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2003 Audi RS6 6-speed

Throngs of U.S. Audi fans rejoiced when the news came that not only was the RS6 returning to this side of the Atlantic, it would be coming for the first time as an Avant. With nearly 600 hybrid horsepower on tap, it promises to be exactly the rocketship full of 5-door tech you’d expect from the company. But it will be interesting to see actual sales numbers after all the internet buzz dies down, because herein lies the problem with the RS6 Avant; if it is competing with the E63 S AMG Wagon (how could it not be?), it will sticker somewhere between $120,000 and $140,000 depending on options. Let’s just say that it’s safe to assume that’s out of the reach of most of the people chastising Audi all over the Internet for not bringing it here to this point.

So is there a solution? Absolutely. There was already a perfectly good RS6 offered here two generations ago. And if you’re willing to pony up roughly $40,000, you can have an Avant here. But today we’re looking at a sedan, because 1) they’re much more plentiful, 2) they’re much more affordable, and 3) this one is turned up and should offer close to the performance of the inbound model. The seller claims this car produces 620 horsepower and 750 lb.ft of torque. Oh, and I almost forgot quattro) it’s a 6-speed manual swap, too:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2003 Audi RS6 on eBay


Year: 2003
Model: RS6
VIN: WUAPV54B13N904300
Engine: 4.2 liter twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage: 97,000 mi
Location: Fairfield, Connecticut
Price: $19,500 Buy It Now

I bought this car 2 months ago with the intention of keeping it but need to upgrade my wife’s car so this has to go. This has to be one of the cleanest RS6’s. You can tell this vehicle was always garaged and loved. The paint is near perfect with not one ding or scratch. I just had it detailed in and out and the car has zero swirls. Interior was conditioned with Zymol Treat which is still absorbing so you may see that in some of the pictures on the leather. I have a folder with tons of receipts for regular maintenance and also all the upgrades. I took a ton of pictures so you can see the beautiful condition. The car pulls like a freight train but is also very smooth. It is addicting to say the least. The video is about half throttle.

Timing Belt Service done at 89K Miles when manual transmission swap was done

All of the aluminum trim is in perfect condition as well as the rubber trim

***The traction control light and abs light are on (this is due to the manual swap and I am told can be tuned out but it never bothered the previous owner)

The car has all 4 keys that came with it and all are in perfect condition.

Zero accidents (Carfax in picture link)

No Dead Pixels on any of the displays

Please ask any questions and feel free to reach out via text or call 203-610-0869. My name is Chris

Link to Pictures: https://stuttgart.smugmug.com/2003-Audi-RS6-6-Speed/

Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC045_9UaFk

Here is a list of notable upgrades, factory options, and major maintenance:

· Original window sticker

· Certified Pre-Owned car with all dealer records

· See pictures there is one 20k receipt for all the engine work that was done at 75k miles

· Brand New OEM Headlights 2K Miles Ago

· Full O1E Manual Swap @89k miles by Steve Kendrich (well-known for perfecting the manual swap on these cars)

· South Bend 6 Puck Stage 4 Clutch done when manual swap occurred at 89k miles

· Blauch Hybrid Turbos

· Wagner Intercoolers

· Turbo Timer

· Enhanced front brake cooling with air ducts and shields from VW Phaeton

· Front and rear brake rotors and pads 5k miles ago

· KW V3 Coilover Suspension

· Milltek Exhaust

· Snow Performance Methanol Injection

· Hotchkis Sway Bars Front and Rear

· New Upper control arms front

· New adjustable control arms lower

· Inner CV joints and boots

· Replaced all vacuum hoses under intake manifold

· New coolant aux pump

· New suction valve under intake

· AC Freon change and charge

My immediate thought when I first saw this car was that it was same East Coast 6-speed I looked at over the summer. After all, how many 6-speed Daytona Gray Pearl Effect RS6s with 9x,xxx miles could there be in a 100 mile radius? Two, apparently. As with the last example, the execution looks really slick here and condition appears to be top-notch. With a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, BMW M3 and Audi A8 hanging in the picture framing, this car is clearly coming from an enthusiast and a particular one at that.

So why flip it so quickly? I think there might be a clue in the listing. I bet the seller bought the car with the same story – that the ABS light could be programmed out. But according to the Connecticut DMV, the car will not pass inspection with an ABS light on. Programming the ABS can be done via VAGCOM and is required for the 6-speed manual swap – a shop like Coventry Motorcar in Connecticut is already versed in this and it makes me wonder why it hasn’t been done assuming nothing is wrong with the system. The second problem is the price; as with the new RS6 Avant, the list of buyers lining up to drop over $20,000 on a nearly 17 year-old Audis is really quite small. The last example I looked at started at $28,500 and a month later was down to $20,000 with seemingly few sympathetic to the performance envelope and work that went into the swap. I think the same is the case here, especially with a potentially un-inspectable example.

-Carter

15 Comments

  1. Daviid
    Daviid December 22, 2019

    I have always been a fan of the RS6 sedan. The shape and look are spot on to me. When I had my D2 S8, I considered selling it and purchasing an RS6 to daily drive, instead. However, with all the mods, I would question how daily drive-able it would be.

    Unfortunately, these cars did not get the recognition from the car world they deserved.

    This RS6 would be a blast own and drive, at least for the first month or so.

