7 RS4 and that car "cured me" of "Audi RS Lust" for life....Thankfully it had a pre-paid maintenance plan and was still in factory warranty period....The RS4 was constantly in the dealership repair department for a miss-fire that turned out not to be the ignition but, build-up on the intake valves requiring a intake manifold removal and abrasive cleaning of the intake ports with walnut shells....I quickly sold the RS4 after about a year of miserable ownership. The one reviewer is SPOT ON about the early RS cars....They were always released around the last few years of chassis production and they were truly "dated" when their technology features were taken into account....Me never ever will I own an Audi RS car again....AMG does such a better job on their offerings.
Please do a similar video with Audi S3s of old and new. There are 4 versions. I have a standard immaculate 8V you are more than welcome to use
I’ll volunteer my standard low-mileage 8L too 😉
The C6 sedan is my dream car
The C6 with it's mad and easily tunable engine is kinda legendary if you look up some of those old dragtimes videos
On dragtimes? We didn't get the C6 RS6 in the US. I do have a modified C6 S6 though.
Love my C7 Performance. It'll happily cart about my two dogs, two kids and luggage, or lap-up motorway miles at a circumspect 30mpg. Doesn't look too ostentatious and for the most part looks very similar to a standard C7 A6 yet will destroy pretty much every other car on the road if you need to get past anything. I've got DRC on mine and whilst I may look to swap this to coil-overs eventually, it rides comfortably and is perfect for what I want from the car. I did think about replacing it for a C8 but I really don't see any reason to.
Need one of these videos for the RS4 cars.
I have owned about 50 cars in my life and the one that did it all was the C6 RS6. Down twisty B roads yeah it showed its weight, but that was maybe one day every few months. The rest of the time it was in town and up and down the motorways and dual carriageways. Which it absolutely destroyed. Dog went in the boot. Never looked out of place at the local super market but at the same time you could turn up to Goodwood in it and get a few nods. Great, great car.
Looked like the dampers were knackered on the C5. Very bouncy like its all spring and no damper.
This is perfect timing. C6 owner here and me and the wife are considering refreshing to a C7 or stretching to PCP a C8… let’s see shall we…
Great video guys, keep up the awesome work 👌🏼
Only owned the C8, after 18 months it had to go, Shell had taken way to much cash off me
Perfection. Loved it. Subscribed.
In the US we got only the C5 RS6 as a sedan (saloon). We only got to see the Avant by gently turning the pages of Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Automobile magazines.
They are all gorgeous, but that V10 has always been up there for me. One of my dream garage.
I would love to have the C5 as a winter car, and the C6 as a summer car (so I can have the windows rolled down to listen to the engine) These are also the most "sleeper" cars.
I owned a C6 RS6 wagon. Used it as my daily car. Put about 100,000 km on it before I sold it. Sepang blue with white interior looked amazing and went very well. Mechanically it wasn’t too bag either. Drank a bit of oil from the usual rear seal oil leak and before I sold I fixed a few more oil hoses around the manifold area. More electric gremlins than mechanics. Sunroof failed, rear washer wiper failed. Sensor driver door lock failed, Rear boot break light failed twice all bits replaced not too expensive either. Surprisingly reasonable on insurance as well compared to AMG equivalent.
Always great reviews… 👍😊💥
I had a C6 A6 seadan and I really wanted a RS6 ( Had the 3.0 Supercharged engine ) I loved that car. I would buy another one in a heart beat! Now have a mk7.5 Golf R, and a takeaway from the C6 and C7. The C7 was a step down with interior quality. The C6 was an astonishing high quality interior and was so good, Mercedes delayed there refresh by a year to up there quality.
This film was so entertaining 🙌👏👏 well done guys lots of respect , information and very creative work 💯🙌🔥☝️
I understand the subtlety that people expect from an RS6, but the C8 still looks the part to me. Spectacular proportions and roofline! Great video!
Love this type of comparison video guys! The RS6 is a beast, has always been my ultimate daily. RS4’s next please 🙏
Always liked the C6 RS6. Has aged brilliantly IMO and I will take that one, thank you very much. 😊
Great vid! Would love to see a similar comparison with the mercedes w210, w211, w212 pre/post facelift and w213 wagons!
Brilliant review 👌🏻
i was patiently waiting for a cinematic montage with all 4 cars driving together on those roads :(
I owned an original model C5 RS6 when it was about 5 years old. Amazing engine, and lovely looking car. Sadly the suspension compliance on UK roads was so bad that I sold it after 6 months. Also the 5 speed gearbox was always trying to drop to 2nd gear under between 20 and 30 mpg even when it could probably manage in 4th easily. Fuel consumption was dreadful. Never better than 19mph. Such a shame as the amazing engine deserved a far better gearbox and chassis.
You could have fixed the gearbox from dropping second. Probably just a linkage under the shifter! It can wear very easily on all manuals if you keep your hand on the gearstick while driving.
There are manual swap options for the C5 RS6 now and the aftermarket coilovers should resolve the ride.
I.drove the ordinary 4.2 V8. Loved the car. As a sports car, I only consider the gearbox as a negative. Kinda slow and very long gears. I would love to own a C5 RS6 with a modern 8 speed automatic.
