I often end with caveats, but today they have to lead. I realize that Audi RS6s are notorious for maintenance and will only continue to need more and more expensive repairs, but that didn’t stop me from diving into an old BMW and I’m not sure it could stop me from chasing a long-time object of lust, the first Audi RennSport offering that came to the US. We’ve spent many words fawning over the myriad strengths of the RS6, namely understated badass looks, versatile four-wheel drive, and the insane twin-turbo, 4.2 liter, 450bhp V8… I’ll stop now. As they age and continue to depreciate, they’re coming up for sale at ever-more affordable prices. Less than $25,000 seems insane for the level of capability and specialness of the RS6, but that’s where they’re going and it gets me all excited.
Year: 2003
Model: RS6
Engine: 4.2 liter twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 83,000 mi
Price: $22,888 Buy It Now
Click for more details: 2003 Audi RS6 on eBay
Seems like 80-100k miles is when owners either get tired of these or decide it’s time to bail before the aforementioned maintenance catches up with them. My course of action? Save up enough to endow a healthy maintenance fund and jump on one of the coolest sedans ever produced before they all either have a lot more miles or start appreciating.
-NR
Or, more likely, 80-100k miles is when many owners get tired of paying the increasing maintenance and repair costs, and decide it’s time to bail. The aforementioned maintenance starts long before then.
It’s interesting, because in the late 90s/early 00s, it was the same debate on the S4/S6 for many who snapped them up. They then went through a second depreciation before we get to today, where it’s hard to find a nice one with lower miles. I am wondering when to jump in on the S8 train – most of this car, minus some of the maintenance. I was pretty close a few years ago with the 03s were around 17-18K for a nice one. Now, they’re 12-15K and right around 80-100k mileage…..how low will they go while they’re still in reasonably good shape?
Amazing machines where the maintenance and overhaul is commensurate with the original purchase price. Great way to look at these cars (including older M cars and AMG cars) is let’s say you are a well off enthusiast but you are smart about money, so the thought of plunking down 100 large for the latest German uber sedan turns you off when you contemplate the depreciation hit you will absorb. But you want that level of performance. A car like is a perfect compromise – the first owner(s) absorbed the painful depreciation. The only other issue then is to make sure you find a well kept example – and those won’t be the craigslist bargains – and that you have a solid trustworthy shop to handle issues as they arise, hopefully with enough experience to recognize them proactively so as to not compromise your enjoyment of the car (for example, getting stranded). Under those circumstances, a car like this can make a great deal of sense and can be very enjoyable.
Great deal, Seriously considering this as an alternative to the e39 M5 I’ve been looking at… A sedan is in my future and I can’t see getting anything other than one of these two options… Would love to have more photos of this though from the seller.