  2. michael blechman
    michael blechman December 22, 2019

    Manual transmissions are backwards technology making controlling the vehicle much more problematic. Add the expense of clutch replacements and the fun of driving in traffic jams.
    Ferrari doesn’t make manual transmissions for a good reason…

  3. Chris Mickler
    Chris Mickler December 22, 2019

    The manual swap is a god-send and everything this car deserved from the factory. That’s a lot of car for the money.

  4. Joe
    Joe December 22, 2019

    Carter so many young enthusiasts get caught up in stories like why is the guy selling is he flipper etc. that means nothing. Cars this old come down to condition,mileage, records..these cars cost a fortune to maintain. And maybe I have flipped some cars, but I can guarantee you that they leave my hands better than they do when I get them..I never understood the narrative of who the car came from being something that outweighs what the car actually is. To be honest, people who buy air cooled and vintage big dollar stuff have this analytical approach. Kids who buy e46’s and e36 and e30s are usually inexperienced and will cross a car of their list because the guy might be a flipper or whatever. It makes no sense. Know what you are looking at, be educated in your approach and buy what you like.

  5. Carter
    Carter December 23, 2019

    @Joe – agreed, and this post isn’t really questioning the practice of flipping. I also agree and have mentioned previously that you’re buying the car and not the seller, so passing on a vehicle because you don’t like the seller can be overtly dismissive without reason. But in this case I think the issue may lie in the car, which is a relevant reason to bring up that it’s being sold quickly. I could be wrong though, the seller may have just changed priorities. But I’d be worried that there was a more substantial reason this car is for sale so quickly again.

  6. Carter
    Carter December 23, 2019

    @michael – true of modern cars for sure, but the ZF automatic 5-speeds in this generation Audi were notoriously weak points of the design. They’re okay when working properly but often aren’t at this point.

  7. KrautHammer
    KrautHammer December 23, 2019

    Die hard manual fan here, but there is limits. No denying the performance advantage anymore. For certain cars a manual will always be the “right” choice regardless.

    You can always spot a guy who has been embarrassed by the fact that he cannot drive a manual by his visceral hatred of them.

  8. michael blechman
    michael blechman December 23, 2019

    Besides the assumptive nature of your rather obvious snide remark concerning the abilities of someone you have zero knowledge about being able to operate a manual transmission vehicle,
    your opinion is presented as factual. This is rather hard to believe without any examples or offered proof as more than some attempt to convince through childish whinging.

    Consider the words of Audi’s own engineer when questioned about the necessity for an automatic transmission in the 1982 Group B rally Quattro:

    Audi’s team manager Roland Gumpert made public for the first time many of the fundamental design objectives, aimed at regaining for Audi a competitive edge against recent four-wheel drive designs, especially from Peugeot.
    Why an automatic gearbox? “With a normal gearbox you always have a hole. With an automatic gearbox, even when you change gear you always have torque on the wheels. This means much better acceleration, and you gain those tenths of a second on every shift”.

    So which “certain” cars are the “right” cars?

  9. Evan Petrakis
    Evan Petrakis December 23, 2019

    those that can, do, those who can’t drive automatics.

  10. michael blechman
    michael blechman December 23, 2019

    Try to imagine that you actually make sense and those that read your words really understand your meaning and might even agree with you. Then look in the mirror and realize none of that is true.
    Responding without any content other than nonsensical whimsy is the sign of an undeveloped and useless try at dialogue. Why and what anyone uses or prefers is obviously beyond your ability to realize as more than inept insults in your part. Remedial education is available for your condition.

  11. ace10
    ace10 December 24, 2019

    Audis and douchebaggery. They go together like oeas and carrots.

  12. Carter
    Carter December 24, 2019

    Gents, no need for personal attacks. If you don’t like a manual RS6 – good news! There are 13 automatics for sale on eBay alone right now. If you want a manual one, this is the only one for sale right now. Win, win!

  13. Erik
    Erik December 24, 2019

    Yoda voice: “so much hate, i fear the dark side is strong with forum here “. C’mon. Happy holidays and there is plenty of room for all enthusiasts to find their vehicle if choice.
    I would guess that even the “audi douchebaggery guy” would have a smile on his face driving this vehicle on a nice backroad.

  14. Joe
    Joe December 25, 2019

    These conversations and these types of cars will always remind of what I consider the poster child for this dialogue. The early 90’s Northern California green Jetta Gli on Craigslist for 17k that did a bat auction and ended at 7k. Seller will not entertain offers under 14k. What I find interesting in the e30 e36 e46 Vw world is that these cars attract young buyers who just don’t understand the subjectivity of a car purchase. The Jalopnik crowd I call them. They can’t understand why people will spend good money on certain cars (because they don’t have money or won’t because what their fiends think) or on the other hand that green Jetta. It attracts 20 something kids. Nobody who can afford it will pay that amount for it. Just like how bat auctions with these cars that appeal to younger people are full of awful trolls. What I am trying to say is that there are tons of people out there in the buying public. And just because someone will or won’t pay a certain price has nothing to do with what I think. This car will find someone ,they always do. It has some great features. They just have to wait for that person to show up. It’s that simple. There is nothing wrong or right about it, no detective work needed. We are different and all love cars. That’s all that should matter.

  15. David
    David December 29, 2019

    BIN price has been lowered to $19,500.

Comments are closed.