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RS test drive

3K views 111 replies 16 participants last post by  Roller Skate 
#1 ·
Hey so went for my first test drive in an RS today. Funny thing is I had actually tried to negotiate on this very car with the private seller a few months back. He had it on for £26k which was just ridiculous as at the time on the approved site a similar car albeit a year older with better spec and 30k miles was available for £22k with finance contribution still to be added.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... 500&page=3

Anyway the car doesn't have buckets despite what it says in the advert and basically is poverty spec. What it does have going for it is the ultra low mileage. Despite being on AT for 23k the sticker price is 22.5k and they offered to take 500 off as hopefully I have no trade in.

Pretty certain I have decided against it as really I don't want a third black tt and it didn't have buckets which I was hoping for. The service history was also 2 audi stamps and 3 backwater garages with no record of any haldex oil change.

It had an S button and black exhausts am I right in thinking that's the sports exhaust? Does the S button also indicate mag ride?

The sound was not what I was expecting, not sure how to describe it but it didn't sound natural, I expected this roaring engine but it seemed man made which was weird.

It also didn't feel as quick as I expected, that said the petrol light was on, the dis was indicating 10 miles of fuel left and I just took it for a 5 minute spin so it didn't get up to proper driving temp. Would it have been a different experience when heated up correctly?

It did have what I think is called the chrome pack, the chrome upstands on the spoiler and the front splitter which I liked. Also quite surprised how different the seats felt compared to the tts seats.

The dealer did offer to get some petrol for it but I said not to bother. It had been traded in against a land cruiser, some private sellers are strange, first you ask 5k more than audi then probably take a wbac figure trade in rather that reducing the private sale price :roll:

This isn't an RS dis btw as I do still fancy one, I reckon if it had actually enough petrol in it and was at proper operating temp it would have felt a whole lot different and if it had actually had buckets I would likely have bought it :lol:
 
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#2 ·
Hopefully the next RS test drive you go for excites you more! Do you think some of the slight disappointments are because its too similar to your TTS? When I have been debating the change I always end up thinking its just for the badge/exclusivity and the sound and then makes me think it probably isnt worth it.
 
#3 ·
I wondered that myself, like maybe I expected to much. I guess it is a stock car but so is my tts and I would say the rs felt more laggy. I wasn't going that fast but I redlined it in 2nd and didn't exactly feel stuck to my seat. It must be just because the car hadn't been warmed up surely.
 
#6 ·
bhoy78 said:
I wondered that myself, like maybe I expected to much. I guess it is a stock car but so is my tts and I would say the rs felt more laggy. I wasn't going that fast but I redlined it in 2nd and didn't exactly feel stuck to my seat. It must be just because the car hadn't been warmed up surely.
Yeah, If its speed your also looking at have you been in a stage 1 tts? The difference is night and day from stock, and only a few £££'s :p You could get that, your spoiler and the wheels refurbed for around £1k and have a car that you know well and trust etc. Can also go Stage 2+ and hit 380ish bhp if you want a bit more :)

I think you should go out in another RS asap before you sell yours just in case your still not sure on one.

S button on RS does the exhaust and mag ride if it has it.
 
#8 ·
Well that doesn't sound very inspiring :( a 5 minute test drive because it has virtually no fuel is less than useless. Poor service history and not having the seats you want - - - it may be worth waiting.

The S button control the exhaust flap, (LH side only), a sharper throttle pedal map and Mag Ride if it's fitted. One of my bug bears with the RS is that you can't have the exhaust flap open without putting MR in teeth rattling mode.

The black exhaust tips normally indicate sports exhaust which your ears should have noticed but the chrome ones deteriorate if not cleaned regularly and some people get them done black. The only definite way to tell is by the number of round dimples on the back box, but I have to check how many for sports.

Difficult to comment on the drive, it does get better when it's up to temp but it should still feel quick. Was it manual or S-Tronic?
It's aluminium pack - and that's just paint.
 
#10 ·
I was actually taken by surprise when I got there and realised it was the same car that I had seen advertised on PH at the end of Jan.

I remembered the guys name and it was on the mot paperwork that was left in the glovebox. He was also from Aberdeen which is where this car had came from.

The car was a manual. It has just been advertised on autotrader but I guess it could have been sitting in the unit for a few weeks unused as the pistonheads advert disappeared at the start of Feb.

