[s-cars] RS6 Vs. ????

[Robin St.Clair]

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Guys

There has been some speculation about comparisons between the RS6 and other=
 super sedans, such as the M5.

I was even amused to see requests for magazine comparisons with the M5. On =
this topic I only have two observations:

   You still believe journalists??????
   And for those that still believe, the German Motoring Press is comparing=
 the RS6 to Porsche Turbos. The M5 is being compared to the Jaguar S Type R.

The torque curve of the RS6 renders a gearbox redundent - not required. Sur=
e you can use the paddles, but why, the car does everyrhing you want withou=
t fiddling with paddles. As somebody said "...think Modena 360 F1, without =
the Jerks..".

Even the brakes are pretty good, not fantastic (and my comparison is abso;u=
te, not relative) but pretty good. Tap them a couple of times and the rear =
seat driver is grabbing his stomach. The suspension is a revelation, the st=
eering feels good, think communicative, bumps and holes are absorbed.

Surprise, the ESP is sporting in character, the rear end will go out withou=
t ESP's intervention, though power slides require its deselection.

What this car excels at is long distance fast cruising, with one exception,=
 at 175 MPH, you are burning 46 litres per 100 km (5.12 mpg US), so frequen=
t stops for gas, and it revels in high octane.

Getting up to speed moves heads backwards, no matter the load, cornering is=
 unlike any recent Audi.

Dilemmas, yes - 18" or 19" wheels, until the rumored 19" high speed (runfla=
t?) from Michelin appears, the fast guys are sticking with the 18" rims for=
 their higher speed and load rating. in case any of you think this is a bit=
 wimpy, Audi find tyre pressures important enough that they through in a re=
mote tyre pressure monitor, by no coincidence, so did Porsche with their 95=
9=2E

I asked a senior AOA person  why they were not bringing the Avant to the St=
ates and was told that theS6 Avant was a dog on the market, and that they w=
eren't making that mistake again. mark you, I believe the S6 was the mistak=
e, not the Avant, poor value for money!

Arounfd the time I drove the RS6 i also drove a highly refined RS4, with 's=
orted' brakes and suspension, and a well tuned engine. The RS6 still impres=
sed.

Much of the speculation about the car is based on the non-realisation of th=
e paradyme shift this car embodies. Shame really, so few places to apprecia=
te it as it is built to perform. Shortly after the Le Mans race finished, I=
 was able to discuss the engine with its designer, who had to scratch his h=
ead somewhat, after all, he did the job in 1986 and Audi has been waiting f=
or brakes and chassis ever since. To fill the idle moment, the self-same de=
signer occupied himself with the design of the R8 engine in recent years.

For those of you who insist on manual shifting, there is a solution, at a p=
rice, oh, and expect to see the cars at a race track near you next season.

R+C





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