@@jtherealtor I think that a manual gearbox swap and coil overs would utterly transform a mediocre performance car into a good one.
Great video , really enjoyed it ... Great presenter
The C5 RS6 was ahead of the game with the v8 twin turbo, than again ahead of the game with the V10 twin turbo.
The movie Layer cake forever made me love the C5
now do the same with e class amg models
@The Intercooler, you can option air suspension in the new Performance C8... Ive put it in my one, and its like driving a Bentley in comfort mode
Wow, I found Aston Parrott again after many years... Great review as expected.
I have the B7 S4 Cabriolet. It has, a little less power, but the understeer is less with the 40/60 power instead of 50/50 and the steering speaks to you a little more. The S/Trip-Tronic is slow on all the RS/S models till the latest, but a TCU tune can make a massive difference. I've had a lot of cars around the same range, Mustang, Camaro, RX8, and this one is one of my favorites. Be happier with a newer RS6 or RS5 but can't complain, except for repair costs.
Looks wise no contest with the original c5. I'd try and fit a manual as the gearbox was lazy or a modern auto plus management if possible?
There are many manual swapped C5 RS6s in the world
@jtherealtor yeah I've seen a few. Sure they use the 2.5td gearbox from the standard a6/allroad
C6 RS6 for me. That V10 engine is a masterpiece.
That description of the C6 feels like Audi really wanted to beat the E60 M5.
Why are you ignoring the 5’s woeful gearbox and suspension problems? ZF didn’t produce a autobox that was torque rated for the V8tt’s prodigious output, which is why there were *many* warranty claims. If you buy a C5 today, change the transmission’s oil and filter every 2 years / 20k; *never* use kickdown, use the paddles. The adaptive suspension was another frequent warranty claim, basically because of cost-cutting - it’s cheap ‘n’ nasty crud. Replace with coilovers.
Looks like the front drivers shock is knackered in the C5 the way that wheel is bouncing up and down?
ACTUALLY, the first WUAZZZ-car, the first Quattro GmbH made car, is NOT RS2, is NOT RS6, but is a C4 S6 PLUS(type code Q1). Which makes C4 S6 PLUS the FIRST RS6. So many differences and upgrades on top of a S6 4.2 and ONLY option was a 6-speed manual, that makes it definetly a car worth of notion. They made 899 Avants, and 99 limousines. E500, with a 5.0L engine made SAME power, but connected to A/T is not exactly a sporty car.
Really, guys? Couldn't you just make a follow-up video of the C7?
Same review but with all generations of RS4 please 😊
No mention on reliability or issues with the engines etc on any of the models
As a designer C6 is the most beautiful car here to me, semi closely followed by the C7. It aged so well and I’d choose it every time over anything else in this lineup on the looks alone. I hate the new angular trend in a present day car design. As for performance I don’t care as I don’t race on the roads where I tend to use cars.
01' RS4 Avant is enuff for me
One thing that certainly can be said is that the wheels over the years have gone from lovely simple good looking ones to ones that are trying too hard, over styled. I still don't understand these cars though unless you can only have one car. Best to get the diesel version of this for, as Dan says, " driving with the family long distances" and then get something properly sporty with the money you have saved, such as a two seater from VAG.
C5 for me, best built (to rival a W124) I had a mere 1.9 TDi but my best car ever!
For those who say Audi RS cant corner, heres a bunch of me and my pals gowing up the mountains kzhead.info/sun/grJ7pd58i2N9n6M/bejne.html That being said, my RS6 costs way more to run and maintain than my Aston Martin
Well.... only one has a V10 😎
I always liked the Allroad. Though I never driven it
The C5 looks so stunning! It's easily the best looking car here, even though dynamically it's flawed.
Would love a E class AMG version
We need an rs3, and rs4 video as well.
Why would you want them to be stiff and rigid? If you want that but a sports car. These are comfortable practical daily drivers that are also fun.
For me the biggest issue with the latest RS6 is the price! £100k for a “family” car is just extortionate. I do love a C6 but C7 has to be the overall best
Just something about the c5 can't put my finger on it but the c6 the best v10 twin turbo in a family car that can make 700+bhp with bolt on parts is just ridiculous
So which one would you both choose?? Shame this wasn’t decided
It is not the last, C9 will be the last. Audi has already confirmed. And I’ve seen the C9 tested last year in May at Grossglockner Pass. I have some pics and videos on my Instagram. It was a V8 hybrid.
Given the slow speed of the blades of the wind farm in the background we may see yet another petrol generation of RS6.
The girth of the new car and the size of the wheels are impressive
C7 avant is the one to have.
RS2 is still the coolest imo
Good article
Audi RS6 C7 Performance is the sweet spot, pair that with a Miltek exhaust and you're the king of the road.
Sweet spot between what?
I wish the C6 came with a manual gear box. I’d love one then
Favorite car video phrase of the day: Forcefully accelerative.
can we have the same comparison with RS4, C63, M5 & M3
C5 is still the best looking - it’s the one I’d have - flawed but easy to live with everyday
C7 ftw!
Nah c8 looks way nicer than c7. And driven back to back the 4 wheel steer makes the c7 feel a barge
true
The C6 just for that bombastic powertrain.
The V10 Avant is the best!!!
C6 v10❤ cars will never be the same