Speed really isn't my thing, yes occasionally I do stick the foot down but not that often, the advantage being when you do it feels fast as your not instantly used to it. I done the same redline in 2nd in my TTS later in the day and it felt a whole lot quicker which just isn't possible.

Must be down to the RS running on fumes and the fact the roads were relatively busy so between that and a lack of fuel I just gave it a few short bursts. Maybe even something wrong with the car? there were no warning lights and no traction control flicker to make me think there were any haldex issues.

That is the only one currently for sale in Scotland I think :lol: I am glad I went to see it but it seriously has me wondering if a mk3 Quattro s line is a better buy as roughly the same price.

I haven't been in a mapped TTS Danny but have heard lots of people say it transforms the car. I did see Aoon's moving pretty quickly but then his was tuned to the moon. I actually see a nice low miles mk2 TTS that I might enquire about if mine does go next week.

I do like that sepang car and I am sure its stunning but big price gap compared to the dealer car on an 11 plate with 15k miles.
 
#11 ·
I never really looked at the exhaust in depth tbh, the weather took a turn just as I arrived and was like a hailstone storm. At first I thought the exhausts were dirty but then it looked that they were actually black.

Did you have a TTS before the RS Brittan? did you find it laggy at low end speeds but came into its own once you were moving?
 
#13 ·
"Pretty certain I have decided against it as really I don't want a third black tt and it didn't have buckets which I was hoping for. The service history was also 2 audi stamps and 3 backwater garages with no record of any haldex oil change".

The service history story should have your Spidey Senses tingling.
 
#14 ·
Probably right mate, the salesman on the phone had told me it was loaded and had buckets, on getting there I find the spec is poor, I wouldn't buy a car that had been serviced by a backwater indy, I had been told it had full audi history as well :lol:

Will put the speed issue down to running on fumes, least I now know why the guy didn't seem willing to negotiate as I had said my offer was subject to the car having a full audi service history.

I enquired about another one round about the same time, was told it had audi specialist history, when pushed it came out that the specialist was in fact Halfords :roll: who buys an RS and services it at Halfords seriously :p
 
#15 ·
Sadly after my experiences with two local Audi dealerships I can't help but feel Halfords couldn't be too much worse :(

Not sure that my car will ever cross the threshold to Audi service once my warranty has expired - seriously unimpressed.

As for the RS - we saw one at an Audi dealership recently whilst looking at roadsters. I was so tempted to take it out, but I had to remember this purchase wasn't for me. Dream over - back to looking at Diesel Roadsters :) Still the new one looks a bit like an RS :D
 
#16 ·
Don't get me wrong Bob I don't have a lot of faith in audi for servicing either but at least they know the additional jobs that are required at certain intervals. I certainly don't let them do any jobs other than basic servicing especially as nowadays they have a bolt off bolt on approach, which often is needlessly expensive.

These small dealers often don't want to do jobs like changing haldex oil as they haven't done it before and assume its complicated. I asked a mechanic I know today if he has ever seen mechatronic issues, now the guys a good mechanic but from the older generation. His eyes glazed over and he said oh I don't get involved in stuff like that son :p for a second I thought he was actually worried that I was going to ask him to look at the mechatronic unit in my manual car :lol:

Same with the salesman, as we are on the test drive I point out how the car basically has no extra's, he apologises and says but its a top of the range audi I just expected that it had everything in it. My reply was well I am a bit of a saddo that can
generally look at a picture of a TT and tell you what's fitted but don't worry about it as half the audi salesman don't have a clue what extra's their cars have either.
 
#17 ·
I haven't driven a manual RS but surprised it did not pull hard in second.
I will be prepping mine for sale in the coming weeks but it's a S-tronic so not your bag.

But if you want a look round and a chat about RS ownership I think we are pretty close.
 
#18 ·
Thanks, what are you going for next? I wouldn't discount a 7 speed s tronic as have read how great they are but I think I am leaning to a mk3 now. I will need to go try a mk3 to help make up my mind.

Having thought about yesterdays RS all I can assume is that it just wasn't heated up properly and that I didn't have enough space due to traffic to really see what it could do.

