FINALLY picked up my RS6 today
(sorry, bad iPhone pic I know - I'll do some better ones at the weekend)
ISSUES
There were some issues with the payments going through in time, then issues with the insurance, then the heavens opened up for some crazy heavy rain for the long drive home. But finally managed to get back after a very long trip/day.
The issues with the insurance were due to me buying a private number plate for the car which I asked the dealer to fit. So I arranged to be driving today the RS6 with these plates on. Turns out though that the dealer can only register NEW car numberplates with the DVLA , not used cars. So I had to spend 30 mins on hold to an Audi insurance broker to get a quote and in doing so gave me 7 free days worth of insurance. So now I need to find a local DVLA branch and get them to register the new plates, then sort the insurance out again.
Given all the rain I didn't get to inspect the car on the outside as thoroughly as I would have liked and so missed this until I got home:
Both rear brake callipers seem to have a section missing from the front of them. The front callipers both have RS6 written on them, the rear ones look like they have had a section stolen. This may be as designed, but doesn't look right to me. I will get on the phone to the dealer first thing in the morning about this.
The Tyre Pressure monitor warning also came on for a flat on the passenger’s side front tyre on the way home. It might be a slow flat (down to 2.4 bar, when all other were 3.0) so I have pumped it back up and will watch it over the next day or so. The tyre pressure was lower than the others when I left the dealership but as it was displayed as ‘green’ in the computer I didn’t think it was a problem at the time. I am hoping that if it is a slow-flat then the dealer will pay for the repair.
The fuel economy is a bit scary. ½ tank (40L) says only 150 miles left! I wasn’t driving fast at all on the way home so I hope it’s just settling. 5L V10 twin Turbo for you though!!!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The car is very light to drive at slow speeds and then the steering gains more weight the faster you go. The 'largeness' of the car was soon acclimatized to, so that was good.
The auto gearbox is laggy in 'drive' and only really any good for fuel economy - very very smooth though. The gearbox in auto 'sport' mode is much more aggressive, even blipping a little on the down changes. My favourite though are the manual flappy paddles on the steering wheel. Very responsive and great fun. Sticking the car in 2nd and getting up towards 7000 rpm generates a heavenly noise (albeit a little muted) from the V10 engine.
Noise wise, I was hoping for more roar from the V10 (alla Lambo). I guess though then it's hard to hear the TV as you go along then
The engine itself isn't as quick as I thought it was going to be. Plenty fast though still for a family car, and I am accustomed now to 800Nm torque in a car weighing 500kg less (my Turbo) so it's not surprising I am not blown away. I found the car actually seems to get faster AFTER 100 though! You suddenly have to jump on the breaks as it's so smooth it's incredibly deceiving how fast you are actually going. Doing 70mph on the motorway seems like it's 50mph. I can see how this car could happily sit at the 174mph limiter.
The luxury levels are excellent too, Dark white leather seats which are very very comfy and lots of room in the back - friends and family members are already booking rides to be chauffeured.
Other gadgets like freeview TV recpetion, radar guided adaptive cruise control, rear parking cameras and guidelines, etc etc are all goodies that I got to briefly try - although I need to read through all the manuals tonight as there is just so much stuff on this car.
That's all for now - more hopefully tomorrow and the weekend. I am off to relax....
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