They haven’t been uniformly brilliant, but a quarter century of RS cars has delivered its share of greats
Since the launch of the iconic RS2 Avant in 1994, the letters R and S have represented the pinnacle of performance for every Audi model lucky enough to have hosted them. From its skunkworks origins to mass-market appeal, things have come a long way in the last quarter of a century, though, and with a further six RS cars debuting during the course of 2019 alone, the Audi sub-brand seems far from done yet. What better time to reflect, then, on some of our favourites from the past 25 years?
We’ll start in the same place quattro GmbH did, with the RS2 Avant. Its Porsche-fettled four-valve, five-cylinder engine produced 315hp, kept in check by a rally-derived all-wheel drive and further Porsche contributions in the shape of the brakes, suspension and famous Cup wheels. The PH Hero’s incredible pace – it could hit 30mph faster than a McLaren F1 – ensured that Audi’s reputation as a manufacturer of bonkers performance estates took off just as quickly, setting the bar for all that was to come.
There are just three for sale in the PH Classifieds at present, ranging in price from £30,000 for a 164,000-mile example to £70,000 for a factory-fresh 21,000-miler. Our pick of the bunch falls right in the middle, at £55,000 and with 71,000 miles on the odometer, this Nogaro Blue car is reasonably priced and well used enough to offer its next owner many potential years of guilt-free motoring.
From a five-cylinder to a V6, and a 2.7-litre bi-turbo one at that. The 1999 B5 RS4 featured a Cosworth-tweaked cylinder head, revised intake and exhaust ports and enlarged air ducts for an output of 380hp. It too has achieved PH Hero status, with its appetite for brakes and tyres, and insatiable thirst for fuel, not enough to detract from its useable modern-classic appeal.
You’ll have plenty of time to discover the attraction on the way back from collecting our choice car. A ferry ride to Northern Ireland and an extra £4,000 over the rest of the classifieds contenders seems a small price to pay, though, for this incredibly tidy, relatively low mileage example.
Remember when engines kept getting bigger instead of smaller? The new millennium saw the second generation of RS4 arrive on the scene with a naturally-aspirated 4.2-litre V8, the same unit later found in Audi’s R8 supercar. Direct injection and an 8,250rpm redline made for a whopping 420hp output, while 90 per cent of the car’s 317lb ft of torque was available from just 2,250rpm. Dynamic Ride Control dampers borrowed from the 2002 RS6 and a rear-biased 60-40 torque distribution made for one of the best driving RS cars yet, as Matt discovered in a snowy Peak District earlier this year.
Luckily for potential buyers the B7 is one of the most affordable RS cars too, with plenty of options available in the £16-20k range. With estates, saloons and even cabrio body styles to choose from, there’s likely to be something to suit everyone; this Misano Red saloon fits us nicely at £19,000 – however many miles it’s done…
You can’t talk about RS without mentioning the RS6. Although production began in 2002 with the V8-powered C5, it wasn’t until the 5.0-litre V10 of the 2008 C6 that things got properly serious. With 580hp and 480lb ft of torque, the C6 not only blitzed its rivals but its stablemates too, becoming Audi’s most powerful ever production model at launch. Thanks to its aluminium alloy construction, though, that mighty V10 only tipped the scales at 278kg, resulting in a model which proved dynamically proficient as well as monstrously quick – 0-62mph being seen to in just 4.6 seconds.
Prospective owners should be sure to check out our PH Buying Guide before taking the plunge, and be especially wary of a notoriously defective oil pump seal. Get a well maintained example, though, as this 67,000-mile car seems to be, and that supercar-bothering performance can be yours for a fraction of its original price.
Which brings us to the present day. Of the seven RS models currently in Audi’s lineup, there’s one we’ve had more exposure to than most: the TT RS. Many won’t be able to see past the hairdresser jibes, but those who do will find a 400hp rocket which, with its 3.7-second 0-62 time and unbelievable quattro grip, covers ground like little else on the road.
What’s more, with well optioned cars having worn price tags in excess of £60,000, nearly-new examples can be had at a healthy discount. This one-year-old, 5,000-mile car comes fully loaded, with a factory warranty lasting well into 2021, by which time it’ll still be showing a clean pair of heels to many of its rivals.
Lots to choose from, then, and with 25 models having been launched in those 25 years of RS there are plenty more besides. For true RS-fanboy status, Audi lovers can head to Neckarsulm’s Audi Forum, where an exhibition detailing the brand’s quarter century – including rarities such as the victorious RS5 DTM racer and never-produced RS8 – is currently underway. For the rest of us, trawling the PH classifieds while daydreaming of roaring V10s will have to do…
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