Only other option is maybe my tts has been mapped in the past and I was unaware but I think that's unlikely
 
#19 ·
bhoy78 said:
Don't get me wrong Bob I don't have a lot of faith in audi for servicing either but at least they know the additional jobs that are required at certain intervals.
I had to argue with my local dealer about the fact my A5, with sports diff, will need a diff oil service this year. They were adamant that I was wrong! [smiley=argue.gif] I called up an Audi specialist who straight away said "Our records show that your car has the RS5 diff fitted, it will need an oil service this year, along with the gearbox."

bhoy78 said:
I certainly don't let them do any jobs other than basic servicing especially as nowadays they have a bolt off bolt on approach, which often is needlessly expensive.
I recently got a good price for the fitting of an accessory so I chose them to do the work. I really wish I hadn't. My car has just been returned after being with them for a further week whilst they rectified the problems and damage they caused :(

I do agree with your comments regarding most small independent garages. Far better to locate a specialist, but you have to do some work to find a good one of those too to be fair.

bhoy78 said:
half the audi salesman don't have a clue........
I would have ended your statement there :( I have been so disappointed with most of the Audi sales staff I have dealt with. As an engineer I have to regularly pass competency assessments. It would be nice if Audi could drive this side of their customer service, knowledge tests. It seems their focus is chiefly on just shifting units which could explain why Audi get such a hard time on social media sites :(
 
#20 ·
Totally agree Bob, I also feel that audi cs is a bit of a joke nowadays as well. Approach them with a complaint you get lip service but nothing actually gets done. Shame really but I would imagine most big manufacturers are now the same.

It does sound like you have had a particularly bad time of it!!
 
#21 ·
Barmybob said:
It seems their focus is chiefly on just shifting units
They're pretty rubbish at that too... last few times I've been to an Audi dealer, not for parts - which they're all really good with in my experience:

(1) Interested in new S4, too busy to talk to me, didn't call as stated, did a deal the next weekend with BMW for a 335d
(2) The mk3 TTRS saga - I went to have a look at one on the forecourt and weren't interested in letting me have a look
(3) Went to ask about their S5 deals as one I had on lease order for May fell through. Suggested I had a think about it and book an appointment if I wanted to seriously look at it.

It sounds like the OP is in the same boat. Anyone wanting to sell the car should have offered to have it warmed up or let the punter hear it on cold start, given it a warm-up if the latter chosen, had a bit of fuel to give it a blast.

So now I'm also looking at MK2 TTRS's. It's certainly hard to find the desired spec, especially if that includes buckets! I'd like an s-tronic plus, sub 50k, with buckets, dark colour. Closest I've seen is the Auto Trader 2011 suzuka silver one, 26k with APR Stage2 mods - not a plus but spec close enough. I do wonder if I need to give a little on the age or spec, as I only have 6 weeks to find a car. What spec are you looking at?

The big sales point is the engine for me, if it didn't have the 5-pot I wouldn't be interested. But if it doesn't really do it for you then as others have said, your TTS with a bit of fettling could be the way to go, or look at the mk3 (at a different dealer!)
 
#22 ·
Hi Ross

The RS I went to see was in a Toyota dealer rather than in audi. Your experience with your local audi dealer sounds quite similar to the way your treated in the Glasgow dealership. They just aren't interested unless your a footballer or z list celeb :p

Surprisingly you get treated better in the Hamilton and Edinburgh audi franchises that are owned by the same company. That said prices up here seem to be quite a bit higher than in England. I assume that's due to having more competition.

I always fancied an RS, ideal colours would be sepang, white or silver. Buckets would be high on the wish list along with factory rear tints and the aluminium pack. The rest of the spec would be nice but not essential. It would however be annoying going from a pretty much fully loaded TTS to a basic RS, you do after all spend most of your time in the cabin rather than admiring the external looks. The one thing I wouldn't want is an RS on the 18" wheels, just doesn't look right imo.

For some reason it is harder to come across a high spec RS compared to the TTS models.

I have seen the car your referring to, it does look nice. Guess as you want a 5-pot you will have ruled out the mk3 TTS. I don't know what I will get next, the mk3 is growing on me and if I am spending around the 25k mark that's where my money would be going.

You should join the TTRS facebook group. Sometimes cars for sale there. Pretty sure TTaRSe has a mapped car if you can compromise on a lighter colour then I am sure it would be worth a look.
 
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