2009 Audi RS6 V10

This gleaming blue example was built in 2009 - a year before production ended. With some manufacturers, you’d be saying that gave them time to iron out any niggles, but high-performance Audis are pretty sorted from the get-go. It’s owner Kendrick has an interesting observation on the model and why he bought it;

‘There were/are not many people doing a V10. The R8 and the S6 use a normally-aspirated 5.2-litre. The RS6 is the only version that uses a (twin) turbocharged five-litre. I bought it firstly because it’s a fantastic luxury family estate. And secondly, because it overtakes like a motorbike. It’s the thinking man’s supercar for everyday living.’

Both he and the previous keeper were serial RS owners - ones with the kind of power madness to add yet more bhp, but also the fastidiousness to relentlessly maintain the car regardless of cost. The previous owner bestowed a Miltech cat back exhaust on the car, as well as ‘Stage One tune’, which included an upgraded air filter kit and an engine remap. Audi specialist Unit 20 on the Wirral did the work. (They’ve done a lot of the work on this car and are willing to provide documentary evidence). Although they have no rolling road dyno, they have estimated its bhp to be 700-plus. It’s present owner’s estimation of its performance is; ‘bloody hell, it’s fast’.

But Kendrick had a broader aim when he acquired the car, beyond just having sledgehammer performance; ‘When I bought the car, it was about the time to catch it and make it perfect or to just let things be and it be an everyday car.’ He decided on the former approach and set about making a very good car even better.

The paint finish on this Audi is that of a new car. It’s a phrase reviewers use easily (even with other makes of car), but yes, really; the paint finish on this Audi looks like that of a new car. It’s not so much the standard of the outer panels themselves, though they of course have that shimmering factory lustre. Its the ‘other’ spaces - the door cavities, the crevices behind hoses and hinges, the folds in the metal under the bonnet - these too are as clean and shiny as the bonnet or the doors.

Certainly in the past two years - at least - this car’s paintwork has never felt a sponge. So there’s absolutely no point looking for swirl marks in the deep blue shine of the paint work. The car has always been cleaned and looked after by a detailer and washed very carefully. The paint has also had a ceramic coating - which the specialist who applied it reckons is good for two years. (It’s now a year in).

The other materials beyond the metals (steel and aluminium) retain a smooth finish and a deep shade of black. Plastics bond closely with the metal, and rubber door seals remain supple. The brightwork is definitely, well; bright, but more reassuringly, there is no dirt in the narrow seams around its edges.

Light lenses and glass remain bright. One of the rears was replaced not too long ago as it was ‘going a bit frosty’.

The same attention to detail(ing) is carried over to the interior, though actually, this area has had a little more work than the outside.

‘The previous owner had the leather refinished,’ advises Kendrick. ‘It was varnished and reconditioned [June 2018] just before he sold the car.’ Some panels on the driver’s seat had replacement hide where they had been scuffed. If you thought about it for long enough, you could probably decide the seats have been sat in, but most folds look to be due to the style and stitching rather than wear.

‘Some of the interior trim was scratched so I have had the parts replaced,’ says Kendrick. ‘And the headlining above the driver’s door was starting to peal. I had it replaced with a new panel.’

There is a (small) mark on the steering wheel that Kendrick says he would have liked to have attended to, but apparently in would have meant replacing the whole air bag assembly - which UNit 20 advised against.

New or original, everything blends together to create a very pleasing ensemble. The ‘Ivory’ leather is complimented perfectly by the carbon fibre insets and they in turn emphasise the performance aspect of the RS6. Wood veneer would have been a bit too luxo-barge for its character.

And thinking of this car’s sporting mien, check out the design of those segmented, RS-embossed sports seats; very tasty.

Like many a more modern car, a lot of the engine components are hidden by shrouds and shielding. Plus, the V10 fills the whole engine bay, so taking a look around it isn’t easy. Even so, (and ignoring the paperwork) it’s the details that are always the give-aways as to how a motor has been looked after. As to be expected by looking at the rest of the car, the twin-turbo’d motor and its ancillaries all look to be in very fine fettle. Jubilee clips, bolts and screw heads all appear crud and corrosion free - even around the inner edges of the small ones. Braided hoses haven’t been allowed to collect oil, dirt or rust and their more fragile plastic counterparts appear supple and free of cracks. The under-bonnet sound/heat-proofing is in very good order. There are no signs of leaks or overheating.

Moving underneath the car, the Audi looks strong and - yes - pretty clean. That Milltek exhaust still looks strong and securely fitted. Suspension components certainly don’t look like they’ve travelled any further than the car’s stated mileage. The car had a wheel bearing and upper suspension links replaced this year. Those shiny five-spoke alloy wheels are freshly shod with Audi spec’d Pirelli P Zeros.

Some £15,000 have been spent on this Audi’s upkeep in the past two years. Rather than a warning sign of unreliability, this is more a barometer of the kind of stewardship the car has enjoyed. Kendrick’s philosophy has always been to catch every kind of ‘niggly thing’ before it developed into anything more.

‘I’ve done everything I possibly can to make the car perfect,’ he says. I’ve followed up on any advice and mechanics’ observations after services, and I would consult with Unit 20 and decide whether to action them or not. Usually, the decision was to do the job, whether the specialist said it could ‘wait another year’ or not. So, as you will see from the invoice pictures, there are many small component and seal changes as well as fluids.

Like many a high performance car, the RS6 has a few ‘signature’ jobs that anyone looking to buy should look for being done. On this V10 Audi, the main ones are the engine oil seals (an engine out job), and the coolant pipes (above the driver’s wheel arch), which can corrode. On this car, the oils seals have been changed, but Unit 20 have inspected the coolant pipes and find them to be in good condition.

A highlight of the car’s history for Kendrick, and something that Unit 20 had advised him to look for (they actually recommended this car to him), was that it should be a low mileage example that had been used regularly. This it remains for the next owner to take over and enjoy.

A classic or high performance car’s value and viability come from an array of finely balanced attributes. Some come from the design and build, others from the life it has lived. This Audi RS6 manages to get a tick in the box of every category, so we rate it very highly.

The design and build are first class - it has ‘that’ engine, which itself comes with an insane-but-usable power upgrade. Plus, the colour scheme is first class. It has always been (knowledgeable) enthusiast owned, and those owners have catered for its every need. Lastly, it has been looked after, through two ownerships, by a dedicated and well-known marque specialist who understands the RS series well. Condition and colour - as well as the V10 engine - must surely see this car sitting in the mid £20ks. Just what else like it could you get for that money? However, if I were a true uber-Wagon enthusiast, I would have no trouble at all following that power upgrade to nearer £30,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abindgon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.